Interior PVCu window sills

Risinfromthegutter

Hi guys,

Quick question(s); how good are pvcu window sills in comparison to wooden ones?

How easy are they to fit? (How do you fit them?)

and (i've seen some in wickes) do you have to fit them over the top of existing wooden ones or do they go directly onto the wall bit (sash?)

Cheers

RFTG x

WestonDave

If they aren't cut well, they can look dreadful, but they can be quite practical in damp rooms like bathrooms, or where condensation tends to pool.

You would probably cut them to fit and fix them by sealing round the edges (maybe a bit of "no nails" underneath).

Whether you fit them over or replace really depends on how your windows are fitted, because in the main they are only a few mm thick with a lip at the front - if you took your old sill out completely you might find parts of the window frame exposed that don't look too great - on the other hand if you fit it over, and there isn't much lower frame to the window, it might look wierd as well.

mchale

Easy to fit, just cut to size and silicone them in place, easy to keep clean, have a look at your local double glazing supplies as I buy them in 5 meter lengths I would imagine cheaper than the sheds

Risinfromthegutter

WestonDave wrote: »

Whether you fit them over or replace really depends on how your windows are fitted, because in the main they are only a few mm thick with a lip at the front - if you took your old sill out completely you might find parts of the window frame exposed that don't look too great - on the other hand if you fit it over, and there isn't much lower frame to the window, it might look wierd as well.

I don't have an old sill at the moment, it was tiled but I have taken them off. I just didn't want to buy both wood and pvc. If there is no technical reason why i shouldn't just buy pvc i think ill opt for that. I think aesthetically it should look ok.

Thanks

Easy to fit, just cut to size and silicone them in place, easy to keep clean, have a look at your local double glazing supplies as I buy them in 5 meter lengths I would imagine cheaper than the sheds

Thanks I'll do this x

andrew-b

I much prefer painted sills to uPVC. I find pre-primed MDF is nice and easy to deal with and less likely to warp compared with timber. We've replaced warped kitchen and bathroom softwood sills with wickes MDF one's. If they get scratched, chipped or damaged they can be tarted up again pretty easilly which is not the case for uPVC. Obviously having to paint is a bit more work but you can have whatever colour you want - and can change it later on!

If your lucky and the area beneath the sill is flat and level (left-to-right and front-to-back) and the cavity isn't open you can just glue it down with No More Nails - otherwise some packing out and a few plugs and screws might be needed as well which then means some extra hole filling involved - not something you could consider with uPVC without it looking rubbish. If you can't get a deep enough sill for the window recess which was our problem then there's a wide choice of soft/hardwood trims available to cover any gaps - cut to size and paint (i keep forgetting this bit myself - it makes the painting so much easier if you do it!) and then glue down with some offcuts from the sill for support)

Sills should protrude from the wall slightly and wrap around the edges of the window recess by a inch or two (match to elsewhere in the house). Takes some care to cut correctly so cut one end first before cutting the length of the sill - don't assume though that the angle between the face of the window and sides of the recess are 90 degrees though as they more than likely won't be - so use a sliding bevel to take the angle from the wall (but don't get the screwfix one as i made that mistake and it's not fit for purpose!) or make a template up with some card (cut up the cornflake packet!). The cuts themselves can be done with a jigsaw but i prefer the control of a handsaw. When working with MDF cut in a well-ventilated space and wear a facemask.

Only thing i had trouble with myself was removing old sills that were plastered in tight and actually let-in to the blockwork in our bathroom - took quite some effort to remove and i had to chisel out some plaster which then obviously needed to be made good - though our bathroom was being replastered anyway so no big deal. Incidentally if you are getting plasterer's in it makes a better finish IMO if the sill is fitted first as the plasterer can plaster down onto it (note: ensure sill is well protected before plastering - i cut to size some cardboard which worked very well).

uPVC sills just never look right to me - perhaps because they are too shiny as i like my paintwork in satinwood white. I also prefer the finish with MDF/timber as you can round it off nicely at the corners rather than sticking an end-cap on. A properly painted MDF sill sealed around the edges is just as good in the bathroom IMHO and will last year and years with the occassional coat of paint to keep it looking good. Plus i daresay an MDF sill is cheaper?
So that's my argument for MDF !
For uPVC your still going to need the same woodworking tools to do the job, more limited in ways to fix in place, no paint options, damage can't be repaired. Only advantage i can see really is the time saved in not having to paint. Personally i'd rather spend a bit of extra time to get a nicer looking MDF painted sill.

Nothing is really tricky about it..just take your time and as always with woodworking measure twice (or more) and cut once!

Risinfromthegutter

andrew-b wrote: »

Personally i'd rather spend a bit of extra time to get a nicer looking MDF painted sill.

Nothing is really tricky about it..just take your time and as always with woodworking measure twice (or more) and cut once!

Thanks very much for your post, its greatly appreciated. My DIY experience is fairly limited and I need someone to 'hold my hand ' through it.

I am of a similar opinion to you. The OH wants uPVC ones, I'm not convinced, but if it keeps her quiet it might be worth it!! No seriously though, I think, following your post, I'm definitely going to try to persuade her towards MDF.

Many thanks again

its_all_gravy

Have you thought about duraboard comes in white/brown and oak colours nice and solid keeps its colour looks great