Do-it-yourself repair of plastic window sills: when required, necessary materials and tools, how to repair different types, possible mistakes

Modern plastic windows with double glazing are installed in most apartments and private residential buildings.
Manufacturers have long worked on every element of this translucent structure.

They present consumers with a complete kit for filling a window opening with ebbs, slopes and window sill boards made of different materials.

A window sill is an internal structural element of a window, which is often subject to mechanical stress and can quickly lose its original appearance.

If a part breaks, you need to know how to repair a plastic window sill.

When might it be required?

Depending on the material from which the window sill board is made, repair and restoration work may be required if any of the following situations occur :

Wooden.
drying out of the wood structure with the formation of cracks;
bending of the material over time;
the formation of fungus and mold from moisture and the development of bacteria.
Plastic.
chips, dents, cracks from mechanical damage;
melting of individual sections under the influence of elevated temperatures or accidental contact during operation.
Stone.
discoloration due to exposure to sunlight;
abrasion due to physical wear.
From chipboard or MDF.
cracks in the laminated coating due to plastic deformation of the material;
saturation of the structure of the window sill with moisture, swelling, partial destruction.
Glass.
scratches and abrasions due to prolonged use without care.

Note. To repair window sills, various techniques, tools and consumables are used.

In most cases, structural elements are subject to restoration and, after a series of measures, regain their original appearance.

When doesn't it make sense?

In some cases, when irreversible damage to the window sill occurs, repair work does not make sense, and such a part will have to be replaced. Recovery is impossible for the following damage :

In case of breaking and complete loss of integrity of a stone or glass product.
In case of severe wetting and swelling of structures made of chipboard or MDF.
In case of severe melting of the plastic window sill.
In case of severe delamination or rotting of a wooden window sill board.
In case of significant damage to the tree structure by pests, with the presence of powdery waste.

When inspecting a wooden window sill for its repairability, it is necessary to tap it with a small hammer to identify voids.

Repair of PVC window sills

Window structures are made from plastic. Some models are made of more durable materials, others are made of thin, fragile ones. Plastic surfaces are easy to care for; smooth surfaces do not collect dirt or accumulate dust; fungal organisms that cause mold rarely grow on their surfaces.

Over time, acrylic window sills begin to scratch, stains, chips, and cracks appear on them, which completely spoil the appearance. It is not advisable to change the entire window structure just because of a couple of scratches. You can carry out minor repairs and eliminate deficiencies.

There are ways to repair a plastic window sill with your own hands, without the help of a specialist.

Materials for work

The market offers a wide range of materials and products for restoring aged or damaged window sills. Among these repair mixtures, the following compositions are most often used :

Paint thinner or acetone to remove old paint.
Putty for wood or plastic, if necessary, to seal cracks.
Polymer elastic sealants that can elongate and not lose elasticity over time - for sealing and sealing seams.
Fire-resistant penetrating liquid mixtures to protect wooden and chipboard structures from fire.
Antibacterial compounds.
Water-repellent chemicals are especially relevant for chipboard and MDF materials.
Polishing compounds for stone and glass window sill boards, which are used in conjunction with special soft abrasives.

Advice. It is recommended to purchase materials and protective coatings from well-known manufacturers that have gained popularity in the consumer market, and their products have many reviews on online forums from satisfied customers.

Window sill on the balcony - 3 ways to install the structure yourself

In this review, we will figure out how to install a window sill on a balcony without the involvement of outside specialists. The workflow is simple, but requires some knowledge, so carefully read all the information below and choose the option that best suits your conditions.

In the photo: a perfectly installed window sill makes the interior of the balcony much more attractive

What tools are needed?

When repairing window sills for plastic windows, depending on the material of the product, a different set of basic and auxiliary tools is required. To carry out standard repair and restoration work, the following mechanical and electrical equipment is required :

Spatulas and blades for removing old paintwork.
Chisels with different shapes and edge sizes for removing traces of fungal infection.
A rag or fiber cloth for degreasing the surface before applying a new coat of paint or varnish.
Electric drill with circular polishing attachments.
Polishing discs with different structures, depending on the type of surface and material used.
Brushes of different widths and bristle hardness for painting window sill boards.
Spatulas with rubber tips for applying putty to wood, plastic or MDF.
Clamps and plywood boards for pressing glued veneer and distributing pressure on MDF, PVC surfaces.
A construction or household hair dryer for drying and quick polymerization of paint and varnish composition after application.
Mounting gun, if necessary, sealing joints and installing construction foam.
Sandpaper, circular abrasive attachments on a drill, with the help of which the surface of wood is prepared.
Tools for laying ceramic tiles or mosaics, if necessary, creating a special design for stone products.

