How to fix windowsills?

Norma
by Norma

What can I do to fix a windowsill? Layered old lead paint. Don't want to disturb, just make it look presentable. Has gouges and missing chunks!! UGLY!! thanks

  5 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Mar 26, 2019

    We just wore gloves and a mask and stripped ours with a heat gun., sanded and primed with exterior oil based primer and painted with 2 coats of latex exterior paint. Lasted 10 years so far and we are still healthy.

  • Zard Pocleeb Zard Pocleeb on Mar 26, 2019

    If you have the capability (tools) and the knowledge you can replace them and not have the headache of dealing with the lead paint. They’re not very difficult to make and don’t require a lot of wood.

  • Suzette Suzette on Mar 26, 2019

    Hi Norma, Unfortunately, there is no quick fix that I'm aware of, unless you replace the sill it's self. Here's a how to video for repair and renew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DircIiUL6pw


    Good luck!

  • Betty Nuovo Betty Nuovo on Mar 28, 2019

    First of all, let me say that you have received some good suggestions. I would do one of those. But if you really don't want to do any of the suggestions already presented, there may be another way. You can take some wall spackling -mud - and smooth it over the painted surfaces. Depending on the type of paint used, it may not adhere. This would make a smooth surface that you could then paint. You might have to fill the gouged in several shallow applications. It would raise the height of the surface and could interfere with opening and closing the window. A thin piece of wood attached could be a different alternative as well.

    That being said I would encourage you to get rid of the lead paint if at all possible. It is dangerous and will eventually flake off. Covering up things like this only delays the issue and does not really solve it.

    If I lived nearby I would come over and help you do it right. You don't happen to live in northern Vermont, do you?