The window sill performs three functions at once: it unites the window frame and walls, decorates the common space of the window - from the street to the house, and prevents heat leakage. Materials for arranging a window sill are very different, let's deal with their pros and cons.

Plastic

Since today PVC windows are the most popular, this choice is logical, the simplest and most affordable. Any manufacturer when ordering plastic windows will immediately offer you a similar window sill in the kit. Traditionally they are white to match the color of the window. Of course, there are brown options that imitate wood and even stone, but the plastic remains plastic.

Pros: affordable cost, ease of installation, not very heavy weight, moisture resistance, durability.

Cons: Matte light plastic window sill gets dirty very easily. The dust literally eats into it; it can only be washed off with abrasive agents. Of course, if the window sill is not white, this problem is less noticeable, but it is. If you put something hot on a plastic window sill, it will deform. It's also very easy to scratch.

Important! For the kitchen, it is better to choose plastic window sills with a special heat-resistant and durable coating. Yes, they cost a little more, but they will last longer. Although, judging by the reviews, it is categorically impossible to put a hot pan on such windowsills.

MDF and chipboard

Window sills just made of chipboard are now practically not used, since they have a lot of disadvantages. Laminated chipboard is stronger than MDF, so let's talk about these materials. In general, if you have MDF furniture in your house, then you can perfectly imagine all the advantages and disadvantages of such window sills.

The price is higher than that of plastic, there is a wide selection of shades and textures. It is more expedient to choose laminated plates for window sills, they are more resistant to moisture.

Minus: you cannot put hot things, during installation you can damage the edge, a special tape should be laid between the window sill plate and the wall. If damaged upper layer - the entire window sill may swell under the influence of moisture.

Wood

Do you still remember the good old wooden window sills, usually covered with white paint? We lived with them for many years, and they remained in many old houses. Natural wood has a lot of advantages: safety, environmental friendliness, ease of care.

But old window sills made of ordinary boards could crack over time, the paint had to be renewed regularly. And this traditional version itself is simply considered unfashionable.

Now solid wood window sills cost a lot. Particularly appreciated are durable oak and ash, which look great even without tinting.

Disadvantages of natural wooden window sills: high price, obligatory grinding and impregnation with colorless wax or varnish, risk of scratches. In addition, the varnish or wax coating will have to be renewed regularly.

Artificial and natural stone

This is the most expensive, but very beautiful and durable option. Now window sills made of artificially created stone are almost in no way inferior to natural ones, so their popularity continues to grow. You can not be afraid to put it hot, drop something heavy, dust is easy to brush off and usually it is not too noticeable.

Disadvantages of stone window sills: high price. This is, of course, the most powerful argument against. Otherwise, it cannot be cleaned with abrasive products, natural marble, for example, can absorb spilled liquids, and you will have to take care of it regularly.

Concrete

There is nothing new in concrete window sills. Outside the house, they were often decorated this way, this is a traditional technique. Why not? The concrete is durable and can be painted with different colors. A massive, durable, reliable, if necessary, subject to repair and restoration, maybe a little cold, but quite attractive concrete window sill has few drawbacks. These include the complexity of mounting a heavy slab, as well as the likelihood of cracks in the event of temperature drops and violations of the pouring technology.

Tile

Generally, endure ceramic tiles and mosaic in a separate type of window sill decoration, we admit, is wrong. A base is needed for such coverage. It can serve as concrete, wood, plastic. That is, tiles can be refined, for example, a regular plastic window sill, but how independent material cannot be used.

This option has many advantages - resistance to damage, easy maintenance, beauty, durability, the ability to replace individual details in case of damage. But you should be especially careful about the inter-tile seams, because they are often responsible for the durability of the entire coating.

In modern design, window sills are increasingly turning from a simple framing of a window opening into a practical part of the interior, which can not only be decorated with flowers, but also easily play the role of a table or even a sitting place. Such a window sill greatly facilitates the process of care and maintenance of the window opening and makes the room cozy.