Important. To achieve the expected result, all tools must be in good working order, cleaned of dust and dirt, and fully ready for work.

Window sill repair with liquid acrylic

This is a product from a new generation of paints and varnishes. Available in two types - glue and paint. The first is used to remove chips and scratches, and the second is used to give a uniform color and shine.

Liquid plastic for PVC surfaces is widely used in industry and at home. It will remove scratches from plastic, eliminate flaws, and disguise small chips. Liquid acrylic can be used to cover even deep holes in window sills.

The material is sold ready-made in jars or tubes, from which it can be easily applied directly to the surface to be repaired. Before applying liquid plastic, you need to clean the structure from all contaminants and rub the entire surface with fine abrasive sandpaper. This will create a slight roughness, which increases adhesion - the adhesion of the liquid material to the plastic.

Liquid plastic is applied to all scratches and chips in a small amount, carefully evenly distributed over the scratch. When the material is completely dry, the surface can be sanded so that it regains its original appearance and becomes smooth and shiny. If the window sill is in terrible condition, it is better to stick a laminated film on top of the plastic, which will give an aesthetic appearance.

Step-by-step instructions: how to repair?

Restoring and repairing window sill boards is a painstaking operation that must be carried out in compliance with safety precautions and a technological map. Each material uses its own methodology. Basic methods for repairing window sill boards made of different materials are described in detail below.

Wood

Repair and restoration work for wooden surfaces with minor or moderate wear is carried out in the same way as any other product made from this natural material:

The surface is inspected for defects. The master determines its suitability for restoration.
The old paint and varnish material is removed mechanically using spatulas.
If necessary, a solvent is used to soften the structure of the worn coating.
The surface is refined with abrasive discs until the wood is completely cleaned of polymer materials.
If fungus and mold are identified, areas prone to rotting, they must be completely removed using chisels.
The resulting gaps, as well as cracks, are filled with wood putty, or a composition of epoxy glue and fresh sawdust.
The repaired surface is carefully ground and brought to a flat, smooth plane.
After restoration, the wooden product is covered with a layer of penetrating antibacterial and fire-retardant composition.
After the sewn materials have dried, the surface is primed and painted in the desired color that matches the interior of the room.

Important. Operation of a restored wooden window sill is allowed 2–3 days after the varnish layer has dried, since the delicate polymer material is highly susceptible to abrasion and mechanical damage in the first days.

Plastic

Restoration work for a plastic window sill depends on the nature of the damage, since different techniques are used for each defect. The main methods of repair are carried out according to the following algorithm :

If marks from flower pots have formed on the plastic surface after prolonged use, chemical reagents based on octane additives and rags are used to give the original whiteness.
When there are minor cracks, chips or dents on the surface of the PVC material, they can be easily repaired using a special plastic putty and a spatula, which is included in the kit. This mixture, after application and polymerization, completely replicates the structure of the plastic.
In case of fading or damage to the structure of the PVC coating due to aggressive exposure to sunlight, the installation of a laminated film, which is applied by heat shrinking using a construction hair dryer, will help.
In case of deep damage and cracks, as well as in the event of plastic deformation, you can stick a PVC overlay on the entire surface of the window sill board, which will completely imitate the old product and cover all defects.

If the PVC window sill has significant damage, before restoration you should estimate the cost of the work, since, in many cases, with a low retail price for plastic, the best solution would be to replace the element instead of repair.

More details about repairing a plastic window sill:

Stone

Natural or artificial stone is considered one of the most durable materials for window sills. If it breaks accidentally, it can no longer be restored, as it crumbles into pieces. However, if small cracks, chips or abrasions occur, it can be returned to its original appearance :

The product is cleaned of dust, old debris, and fatty deposits.
Next, the surface is polished using multi-stage technology.
All cracks are sealed with a polymer composition containing fine agglomerate filler.
After filling the cracks, the surface is polished again to an ideal plane.
If necessary, the leveled composition is varnished, but, as a rule, natural stone is polished to a glossy shine.

