The windows in this clients house are common, double-hung windows, trimmed out with a sill, stool, and apron. These trim components work together to create a nice looking weatherproofing system. The sill is usually sloped 10 – 15 degrees toward the outside of the house and serves to divert water away from the bottom of the lower sash. On the interior side of the window, the gap where the bottom sash meets the sill is hidden by the stool. The stool projects out from the bottom of the window, creating a small ledge. This leaves a gap between the bottom of the stool and the drywall underneath the window. This area is concealed with an apron which is a piece of window trim, that has been mitered and fit with returns on each end.
It is common for damage to occur to the edges of the stool because it projects out from the wall. It can easily break by having a child leaning on it, or sliding a piece of furniture into it. In this case, it turned out to be a great place for a silly dog, named Bella, to take out her teething frustrations…She is a good dog now though!!
The repair is begun by removing the apron. A razor knife can be used to score between the trim and wall to minimize cracking or damaging the drywall. The stool should be easy to pry up with a small pry bar. I saved the existing stool to use as a template for fabricating the new one. After removing the old caulk and paint from the wall surface, it is a good idea to give the entire area a light sanding.
Window stool can easily be made with a router/table and a round-over bit, or picked up from your local hardware store, pre-milled, if you have a common profile. Using the old stool as a template, I traced the marks onto the new piece. A coping saw is a quick way to make small, complicated cuts when fitting it to the window and existing trim. Because it is unsightly to have a square cut on each side of the stool, it is necessary to use a mitered return. To achieve this, miter the ends of the new stool to 45 degrees. Cut a complimentary piece out of the remaining stock and glue it, so that the profile is continuous.
After achieving the proper fit, install the new stool and replace the apron. While making a repair like this, it never hurts to use expanding foam to fill any gaps between the window and the framing. Countersink the nails and then sand thoroughly. Caulk, prime, and paint the new trim to match the remainder of the window (leave the bottom sash up slightly, until dry, to prevent sticking). The finished product should be a nice, clean looking window!
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