However, being carried away by the arrangement of a stylish, functional and comfortable home, one should not forget that the window sill must also meet certain technical characteristics and fulfill such a duty as maintaining the indoor climate in the norm. A good, properly installed window sill should prevent heat loss and keep cold air out of the room. Which windowsills are better to choose? You need to familiarize yourself with their types and choose the most suitable one in terms of functionality and quality.
So, there are several types of window sills, which have their own advantages and disadvantages, namely:
- concrete;
- wooden;
- plastic;
- made of MDF or chipboard.
Concrete window sills can now be found in old buildings, industrial and other public buildings... When replacing old wooden windows modern windows made of PVC, they, as a rule, are replaced by new ones - wooden, plastic or MDFDSP window sills. They are very strong, strong, can withstand a lot of weight, but they are quite cold and not quite suitable in the case when it is planned to make the window a place of rest.
Natural wood window sills are very warm and comfortable. They are made from wood that has been well dried and treated with special agents. Most often it is pine or larch, but window sills of such types of wood as oak, hornbeam and beech serve the best, the most expensive, exclusive models are made of mahogany. The finished product can be coated with varnish or paint. Solid wooden window sills are quite an expensive pleasure, therefore, to reduce the cost of products, they are often made of multilayer glued timber.
Window sills made of chipboard and MDF have recently become very popular due to their availability. They are produced by dry pressing at high temperatures and using synthetic resins. They are resistant to temperature extremes and agents household chemicals, withstand high mechanical loads. The pattern and color of such window sills can be very diverse, it can imitate natural stone or wood.
Plastic window sills in their appearance do not stand out much among other varieties of this product. Any decorative pattern (wood, marble, etc.) can be applied to the front surface of the product. Plastic window sills can be used even in high temperature and humidity conditions.

12.12.2016

A window sill is a structural element of a window that performs a number of useful functions:

• removes excess moisture along the inner and outer slopes;
• retains heat several times better than concrete bases, which is very important during the heating season;
• simplifies the process of maintenance of window structures;
• plays an important role decorative element in modern interior design.

Types of window sills

Today, the choice of window sills is wider than ever. Let's take a look at the main offerings of the market and note the pros and cons of using each one.

For the budget conscious - plastic

A plastic window sill is a simple and affordable solution. It is very easy to choose the right product, because the offer in this segment is huge.

Sill boards of this type differ from each other only in two parameters: color palette and price. However, such designs do not differ in quality of performance and wear resistance.

Among plusesuse plastic window sills emit moisture resistance and ease of use. They can be washed with any detergent.

Among cons- rough porous structure. Over time, dirt eats into the surface of the material. It is difficult to remove them, and, for example, stains from a felt-tip pen and a marker are impossible.

For cleaning and "whitening" of window sills and window frames, use a special solvent COSMOFEN. The tool cleans the plastic from dust and dirt, but does not remove stains from the marker. Use other products with caution. Many of them enter into a chemical reaction with plastic polymers and cause irreparable damage to the coating and leave imperfections on the surface.

Fashion acrylic

Acrylic window sills are PVC window sills with a protective acrylic coating.

TO pluses this type of window sills include:

• Strength. Thanks to the 3 mm thick walls, they can bear a lot of weight
• Abrasion resistance. Depending on the manufacturer, they have from two to four layers of a protective acrylic coating. The surface is difficult to scratch even during cosmetic repairs (nails, screws, knife).
• Decorative qualities.Each manufacturer offers a large catalog of colors, glossy or matte surface to choose from. You can choose a window sill for any interior.

However, this option cannot be called ideal. Its main disadvantage is the price: such a window sill will cost five times more than a regular plastic one.

Varieties of acrylic window sills

Some acrylic window sills of popular companies have a number of additional advantages:

• DANKE.The brand produces premium class window sills using the latest German technologies with Elesgo protective coating. The coverings imitate the structures of natural wood and stone as much as possible. The coating withstands contact with hot objects, is immune to cigarette ash, chemicals, and is resistant to the formation of stains of any complexity. The manufacturer's warranty is ten years.

• Crystallit. These window sills are also premium products. The manufacturer offers twenty-seven types of decor: matte, glossy, woody, designer. There is no lead formaldehyde in the plastic, which makes them absolutely safe. The surface has increased protection against ultraviolet rays.

• Möller. These windowsills are made from PVC and wood flour. The innovative ELESGO Plus on top ® is five times more abrasion resistant than standard acrylics. The catalog of decors is constantly updated. Product warranty is three years.

Wooden window sill

Most often they are ordered as a "companion" to wooden windows.

A wooden window sill is made from a glued board 40 mm thick. It can be painted in any color from the factory catalog. Usually there are about ten colors to choose from.

High-quality painting of wooden window sills is performed only in the factory.

TO pluses wooden window sills include environmental safety and the ability to match boards to match the wooden frame.

However cons products have much more:

• Strength. Wood is much softer than plastic. Dents, scratches and cracks form on its surface.
• Low abrasion resistance. It is practically absent. Paints and varnishes deteriorate from constant friction, for example, flower pots about the surface.
• Coating "Afraid" of all caustic solvents and most cleaning agents.