Note. After restoration, high-quality natural material lasts for decades without any problems, provided that initially there were no through cracks or other irreversible damage.

From chipboard

When restoring a particleboard window sill, it is important to pay attention to the integrity of the structure. If delamination has occurred, then there is no point in starting repairs, since swelling will progress, regardless of the degree of treatment. If the chipboard remains intact, then the work is carried out in the following order :

The old veneer or laminated film is carefully removed from the surface of the chipboard.
If necessary, the remnants of polymer materials are removed using a heat treatment with a construction hairdryer.
If traces of adhesive remain on the surface, it can be removed using acetone or another solvent.
Next, the chipboard is impregnated with a silicone-based moisture-proof material. It is important that the material does not contain water, as it negatively affects the quality of the structure.
After processing, a new veneer is glued onto the finished surface and pressed with a clamp through the distribution plywood.

If a decision is made to laminate the chipboard surface, then this should not be done without a thin leveling sheet, since, over time, traces of the structure of the heterogeneous material will appear on the film.

MDF

The structure of MDF is distinguished by a finely dispersed filler composition - sawdust, as well as dusty waste from wood production, are used in the manufacture of the material.
The preparatory process for restoring such a window sill exactly repeats the algorithm for a chipboard product.

The only difference is that MDF can be covered with laminated film, since its structure is characterized by increased uniformity.

Important. Before installing a polymer coating, it is necessary to treat the structure with a penetrating composition based on silicone or acrylic additives.

Glass

Tempered glass is used extremely rarely in interiors as window sills, due to the complexity of manufacturing and the high cost of each product. As a rule, such elements are installed in expensive apartments or public buildings with high-tech finishing.

If a part breaks, it cannot be restored, but if there is minor damage, work is carried out according to a certain algorithm :

The surface of the product is inspected for chips, potholes, cracks and other defects.
For filling, special silicon-containing polymers with chemical hardeners are used, which are often used in the repair of automobile glass.
The substance is applied to a completely cleaned and degreased surface.
For hardening, a hair dryer or an ultraviolet lamp is used, which quickly removes liquid impurities from the chemical composition.
After hardening and the structure achieving homogeneity, the glass is polished with delicate abrasives using a special paste.

It should be remembered that any repair of defects on the surface of the glass does not eliminate scratches or cracks from the product, but simply masks them. This means that, after restoration work, the window sill should be used with extreme caution.

Use of plastic pads

Onlays – prompt assistance in restoration. This product allows you to quickly eliminate defects without leaving a trace. They come in white or imitate different types of wood. The most famous manufacturer of linings is Werzalit. Price from 50 rub./piece. The cover is attached with mounting adhesive (Acrifix, Weiss, Cosmofen). Before attaching it, you need to level the surface with putty, additionally clean and degrease.

Rice. 4. Overlays for plastic windows

Possible difficulties and errors

In the process of carrying out restoration activities, beginners often make a number of serious mistakes that do not allow them to obtain the desired result. When performing window sill repair work, you should pay attention to some nuances :

All chemical reagents and paint and varnish compositions are purchased only for the material from which the window sill board is made.
When cleaning the surface before repair, it is necessary to use only smooth spatulas and blades, without nicks or defects, so as not to damage the base material.
The repair of cracks and chips is carried out in strict accordance with the technological map for a specific type of putty or sealant. In some cases, a hardener is required, without which the structure will not be able to polymerize.
When treating MDF and chipboard with penetrating compounds, you need to ensure that they do not contain water molecules that will cause delamination.
When polishing and grinding surfaces made of stone or glass, you should not use coarse abrasive compounds, as they will not achieve the desired shine.
Considering the place where the window sill board is used, paint and varnish compositions must have increased resistance to the aggressive effects of ultraviolet rays.

Advice. Before starting restoration work, it is recommended to study detailed videos and master classes from experts and professional installers in order to take into account all possible difficulties and nuances, as well as select the appropriate tool.

Calculation of concrete composition

Reinforced concrete window sills are not only decked structures on site. First of all, these are finished products of standard size and modifications. To make them, special molds for window sills made of concrete and the solution itself are used in a special ratio.

