8 tips on which windowsill to choose

The window sill in the apartment serves as additional protection from the cold, can be used to place flowers, books, replace the countertop and even a place to rest, and even children and animals draw the window sill with a magnet, because it allows you to look out the window and learn about the world. So why do we pay minimal attention to his choice and rely on standard solutions offered by window companies? We will figure out which window sill to choose and which materials to give preference in order to get a high-quality and durable design.

No. 1. The basic requirements for the windowsill

Windowsill It performs several functions at once:

• decorative. Thanks to the use of modern materials, the window sill can become an interesting decoration of the room. Moreover, it allows you to organically bind window, slopes, walls and radiatorlocated under the window, and, of course, serves as an additional place for placing flowers, accessories or storing the necessary details. There should not be a lot of the latter on the windowsill so as not to clutter it up and block the path of light penetrating through the window. The windowsill can become a work surface or a dining table in the most small kitchens;
• cold protection. The window sill, which is mounted in accordance with all the rules, is a barrier to cold street air and prevents heat leakage to the outside;
• proper heat distribution in the room. Even the ledge of the windowsill beyond the surface of the wall matters. Thanks to him, the currents of warm air from the battery do not immediately rise up, but are sent to the room. However, it is also not necessary to make the window sill too wide, otherwise it is possible to completely isolate the window and adjacent wall sections from warm air and provoke the appearance of condensation on the windows and slopes.

To ensure proper circulation of warm air and not impede movement near the windowsill, the latter should protrude beyond the wall level by no more than 5-6 cm, and in the calculations it is worth considering the future finish, if it is not already. The window sill should not cover the radiator more than half, otherwise it will be necessary to take care of the availability vents to facilitate air convection. As for the length, the windowsill can protrude 1-8 cm beyond the slopes, but no more.

When choosing a window sill, it should be remembered that it must meet certain requirements in order to serve more or less long and cope with all the loads placed on it. So the windowsill must have such performance:

• strength, since the product can accommodate heavy flower pots or people can sit. If serious loads are expected, choose stone or wooden window sills with a thickness of more than 2 cm;
• mechanical resistancesun rays and detergents;
• moisture resistanceif the window sill is matched on the kitchen, in the bathroom, pool and other rooms with high humidity.

No. 2. Window sill material

For the production of window sills, different materials are used.The choice is built on the basis of the planned budget, personal preferences, features of the interior and room conditions, as well as depending on which is installed window.

The most popular materials for the manufacture of window sills include:

• polyvinyl chloride (PVC), often referred to simply as plastic;
• tree;
• Particleboard and MDF;
• natural and artificial stone.

Sometimes they meet and non-standard options: ceramic tile, mosaic, WPC, porcelain tile, injection technology or upholstery. The windowsill can have not only the usual rectangular form, but also to be rounded or curiously bend, but it depends more on the characteristics of the material from which it is made.

No. 3. Choose a plastic (PVC) window sill

Plastic window sill in recent years firmly holds leadership, which is due to its performance and affordable price. Such products, in fact, are a common PVC profile with several chambers and vertical stiffeners. Hollow plastic window sills usually have a thickness of no more than 25 mm, but for a visible increase in thickness, the design is equipped with a so-called "nose", its thickness is 30-40 mm. The product is covered with a film on top, which takes on decorative and protective functions.

The design features of the PVC window sill allow us to talk about it numerous benefits:

• good strength, which is ensured by the presence of stiffeners;
• resistance to moisture, sunlight and chemicals, so this product is unpretentious in care;
• light weight;
• ease of installation;
• the plastic film can be of any color and imitate any pattern. The standard option is white, but it can repeat the texture of stone or wood, which is why sometimes plastic windowsills are installed in color to wooden windows, although they are often used in conjunction with plastic windows;
• low price.

Among cons they call it possible to turn yellow over time, “absorb” pollution and even deform under a strong temperature difference. Finally, such a windowsill cannot be called natural. The product may be coated as ordinary PVC filmso and melamine. The second option is preferable, as it can significantly increase the wear resistance.

Number 4. Wooden window sill: pros and cons

Wooden window sill - an integral complement wooden window. Previously, only such products were used in residential buildings, today they are being replaced by cheaper plastic. Nevertheless, a lot of fans of wooden window sills remain, as they possess many benefits:

• highest strength, especially when it comes to oak, beech or larch wood;
• naturalness and environmental friendliness;
• beautiful appearance, pleasant to the touch surface;
• excellent heat-insulating qualities.

Cons the wooden window sill has a lot: price, sensitivity to temperature changes, high humidity, low resistance to ultraviolet radiation, fire, microorganisms and insects. It is better not to spill water on it or put hot dishes on it.

Manufacturers try their best improve performance wooden window sills and extend their service life. Wood is surely dried and treated with antiseptics, then coated with paints, varnishes or enamels, which protect the material from moisture, pests and temperature extremes, and at the same time help emphasize the unique structure of the tree. No matter how hard the modern industry tries, the tree still remains quite demanding in care, and every few years such a window sill will have to be coated with special wax or parquet varnish.

