dissatisfied with windows and window sills

Hello

we received our windows this week.

There are now several points that we, especially I, are not satisfied with. Before we contact the window installers again, I first wanted to ask whether this might be completely normal and nothing can be changed (unfortunately, my husband and I have no knowledge about this, so I wanted to ask here first, maybe this is all normal and I am upset without reason. Sorry also for my unqualified writing)

1.) At the windowsill and the window, there is always a gap visible, probably it is not completely fitted there. At some windows more, at some less. A photo is attached so you know what I mean.

2.) The windowsills are fixed with construction foam. Some are properly sloping there, some completely straight. But everywhere somewhat different. I first thought maybe I’m mistaken. – But we placed a pencil on them, at some windowsills it rolls off immediately, at some it just stays.

3.) The windowsills are very loose; when you touch them, it feels like you could almost pull them off with your bare hand. Is it maybe just because the construction foam still needs to dry and therefore it is normal? Or should it already be firm now?

4.) In addition, we ordered integrated insect screens for the bedroom and children's rooms, but these are missing. Well, we will definitely get in touch with the company again so they can still be installed.

4.) Now it gets a bit longer. We decided on an external roller shutter system where the roller shutter box is plastered over and thus not visible. We were then supposed to decide right away on windowsills (material and color) – we chose aluminum outside and plastic inside. Unfortunately, we were not informed that with this roller shutter system the window is set really, really deep inside – basically completely inside. Outside we now have a huge windowsill. Inside as well – however, this now protrudes everywhere very far, sometimes 9 cm, sometimes 10 or even 11 cm. Since we are laymen, this was not clear to us; we always thought the window would be positioned further outside and the inside windowsill would thus rest on the "stone" and perhaps protrude about 3–4 cm. Should the company not have informed us about this?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards

Hello Carisa,
welcome here in the house building forum

Here is my opinion on this. I am also just an amateur, but I can report from our construction:

1.) There is always a gap visible between the windowsill and the window, it is probably not completely sealed there. More at some windows, less at others. A photo is attached so you know what I mean

At this "interface" windowsill - window frame, we have a silicone joint in frame color (white). The window installer should also apply this, so talk to him.

2.) The windowsills are fixed with construction foam. Some are really sloping there, some completely straight. But everywhere a bit different. I first thought maybe I was mistaken. - But we placed a pin on it, at some windowsills it rolls down directly, at others it just stays.

The windowsills all have to have a slope away from the window. The slope should also be equal. In addition, the windowsills should also sit firmly. Here you should talk to your window installer.

3.) The windowsills are totally loose, when you touch them you have the feeling you could almost tear them off with your bare hand.
Is it perhaps just because the construction foam still needs to dry somehow and this is normal?
Or should it already be firm by now?

The foam should be absolutely firm after one day at the latest. Also here => ask the window installer.

4.) In addition, we ordered an integrated insect screen for the bedroom and children's rooms, but this is missing. Well, we will definitely get in touch with the company again so that it is installed.

You have already given yourself the answer.

4.) Now this will be a bit longer.
We decided on an exterior roller shutter system where the shutter box is plastered over and thus not visible.
We should also decide right away on the windowsills (material and color) - took aluminum outside and plastic inside.
Unfortunately, we were not informed that with this shutter system the window sits really really far inside – actually completely inside.
Outside we now have a mega large windowsill.
Inside too – but this now extends very far everywhere, sometimes 9 cm, sometimes 10 or even 11 cm.
Since we are laymen, we were not aware of this, we always thought the window sat further outside and the windowsill inside thus rests on the "stone" and maybe protrudes about 3-4 cm.

We also have such a system. Indeed, the windows are not centered in the wall, but at our place it is about 12 cm from the front edge of the plaster to the window frame inside. At your place it looks like less, but some plaster will still be added. Our inner windowsills are only about 16 cm, thus they only protrude about 4 cm into the room.
Here again you should talk to your window installer.

Conclusion: Contact the window installer. Best to arrange an on-site appointment with the boss and discuss the points. Then you will certainly find a good solution.

I hope this helps you further

To me, it looks unusual. Window sills are slightly sloping, interior window boards should be straight. When I look at the reveal at your place, it is narrower inside than outside. As a layperson and also considering the plaster that is still to come, I think the window sills stick out too far. Why are they even installed already? Anyway: a specialist should take a look at this, unless 3-4 other users come forward and say that it looks normal. However, I would always give craftsmen some time and not criticize immediately. It can happen that they use the next day on the construction site to fix small mistakes.

Aren't window sills usually plastered? Construction foam as an adhesive?

Thank you very much for your good answers, it definitely helped me a lot to hear more opinions. We will get together again tomorrow and write down all the points once more and then get in touch with the company again and clarify everything. Thank you and best regards

1.) There is always a gap visible between the windowsill and the window, it probably isn’t fully sealed there. With some windows more, with some less. A photo is attached so you know what I mean at all.

The gap looks real between the window and the windowsill. It will be sealed with silicone during the final window assembly (at the end of construction, when the proper handles are also installed). It could possibly also be painter’s work (doing it yourself?).

2.) The windowsills are fixed with foam insulation. Some slope down steeply, some are completely straight. But everywhere it’s a bit different. I first thought maybe I was mistaken. – But they placed a pin on it; on some windowsills it rolls right off, on others it just stays lying there.

The exterior windowsills must have a slope away from the house; inside they are normally straight. Foam insulation is certainly not the most elegant solution.

3.) The windowsills are totally loose, when you touch them it feels like you could almost tear them off with your bare hand.
Is that perhaps just because the foam still needs to dry and it’s normal?
Or should it already be firm by now?

Maybe something else will still come? Worth asking.

4.) In addition, we ordered integrated insect screens for the bedrooms and children’s rooms, but these are missing. Well, we will definitely contact the company again so they can be installed.

An integrated insect screen with roller shutters is actually one rail system (so 2 guides). Either both are installed or nothing at all. Be sure to ask, don’t let it happen that they can’t be installed later.

4.) Now it gets a bit longer.
We chose an exterior roller shutter system where the shutter box is plastered over and thus not visible.
We were also supposed to decide right away on the windowsills (material and color) – we chose aluminum outside and plastic inside.
Unfortunately, we were not informed that with this roller shutter system the window sits really, really far inside – basically completely inside.
On the outside we now have a huge windowsill.
Inside too – but it protrudes very far everywhere, sometimes 9 cm, sometimes 10 or even 11 cm.
Since we are laypeople, we were not aware; we always thought the window sits further outside and the inside windowsill thus rests on the "stone" and protrudes maybe 3-4 cm.
Shouldn’t the company have informed us about this?

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The windows normally sit where the insulation is on average. Otherwise, it is complicated and difficult to avoid thermal bridges. That’s why windows mostly sit far outside. There are other methods, but they are rather rare. For plastered houses it might be different.

You wanted to send an expert with you. A building inspector can put more pressure on because they know the regulations.