3 Reasons your Window Sills are Failing
Window sills are an essential part of your home and play an important role in protecting and diverting water away from entering your home. Window sills, if done correctly, are bulletproof and need zero to slim maintenance. They can also cause serious water damage, staining and structural damage if done incorrectly. Here are 3 reasons your window sills are failing, the difference between brick vs. concrete pre-cast sills and why one should be chosen over the other. Understanding these signs and differences will allow you to make a proper decision in your next window sill project.
Improper slope
Do you ever notice efflorescence underneath your window ledge? Water build-up on top of your window ledge? This is due to an improper slope.
All window ledges need to have a proper slope to divert water away from your home and not allow water entry to get in behind your brick wall. If left unattended, structural issues and efflorescence can occur.
Brick vs. pre-cast concrete window ledge:
Damaged window sills are mainly caused by home builders using bricks rather than pre-cast concrete sills. Using brick causes too much room for error. Brick is porous and absorbs water which puts a lot of pressure on the mortar joints. This causes mortar deterioration and brick splitting. This leads to constantly needing brick repointing or brick replacement. Brick window ledges are impacted by harsh weather so when they don’t properly divert water away from the house, it can lead to a significant amount of maintenance.
Why not eliminate the maintenance and create less worry? Pre-cast sills easily last over 50 years and have zero maintenance. Mortar joints are limited, they divert water away from your masonry structure by their built-in drip edge, and they add a mass amount of aesthetic appeal to your home. The best method to repair window ledges is to remove the brick and install a pre-cast concrete sill.
Window Frames & Caulking
If your window frame is allowing water entry or is rotten, this can lead to window ledge failure. The last thing anyone wants is water entry. Each year, take a few minutes out of your day and look to see if your window frame is in the proper condition.
Caulking is another key factor to consider. Same thing, each year, inspect the caulking around your home, make sure there are no cracks or broken bonds and everything is as it should be.