Window sill construction

The main function of a window sill is to channel water away from the building and for this feature to work its best for many years to come, there is need for quality designing, materials and construction. The materials popularly used for window sill construction today are slate, limestone, granite, marble, synthetic materials like PVC and of course, the age old favorite- timber or wood.

Things to keep in mind for window sill construction

For the best results of a window sill in diverting water away from the building, the constructor should keep in mind that the top surface should slope downward and away from the building.
If the window sill is made of brick, then the sloping should be a minimum 15 degrees from the horizontal position and this obviously will vary in accordance with the sill configuration of the window unit, especially if it is a wood window.
The window sill, when being constructed, should be developed and calculated such that it extends at least 1inch beyond the face of the wall, at the nearest point. However, the possibility may also be considered that the brick units at the end of the sills be un cored so that no cores are exposed to the view.

Changing trends in window sill construction

Over the years, window sills that were used in brick masonry construction were built in place. This was done by conventional construction practices but a new trend has emerged during the last few years, which has seen the use of prefabricated sills, especially when combined with a spandrel. The earlier use of prefabricated brick, pre-cast concrete or stone sills had a regular feature that was common to all – they all had section lengths as long as was practical and this proved to be the reason for the window sill's ability to resist erection stresses. Therefore, modern constructors of window sills are advised to keep the length of sill sections limited to a length that can easily be handled by equipment already on the jobsite and ensuring that the joints between long sill sections are constructed using a soft joint.

Designing aspects of window sill construction

The designer should keep in mind that the function of the sill is detailed and the aesthetic value not compromised in making it only functional in the basic sense. He can combine the structural ability and economics of construction without compromising on the artistic appeal of a window sill by choosing good quality material and a little forethought.

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