A window sill is often perceived not only as an element of the overall window design, but as an independent multifunctional piece of furniture. It can be used as a table, shelf, step or seating area. Increased use of the window slab, especially for other purposes, leads to loss of aesthetic appearance and mechanical damage.
Over time, the desire to update the appearance of the window sill may be associated not only with the need for restoration, but also with decorative elements. You can not only strengthen the window sill slab and renew the surface with wear defects, but also choose a more suitable color, texture, and shape. The new technology for replacing an old window sill involves selecting and installing a special lining.
Restoration using an overlay allows you to restore the freshness and attractiveness of a window at minimal cost and adjust its shape taking into account its functional features.
The installation will not take much time, will not affect the walls, wallpaper, or the main structure of the window, and will allow you to do without inviting installation specialists to do everything yourself. It should be noted that such a restoration is possible provided the window sill thickness is no more than 6 cm.
Description and functions
The main functions are to carry out restoration, protect the structural surface and give the window an overall aesthetic appearance.
The linings are made of thin profiled sheets, which are used for finishing work and cosmetic repairs.
It is impossible to make an independent window sill out of them, but they are universal as a finishing coating for restoration purposes. Suitable for wooden, plastic or concrete window sills, as they are compatible with all building materials.
Like many window structures, the trims are made from polyvinyl chloride, so they form a single unit. A wide range of colors, patterns, shades, dimensions allows the user to choose the best option. The maximum length can reach 3 meters, and the depth is 1.5 m.
The end caps are made of the same material. The use of a metal-plastic base preserves the strength of the products and makes them quite cheap and accessible.
Thanks to the thin, but tough and durable material, after restoration the window sill becomes resistant to fire, ultraviolet radiation, humidity, and temperature changes.
What are sprats?
Shpros are called slats, a profile that divides glazing into cells , which can be solid (they install a fake overhead layout) or consist of separate segments (a full-fledged structural separator). These are the parts of the window through which its frame is assembled.
Shpros are an excellent and one of the extremely few solutions to radically diversify a very standard and ordinary type of PVC double-glazed window.
Other names are layout, separators, binding, undocking . The segmented design has a very convincing appearance, creating an impression of solidity, security and at the same time sophistication, such a window will definitely stand out among ordinary structures.
The elements in question are also often called slabs or mullions; these are old folk terms that relate more specifically to decorative types (overlays). Below is an extract from Wikipedia:
In ancient times, they did not know how to make solid sheets of glass , so they were made in small pieces, which were inserted into a binding made of slats - these are sprats. Then these parts began to be used to strengthen the frame with large glasses, since it was wooden and not particularly strong. The structure became stiffer, more airtight, and loosening and drying out decreased.
But in PVC double-glazed windows, the frames play a more decorative role, even if they are structural, since the profile and piping of these products are made of very durable materials (metal plus reinforced polyvinyl chloride) that can withstand any weight of glass, and this is typical even for products with very large glazing. However, there are some practical aspects (strengthening all insulating properties), and quite a lot, we will talk about them below.
The production of double-glazed windows with structural or inter-glazed grooves is not something particularly difficult for manufacturers - the profile can be modified in production in any way you like .
In panel MKDs, sprats are still a rarity, although apartment owners are increasingly interested in them. But in private homes they began to be installed quite often, as users want to have more diverse, unique products.
Interesting ! Cases when the internal profile is consistently required: arched, panoramic glazing, with a special shape, for verandas, attics, attics, window-door systems. And also situations when the window looks too “empty”, when disharmony with the design of the house is created.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of plastic linings, compared to replacing an entire window slab, are as follows:
- Low cost.
- Quick and easy installation.
- Choice of colors to suit the interior.
- Possibility to make changes to the shape and size of the window sill.
- Long period of use and interchangeability if necessary.
The disadvantages include the same properties that are inherent in plastic window sills: fragility of the coating and instability to mechanical damage.
Benefit
Installing the trim
Installing new PVC will cost less than completely updating an old window sill.
The price of the product directly depends on the manufacturer, size and color.
The cheapest type of overlay is colorless, which is considered the standard type.
You can buy a PVC window sill cover at any hardware store.
To calculate the final price, you need to measure the width of the window space, and then contact a company that manufactures similar products, or choose the material yourself in any hardware store.
In what cases are they necessary?
Whatever the reason, the new surface will add freshness and attractiveness to such an interior element as the window sill.
There can be many reasons for installation:
- Concrete or granite window slabs sometimes crack or chip at the corners.
- Plastic window sills, especially white ones, fade and turn yellow over time.
- Often, damage occurs from hot objects that accidentally fall on the surface, including unextinguished cigarettes.
- Traces from flower pots and water dried on the surface.
- Stains from aggressive cleaning products.
- Accidental mechanical damage.
- Scratches and marks of claws and teeth of pets.
- The desire to simply update the surface by changing the shape or color shade.
Method for restoring an old window sill
New window sill thanks to trim
Installing a PVC structure will help restore the dilapidated or damaged surface of the window sill.
Such panels are used to update the appearance of a room.
The surface of the panels is covered with a special film, which can deteriorate over time due to mechanical stress.
That is why you should handle these types of building materials with care.
It is important to know that re-gluing the film at home is impossible. All attempts to clean the film will result in holes and rubbing. In this case, the window sill will need to be replaced.
First, you will need to break the walls to remove the old window sill, and then remove the wallpaper covering the edges of the window sill. This method is labor-intensive and expensive, since in addition to purchasing the main structure, you will have to spend money on restoring the walls.
A universal way is to buy a window sill cover. This repair is cheap and does not take a lot of time and human effort.
Kinds
Decorative overlays are available in two types: made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or MDF panels (from the German name Mittel Dichte Fazerplatte - fiberboard).
Plastic
Available in different color shades: white, imitation marble or wood pattern.
Designed for installation on window slabs made of different building materials:
- wooden;
- concrete;
- tiled;
- made of stone, natural or artificial;
The lining is selected to be 2 cm wider than the window sill in order to prevent the appearance of a gap with a gap on the old base. In the kit with the overlay, you need to select end caps made of the same material, suitable in width and shape for finishing the sidewalls.
Manufacturers offer standard sizes of PVC overlays: width – 15–52 cm, thickness – 3.5 mm, maximum length – 3 m.
MDF linings with drip edge
It is possible to restore the same window sills as those made from polyvinyl chloride. The difference between MDF overlays is the limited range of colors and the absence of corresponding end caps. In construction markets they are less common than plastic ones.
The MDV panel overlay should be wider than the board being closed by at least 6–8 cm, and the drip edge itself will serve not only for its main purpose, but also to cover the old window sill.
The usual dimensions of MDF overlays are: width - 35-70 cm, thickness - 15-18 mm, length - up to 4 m.
Before purchasing a pad, you need to make a balanced choice.
It is recommended to take into account the following criteria:
- The color shade must match the entire window system or be in harmony with wallpaper, curtains, and interior details.
- Quality characteristics should reflect resistance to moisture, temperature changes and sunlight.
- Possibility of using common detergents.
- The size is as close as possible to the dimensions of the window sill, taking into account the necessary “margin”.
- Availability of plugs suitable for the size and shape of the slab.
Aluminum trims for window frame profiles
Sectional view of an aluminum cover on a plastic profile.
If before we talked about decorative elements, now we will talk about things that are more practical, although not without some design “load”. These are aluminum linings.
The presence of metal gives off a special shine.
A metal such as aluminum is an excellent protection against environmental influences. Even unpainted, it is instantly covered with an oxide film and is not subject to corrosion, unlike steel or cast iron.
Aluminum is a good protection against precipitation, especially for wood.
You can find plastic and wooden windows with aluminum linings. Although polyvinyl chloride is not as susceptible to corrosion as wood, it nevertheless still needs additional protection. As a rule, linings are installed to order at the factory where the windows are made. You can also call a specialist.
An additional bonus is the possibility of painting in a wide range of colors (RAL scale).
With plastic everything is simpler, because the profiles are standard, and it’s easy to choose these same overlays for them . But problems arise with wood: everyone’s frames are different, there is no one standard, and the owners of such windows themselves rarely want to spoil the natural beauty with aluminum trims.
Aluminum plus wood, sectional view.
It happens that the white plastic of the window does not fit into the facade of the house. This is especially true with old houses, and if you live in a city where entire blocks are included in the UNESCO list of architectural monuments, overlays will be a real salvation for you.
Using overlays you can decorate plastic to look like wood.
Be that as it may, aluminum window trims occupy their niche and are actively sold, despite the conservatism of some wood lovers or the stinginess of owners of plastic windows.
Installation
Even a beginner can install the cover without the help of specialists.
The installation process will not take much time, since dismantling of the old structure is not required. Before starting work, you need to check that you have all the necessary materials and tools:
- overlay of the required size and plugs;
- glue;
- silicone;
- fine-tooth saw or jigsaw;
- construction tape;
The work process includes several successive stages:
- Step 1. Preparatory. The surface of the window slab must be flat, so if there are chips and cracks on the concrete base, they must first be repaired with gypsum putty. Plastic or wooden surfaces do not require special preparation, but must be clean. If necessary, you can treat with an antiseptic.
- Step 2: Cut it out. You can cut the overlay with a mounting knife or jigsaw. The parameters of the window recess must be carefully measured; to maintain accuracy, you can make a paper template preserving all the contours of the opening.
- Step 3. Installation. You need to apply mounting glue to the wrong side and distribute it first around the perimeter, and then in zigzags over the free space. After placing the pad, you need to press it and place the weight on the corners to secure it firmly. No further work can be carried out while the glue is drying.
- Step 4. Plugs. The plug must be cut to size and glued to the sides of the window slab.
- Step 5. Sealing. The joints along the slopes and the window frame are treated with sealant. A layer of silicone is evenly applied to the seams to hide the joining line. You can use rubberized profiles or special corners.
How to do it yourself?
It will be impossible to make structural dividers yourself , as well as to add and remove them, since such products are created on production equipment as part of the entire glass unit only together with it at the same time.
The false false binding is simply glued on, so you can make it yourself with your own hands from any suitable materials, but usually these are limited only to wood, which is not very advisable to use for these elements. Under the sun and when exposed to moisture, it becomes deformed.
If you are already looking for options for what improvised means you can use, then these are perhaps plastic boxes for external wiring or baseboards that can be cut and glued together.
Taking into account the above, in this case, creating an independent sprocket means purchasing a special profile and connecting elements for them (tees, doubles, etc.), cutting and connecting the elements with a crosscut saw or a hacksaw.
