Wood Window Sills

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Author Message Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 582 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 01:18 pm:    Any recommendations for desired wood to use at sills, where condensation is a concern? Both transparent and opaque (painted). AWS calls out Ponderosa or Sugar Pine at Sashes and Blinds/Shutters - would this be the best for sills or does anyone have other thoughts? Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1922 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 02:39 pm:    I'd go with wood rated for exterior use: Doug Fir maybe? Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 549 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 03:09 pm:    It costs, but I'd go with mahogany. John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1610 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 03:37 pm:    Is the condensation more than would normally be expected? If not, then I think Ponderosa pine or sugar pine (which are traditional materials for making windows), or eastern pine (depending on where you are, traditionally used for trim) will be fine. One recommendation is to back-prime each piece prior to installation, not typically done on interior work. One consideration for harder woods like mahogany is that they area bit more difficult to keep painted because the paint films don't bond quite as readily due to the tighter cell structure. Tannin bleed can also be a concern. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 788 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 03:52 pm:    What I find is that window sills (or, more accurately window stools) are convenient resting places for a variety of stuff including plants that require watering or vases with water in them. Even when neither condensation nor leaking windows are concerns for the user, there may be standing water in these locations. The exact wood species is less of a concern than is getting a good finish.I like John's recommendation for backpriming as well. When my dad added on a second story for us boys in the late 1950s, he had wood sils (mahogany, I think). After Hurricane Carla drove a bunch of water through the windows (and after we left the windows open quite a bit during other rainy periods), he covered them with plastic laminate. For schools, I have always recommended stone window stools or where the client could not afford those, plastic-laminate clad stools so the teachers could put all the sweet potato plant vines they wanted in the windows at these schools.