How to Repair a Window Ledge
A window ledge, commonly referred to as a sill, is the horizontal base at the bottom of a window frame. Window ledges keep water from dripping and draining between the window and the wall. Typically made of wood, window ledges rot, split and crack because of moisture and from not having a proper paint covering to protect them from damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Penetrating epoxy sealant
- Epoxy filler
- Flexible putty knife
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Epoxy-based primer
- Paintbrush
- Epoxy-based paint
Instructions
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1
Open the window and screen to avoid breaking the window and damaging the screen.
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2
Place a chisel next to the rotted or damaged area on the window ledge at a 45-degree angle and strike with a hammer to chip out rotted or soft wood.
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3
Paint a coat of penetrating epoxy sealant over the whole window ledge.
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4
Allow the penetrating epoxy sealant to dry completely, generally two to three hours.
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Press epoxy filler into the holes and chipped out areas deeply with a flexible putty knife. Apply several thin coats of epoxy filler to build it 1/8 to 1/4-inch higher than the window ledge surface.
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Allow the epoxy filler to dry fully, usually two to four hours depending on the brand. Some brands may take up to six to eight hours to completely dry.
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Use medium-grit sandpaper to sand the epoxy filler, making it smooth and level with the existing window ledge surface.
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Paint two coats of an epoxy-based primer onto the window ledge allowing each coat to dry between applications, generally one to two hours.
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Apply two coats of epoxy-based paint to the window ledge, letting each coat dry between applications, to protect the window ledge from further rot or splitting.
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Tips & Warnings
Scrape and paint window ledges every year or every other year to protect against damage.
References
- Photo Credit xco cat in window image by Mirko Raatz from Fotolia.com
