Artificial stone window sills are elegant and reliable. They have high durability, original fitting into any interior. For the manufacture of the product, you can use acrylic stone, granite, marble.
Artificial material surfaces
Artificial stone window sills are made using mineral filler, additives with color pigment and acrylic resin. The glued components are seized, and the resulting window sills made of artificial acrylic stone or other material are easily grinded using micrograin abrasives. Such production provides an absolute external resemblance to natural stone.
Artificial stone window sills have the following advantages:
- strength, durability and resistance to various influences;
- With the help of modern technology, seamless racks can be poured, and the installation of a stone window sill takes several hours;
- the material heats up quickly and retains heat for a long time;
- acrylic stone window sills are light weight;
- effective scratch removal;
- easy care;
- hygiene;
- wide color gamut and tint palette.
Artificial stone window sills have some disadvantages. Traces of hot objects remain on their surface.
Design selection
In form, experts distinguish the following types of window sills:
- rectangular - this is a classic version of the design of the space below the window;
- bay windows;
- half-window - the production of artificial window sills in the corner of the room;
- window sills; slopes;
- a complex cascade, the arrangement of which ensures a smooth transition of the window sill to the countertop.
Artificial stone can have a smooth glossy or matte surface. In appearance and structure, it can imitate a specific natural material. Window sills made of natural and artificial stone can have any shape and color. If necessary, with the help of the design, the window design continues or a separate surface is created.
To find out how much an artificial stone window sill costs, the following factors are taken into account:
- pigment used;
- the amount of paint in the product;
- surface parameters;
- window state.
Installation work
Window sills are installed using a certain technology. In this case, an indent of 10-15 cm is taken into account. To seal the joints, polyurethane foam is used. When pouring concrete screed, there is no such effect. Therefore, before installing a window sill made of artificial stone, it is recommended to determine the technology for installation work.
If the screed is equipped, then it should be 14 mm lower than the artificial stone. Brackets are mounted at 1/3 of the width of the screed. Strobes are made in the slopes to fix window sills made of quartz stone or other artificial material.
Before gluing an artificial stone, it is recommended to determine the color scheme of the consumable and glue. If the installation of the stone window sill is carried out according to the glued method, then a special code table is used.
Each shade has its own digital meaning. A grinder is used to remove glue residue. More often artificial window sills are made with a thickness of 12.45 mm or 3.0 cm. If you need to make a complex figure for the window, then installation work is carried out in stages. The surface is assembled in parts. The resulting structure is ground and polished. Can be finished with corian. This natural mineral filler is made from bauxite. For the installation of structures made of artificial quartz, acrylic stone and other consumables, you will need a building level.
Natural material surfaces
For window decoration, you can use a window sill from natural natural material. The product has the following advantages:
- high strength;
- long operation;
- good resistance to external factors;
- stone window sills are easily cleaned from stains;
- absolute environmental friendliness;
- original appearance.
But it’s more difficult to work with natural stone window sills, as they have a lot of weight. Other disadvantages include high cost and a small color scheme.
Types of Supplies
For the installation of a stone standard sample, different materials are used. Often preference is given to 3 types of natural stone:
- onyx, which passes light through itself;
- marble, which accumulates harmful substances. The material is presented in a wide palette of colors. It is a harmless and environmentally friendly natural resource;
- granite, resistant to various damages. Granite window sills “absorb” radiation, which should be taken into account before purchasing consumables.
After installing a stone translucent onyx product, it is recommended to equip a light source under it. This will give the window a beautiful and original look. But window sills made of natural onyx stone are expensive, and the material itself is unstable to mechanical damage.
The following features are characteristic of marble window sills:
- the filamentary structure of the product gives the surface high performance. Marble, unlike other analogues, is considered a strong natural resource. Therefore, the marble window sill withstands large load impacts;
- the presence of a flat and smooth surface throughout the product;
- marble window sills, on which defects appeared, easily withstand the effects of chemical cleaning agents;
- the material does not flake or crumble, which is why marble window sills are easy to process. In the process of manufacturing and installation of an element made of natural stone, you can use various methods of exposure, including cutting, sawing, drilling. After such procedures, the physical characteristics of the product do not change;
- marble stone windowsill is highly resistant to chemicals.
Surface Thickness Calculation
Before installing the product, you need to determine its thickness. The value of this indicator should exceed 20 mm. If the marble window sills are thinner, then they can crack during transportation, installation or during operation. More often window sills from marble and granite have a thickness of 30 mm.
Such surfaces have high strength, and many options can be used to finish their ends. Window sills are made of natural stone, taking into account the indent from the wall by more than 150 mm. If there is a battery under the product, then the window sills made of stone may be damaged during installation.
Before their manufacture, the face finish is taken into account. It should organically fit into the interior of the room. If it is not possible to install a thick coating, experts advise choosing a window sill from a tile or a 30 mm product with additional gluing of a similar thickness. Marble window sills can be trimmed with ledges, engraving, milling cutter, and the method of figured processing.
Advantages and installation of granite surfaces
Molded granite windowsill has the following advantages:
- the highest chemical and physical characteristics, which is associated with the structure of natural material;
- a granite surface is better than a window sill made of tiles, as it can withstand high temperatures;
- window sills made of stone, unlike wooden counterparts, are easily repairable;
- affordable price.
Before starting installation work, it is recommended to inspect the consumables for defects. The next step is to prepare a niche for the future surface.
Then a granite window sill is installed on a dry surface. In addition, a slope from the opening is performed so that water flows. The product is removed, a primer is applied.
To fix window sills from a natural stone, special glue is used. It is applied in a thick layer. Excess glue is removed before it hardens. Otherwise, you will need to apply acid to the granite window sills to remove glue stains..
Sealant is used to seal the joints between the plate and the window profile. But first, the remains of cement glue are removed from the seam. Granite window sills are better sealed with a composition with the following requirements:
- high adhesion;
- neutral composition.
When the sealing is completed, the granite window sills are treated with a protective fluid. It prevents the absorption of water and various impurities into the coating. Mounted window sills made of granite, marble and artificial supplies will last a long time, if properly looked after.