How to Replace a Windowsill in a Basement
Windowsills are often installed on interior windows in a finished basement to give the window a more complete look. Windowsills, which enhance a room's decor and add beauty and architecture to windows, may also be used for displaying things such as flowers, plants, and other decorations. Over the years, windowsills may become cracked or damaged and thus require replacing. Basement windowsills that house air conditioners may also suffer rot or water damage due to leaky air conditioners. These windowsills should be replaced immediately to prevent further damage to the window. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Lumber
- Putty knife
- Tape measure
- Utility knife
- Reciprocating saw
- Long saw blade
- Needle-nose pliers
- Pull saw
- Level
- Hammer
- Galvanized ring-shank siding nails
- Siliconized acrylic latex caulk
- Caulking gun
- Oil-based primer
- Interior paint
- Paintbrushes
- Tarp
- Painter's tape
Instructions
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1
Scrape the old caulk from around the edges of the basement windowsill with a putty knife.
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2
Measure the length and width of the old windowsill using a tape measure. These measurements will be used to create a replacement sill.
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3
Remove the paint between the old windowsill and the window trim using a utility knife, then cut off the protruding section of the windowsill using a reciprocating saw outfitted with a long saw blade. Remove the old sill and dispose of it.
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4
Remove any nails from the sill area of the wood using a pair of needle-nose pliers.
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5
Cut a piece of lumber the size of the old windowsill using a pull saw. Refer to the measurements you took to be sure that the replacement windowsill is the right size.
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6
Fit the new sill into place against the window to confirm a proper fit, then place a level on top of the sill to check that it's completely straight.
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7
Hammer several 2½-inch galvanized ring-shank siding nails into the new sill to secure it to the sill area of the window. Pre-drilling is not necessary with galvanized ring-shank siding nails because they are very skinny and less likely to split wood, according to HammerZone.com.
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8
Apply a continuous bead of siliconized acrylic latex caulk around every edge of the new windowsill with a caulking gun.
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9
Cover the floor beneath the window with a tarp, then apply painter's tape to areas of the window and the surrounding wall you do not wish to get paint on while painting the new sill. Painter's tape, usually blue in color, is a type of adhesive tape used to keep paint lines clean and protect surrounding surfaces from paint splatter.
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10
Apply a single coat of oil-based primer to the new windowsill using a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry for the length of time specified on the can, then use another paintbrush to apply a coat of interior paint that matches the rest of the window. Allow the paint to dry for the length of time specified on the can before removing the tarp and painter's tape.
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