A job which has been creeping up on us for some years. We have timber
framed windows and now some of the sills are starting to rot and need
replacing. They span under the windows and have 'wings' of around 3"
stretching along in front of the brick work. The later bits seem to be
the main problem so far as rot is concerned.

I'm just wondering what my options are at the moment, without replacing
the entire windows with new? Are the sills likely to be a separate
piece to the frames? If separate I assume the frames are sat on top of
the sill.

Is there likely to be a UPVC type solution to just replacing the sills?

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

John Rumm wrote:
On 23/04/2011 15:14, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
A job which has been creeping up on us for some years. We have timber
framed windows and now some of the sills are starting to rot and need
replacing. They span under the windows and have 'wings' of around 3"
stretching along in front of the brick work. The later bits seem to
be the main problem so far as rot is concerned.

I'm just wondering what my options are at the moment, without
replacing the entire windows with new? Are the sills likely to be a
separate piece to the frames? If separate I assume the frames are
sat on top of the sill.

The frames are usually separate and sat on the sill. To replace it in
place normally means chopping off the projecting part and joining the
new sill to the old close to the window, or trying to dig out the full
depth of old sill.

John,

Unlike plastic, with timber windows that is not usually the case. the jambs
are mortised into the sill and form a single unit.

Before the OP even considers chopping off the face of the old sill (or even
filling with lots of plastic wood), he should very carefully inspect the
area around the mortise and tenons of the jambs for rot, if there is any,
then it may be better to cut out and scarf in new jamb sections and renew
the sill entirely in the process.

If scarfing is needed, then in my opinion, it would be far better to replace
the window - unless the frame is hardwood (such as oak) or fitted to a
listed building where renewal becomes exorbitant in costs.

Is there likely to be a UPVC type solution to just replacing the
sills?

You can get uPVC sills if that is what you mean. You can probably get
some really nasty cover sills as well that just hide the rot!

Agreed there. Simply use internal plastic cover sills - and yes, that
really is a 'bodge' job.

Cash

On 23/04/2011 15:14, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
A job which has been creeping up on us for some years. We have timber
framed windows and now some of the sills are starting to rot and need
replacing. They span under the windows and have 'wings' of around 3"
stretching along in front of the brick work. The later bits seem to be
the main problem so far as rot is concerned.

I'm just wondering what my options are at the moment, without replacing
the entire windows with new? Are the sills likely to be a separate piece
to the frames? If separate I assume the frames are sat on top of the sill.

Is there likely to be a UPVC type solution to just replacing the sills?


Usually easy enough to chop out and replace with off the shelf softwood
sills. Any tenons are likely to be shot to pieces by now so the new ones
can normally be slid under the frames and bedded in Gripfil. Hardly a
purist's solution but, as you've mentioned upvc, I assume that's not
what you're looking for

The frames are usually separate and sat on the sill. To replace it in
place normally means chopping off the projecting part and joining the
new sill to the old close to the window, or trying to dig out the full
depth of old sill.

John,

Unlike plastic, with timber windows that is not usually the case. the
jambs are mortised into the sill and form a single unit.


Depends on the age of the building, I think. ISTR that cills were separate
on a victorian house I had many years ago, and they certainly are on my
current 1780's cottage (none of the current frames or cills are original).

stuart noble explained :
On 23/04/2011 15:14, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
A job which has been creeping up on us for some years. We have timber
framed windows and now some of the sills are starting to rot and need
replacing. They span under the windows and have 'wings' of around 3"
stretching along in front of the brick work. The later bits seem to be
the main problem so far as rot is concerned.

I'm just wondering what my options are at the moment, without replacing
the entire windows with new? Are the sills likely to be a separate piece
to the frames? If separate I assume the frames are sat on top of the sill.

Is there likely to be a UPVC type solution to just replacing the sills?


Usually easy enough to chop out and replace with off the shelf softwood
sills. Any tenons are likely to be shot to pieces by now so the new ones can
normally be slid under the frames and bedded in Gripfil. Hardly a purist's
solution but, as you've mentioned upvc, I assume that's not what you're
looking for

Just looking for a solution thinking uPVC wouldn't rot so quickly for
the future.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk