I have an early 80s tudor style house with clamshell molding (yuck!). I am in the process of putting good trim/baseboard etc. around the house.
My problem is that the existing window (sill) stool barely comes out the side of the window. So, if I have to install window trim (casing) around the tall thin windows, I will have to replace the window stool in order for the casing to come inside the stool. Currently, I do not have any window trim.
Can anyone direct me to any URL that shows me how to (1) remove my existing stool, and (2) install a new one. I have yet to see any book out there that shows one how to change out a window stool.
I'm not sure if I understand what you have. You say you don't currently have trim. What is on the other three sides of the window? Is there rock on three sides and a stool at the bottom? Is the stool wood and does it have an apron under it? Is the stool attached to the window or is just decorative and applied to the framing?
In a lot of cases with a wood stool you can remove the existing one and use it as a pattern. Just make it wider or deeper depending on your needs.
I'll try to glance thru some back issues and see if it comes up...sometimes what I think was just a short while ago turns out to be a year or more... :)
However, in this case I don't think it has been all that long as I've only re-begun the latest stretch of taking FHB again not much over a year or so (they offered a really low price for a year and so far haven't raised it and it's had enough that I haven't cancelled again as the previous 3 or 4 times (yet, anyway).
I do not have trim on the 3 sides of the window. I do have a stool and apron below it. However, they are real cheap; i.e. the stool does not project a whole lot onto the sides of the window. So, if I use a trim of any respectable thickness, it will fall outside of the stool length when they meet, which will look real tacky.
Let me try this one more time. Are these wood windows? Are the three sides not trimmed at all or are they covered with sheet rock? Is the existing stool actually a part of the window or just applied to cover the framing?
Are these wood windows? - No, they are metal (old) windows.
Are the three sides not trimmed at all or are they covered with sheet rock? - They are not trimmed. They have sheet rock on the sides.
Is the existing stool actually a part of the window or just applied to cover the framing? - The stool and apron are made of wood and are NOT part of the metal window. Not sure what you exactly mean by "just applied to cover the framing" but I guess that if I remove the stool and apron, I will see the framing of the house?
Yes you will..... unless they sheet-rocked that too.
Removing the stool should be no problem. But the question is do you really want to? Normally, when you see wood trim on the window you also see a wood jam extension on the three sides where you now have sheet rock. You can remove the sheet rock (which will probably have metal corners) and replace it with wood if you want to go to the trouble or maybe (if you have room) you could cover the rock with wood and then trim. At any rate, I've never seen wood trim on windows that still have the sheet rock showing on the three sides. As far as removing the stool goes, take the apron off first. You can set the nails (you should see putty where the nail holes would be) or just carefully pry it off. Then you can do the same thing with the stool. Set the nails with something that won't split the existing stool as you may be able to use it as a pattern for the new one. You might also take a knife and score where the sheet rock meets the stool. This should break any paint line or caulk that might be there. Then pry it off. If you are going to cover the sheet rock (or replace it with wood) saving the existing jam is not necessary since you will change the size when you cover or replace the sheet rock.
Making the new stool is not too difficult. If you don't remove the rock or cover it (which means you haven't changed the width) you can use the old stool as a pattern. Just add the length you need and more width if you need that too to your new piece of stock. Lay the old stool on top of the new piece, flush the back of the two pieces (the side that goes to the window) and center the old (shorter) one between the ends of the new piece. Trace where the "ears" are cut out and extend the lines to each end of the new longer piece. You can cut the ears with whatever saw you happen to have. I normally use my table saw but you could use a jig saw or even a hand saw. Making one from scratch is no more difficult but you just need to do a little more lay-out on the new piece. Let me know if you could use some tips for that.
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