[Scrat]

Hello all! I have been trying to find the answer to this for hours and hoping you can help. My window sill is separating from the window after a recent earthquake. What can I do? Caulk? Drywall putty? Replacement? It's about a quarter in seperated.

Bones of the house are still good, just looks like things where shaken around a bit.

Thanks a ton!

 

[Nealtw]

Maybe you can post a picture? How have you determined that the house bones are fine?

 

[Scrat]

https://imgur.com/8820lXR

For the life of me, I can't get it to display the image in the forum.

As for how I know the bones are solid, I had a home inspector and a structural engineer inspect it and both agreed it was in good shape, just slightly shifted.

 

[Nealtw]

Did the engineer put that in writing?

 

[Scrat]

Yes indeed. To quote "cracks and visual damages caused by the earthquake are cosmetic in nature only, and unlikely to spread in the future."

Got kinda lucky I think

 

[Scrat]

Also, I would point out that is the only place that this has happened. Only other damage in the house is a small crack in the dining room.

 

[Nealtw]

Also, I would point out that is the only place that this has happened. Only other damage in the house is a small crack in the dining room.

Just hard to imagine what would have to move to leave just that space.
I think I would just caulk it.

 

[Scrat]

Oh I don't disagree with you! There's a reason I hired both inspectors one after another. I expected large severe structural damages from that honestly...

Thanks for the tip! I'm sure you can understand it's hard to find info on that size of crack....

 

[Nealtw]

Oh I don't disagree with you! There's a reason I hired both inspectors one after another. I expected large severe structural damages from that honestly...

Thanks for the tip! I'm sure you can understand it's hard to find info on that size of crack....

When the crack is to big you can use a foam cord to fill the crack close the surface.

 

[ron45]

OMG!

Carefully pry the sill off
Remove the nails
Re-install the sill
Putty the nail holes and then smooth with damp cloth
Then paint.

 

[Scrat]

Are you saying cut a new sill?

 

[Oso954]

He is not from earthquake country and apparently thinks you can just reinstall it. He doesn’t realize that the dimensions can change on you and that squareness can change as well.

Yes, you would need to cut a new sill if you want to go through all that work.

Personally, I’d just caulk and paint it.

Then I’d see how much it moves and in what direction with the next quake.

 

[ron45]

He is not from earthquake country and apparently thinks you can just reinstall it. He doesn’t realize that the dimensions can change on you and that squareness can change as well.

Yes, you would need to cut a new sill if you want to go through all that work.

Personally, I’d just caulk and paint it.

Then I’d see how much it moves and in what direction with the next quake.

The drywall is not cracked so it didn't move far off the mark.
Straighten the sill out and caulk around the sides and paint.

Half ass looks half ass no matter what part of the country you come from.

 

[Mystriss]

Might be able to pry up the sill and shift it to the left so the gaps more even on both sides.

Either way, I'd install a thin decorative trim (simple ogee or something) around the base of the window (possibly the whole inside window frame) - it'll look on purpose and should cover even if there's another gap producing quake later on.

 

[dj3]

What you have is caulk that dried up and failed.
Scrape and clean as much of the old caulk as you can and re-caulk using a better grade elastomeric caulking.