Windowsill
The window sill , also the window sill , sill or ledge , is the horizontal cladding of the upper end of the parapet of a window . An outside window sill, which is not part of the window itself but as part of, the masonry of Wandlaibung can be seen, is also called sill referred.
Distinction
In technical terms, a strict distinction is made between an exterior window sill and the room-side interior window sill, which perform different functions and are now usually made of different materials. If the interior window sill is made of wood, it is technically referred to as a latex board.
description
An outside window sill is inclined outwards and has a water nose (drip edge). Metals such as aluminum, but also artificial stone, have often been used as materials in recent decades. Today's exterior window sills are often a direct part of the window component and are firmly connected to the respective frame. Such light metal window sills have special anti-drumming films glued on the underside, which are intended to reduce the noise caused by hitting rainwater.
The interior window sill is usually designed horizontally. It also serves as a floor space, often for indoor plants. Frequently used materials are natural stone , artificial stone or cast stone . In Germany today, interior window sills are usually not counted as a window component and therefore usually not manufactured and installed by the window manufacturer, but, for example, by companies that are also responsible for flooring work. Interior window sills in kitchens, bathrooms and toilets can also be made from the material of the rest of the wall covering, as tile covering.
The depth of the window sill can vary from building to building. It depends on the wall thickness, which results from the wall construction ( masonry construction , timber construction ) and on the respective installation situation of the window within the reveal. If the window element is located close to the outer edge of the building, a relatively large amount of space remains on the inside as a floor space. Such considerations played a role in West Germany - especially in residential construction in the first post-war decades, with the comparatively low masonry wall thickness of 24 centimeters.
The space below the inner window sill is often used to attach radiators . In the past, this made sense, as the cold air flowing in through the cracks of the (compared to today's) always somewhat leaky and single-glazed window was immediately heated. With today's much better insulated windows, this is no longer absolutely necessary, but is still often practiced, as it means that no otherwise usable space in the room is wasted.
history
In the past, window sills were often placed in a niche at right angles to the window. Among other things, these served as seating, as the incident daylight could be used effectively here. Another possibility was to use the space below the window sill running parallel to the window by installing a wall cupboard. In today's buildings with significantly thinner walls, this is usually no longer possible.
