Replacing internal windows sills when installing uPVC glazing - options?

jenny-wren

We've just ordered replacement white uPVC double glazing.

We currently have mahogany internal sills which we hate. The window company have included white PVC internal sills in the price they quoted.

Any time I have seen PVC internal sills they have placed over the existing wood sills but the surveyor from the window company says they normally remove the old sills first.

I'm worried that PVC sills won't be very stable or strong without the wood to support them underneath and, if the sills have to come out anyway I'd like to replace them with a lighter wood that we can varnish, ideally oak to match the internal doors and wood work in the house. Some of the existing sills are split and I really don't want to keep the old sills and paint them white.

I don't want to go back to the window company until we have a better idea of what we're likely to be able to do within our budget.

Can anyone give me an idea of how much more expensive it would be to opt for oak internal sills instead of PVC sills? Some of the windows are almost 8ft wide :eek:

If it's going to be prohibitively expensive to go for oak then it'll have to be PVC.

Any opinions welcomed.

ormus

i agree.
softwood windowboards painted white or the white MDF type.
my FIL did all his windows with the mdf type. turned out ok too.

ive no idea the cost of real oak boards but you can be certain of one thing, they aint cheap.

jenny-wren

We have a builder coming in to replaster two of the rooms. I would much prefer wood windowboards so we'll also ask the builder for advice. The flooring in many of the rooms will be engineered oak, as will be the skirting (if we can stretch to it!) so it should look fine with an oak or white window sill.

I don't want to be putting in new windows and getting replastering done only to have to get a plasterer out again to fix up around new window ledges at a later date. I'd much rather get it done all together.

As the existing sill boards aren't in great condition we may realistically (in terms of cost) only have two options - replace the existing boards with mdf boards and paint them white or stick with the PVC sills we had originally agreed to.

Dognobs

It is a easy job to replace but you might be able to fill the gap and paint the ones you have.

ariba10

A neighbour has had quality floor tiles as a window sill.

Looks quite good.

Dognobs

ariba10 wrote: »

A neighbour has had quality floor tiles as a window sill.

Looks quite good.

What do they do with the edge?

ariba10

Dognobs wrote: »

What do they do with the edge?

A Hardwood architrave.

They used a granite floor tile that is quite thick.

ormus

yrs ago, you used to see quarry tiles on windows. with round edges.

ariba10

A good quality tile has advantages in that it reflects light and is reasonably scratch resistant if you wish to put potted plants etc on it.

Dognobs

ormus wrote: »

yrs ago, you used to see quarry tiles on windows. with round edges.

Just got rid of my last set of them!!

fiesta04

Dognobs wrote: »

Just got rid of my last set of them!!

Guess what next years must have fad will be???