Removing Rotten Window Sills
- 1). Scrape the paint off the window sill using a paint scraper to expose any nails that may hold it to the house. Remove excess nails using a claw hammer.
- 2). Cut through the window seal wood as close to the house as possible using a reciprocating saw blade, keeping the teeth pointing up. Remove the sill from the window.
- 3). Shave off swelled or excess wood to leave an even surface using a wood plane. Move the wood plane back and forth in long, even stroked.
- 4). Use a pivot square to determine the angle of the original sill. Most sills are angled to deflect water.
- 5). Measure the length of the window sill and cut a piece of 2-by-4-inch timber. Cut the edge with the table saw set to the angle of the original sill.
- 6). Nail the new sill into the wood using a 2 1/2-inch nail. Apply one nail on each end going upward into the other trim pieces.
- 7). Paint and stain the sill in the appropriate color for your home. Apply a water sealant according to the packaging instructions to prevent water rotting in the future.