Wooden window sills gradually fade in the sun, despite special coatings with UV protection.

Remember that the quality of a wooden window sill depends on many factors: wood species, painting and installation methods, operating conditions.

Reliable stone

Such window sills are harvested from various types of stone: acrylic, quartz agglomerate, marble, granite and others. Accordingly, the cost of the products will depend on the base material.

Pros:

• Great rigidity.They cannot be scratched, unlike plastic or wooden ones. However, as well as to break.
• Huge selection of colors. You can choose the necessary solution that will successfully fit into the interior or match the color to window frame tone on tone.
• The breadth of application.If desired, a stone window sill can be given any shape: round, semicircular, with a transition to the countertop, and so on. There are no restrictions on the flight of imagination of a designer and an architect.

Minuses:

• Complexity of installation.If wooden and plastic sill boards are cut on the spot, then stone ones are cut out at the factory, so correct measurement in this case plays a very important role. It will be difficult to correct the error later.
• Expensive repairs. Acrylic fake diamond - This is an inexpensive (compared to other types of stone) material. Therefore, it will not be difficult for a professional to repair such a window sill on site. When a chip appears, they usually mix acrylic resin with granite chips, fill the damaged area with the composition and grind it. But if your window sill is made of natural stone, such a repair is impossible. For example, a very heavy object fell from a height onto a granite window sill, and several cracks appeared on the surface. In this case, a complete replacement of the base will be required.

Table top

Many clients ask to install kitchen countertops made of MDF and chipboard instead of a window sill. Usually, the customer buys the structure himself, and the installation company only deals with the installation, so you cannot make claims regarding the quality of the base material against the latter.

Worktops are "sharpened" for intensive use, but when installed in places with frequent temperature and humidity changes, it is worth providing additional protection to the ends of the surface: paint and treat with an antiseptic. If this is not done, then the material will very quickly absorb moisture and swell.

In terms of strength, the protective coating of MDF and laminated chipboard countertops takes an intermediate place between plastic and acrylic window sills. They are difficult to scratch, and ease of care is due to the purpose of the surface.

Do you need a windowsill?

This question may seem strange to some. But today in many apartments from the developer there are no window sills in our usual sense. Instead of installing a classic wooden, plastic or stone window sill board, " concrete base to support the "window structure. Someone also thinks that very small window sills do not require as competent installation as standard ones.

When installing windows and window sills, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of the region, the peculiarities of the materials that make up the wall. You need to select designs based on the recommendations of GOST.

Often builders do not leave additional space for the installation of this important element during the subsequent decoration of the premises. The owner has to decorate the existing surface. It is very difficult to achieve an acceptable aesthetic appearance in this case. In addition, paints and varnishes do not protect against humidity and temperature changes at the level of structures already tested by time.

Solutions with a brick or concrete sill are only suitable for loft-style rooms.

Construction companies use this technique to reduce the cost of apartments "for self-finishing" and with "primary finishing". It would seem that this is a plus. But if there is a wide gap between the base surface and the frame, or concrete covers the frame to the sash level, this is a gross violation of technology.

Installed in this way window structure will not perform the basic functions and will soon cause a violation of the indoor microclimate. In winter, the problem may be aggravated by the formation of condensation and mold, freezing of the joint between the frame and the wall, etc. Savings will result in even greater expenses. Are you willing to pay more?

Which to choose?

The main criteria when choosing a window sill are purpose and price. For example, if you intend to buy a simple white window sill under a standard plastic window, you will hardly be convinced to purchase a stone one. Unless reinforced acrylics will interest you in a wide palette of shades.

If you choose a wooden window sill for a wooden window (you need an exact match of shades) or stone for implementation individual project and exact correspondence to the interior, then don't even remember about a plastic window sill with a porous structure.

The price ratio for all the listed types of window sills is as follows: plastic - the cheapest, then acrylic, then wooden, and stone ones close the list. A table top made of MDF or chipboard is comparable in cost to an acrylic window sill board.

1. Plastic window sills Сrystallit (Russia) - increased durability and the widest choice of decors.

The innovative concept "Kristalit" is a combination of a smooth texture and a durable surface of the window sill, covered with a multi-layer ultramodern film made of acrylic resins of the DTS company (Germany). Even the visually powerful structure "Crystallite" distinguishes it from other windowsills in weight and thickness. The surface of the windowsill is resistant to acid and chemical cleaning agents, does not fade under the influence of UV rays. The Kristalit window sill has a special high-strength structure of walls and stiffeners, which provides increased strength during operation. Mounts securely to any window.

