I had a window replaced and as part of the process the tile sill was removed.
This has left exposed and uneven brick work. What do I need to do to smooth and level this out in preparation for painting?
Hi @stacyo
The question is, do you want a wooden sill or just plaster. If you are DIYing this then a wooden sill will be easier because inserting a piece of wood and fixing it down then filling round it is easier than trying to fill with plaster and get it smooth and level. A wooden sill would normally be about 15-20mm deeper than the opening and have two "wings", one either side, think of a very wide T. This makes it look as if the whole piece of timber is wider than the opening and the timber is built into the wall. It is also easier to make the timber a tight fit and scrape out some plaster to fit it in so no edges end up visible after filling round it.
Hi @stacyo,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.
@R4addZ has hit on the key consideration here, which is whether you'd like to finish the opening with a timber windowsill or have it flush with the surrounding wall.
If you're planning to DIY, installing a timber sill is often the easier option. It gives you a neat, intentional finish and allows you to hide much of the uneven brickwork beneath it. You would take a piece of timber, such as this https://www.bunnings.com.au/porta-140x30mm-1-2m-dar-rectangle-general-purpose-pine_p0117157 , cut it to size and shape, with the wings that R4addz mentioned, and fix it down to the brick using screws and wall plugs. Once the sill is fitted, any gaps around the edges can be filled with a suitable gap filler or patching compound before finishing with your choice of coating such as paint or oil.
If you'd prefer a flush painted finish with no sill, you could install a piece of plasterboard in the same fashion, albeit without the wings, using screws and wall plugs to fix it in place. You would then install an external angle on the front edge, then plaster, sand and paint it to give it a nice clean finish. A plaster finish will look clean and modern, but it will not be quite as durable as a timber sill.
Oftentimes the best thing you can do is look at how the other windows in your home are finished and emulate them. It can look a bit jarring if only one window in your home has a wildly different finish to the others, so I'd suggest you take inspiration from the other windows in your home when considering what to do.
If you could let us know which option you prefer, or how the other windows in your home are finished, then we could certainly have a deeper look at the best option and method for achieving that finish.
Let me know what you think.
Jacob
