Porch window sill/frame replacement

danrv

Hi
A couple of my porch wooden window sills and maybe a frame need replacing.
One sill has really warped and with a tap, broke off. Just wondering how wooden sills are fitted usually?
The break is quite clean but the rest of it is still under the frame. Maybe could loosen it somehow and get it out.
The side window frame is really wonky. The porch has come away a little from the house which was mentioned in a survey.
The bricks are mostly solid. Just a couple are loose near the DPC (circled).
Just hoping to clean it up a bit as I’ve just replaced the shiplap panelling on one side.
Any help appreciated.

FreeBear

Usually, the frame sits on top of the sill with screws used to hold everything together. You may find the screws long enough to go through the frame and sill, and then into the brickwork. Or the sill is secured in place with shorter screws, and the frame nailed in. You won't know until you try removing them..

On the plus side, as this window is not in a habitable space, it can be replaced without involving Building Control or requiring a FENSA (or equivalent) certificate - I'm assuming that there is an exterior grade door between the porch and the main house.

danrv

FreeBear said:

I'm assuming that there is an exterior grade door between the porch and the main house.

It's very similar to the wooden internal doors, just wider and slightly shorter with a lock.
198 x 80 x 4cm with fifteen pane glass.
Not sure how to tell though if it's exterior grade.

FreeBear

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

I'm assuming that there is an exterior grade door between the porch and the main house.

It's very similar to the wooden internal doors, just wider and slightly shorter with a lock.
198 x 80 x 4cm with fifteen pane glass.
Not sure how to tell though if it's exterior grade.

Could well be an exterior grade at the time the house was built (1980s or 90s ?) - I had a single glazed wooden door between house & porch that got replaced last summer with a modern uPVC one. Aside from killing some cold draughts, the hallway immediately felt much warmer. You might want to budget for a replacement in the near future.

stuart45

The cills on timber windows were normally part of the frame when they arrived on site. The windows were bedded on the brickwork and built into the brickwork as the walls went up, being fixed with frame cramps.
You can get things called cill plants, which can be used to repair a cill.
As the cill is part of the joinery, it won't come out easily unless it rotten.

danrv

FreeBear said:

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

I'm assuming that there is an exterior grade door between the porch and the main house.

It's very similar to the wooden internal doors, just wider and slightly shorter with a lock.
198 x 80 x 4cm with fifteen pane glass.
Not sure how to tell though if it's exterior grade.

Could well be an exterior grade at the time the house was built (1980s or 90s ?) - I had a single glazed wooden door between house & porch that got replaced last summer with a modern uPVC one. Aside from killing some cold draughts, the hallway immediately felt much warmer. You might want to budget for a replacement in the near future.

Thanks. House is mid 70’s.
Worth doing I think as I have electric heating only. The rear door into the conservatory is the same.

danrv

stuart45 said:

The cills on timber windows were normally part of the frame when they arrived on site.

Thanks. Looking closely, I can see that now. Makes replacing a bit tricky but will look into the cill plants.

danrv

I can repair the broken sill at the front and would also like to replace the side window frame. This one is really lop sided for some reason. 
Hopefully will be able to find something the same size to fit in.

thearchitect

A good bench joiner should be able to replace a cill in-situ BUT that's quite a thin section size so not as straightforward as (say) on a sash and case window.  Also the thinner cross-sections are liable to movement and cracking, as you've got here.

stuart45

You could also drill them out and put in tiled cills to match the rest of the house.

danrv

stuart45 said:

You could also drill them out and put in tiled cills to match the rest of the house.

Possibility. Don't know much about tiled ones. Either way I need to try and remove the wood that remains on the window. Maybe drill as suggested then chisel out. The other front window is OK so might go with wood.

The side one, I hope to replace the whole lot. Don't really need the fanlight window at the top so just a frame and pane needed.