Special properties:

Warranty period - 70 years;
- High resistance to abrasion and scratches;
- Heat resistance - up to + 75 С;
- Absolute moisture resistance;
- High resistance to UV rays;
- Environmental friendliness and safety: does not contain formaldehyde;
- High strength: thicker walls and stiffeners;

- Wide choose colors and textures: glossy, matte or imitating natural wood.

Average cost: with a window sill width of 250mm. (panel Khrushchev) - 1 running meter - 1000 rubles.

2. Plastic window sills Moeller (Germany) - the leading brand in the premium class.

The unique high-strength Möller window sills are created using the most advanced technology and environmental friendliness. They are made from the patented LIGNODUR® wood-plastic mixture, which harmoniously combines the best properties of these materials and provides the products with the highest material compression. They have a high-quality coating made of Elesgo-Plus on top® multilayer laminate based on acrylate resins, completely reliable and easy to maintain.

Special properties:

Excellent workmanship;
- High resistance to surface abrasion and scratches;
- High resistance to household chemicals;
- Resistance to heavy mechanical stress;
- Fire safety: self-extinguishing material;
- Heat resistance - 30 minutes at t + 150 ° С;
- Resistance to impact at negative temperatures - t -20 ° С;
- Resistant to UV rays;
- Environmentally friendly: patented, licensed materials.
- Aesthetic appearance.

Average cost: with a window sill width of 250mm. (panel Khrushchev) - 1 running meter - 980 rubles.

3. "Vitrage Plast" plastic window sills are a popular and economical option.

The surface of "Vitrage Plast" window sills is covered with special decorative and protective PVC films. They give the window sills an elegant appearance, pleasant to the touch texture, protection from local mechanical damage, exposure to low temperatures (cigarette ash, hot mug), acidic and caustic substances, food residues, alcohols. The window sill with vertical internal stiffeners is designed in such a way that it can withstand all types of loads (impact, pressure, deflection).

Special properties:

Protective film thickness - 65 microns;
- Service life up to 35 years;
- Medium resistance to scratches and surface abrasion;
- Medium heat resistance;
- Environmental friendliness: does not contain formaldehyde;
- High moisture and steam resistance;
- Resistant to UV rays; - Medium resistant to household chemicals: washable with liquid detergents.
Average cost: with a window sill width of 250mm. (panel Khrushchev) - 1 running meter - 520 rubles.

Anton Tsugunov

Reading time: 8 minutes

The window sill is an important element of the interior. It completes the window opening, serves as a shelf and even a seat. Consider the best window sills for plastic windows, the rules for their selection.

Often the window sill bears the main decorative load. Especially if the room is small or there are lush flowers, books, vases, photographs on the window sill.

Appointment of window sills

To choose a good window sill, you need to take into account its properties and specifications... This element of the interior performs several useful functions at once:

• Protective. Correctly mounted window sill plate provides additional protection against cold and moisture penetration into the room.
• Functional. In small rooms (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom), this element can serve as a table or work surface. In the office, on the window sill, there are often books and folders with documents. And in living rooms, it is sometimes used as a bench.
• Binder. The product can complement the table space, serve as a transitional element between pieces of furniture.
• Decorative. With a good choice of colors and materials, the window sill becomes a decoration of the room.

Types of window sills

Window sills are:

• plastic;
• wooden;
• composite;
• made of natural or artificial stone.

Plastic

When replacing wooden windows with the owners, they often choose a plastic window sill. When you weigh the pros and cons, it seems like a very reasonable choice.

Experts advise to choose models of plastic window sills with a price of 250 rubles / p. m with a blade thickness of 150 mm. The technology of their production excludes the addition of additives harmful to humans.

Parameters affecting the price:

• The cost of the pigment included in the product. Titanium oxide is used to make expensive models. This pigment maintains the whiteness of the windowsill for 10 years. Cheaper models easily absorb dust, acquiring a yellowish tint, colored ones fade over time, creating an unkempt effect.
• Coating quality. Moller, Danke brands use compounds that prevent mechanical damage (scratches, abrasion) and deformation when exposed to high temperatures.

A standard PVC sheet for the manufacture of a window sill has the following dimensions:

1. Length - 4050-6000 mm.
2. Width - 100–600 mm with a step of 50 mm. A product with dimensions of 600–1000 mm with a step of 100 mm is considered wide.
3. Thickness - 18–22 mm. With an increase in this parameter, strength and resistance to mechanical stress increase.

Cloths of this length are purchased construction companies and firms. For specific projects, installers independently cut out the window sills of the required size. It is possible to manufacture PVC canvases according to individual orders for old-style houses or country cottages.

