Shadow gaps around window boards?

[PI build]

We are planning to have shadow gaps around the skirting board and door frames but are not sure about the window boards.  It seems odd to me to have flush skirting and frames and then to have a window board that protrudes. I can find no images of shadow gaps around window boards - has anyone done this?

[IanR]

The wall joint to the cill board is already in a shadow (under the overhang of the cill board), so there is no need to create an artificial recess to disguise the joint.

[PI build]

I liked the idea of the end of the board being flush with the walls to match door frame and skirting. The shadow gap would go all round the board including reveals.

[IanR]

Have you seen such a finish?

 

From your description I'm picturing the edge of the board flush with the main wall plane, but then a recess around the board making it appear to be sitting proud. 

 

You may need to sketch what you are hoping to achieve. 

[ToughButterCup]

  On 11/05/2021 at 11:45, PI build said:

We are planning to have shadow gaps ... but are not sure about the window boards.  ...

Expand  

 

Put a '... skirting... '  with a shadow gap  where the window board would have been.... ? FrigginFiddly methinks. Or have I missed something?

 

I love the idea. But, tell ya why I wouldn't get away with it: she couldn't put enough seed trays on a small window board ... ?

Here's the closest I could nick in less than a minute: looks nice - PITA to clean.

and

Edited May 11, 2021 by ToughButterCup

[Dudda]

Yes I've done it in my own house and others. Some of the below photos are before moving in and they window surrounds were cleaned or shadow gaps tidied but you get the idea.

 

Edit: one of the below is veneered MDF and the other is Birch ply so you've options.

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2021 by Dudda

[ToughButterCup]

  On 11/05/2021 at 15:51, Dudda said:

Yes I've done it in my own house and others. Some of the below photos are before moving in and they window surrounds were cleaned or shadow gaps tidied but you get the idea.

....

Expand  

 

That is really sharp @Dudda

Next time the corners will be mitred I bet ....?

[Dudda]

  On 11/05/2021 at 19:15, ToughButterCup said:

 

That is really sharp @Dudda

Next time the corners will be mitred I bet ....?

Expand  

Not a hope in hell. It was very difficult to do that as is. First project each part was put in individually. It was a refurbishment and the walls weren't plum and blockwork so rough. Incredibly hard. Second project was a new timber framed house. This was easier and the walls were more plumb and timber made it easier. The surrounds were made up in a workshop and lifted into place.

 

For some of them we have in the top part a recessed cut out in the top of the timber which is where the blind is. This has to be designed in early enough as you could have structure or a DPC above the window in the way. Another one has birch ply shutters incorporated into the sides that disappear when open. Again this was difficult but looks well.

[Tom]

  On 11/05/2021 at 15:51, Dudda said:

Yes I've done it in my own house and others. Some of the below photos are before moving in and they window surrounds were cleaned or shadow gaps tidied but you get the idea.

 

Edit: one of the below is veneered MDF and the other is Birch ply so you've options.

 

 

Expand  

 

 

I was planning on doing similar birch ply lining for our reveals but not with a shadow gap, instead an extra strip of ply around the edge that protrudes to make a double thickness that would cover the plasterboard edge, if you follow me. 

[PI build]

Thanks for the photos - it looks great. 

It was thinking of just having a timber window board and plastered reveals. I did a quick model on CAD:

Window frames are anthracite and the board would match.

I cannot box all round as the windows go up to the ceiling:

 

[ToughButterCup]

  On 12/05/2021 at 08:53, Dudda said:

Not a hope in hell...

Expand  

 

Its fun tweeking members' tails gently. I looked at that image and winced.

 

It's not easy .... but a bit of me says that it's likely just  as hard to get two 45s to meet as cleanly as the 90s do in the image above. 

 

Need @Onoff to try, or Ed ( @Construction Channel ) maybe? 

What could go wrong Ed? 

 

  On 12/05/2021 at 08:53, Dudda said:

.... Another one has birch ply shutters incorporated into the sides that disappear when open. ....

Expand  

 

Come On! Photo, please.

[Big Jimbo]

  On 12/05/2021 at 14:26, ToughButterCup said:

 

Its fun tweeking members' tails gently. I looked at that image and winced.

 

It's not easy .... but a bit of me says that it's likely just  as hard to get two 45s to meet as cleanly as the 90s do in the image above. 

 

Need @Onoff to try, or Ed ( @Construction Channel ) maybe? 

What could go wrong Ed? 

 

 

Come On! Photo, please.

Expand  

Or a locking joint done on a router table.

[Dudda]

  On 12/05/2021 at 14:26, ToughButterCup said:

It's not easy .... but a bit of me says that it's likely just  as hard to get two 45s to meet as cleanly as the 90s do in the image above. 

Expand  

 

  On 12/05/2021 at 14:29, Big Jimbo said:

Or a locking joint done on a router table.

Expand  

Possibly but beyond my level of skill and equipment.

  On 12/05/2021 at 14:12, PI build said:

Thanks for the photos - it looks great. 

It was thinking of just having a timber window board and plastered reveals. I did a quick model on CAD:

Window frames are anthracite and the board would match.

I cannot box all round as the windows go up to the ceiling:

Expand  

The problem I see with this is it's very 'bitty'. By that I mean the two lengths of shadow gap at each side of the window (so four in total) are only about 30mm long all with 45 degree cuts and then the other is the depth of the reveal which wouldn't be long either. It would be very messy and difficult to get straight and clean looking. You kind of need them to be a decent length to be able to fit them straight and level. In theory it can be done but in practice I'd expect this to be very difficult to get looking right.

[Construction Channel]

  On 12/05/2021 at 14:26, ToughButterCup said:

 

Its fun tweeking members' tails gently. I looked at that image and winced.

 

It's not easy .... but a bit of me says that it's likely just  as hard to get two 45s to meet as cleanly as the 90s do in the image above. 

 

Need @Onoff to try, or Ed ( @Construction Channel ) maybe? 

What could go wrong Ed? 

 

 

Come On! Photo, please.

Expand  

With that kind of joint you cam tell everyone that its dovetailed and they will never know any different