Natural wood products have long been very popular. This environmentally friendly material has a beautiful texture. Therefore, today more and more people are installing wooden windows and window sills in their homes. After reading this article, you will learn about the main features of such products.
The advantages of wooden window sills
The popularity of such products is explained by the fact that they are made of environmentally friendly material. It is the concern for the health of their family that makes people install wooden window sills in their apartments. In addition, they are stronger and more reliable than plastic analogues.
You should not discount the fact that natural wood has good thermal insulation properties. In addition, it can be considered an excellent regulator of the humidity level. A window sill made of it retains heat even in the cold season, and heated wood does not emit toxic substances.
Existing Product Varieties
Depending on the chosen installation method, wooden window sills can be divided into:
- Wide. They allow you to significantly increase the usable space. Often, they equip the workplace. Products up to 50 cm wide are used in rooms with wide load-bearing walls.
- Narrow wooden window sills, the width of which is not more than 10 cm. Similar products are usually installed in buildings with skylights.
- Formal window sills, the dimensions of which are so small that they serve solely as protection against the cold.
- With an allowance for the walls. This is one of the most popular varieties of window sills. Similar products go to the wall up to 10-20 cm. Depending on the specific situation, the size of the launch may increase or decrease.
How to make a windowsill with your own hands?
It should be understood that the independent manufacture of a wooden window sill requires special attention to the quality of the materials used. For these purposes, it is advisable to purchase carefully dried boards, without visible knots and other flaws. First, you need to thoroughly trim, polish and polish the board from which you plan to make the windowsill. The lower part of the workpiece is recommended to be treated with an antiseptic that prevents the formation of mold and fungus. After this, it is necessary to give the product a conceived shape, as well as to make moldings and tears. Then the board can be cut to the required size and give the workpiece the final shape.
In the manufacture of the so-called composite window sills, individual parts of the product are connected by means of nails, dowels or glue. The length of the standard window sill should be 10-15 centimeters greater than the width of the window opening. The size of the part of the product that protrudes into the room should be at least 6-7 cm. To seal and warm the structure, the lower part of the window sill can be covered with felt.
Installing a wooden window sill
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare the surface on which the installation will be carried out. The brick surface is pre-treated with a lime-gypsum mortar, the wooden surface is impregnated with an antiseptic. It is important that it is perfectly smooth, without any visible differences.
A pre-made wooden window sill, the price of which varies between 1,500-5,000 rubles per square meter, is laid on a prepared base and fixed with nails without hats. The voids formed under the windowsill are filled with polyurethane foam. After this, it remains to plaster the slopes. After that, it is necessary to install steel tides from the outside of the room. To do this, the upper edge of the tide is inserted into the connector located at the bottom of the window box. At the final stage, all this is sealed with a special putty.
How to care for a wooden window sill?
It is important to remember that natural wood does not like abundant washing. For daily care, simply wipe the surface from dust with a damp cloth. In order for your windowsill to last as long as possible, you need to follow a few simple rules. When watering plants installed on it, the appearance of puddles should be avoided. If you do spill water, wipe it off immediately with a soft cloth.
It is strictly forbidden to expose wooden window sills with household chemicals. They cannot be cleaned with abrasive sponges or detergents. Once every several years, it is desirable to cover the surface of the window sill with a protective wax or an additional layer of varnish. When installing the product, it is important to ensure proper thermal insulation. Otherwise, the window sill will freeze, as a result of which the structure of the wood will begin to collapse.