Composite (MDF, chipboard)

Well-pressed chipboards form the basis of chipboard window sills. Typically they are covered with a thick laminate. It imparts resistance to chemical agents, temperature and mechanical stress. Any colors and textures, frames, inserts can be used.

Fiber boards, firmly bonded with safer and more environmentally friendly compounds (lignin, paraffin), form the basis of MDF window sills. They are 2 times more resistant to mechanical stress than chipboard products. In addition, MDF boards are moisture resistant, they can be installed in the bathroom.

The surface is laminated or covered with a thin natural wood veneer, which makes them look like wood.

Window sills of the German brand Verzalit have excellent characteristics (long service life, moisture resistance, strength, resistance to household chemicals). They are made from wood shavings pressed under high pressure with polymer resins.

Wooden

Beautiful window sills made from solid solid wood dried good taste owner. They are made from:

• pines, larch (price - 2500-2800 rubles / m²);
• oak, ash, beech (price - from 4500 rubles / m² with a thickness of 40 mm);
• elite breeds (black, mahogany).

The solid array can be replaced with separate beams tightly glued together.

But such products need regular maintenance. Before the manufacture of window sills, the array is impregnated with an antiseptic that prevents destruction. The texture and color of natural wood are preserved thanks to a layer of oil (mastic, varnish). And this surface layer needs updating (once every 1–1.5 years).

On sale you can find wooden window sills with the following dimensions:

1. The length of the canvas is from 15 cm, the width is up to 1 m.
2. The length of the canvas is from 70 cm, the width is up to 3 m.

They are very durable, resistant to all types of influences (mechanical, chemical, biological), have absolute moisture resistance, fire resistance. They are based on mineral fillers and polymer resins.

Dyes create a rich color range, you can give the product any shape, which opens up scope for design solutions. Any device (fan, vice) can be securely fixed / installed on such a solid surface. And the scratches that appear are easily removed by sanding.

There are also disadvantages. Only specialists can mount products. These models require brackets that can withstand heavy loads to securely attach them. And the high price (3,500–8,000 rubles / item m) does not allow attributing the products to the budget segment of products.

There are 2 options for artificial stone window sills:

• Made of acrylic composite. A finely dispersed filler made of marble, granite or quartz chips is compacted and bonded with an acrylic mixture. During manufacturing, hardeners, pigments and other substances are added to the bulk. The additions increase the hardness and toughness of the material. New properties reduce the chance of chipping.

• Quartz stone. Quartz chips, which make up 90–95% of the product mass, are bound by polyester resins. The technological process involves the addition of mineral coloring pigments (iron compounds, red lead, ocher). Such a window sill is heavier and denser, but the risk of chipping increases.

Natural stone

Granite, marble or onyx are used for natural stone window sills. Such slabs are well polished, have a beautiful texture and intricate pattern. But due to the difficulties in production (possible internal voids in the stone), they are not cheap (up to 4,000 rubles / rm with a web thickness of 20–30 mm).

Window sills made of natural stone are not resistant to surface damage: they are easily scratched. Deep scratches that stand out on the stone are extremely difficult to remove. It will take 2-4 people to transport and install the stove.

Which windowsills are better: glossy or matte?

When choosing between a glossy or matte plastic finish, you need to remember the main features of these surfaces. The regularity of cleaning and the general appearance will depend on them.

• Texture. Shiny glossy surfaces reflect light well, creating the illusion of intense light flux and increasing the illumination of the apartment.

• Resistance to aggressive influences. Matt surfaces turn yellow from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, chemical agents of detergents will destroy the stove over time.
• Aesthetics. Any dirt or mechanical damage (scratch) is clearly visible on the glossy finish. A rough matte surface does not require cleaning for a long time.

• Care: it is enough to wipe the glossy window sill with a damp soft cloth. For matte surfaces, you cannot do without detergents.
• Compatibility with slopes. If the slopes are made of glossy plastic sandwich panels, the same glossy window sill will look good with them.

Windowsill and condensation on windows: where is the connection?

Dense wooden window sills accumulate moisture and even if all installation rules are followed, they can provoke condensation. But the stone ones will play the role of a kind of heater: they will warm up themselves and contribute to the uniform heating of the window opening.

Condensation can form on windows if the sill is too wide. can be done in two ways:

• The window sill should not overlap more than half the width of the radiator located under the window. Warm air currents will be able to rise up to the glass without obstacles.

• With a large width of the window sill plate, the exit will be the gratings embedded in it, which will direct the warm air flows to the glass unit.

Still, which windowsill is better?