Repair Window Sill Behind Siding

If you re siding right against the window.

Repair window sill behind siding.

Use a siding removal tool. Paint can hide wood rot so poke the siding with the tip of the. Run a bead of waterproof marine grade adhesive along the old sill. But if you plan to surround the window with trim choose 9 in wide flashing to protect behind the seam between the trim and the siding.

Use the crow bar or chisel to slowly pry the windowsill off the window. Drill pilot holes every 16 inches or so through the new sill s front and back edges. Get rid of any rotted wood behind the apron and sill. Do ride the smooth edge when caulking a seam between a window and textured siding.

Siding is often textured and if you slide the tip of the tube along the bumpy texture the bead of caulk will. Keep the sill in one piece so you can use it as a model when cutting the new sill. Trim the back edge of the new sill as needed so that its lower edge fits tightly against the siding and its back edge fits against the old wood. If your home has wood siding examine the siding around and beneath the windows for signs of swelling or discoloration.

Use your chisel or multitool and get rid of any wood that s rotted crumbling or punky. You want to keep eight inches off the ground of wet ground contact. Do not cut the vinyl off. Use a utility knife and if necessary a hammer to carefully break and remove any caulking or sealant that s binding the old sill to the window frame.

Even though a hive nestled inside the wood aluminum or vinyl siding is hard to actually reach these are in fact some of the easiest and safest types of nests to get rid of because they require no contact. Extract nails keeping the vinyl pieces in place in order to prepare vinyl pieces to be removed. Pry the trim away from underneath the sill and from both sides of the window with a pry bar. If the sill was pretty rotted there s a good chance that water worked its way in behind it and rotted siding and possibly even framing members.

Repair any rotten spots on the old sill with epoxy. And around the windows there are these great wraps that are. Remove the pieces of vinyl siding from around the window area. Cut the tape to length with a utility knife and peel a little bit of the backing free and stick it to the top of the window.