The result is structures of various modifications that are completely ready for installation. Moreover, the weight of a concrete window sill of this type depends on its size. All that remains is to buy and “plant” such a structure in place.

If we compare a concrete window sill of a factory and a self-produced one, the second one clearly wins in economic terms. Its price is slightly lower than the cost of a finished product.

Regarding the quality aspect: a monolith in construction has always been considered more reliable than prefabricated structures - although factory-produced concrete, as a rule, has a higher level. Therefore, the choice depends only on you, which is more convenient and profitable to choose in each specific case.

Correcting the skew

First, break the wall under the window sill and where it adjoins the slopes. If there are metal corners on the slopes, then cut them in advance with a hacksaw by 4-5 cm. As a result of dismantling work, the structure should begin to “walk” freely under the window up and down.

Now we align the window sill along two planes. To do this, use a level and wooden wedges, which are temporarily placed near the slopes and in the middle of the window. Start leveling from the edges; when you select the desired thickness of the wedges, then fix the support in the center of the window sill. If the length level is set to zero, then a minimum slope is made from the window into the room (up to 5 degrees). It will not be visually noticeable, but will be useful when cleaning the window.

After the accuracy of the reinstallation has been checked and rechecked, polyurethane foam is poured into the gap between the wedges. There is no need to save on foam, otherwise the plastic window sill will deform over time from the load (sag). Be sure to check if the stop at the window sill is on the slopes, otherwise the balloon foam will blow it upward, since it, unlike the pistol MP, expands. Sometimes the window sill is additionally fixed to the wall with special fasteners, but this is not a mandatory step.

After 12 hours, the foam exhaust is cut off, the bottom of the slopes and the support area under the window sill are plastered and puttied, after which all that remains is to glue the wallpaper and repaint the slopes.

Source

Price-quality ratio

Painting

To ensure a smooth surface, the paint should be poured into an even layer of thickness in a Washing machine, and then it should be leveled with smooth movements using a spatula.

So, how to paint plastic window sill The fact is that after a while plastic window sills begin to lose their snow-white color, turn yellow, and various stains and scratches may appear on it. But you can return it to its original appearance by painting it. The restoration process includes the following stages:

Clean the surface of the window sill from stains of grease, dirt, or with a cleaning agent and sponge.
Sand the surface with the finest sandpaper.
Prime the surface with a special primer for plastic and, if necessary, fill in deep scratches.
Sand the surface of the window sill again and clean it of any dust that has formed.
The window frame, floor surface and radiator should be covered and protected with masking tape and film or newspaper.
Paint the polyvinyl chloride window unit element with a spray paint material that is intended for plastic automotive elements, or with an enamel composition that is combined with a primer.

Ways to solve the problem

You can update your window sill in several ways. They are effective and low-cost. Restoration is much more profitable than removing the old and installing a new element. You can restore the window sill without replacement, using liquid acrylic, PVC overlays or film, or use other equally effective methods.

Chemical cleaners

Plastic surfaces are initially covered with a film. If handled carelessly, the surfaces turn yellow and abrasions appear on them. To eliminate the defect, you can use laminate wax or a special solvent-based cleaner, Cosmofen. If the window sill is yellow, you can apply the composition completely. It will remove yellowness.

Special putty

Effective in eliminating minor defects. You can buy a mixture like Fenoplast or Reparaturset in powder form in stores. The set includes a measuring cup and spatula. The mixture is diluted according to the instructions. It covers cracks and scratches.

You can dilute the putty not with water, but with a deep penetration primer. Thanks to this method, the coating will be more durable. Stages of work:

The putty is evenly applied to the damaged surface.
The scratch is covered and the surface is leveled.
Wait for complete drying for 10–15 minutes.
Sand with sandpaper to visually hide the defect.

At the end of the restoration work, the surface is thoroughly polished with a special product Fenosol S5 UVA.

Liquid plastic

Using this material you can get rid of deep scratches and large dents.

With a ready-made composition such as Cosmofen Plus, defects in a plastic product are carefully repaired.
Then they look to see if the restoration site differs from the entire plate.
If necessary, cover the element with self-adhesive film.

Laminated film

This is the easy way. A huge selection of laminated film will allow you to decorate the window sill in the same style as the windows, or tint it like wood.

