Best tool to use for this job?

KG_SouthTipp · 19-06-2019 1:04pm #1

Hi All,

I have an issue where the wooden floor in an apartment is right up against the window (see attached photo) and has no room to expand and the floor buckles. The type of windows installed in the apartment causes a lot of condensation in the winter and it makes a mess of the floor and makes opening doors difficult! I tried using a multi tool to cut half inch gap but turns out there is an aluminum lip on the window slightly below the floor surface and my chisel was wide!
My question is that it looks like I need to widen the gap to an inch but I went thru 3 multi tool blades doing the current job! Is there a better way or tool to do this job?

2nd question, once gap is created should I fill it with some sort of silicon or is there a "removable" drain I could fit and empty when required?

Thanks for any "helpful" advice :-)

Calahonda52 · 19-06-2019 1:44pm

helpful or not, the window is not the cause of the condensation.

The alu "lip" is part of the window frame.

Is it all window or is there a sliding door on the rhs on the picture?
I would cut it back inside the face of the alu frame and fit a piece of half saddle board all the way along, iff no door

KG_SouthTipp · 19-06-2019 1:51pm

Thanks for the reply, no door on that section. There is a pillar and then a double doors which has a similar issue but not as bad

KG_SouthTipp · 19-06-2019 1:53pm

Calahonda52 wrote: »

helpful or not, the window is not the cause of the condensation.

The alu "lip" is part of the window frame.

Is it all window or is there a sliding door on the rhs on the picture?
I would cut it back inside the face of the alu frame and fit a piece of half saddle board all the way along, iff no door

What is causing the condensation? I had assumed the windows were not insulated very well?

Also what would the saddle board do?
Thanks

Lumen · 19-06-2019 3:42pm

What angle are you holding the multi-tool at? What shape is the blade? I found the trick with a multi-tool is to only cut a very thin strip at a time. If you use the whole width of the blade it really slows down.

Regarding the best tool, a track saw with a very carefully set depth stop would do it, as long as you come out far enough that it doesn't foul the window frame.

Once you can see what you're working with, try and work out how the window is supposed to drain condensation and design something around that.

Calahonda52 · 19-06-2019 4:58pm

KG_SouthTipp wrote: »

What is causing the condensation? I had assumed the windows were not insulated very well?

Also what would the saddle board do?
Thanks

You and the other occupants: cooking, washing, drying, breathing, showering, etc all cause condensation so you have inadequate ventilation.

As Lumen said, a track saw would work really well.
The saddle board would be fixed, at the same level as floor, near the window and the cut board would be hidden underneath with plenty room to move.

Best tool to use for this job?

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