Home Repair forum - Replacing rotted basement window stool (sill)...

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Replacing rotted basement window stool (sill)...

blueman

2006-07-31, 3:25 am

The window stool of one of our basement windows is rotted and I have a
couple of questions on how to replace it.

The window frame itself is site built and is surrounded on 3 sides
(U-shape) by a 150 year old stone-and-mortar foundation. The exterior
side of the stool has rotted away so I need to replace it.

My plan is to knock out the rotten 2-by-X stool and replace it with
new materials.

Questions:
- Should I use pressure treated 2-by-X or is it OK to just use primed
and painted ordinary stock?

- If I do use pressure treated stock (ACQ probably), can I paint it
and if so what special preparation (if any) is required? (one guy at
the local borg store said I need to wait 3 months for the wood to
dry before painting)

- What do I use to secure the new 2-by-X stool to the foundation? I
would prefer not to have to nail or drill into the old rock
foundation. Is there a glue, caulk, or foam that will do the trick
of both sealing and securing the stool to an obviously irregular
stone masonry surface? (I could add a little mortar to cover any
gross imperfections)

- Anything else I need to worry about?

Thanks!

marson

2006-07-31, 9:25 am

> Questions:
> - Should I use pressure treated 2-by-X or is it OK to just use primed
> and painted ordinary stock?

i would use pressure treated. another option would be cedar.

>
> - If I do use pressure treated stock (ACQ probably), can I paint it
> and if so what special preparation (if any) is required? (one guy at
> the local borg store said I need to wait 3 months for the wood to
> dry before painting)

pressure treated can be painted just like any wood. it is true that if
it is soaking wet (as it often is) it need to dry. that would be the
advantage of using cedar...it usually comes dry.
>
> - What do I use to secure the new 2-by-X stool to the foundation? I
> would prefer not to have to nail or drill into the old rock
> foundation. Is there a glue, caulk, or foam that will do the trick
> of both sealing and securing the stool to an obviously irregular
> stone masonry surface? (I could add a little mortar to cover any
> gross imperfections)

you could probably use a construction adhesive like liquid nails or
similar.
>
>

Jim Wheeler

2006-07-31, 9:25 am

you might want to check H.D. or Lowes for their no-rot plastic trim -
they have some sills and nose pieces made of PVC that cut and nail close
to wood. jim

blueman wrote:

>The window stool of one of our basement windows is rotted and I have a
>couple of questions on how to replace it.
>
>The window frame itself is site built and is surrounded on 3 sides
>(U-shape) by a 150 year old stone-and-mortar foundation. The exterior
>side of the stool has rotted away so I need to replace it.
>
>My plan is to knock out the rotten 2-by-X stool and replace it with
>new materials.
>
>Questions:
>- Should I use pressure treated 2-by-X or is it OK to just use primed
> and painted ordinary stock?
>
>- If I do use pressure treated stock (ACQ probably), can I paint it
> and if so what special preparation (if any) is required? (one guy at
> the local borg store said I need to wait 3 months for the wood to
> dry before painting)
>
>- What do I use to secure the new 2-by-X stool to the foundation? I
> would prefer not to have to nail or drill into the old rock
> foundation. Is there a glue, caulk, or foam that will do the trick
> of both sealing and securing the stool to an obviously irregular
> stone masonry surface? (I could add a little mortar to cover any
> gross imperfections)
>
>- Anything else I need to worry about?
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>

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