Most commonly used window sills from such breeds:

• conifers, and larch has excellent strength characteristics, and pine, spruce and cedar differ in very beautiful, but soft wood, especially subject to changes in humidity and temperature, so you should be extremely careful with such products;
• hardwood, including oak, hornbeam, cherry, beech, ash, is a more expensive pleasure, but they are much better in strength than most conifers;
• red and ebony - This is an exclusive that costs a lot of money and will complement the luxurious interior in a classic style.

Window sills are rarely made from solid wood - more often used glued boards. Those who are willing to choose a window sill from arraymust get ready for a big waste. Thin layers of wood are glued together under the influence of high pressure and temperature, and as a result, a product is obtained that is practically inferior in strength to the array, but at the same time acquires additional useful qualities, for example, less susceptibility to deformation. The thickness of the wooden windowsill in any case should not be less than 28 mm.

No. 5. Window sills from MDF and particleboard

A cheap replacement for natural wood and stone is a window sill made of particle board. Chipboard made using resins that can release formaldehyde during use. With such products, you should be extremely careful and always check in the documentation that accompanies the product the level of emission of that same formaldehyde (permissible - E0 and E1). MDF board It costs a little more, but is safe for health, since toxic substances are not used in the production.

Combines chipboard and MDF reasonable cost and good performance. Top plates may be veneered with natural wood - the view is decent. Can be used lamination, which allows you to protect the base of the plate from negative environmental factors. The easiest and cheapest option is plastic or PVC cladding. In the latter case, the durability of the window sill is in question, since moisture entering through the ends or cracks in the folds of the film can cause delamination. The film has the property of contracting and opening the edges of the plate, and if water gets on it, there is a great risk that it will swell and become unusable. On the other hand, through the use of lamination and films, you can get a windowsill, exactly imitating the surface of wood, stone or other noble materials.

No. 6. Wood-polymer composite window sill (WPC)

Terrace board, which is used as flooring on balconies and terraces, is used for landscaping garden paths and zones around the pool, can easily serve for the organization of the windowsill. Material made from organic or mineral filler (sawdust, wood flour, fiberglass) and a binder material, which is used as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, less commonly grain starch. Staining occurs either in bulk or after the creation of the product. Boards are formed from the mixture, which differ in a characteristic relief and the presence of voids inside.

Such production technology allows us to talk about such Advantages of WPC window sills:

• absolute resistance to moisture, fungus, temperature extremes;
• high strength;
• resistance to sunlight;
• variety of colors.

Number 7. Natural and artificial stone

Dear natural stone, today they have learned to exquisitely "fake", getting as a result samples that are almost not inferior in strength and aesthetics, but much lighter and cheaper. Look stone window sills Chic, allow you to create exclusive interiors.

The general advantages are:

• high strength;
• resistance to moisture, sunlight, temperature extremes;
• resistance to fire;
• simplicity in leaving, especially it concerns artificial stone;
• environmental friendliness and the absence of harmful fumes;
• excellent appearance and a large selection of textures and colors, artificial stone can repeat the structure of any breed of natural stone.

A natural stone it may be heterogeneous in structure and have internal defects, it is difficult to get a window-sill of a curved shape from it, moreover, its surface is cold. Depending on the breed and processing, the color and type of surface may vary (be rough or smooth to a luster). The most commonly used marble, granite and onyx.

Marble It has a beautiful texture, but can absorb dirt, moisture, it is easy to leave scratches on it. Granite more resistant to any external influences, but has a less pronounced and bright texture. Onyx also has sufficient hardness, but is also able to partially transmit light, which allows it to be used together with the backlight in exclusive interiors.

Artificial The stone can be made using different technologies: agglomerate, acrylic stone or cast marble. In any case, mineral fillers, dyes and polymer resin are used as raw materials, and the difference lies in the percentage of components and the nuances of technology. An artificial stone can have any shape, it has a pleasant to the touch surface, dirt does not eat into it, and hot and mold are not able to do harm. If scratches appear during operation, they can be removed by grinding.

Number 8. Porcelain window sill

Porcelain window sill becomes another excellent substitute for natural stone. Today, not only is porcelain stoneware made floor tiles and facadesbut also refined durable window sills. As raw materials use high quality clay, quartz, feldspar, natural coloring pigments. All this is pressed under high pressure and burned at the highest temperatures. As a result, it turns out to achieve natural stone structuretherefore, porcelain tiles repeats all the advantages of the latter. It is dense, strong, durable, resistant to mechanical, chemical, temperature influences, is not afraid of moisture, fire, fungus and mold. Although it is cheaper and lighter than natural stone, it still remains a rather expensive purchase, and some confidently say that such a strong window sill in the apartment is simply not needed.

In conclusion

If the described options are not enough, then you can always show imagination and lay out the windowsill the remains of ceramic tiles (relevant in the kitchen and bathroom), mosaic or put on it a few soft pillowsto create a cozy place to relax.