Are the cracked window sills likely caused by water damage from extreme temperatures when the windows were left open, and is recalking and painting enough to fix it?
Asked by Lærke Petersen 
4 months ago
Last Updated: August 3, 2024
It looks like the previous tenants kept a lot of windows open, which caused a ton of dust to build up in the house. There are also signs of water damage, with cracks in the window sills and edges. Do you think the damage is from the water or from extreme temperatures when the windows were left open in the cold winters and hot summers here? My plan is to clean out the old caulking, sand, re-caulk, and paint. Do you think there’s anything else I should do to fix it up?
Seems like a good plan, just make sure you’re certain about where the water damage is coming from.
You might also want to consider applying some spackle to those areas that need filling, and then sanding them down.
Take a look at the windows from the outside. Have they been caulked properly? This will help prevent any water seepage.
Is it possible that the plants are wilting because they are being watered and left on the window sill?
I was thinking the same thing, .
Is that made of MDF or wood? Paint and caulk the windows. I prefer using PVC to encase the windows.
I think that’s drywall, !
Isn’t this just a classic first world problem?
This is a forum about home renovation and the original poster had a home renovation question. Maybe take your political comment somewhere else.
Sure has a lot to say.
Made some pretty silly comments, huh? It seems like you’re just another person trying to act tough online. I won’t waste any more time on you.
Thinks the guy is simply a troll.
Is questioning the logic behind feeding the troll.
Discovered that mold was growing in the wood, leading to the need to remove window sills.
Looks like we’ve got another boot and ban situation on our hands. Why can’t everyone just play nice?
He probably had an air conditioning unit installed in the window.
I would patch up any imperfections with spackle, sand them down, apply caulk, prime, and then paint over them.
Condensation often builds up on the inside of windows when there is a lot of humidity in the room. Vinyl windows can sweat when the frame is cold and the interior is warm. Make sure to clean them well, lightly sand, recaulk both inside and outside, and then paint.
Does anyone else find it odd that he’s trying to blame everything on the previous tenants leaving windows open?
1. Dust is inevitable, especially without running the HVAC
2. Wood naturally expands and contracts, even with climate control, so recaulking is necessary.
3. The water stains are likely from watering plants.
Wiley Theotherwhitemeat I’ve never seen so much dust accumulate in such a short period of time! All the window sills and baseboards were covered in more dust than usual. Surprisingly, the HVAC system seemed to be running normally according to the utility bills. And I couldn’t help but notice that there wasn’t a single plant in the house during any of my three visits.
If you want to avoid always having to fix it, consider covering the drywall with a durable and attractive material like marble slab or plexiglass. As a former property manager, I know those window sills can be a constant issue and it’s best to keep them covered.
It seems like these are indications of insufficient control over humidity levels indoors, which is usually the landlord’s responsibility and in their best interest to provide dehumidification.
In the dry western region, humidity is not a big issue, particularly when the HVAC system is working properly.
Hey , what are the usual outdoor humidity levels for you? Does your AC use forced air and have a humidifier?
Seems like water is coming in from the window, hard to tell if it’s due to the window being open or if it’s leaking through caulking cracks. Play it safe and have the landlord re-caulk both the exterior and interior of the window. I agree with others that this kind of window sill isn’t ideal and will always show everything. Either repaint it once the caulking is fixed or cover it with something more durable.