An important point is surface preparation:

First you need to level it, fill the cracks, sand the bulges.
Degrease the laminated surfaces.
If bubbles appear during operation, they need to be pierced with a needle and the film pressed.
In difficult places, warm up the laminate with a household hairdryer.

PVC lining

Window sills can be repaired using overlays if their thickness is no more than 6 cm. The method is simple and not labor-intensive. You can carefully close the problem part if the plastic is swollen or cracked. The PVC cover is made from polyvinyl chloride, which is durable and resistant to ultraviolet radiation and moisture.

The window sill will be ready in a few hours. To install it you need to do the following:

Fill large damage with glue.
Carefully cut the overlay to the desired size.
Degrease the surface and apply glue to it.
Place the pad on the surface and press it with a weight.
Leave for five to six hours.
Fill the voids with silicone sealant.
Place the end caps on the glue.

After completing the work, remove the protective film. After gluing it to the old window sill, heat the edge of the plate with a hair dryer and bend it to its shape.

sunburn, resulting in the appearance of yellow spots;
cracks, chips, and scratches;
chemical damage;
traces from hot objects;
flower pots leave traces and stains of various types;
pet claw marks;
surface subsidence in the center.

Plastic window sills are subject to similar troubles.

Primer and putty

Stages of restoration of a plastic window sill using putty:

cleaning and degreasing the base.
dilute the putty as indicated in the instructions.
Using a spatula, apply the solution to the defect area. layer thickness is no more than 1.5-2 cm.
After drying, the surface is sanded with sandpaper.
The area is again dust-free and degreased. then you need to apply a layer of primer, after which it is covered with a second layer of putty.
When the layer is one hundred percent dry, sanding should be done again.

Window sill covers | Repair of window sills in Ufa | TMK Chingiz

If the putty differs from the color of the entire window sill, then the last layer is painted. To do this, the color scheme is selected in accordance with the main color of the slab.

In order not to stain unstained areas when performing this work, the perimeter is covered with masking tape.

Replacing a window sill without replacing a window. instructions

Mounting Features

Before installing the window sill, you should check the quality of the window installation seams. On the room side, the joints are covered with a special waterproofing tape and treated well with construction foam. The lower part of the structure is the most vulnerable. Typically, cold air creeps into the room from this area.

The craftsmen know for sure that the window sill needs to be foamed well. This will help eliminate all the shortcomings made when installing the window. It also increases rigidity. The surface will withstand heavy loads.

It is important that the product foams around the perimeter. First, the seam is at the junction of the window sill and the window. Then the sides are processed. The joints along the wall are processed last. The thickness of the polyurethane foam layer should not exceed 5-7 centimeters.

Causes of skew

The window sill may warp:

Here, to understand the problem, you need to take a short excursion into the range of products. PVC window sills have a thickness of 2 cm and a width from 15 to 60 cm. Wooden structures are thicker, but are also graded in width.

Before installation, you need to correctly select the width of the product, since it should not protrude beyond the edge of the wall by more than 10 cm. A large protrusion often causes distortion, especially if the owners like to lean on the edge of the window sill or place heavy objects on it (large pots of flowers, For example).

During long-term use, the window sill warps from:

If you have a wide window sill and you plan to place heavy objects on it, then tell the craftsmen about it. They will strengthen the foundation and there will be no problems in operating the structure.

Surface preparation rules

Another advantage of such paints is that with such materials the process of finishing the window sill is accelerated. This is due to the fact that the water base evaporates quickly.

To obtain the effect of mother-of-pearl or golden shine, the varnish used for the finishing layer must be mixed with metallized pastes. To speed up work, it is recommended to use PaliPlast RP 021 Cleaner. This liquid removes dust along with grease. When painting a window sill, you should also treat the fittings with special corrosion protection.

Despite these characteristics, when purchasing acrylic paints, you need to consider the following circumstances:

The disadvantages of aerosol dyes include the following:

A plastic window sill cannot be painted with oil paints, which cannot be said about a wooden one.

Is it possible to paint a plastic window sill? Yes, if there are no major defects on it. The restoration consists of several stages. Before starting work, wash off grease stains, dirt and dust, then dry. Now you can restore it.

Pouring is already a more complex and time-consuming task. Concrete window sills are mostly poured by professionals.

How to repair the window sills of plastic windows with your own hands?