Hey everyone, I'm looking to extend my window sill to accommodate a large potted plant that will need about 3 gallons of soil. The window I have is 58.5 inches wide and 2.75 inches deep, but I want to make the sill 8 inches deep. My main concern is whether this extension will be strong enough to hold the weight of the plant, especially when the soil gets wet—it could weigh over 50 pounds! Am I biting off more than I can chew? Any suggestions on how to achieve this?
Thanks for your help! Just to clarify, the current sill is flush against the wall and doesn't have a lip.
3 Answers
If you’re feeling unsure, why not just grab a plant stand or a small shelf unit next to the window instead? It could save you a lot of hassle!
You might be worrying a bit too much about the weight! Water weighs around 8.5 pounds per gallon, so unless you’re using a really heavy pot, you probably won’t hit that 50-pound mark. If I were you, I’d consider making a new window frame out of wood, maybe something that resembles a shelf with some sturdy supports. A good woodworker or finish carpenter can help if that sounds tricky!
That’s reassuring to hear! I wasn’t sure if the pot would be that heavy, so this really helps with my confidence in trying it!
A solid way to handle it would be to remove the existing sill and cut a custom one using matching wooden supports. If you’re looking for something simpler, just slap a nice piece of wood on top of your current sill and install some metal shelf brackets underneath. That should give you the extra depth without too much hassle!
That’s exactly what I was picturing! I just really needed to confirm the weight and dimensions. Thanks a ton!
Oh, I forgot to mention that my bed is right next to the window and I can’t move it any further! Maybe a small shelf could work, though!