Rot in window sill - replace or repair?

[Hatster]

Hi again, and sorry about the flood of questions. I start work on one problem just to find a second...

While trying to air a room to deal with the damp, I discovered that a window sill was not just in need of repainting, but is actually rotten in one place. Grrrr. The rot is in the middle of the sill, concealed under the window frame when it's shut.

Can it be repaired (either DIY or by a joiner), or should the whole sill be replaced?

Thanks!

Hatster

 

[JoceAndChris]

Sections of new wood can be let in if the rot is not too bad. Will it be painted? This hides a multitude of sins.

Here, this is a job for dads and husbands, but if you aren't surrounded by men desperate to show off their woodworking skills then I'm sure a reputable joiner could do this for you without costing an arm and a leg.

 

[Jon Maine]

Just drill and chisel the offending section out, fashion a new piece and using a water proof glue stick it in, the fact it is in the middle should make it easier to run a plane over it if you need to.

 

[Feltwell]

Depends how big the rotten bit is really. If you're using linseed paint, then Holkhams say you can fill larger holes with ordinary linseed glazing putty - I didn't bother with their expensive stuff, just used a tub from my local glaziers, seems to have worked fine.

As it's in the middle of the cill you can let in a new section as Jon suggests if it's a bigger section that rotten.

You don't say what sort of window it is, but to replace the whole cill normally means the frame has to come out. Don't be tempted to cut the cill at each visible end in-situ, as you're likely to end up introducing a joint just where you don't want one, especially if it's a sash - just where water can run down the side of the frame and get in. I have exactly this on my lounge bay window due to a previous owner's dodgy repair, it's now rotting beautifully. :roll: Another job...

 

[AMc]

If the rot isn't extensive then you may be able to scrape out the loose stuff, apply wood hardener then fill with putty, sand and paint. If it's more significant then scarfing in more wood may be needed. If it's a real mess then it will need to be replaced, but that's a bigger job.
Some pictures would be very helpful in answering your question.

 

[Hatster]

Thanks very much as always, folks - it's great to know that there are people with such experience and willingness to help.

I'll take photos tonight and post them up.

My father-in-law is handy with carpentry tools - I'll see whether he's up for doing a bit of a fix for me. Sadly, the handyman genes skipped a generation, so any building works have to be saved up for his visits!

 

[Penners]

Sadly, the handyman genes skipped a generation, so any building works have to be saved up for his visits!

Hmmm - I hear the exact same story from my son-in-law. I have a shrewd suspicion that the younger generation have cottoned on to a good thing.

 

[Jon Maine]

Sadly, the handyman genes skipped a generation, so any building works have to be saved up for his visits!

Hmmm - I hear the exact same story from my son-in-law. I have a shrewd suspicion that the younger generation have cottoned on to a good thing.

Sadly whilst ribbing someone is good fun, I do have to agree the occasional technically inept occurs in a family, I was lucky not to be one. 8)

So where do your skills stretch to hatster?

 

[Hatster]

The Hatster is willing to have a go at anything - so long as all parties accept that the results are likely to be less than perfect.

No, I'm more than happy for my father-in-law to teach me to do a job and then get on with it - I actually like doing DIY, but had very little experience until my father-in-law taught me such things as how to paint a window (he couldn't believe I'd not been taught to do this before). My husband has had a lot of basic training from his dad, but just doesn't enjoy it and doesn't have time. So anything that involves little skill and vast amounts of time is put down for me to do...

 

[Feltwell]

The Hatster is willing to have a go at anything - so long as all parties accept that the results are likely to be less than perfect.

Well good for the Hatster then! I'm firmly of the opinion that what stops most people tackling jobs themselves is just their own confidence, not their ability. And practice makes perfect as the old saying goes.

So long as you leave the dangerous jobs alone (gas or major structural work for instance) why not have a go at it yourself? Read up, go on a course if you like, ask advice and give it a go! If it's something that if you mess it up it will be impossible to correct then perhaps not, but things like joinery repairs to a rotten window, why not? Worst that can happen is you have to get a joiner in.

 

[Penners]

Worst that can happen is you have to get a joiner in.

On behalf of joiners everywhere, I take exception to that remark. :wink:

 

[Moo]

The wonderful headmistress of my secondary school responded to a query as to why 'practical' subjects like cookery were not on the curriculum with the following:

"We are a selective school. If, when they leave us, our girls are not capable of buying a recipe book and following the instructions, we will have failed them."

So, when our son acquired his house his housewarming present was one of those huge DIY manuals and a decent tool-kit. I've been most impressed (nay - astonished) at the jobs he's undertaken and successfully completed.

 

[Penners]

The wonderful headmistress of my secondary school responded to a query as to why 'practical' subjects like cookery were not on the curriculum with the following:

"We are a selective school. If, when they leave us, our girls are not capable of buying a recipe book and following the instructions, we will have failed them."

Now that's what I call copping out with immense flair and style. It's a kind of "argue with me if you dare" statement.

 

[Hatster]

Well, the joiner pointed out that there was actually quite a bit more rot in the frame and sill than I'd noticed. So it looks like this one is a job for the professional. I'll have a good go myself on the next rotting sill to appear.

 

[Moo]

immense flair and style.

You've hit the proverbial nail where it hurts, Penners.

Marguerite M Burke had both, in spades.

 

[Feltwell]

Worst that can happen is you have to get a joiner in.

On behalf of joiners everywhere, I take exception to that remark. :wink:

:lol: Could be worse, could be a plumber!

 

[wombat]

Hi i have belatedly read your posting,my experience with sashes and repair grows yearly,don't be frightened by a repair,read up on sash design and dont be in a hurry,i personally find splicing in new wood in rotten sections together with wood epoxy is a good solution.
I had a similar problem so click here to see how i tackled it
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/teewal/sashprob/index.html
i hope this helps in your plans

 

[Hatster]

Thanks very much! I've decided to leave this particular window sill to the joiner as it was a lot worse for wear than I originally anticipated, but I've actually found a course at a local college which deals with this kind of issue among others, so I think I shall attend that and then do the next window sill myself.

 

[GeoffP]

Wombat, thanks for the pictures, just what I wanted

Geoff

 

[JoceAndChris]

This thread is somewhat reassuring but I need more reassurance please.

In sanding down &paint stripping the window prior to painting I found that one fifth of the deep sill on the interior (you can sit in it) was constructed of Polyfiller.

I poked it all out with a hairslide, found very very crumbly Georgian wood underneath which I've picked out with tweezers and vaccuumed up.

Did I do the right thing - it looked better before - now if I tried to sit in this window part of me which will remain unnamed would fall into the innards of the wall.

What next? Squirt in wood hardener? Then splice in new section- antique pine OK? Should I leave it as a hole for a while to let the fresh breezes blow through?