Hello all,

I have an early 80s tudor style house with clamshell molding (yuck!).
I am in the process of putting good trim/baseboard etc. around the
house.

My problem is that the existing window (sill) stool barely comes out
the side of the window. So, if I have to install window trim (casing)
around the tall thin windows, I will have to replace the window stool
in order for the casing to come inside the stool. Currently, I do not
have any window trim.

Can anyone direct me to any URL that shows me how to (1) remove my
existing stool, and (2) install a new one. I have yet to see any book
out there that shows one how to change out a window stool.

Thanks,

MGN

mgnric05 wrote:

Hello all,

I have an early 80s tudor style house with clamshell molding (yuck!).
I am in the process of putting good trim/baseboard etc. around the
house.

My problem is that the existing window (sill) stool barely comes out
the side of the window. So, if I have to install window trim (casing)
around the tall thin windows, I will have to replace the window stool
in order for the casing to come inside the stool. Currently, I do not
have any window trim.

Can anyone direct me to any URL that shows me how to (1) remove my
existing stool, and (2) install a new one. I have yet to see any book
out there that shows one how to change out a window stool.

'Pends on how it was put in...

Hammer, pry bar and perhaps a hacksaw/sawzall to cut a few nails to
simplify will get it out/off...

How to retrofit will depend on what you find they left as framing
underneath...

There was an article in Fine Homebuilding in just the last few issues
where a fella' described his techniques...

I looked in the Fine Homebuilding web site and could not find a link to
purchase any such article. Further details will be appreciated.
Thanks,
MGN

On 1 Aug 2005 12:58:36 -0700, "mgnric05"
wrote:

Can anyone direct me to any URL that shows me how to (1) remove my
existing stool, and (2) install a new one. I have yet to see any book
out there that shows one how to change out a window stool.


I'm not sure if I understand what you have.
You say you don't currently have trim. What is on the other three
sides of the window?
Is there rock on three sides and a stool at the bottom?
Is the stool wood and does it have an apron under it?
Is the stool attached to the window or is just decorative and applied
to the framing?

In a lot of cases with a wood stool you can remove the existing one
and use it as a pattern. Just make it wider or deeper depending on
your needs.

Mike O.

mgnric05 wrote:

I looked in the Fine Homebuilding web site and could not find a link to
purchase any such article. Further details will be appreciated.
Thanks,
MGN

I'll try to glance thru some back issues and see if it comes
up...sometimes what I think was just a short while ago turns out to be a
year or more...

However, in this case I don't think it has been all that long as I've
only re-begun the latest stretch of taking FHB again not much over a
year or so (they offered a really low price for a year and so far
haven't raised it and it's had just enough that I haven't cancelled
again as the previous 3 or 4 times (yet, anyway).

Hello Mike O.

I do not have trim on the 3 sides of the window. I do have a stool and
apron below it. However, they are real cheap; i.e. the stool does not
project a whole lot onto the sides of the window. So, if I use a trim
of any respectable thickness, it will fall outside of the stool length
when they meet, which will look real tacky.

Thanks,
MGN

On 1 Aug 2005 18:38:26 -0700, "mgnric05"
wrote:

Hello Mike O.

I do not have trim on the 3 sides of the window. I do have a stool and
apron below it. However, they are real cheap; i.e. the stool does not
project a whole lot onto the sides of the window. So, if I use a trim
of any respectable thickness, it will fall outside of the stool length
when they meet, which will look real tacky.


Let me try this one more time.
Are these wood windows?
Are the three sides not trimmed at all or are they covered with sheet
rock?
Is the existing stool actually a part of the window or just applied to
cover the framing?

Mike O.

OK, here goes..

Are these wood windows? - No, they are metal (old) windows.

Are the three sides not trimmed at all or are they covered with sheet
rock? - They are not trimmed. They have sheet rock on the sides.

Is the existing stool actually a part of the window or just applied to
cover the framing? - The stool and apron are made of wood and are NOT
part of the metal window. Not sure what you exactly mean by "just
applied to cover the framing" but I guess that if I remove the stool
and apron, I will see the framing of the house?

Thanks,

MGN

On 2 Aug 2005 05:29:23 -0700, "mgnric05"
wrote:

Are the three sides not trimmed at all or are they covered with sheet
rock? - They are not trimmed. They have sheet rock on the sides.

Is the existing stool actually a part of the window or just applied to
cover the framing? - The stool and apron are made of wood and are NOT
part of the metal window. Not sure what you exactly mean by "just
applied to cover the framing" but I guess that if I remove the stool
and apron, I will see the framing of the house?

Yes you will..... unless they sheet-rocked that too.

Removing the stool should be no problem. But the question is do you
really want to? Normally, when you see wood trim on the window you
also see a wood jam extension on the three sides where you now have
sheet rock. You can remove the sheet rock (which will probably have
metal corners) and replace it with wood if you want to go to the
trouble or maybe (if you have room) you could cover the rock with wood
and then trim. At any rate, I've never seen wood trim on windows that
still have the sheet rock showing on the three sides.
As far as removing the stool goes, take the apron off first. You can
set the nails (you should see putty where the nail holes would be) or
just carefully pry it off. Then you can do the same thing with the
stool. Set the nails with something that won't split the existing
stool as you may be able to use it as a pattern for the new one. You
might also take a knife and score where the sheet rock meets the
stool. This should break any paint line or caulk that might be there.
Then pry it off. If you are going to cover the sheet rock (or replace
it with wood) saving the existing jam is not necessary since you will
change the size when you cover or replace the sheet rock.

Making the new stool is not too difficult. If you don't remove the
rock or cover it (which means you haven't changed the width) you can
use the old stool as a pattern. Just add the length you need and more
width if you need that too to your new piece of stock. Lay the old
stool on top of the new piece, flush the back of the two pieces (the
side that goes to the window) and center the old (shorter) one between
the ends of the new piece. Trace where the "ears" are cut out and
extend the lines to each end of the new longer piece. You can cut the
ears with whatever saw you happen to have. I normally use my table
saw but you could use a jig saw or even a hand saw.
Making one from scratch is no more difficult but you just need to do a
little more lay-out on the new piece. Let me know if you could use
some tips for that.

Mike O.

Thanks much for the information. I will try this out on a window away
from a focal point of the house first.

MGN