Are hardwood windows sills recommended?
 

I am having a new conservatory fitted but the builder recommends
laminated window sills rather than hardwood. This is due to hardwood
ones twisting due to the heat and so will not be guarenteed.

I am very surprised by this as I see wood used everywhere (inside os a
sauna for example).

Is this true what he says or is he trying to con me?

Thanks in advance

Are hardwood windows sills recommended?
 

On Jul 29, 8:54*am, BeerBoy wrote:
I am having a new conservatory fitted but the builder recommends
laminated window sills rather than hardwood. This is due to hardwood
ones twisting due to the heat and so will not be guarenteed.

I am very surprised by this as I see wood used everywhere (inside os a
sauna for example).

Is this true what he says or is he trying to con me?

Thanks in advance

I'm not a timber expert, but this sounds like rubbish to me.

Cheers
Richard

Are hardwood windows sills recommended?
 

BeerBoy wrote:
I am having a new conservatory fitted but the builder recommends
laminated window sills rather than hardwood. This is due to hardwood
ones twisting due to the heat and so will not be guarenteed.

I am very surprised by this as I see wood used everywhere (inside os a
sauna for example).

Is this true what he says or is he trying to con me?

Thanks in advance

Its sort of true.

you do get pretty fierce humidity variation's in cills, and variations
top to bottom as well which makes for easy warping. HOWEVER the answer
is pretty simple: Screw then down hard to something, or if its a brick
type base, use car body filler. I did this very successfully once. That
cill never ever moved... nice bit of iroco blocks..

The warping is far worse with cheap softwood: that's why all cheap
painted cills are now MDF. A far more stable alternative, But hardwood
is usually pretty good. I've got 15mm oak here screwed down hard, and no
issues at all.

Are hardwood windows sills recommended?
 

On 29 July, 08:54, BeerBoy wrote:
I am having a new conservatory fitted but the builder recommends
laminated window sills rather than hardwood. This is due to hardwood
ones twisting due to the heat and so will not be guarenteed.

I am very surprised by this as I see wood used everywhere (inside os a
sauna for example).

Is this true what he says or is he trying to con me?

Thanks in advance

Dear BeerBoy
I do have a bit of expertise on this
Hardwood is a pointless term to use

Balsa is a hardwood
so is oak , luan, and teak

In terms of durability only the HEARTwood of hardwood is durable
Durability varies from under 5 years in ground contact for a 2" X 2"
stake to over 25 years
Perishable to very durable (BRE 245 that was)

Dimensional changes are yet another factor

What is the laminate made of?

Were it mine I would opt for a well treated Redwood sill with an OS
(if I could find one) Vac vac treated timber
or
Teak, iroko or any grade 5 durability heartwood of hardwood

You could use a grade three such as English oak and treat it and paint
it
It would last but will move

If you let me know what specification is being provided for the
laminated timber with respect to decay treatment and species I can
advise
chris

Are hardwood windows sills recommended?
 

On 29 July, 12:27, Chris George wrote:
On 29 July, 08:54, BeerBoy wrote:

I am having a new conservatory fitted but the builder recommends
laminated window sills rather than hardwood. This is due to hardwood
ones twisting due to the heat and so will not be guarenteed.

I am very surprised by this as I see wood used everywhere (inside os a
sauna for example).

Is this true what he says or is he trying to con me?

Thanks in advance

Dear BeerBoy
I do have a bit of expertise on this
Hardwood is a pointless term to use

Balsa is a hardwood
so is oak , luan, and teak

In terms of durability only the HEARTwood of hardwood is durable
Durability varies from under 5 years in ground contact for a 2" X 2"
stake to over 25 years
Perishable to very durable (BRE 245 that was)

Dimensional changes are yet another factor

What is the laminate made of?

Were it mine I would opt for a well treated Redwood sill with an OS
(if I could find one) Vac vac treated timber
or
Teak, iroko or any grade 5 durability heartwood of hardwood

You could use a grade three such as English oak and treat it and paint
it
It would last but will move

If you let me know what specification is being provided for the
laminated timber with respect to decay treatment and species I can
advise
chris

What do you think of Accoya (TM)?