removing wooden sills round the window?

Question

We recently brought a house, build in 1930's and some of the windows have wooden sills. We are about to refit the kitchen (ourselves) and my partner thinks we should leave them just incase the house falls down, I think they look manky and horrible, even if they were repainted and would like to ripe them out. Can we do it ourselves? Do we need to get a builder in?

Answer 1

Go for it it is not a load baring structure. The window has a header to support the load of the house. Get rid of the old sills. 1930's ..... most likely they need to be replaced anyway.
Good Luck

Answer 2

Window sills are sloped to help shed water away from the house, usually have a saw kerf on the bottom to help shed rain. When the rain runs down the sill and hits the kerf, it forms into droplets and falls, so kerf should be an inch or so from the siding. I just replaced several in an old house I am working on and I used pressure treated wood that will hold up for many years.

Answer 3

You can do it your self.But you will need a chop saw and a jig saw.You can buy sill stock from a lumber yard.Measure to the outside of the window casing,that will give you your length.You will have to remove all the old molding.Notch the ends and install the sills.Use your old sill as a template.

Answer 4

Internal or external? Either way, the house won't fall down. You just might end up with leaking window frames. Careful use of a chisel and a crow-bar should get rid of them. Then you have the problem of what you are going to replace them with. How about some tiles?

Alternatively, get a chippy in to remove the old ones and replace them with a decent new piece of oak or something like that. Then you can varnish it, and it will look great for years to come.

Answer 5

If you are talking about the internal window ledges, then they can be removed quite safely as they are not part of the window.
If you are talking about the external window cills then they are probably an integral part of the window frame and should not be removed.
The internal cills could be removed and replaced if required with new cills or the top of the brickwork capped off and then plastered.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

The house won't fall down. The windows are attatched to studs. However, this is not a job for an amatuer. Windows can be tricky. Make sure you know what you are doing before you begin.

Answer 8

cover them with plastic sills

Answer 9

if you thint the house will fall down if you do this i think you should call a carpenter , as you will end up with a house that jack built !

Answer 10

of coarse you can ..cills are only a decorative item ,,and in no way are they constructive ..take em out and tile it!