Concrete window sill split in half

extra-ordinary_

Has anyone ever heard of or seen this?? I heard a loud crashing and went out to investigate. I thought some of the chimney had come down or something but when I saw the pieces of concrete on the ground I couldn't figure out where they'd come from until I saw this...

mickdw

extra-ordinary_ wrote: »

Has anyone ever heard of or seen this?? I heard a loud crashing and went out to investigate. I thought some of the chimney had come down or something but when I saw the pieces of concrete on the ground I couldn't figure out where they'd come from until I saw this...

I've seen partial splitting maybe along half the cill a good few times, typically 1970s and earlier construction.
You can break out the old cill and replace with new precast one that you would wrapp in damp proof course. This would involve some making good around the cill and repainting.
Some people have just cast a new piece onto front. This can be done as long as you would be satisfied that the existing is adequately wrapped with damp proof course. Typically, the existing would be drilled and some steel pins inserted to hold the new concrete.

extra-ordinary_

Thanks for the quick reply. So weathering and dampness getting into the concrete would do this? I'm in a rented house so will let landlord sort out how he wants to fix it, I just thought it very peculiar, would've thought it happened more in winter with frost or something. Thanks again.

Calahonda52

OP: you might want to check the other ones as well, especially upstairs as they obviously pose a serious risk if they fall.

foxy farmer

The rebar has rusted due to a crack or a poor concrete mix in the sill. When steel rusts it expands up to 6 times eventually cracking the surrounding concrete. A new piece could be cast onto it or a new one installed. Left like that it has the potential to draw moisture into the wall. Check the other sills for any tell tale cracks. Let the landlord sort it.

extra-ordinary_

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it's gone right along the rebar, I'll take a look at the other sills and let the landlord sort it out.

Gen.Zhukov

Hi, just thought I'd piggy-back on this thread as it looks done.
Was going to paint around window and cill and I think I might be in the same boat as op. Am I right ? Looks like it won't take the weight of the paint :pac:

iwillhtfu

1.618 wrote: »

Hi, just thought I'd piggy-back on this thread as it looks done.
Was going to paint around window and cill and I think I might be in the same boat as op. Am I right ? Looks like it won't take the weight of the paint :pac:

Looks nothing more than a cosmetic crack where the render meets the bottom of the sill.

Gen.Zhukov

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Looks nothing more than a cosmetic crack where the render meets the bottom of the sill.

Cheers, I sure hope so. Should have said, no sign of a crack on top of the cill at all, which there probably would be (going by op's pic)