Window Boards

High-Quality Window Boards offer day-to-day Usability and enhance the Look of your House

The main purposes of windows are very clearly defined - they provide security and thermal insulation when closed and convenient airing when opened. However, additional construction elements can add further uses to a window. The window board is one such construction element that does not only protect the reveal but can also be used as a convenient space for placing decorative items. Contemporary sills can be made from various different materials, all of which can be coloured according to your personal taste.

The modern Sill for interior and exterior Application

While the term 'window board' is sometimes used to explicitly refer to the interior window sill only, it actually refers to the long, flat boards made of uPVC, wood, aluminium or stone, which constitute the sill, regardless of whether they are installed as internal or external sills. However, it is certainly important to clearly distinguish between a window board used on the interior and one employed externally, as there are a few notable differences:

  • An internal window board does not need to be weather-proof
  • Boards installed on the outside of the window are sloped
  • Any exterior model should feature a drip edge
  • Exterior sills are often mounted onto the window frames themselves

These differences in construction and installation are the result of differences in usage. For instance, as it is mounted on the inside of your home, an internal sill typically does not come into contact with rain or hail, though exterior sills do. Thus, effective protection against water is really only required of external sills.

Install a handy Window Board inside your Home

The main purpose of interior sills is to provide a safe place to put potted plants and similar decorative items. Thus, the main criteria when choosing a model for this installation position are the dimensions of the board as well as how robust it is and how easily it can be installed.

Choosing the perfect Material

An internal sill can, theoretically, be manufactured from a number of different materials. As the window board has a significant effect on the ambiance of your home, high-gloss marble, ashlar, timber or engineered wood variants such as MDF are all popular choices. For a more modern appearance, uPVC and aluminium can also be used.

All of these materials are strong enough to bear the weight of decorative items, unless the boards are installed incorrectly. And as the interior board is not required to protect the reveal from water, wood and marble effectively lose their main disadvantage in this situation - the risk of rotting or permanently staining. Thus, the question of which material to choose for interior boards really comes down to your personal preference and the price difference between the materials.

Installing an interior Board

On the interior, window boards are typically mounted directly to the bottom part of the reveal. This allows even heavy models made from stone or hardwoods such as oak to sit firmly on the masonry.

However, if the board protrudes too far over the edge of the reveal, it might be necessary to fit brackets or an apron to the board, as the adhesive, mortar, foam, nails or screws used to fix it in place might not be enough to bear the excessive weight that could be applied to the edge of the sill. Generally, brackets should be employed if the internal sill protrudes over the edge of the reveal by 100 mm or more.

Proper Protection with exterior Sills

Because of their important practical function, boards used on the exterior tend to offer fewer options. This construction element needs to be constructed and installed according to specific guidelines in order to provide proper protection to both the wall and the window frame.

Which Material can protect the Reveal?

A window board mounted to the outside can theoretically be fashioned from any of the materials that are also available for interior installation. However, wooden sills do need some regular maintenance in order to keep their protective abilities. This is because, as time goes by, the paint or varnish on a wooden board can fade when exposed to the weather, potentially leaving the wood open to moisture.

Exterior Installation

A board used on the exterior is typically mounted directly onto the bottom part of the window frame, using simple tools only. Thus, it can potentially create thermal bridges, unless an insulating connecting profile is installed between the frame and the sill. This connecting profile also has the benefit of preventing water from seeping into the gap between the board and the frames.

The dimensions of an exterior window board should allow for a flexible insulating joint between the board and the reveal. This is necessary, as some materials can expand or contract after cooling in the shade and heating in the sun.

In order to prevent moisture from accumulating, an external sill should be mounted at an angle of about 5 degrees to provide a sloped surface that allows water to run off easily.

High-Quality Window Boards for your Home

Though they do not add to the overall security or insulation of your windows, sills are essential accessories for any home. As modern boards are offered in a large variety of different materials, colours and installation variants to choose from, they can easily be matched to the facade of any building.

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