Window decoration in a wooden house: slopes and window sills

MagolFORUMHOUSE user

I installed ready-made plastic windows. Very pleased, they keep warm well, don’t feel stuffy

This article will tell you how to properly install a plastic window in a wooden house, taking into account all the features and risks.

Why do you need a casing? Types of frames How to install a casing How to install windows Rules for a plastic window in a wooden house

The need to finish slopes from the outside

External finishing of plastic windows in a wooden house performs the following functions:

• aesthetic. Slopes hide installation flaws and defects. You can admire the finished slopes for a long time. They give the house a finished, impressive look;
• protective. They protect the frame, opening and insulation from precipitation, wind and sunlight;
• thermal insulation. Slopes will reduce heat losses and create a barrier to the penetration of cold;
• soundproof. They prevent the passage of extraneous street noise.

Scheme for finishing windows in a wooden house

Consequences of cracks

If you leave cracks in wooden windows without sealing, serious problems will arise:

• The formation of fungus and mold on a wooden structure.

• 
  Increased amount of dust on the windowsill and in the house.

• Violation of sound insulation. Sounds from the street penetrate well into the room.
• The appearance of a draft from wooden windows.
• The presence of insects that enter the house through cracks and crevices.

Thermal protection is gradually reduced and the cost of heating the room increases greatly. The wood is destroyed and the windows become unusable. Replacing wooden windows is much more expensive than installing plastic ones.

How to choose the right finishing element

To choose the right finish, it is important that it meets the following criteria:

• matched the style of the window and the interior of the house;
• was durable and moisture resistant;
• served for a long time, at least the window service life: 15-20 years;
• It was installed easily and simply so that any beginner could cope with its installation.

Slopes made of painted metal - in the case of finishing the facade of a house with metal cladding

Education factors

There are common reasons and there are specific ones that are not so common.

To repair cracks efficiently and quickly, you need to know the list of possible factors for their appearance:

1. The difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of two materials - glass and wood. They have different elasticity. Even with a perfect fit, a gap will still appear. It's just a matter of time.
2. Poor installation . If parts are poorly fitted or installed. Gaps may appear where the frame meets the window sill or slopes.
3. Frame wear and drying out . Wooden frames are constantly exposed to environmental factors. If weather conditions are too changeable or the windows are installed in a region with sudden climate change, then the cracks will increase quickly.
4. Settlement of the foundation of the house can also cause the window to warp and cause cracks to appear.
5. Wear of sealing materials . There are no eternal materials. Therefore, over time they lose their protective qualities.

Sometimes the cause may not be obvious, but the presence of cracks can be felt. For example, after cleaning, dust immediately appears on the windowsill, you can hear a lot of noise from the street, and you can feel the blowing of cold air. You can determine the location of the hole using a regular lighter. It is enough to carefully walk the flame along the window and record the places where it deviates.

Important! Old wooden windows require an integrated approach and insulation of all possible points of cold bridges.

Classification of slopes

Slopes are classified by size, material of manufacture, shape, location.

Based on material they are divided into:

• metal, powder coated. Suitable for finishing exterior windows on facades covered with metal cladding or vinyl siding.
• plasterboard. This is an excellent option for leveling slopes. But plasterboard does not withstand exposure to precipitation, so it is used for interior cladding. In order for drywall to withstand weather conditions, frost and heat, it is important that it be moisture resistant. It is not the final covering. Ceramic tiles or painting can be used as cladding;
• plastic. Plastic is the best finishing for slopes. It meets all the criteria for choosing cladding: practicality, low price, high installation speed, attractive appearance. Sandwich panels are considered one of its varieties. In them, the outer and inner panels are connected by insulation: foamed polyurethane foam;
• MDF. The material is highly resistant to mechanical stress, is inexpensive, but can absorb moisture. Therefore, it is not suitable for external slopes;
• wooden. To improve the quality of wood and extend its useful life, it is treated with antiseptic agents before installation. Coating with several layers of varnish will help protect the wood from external influences.

When the window is placed as far outward as possible, the frames in the house are made of profiled timber

By size

Depending on the size, slopes can be narrow or wide. The latter have a width of more than 200 mm. They are installed in log houses. The width of narrow ones varies from 50 to 200 mm. The choice of type of slope depends on the size of the window and its location relative to the central axis of the facade.

If the window is small, then narrow slopes visually reduce its dimensions. If the window block is pressed inward, but not deeply, then a wide slope is installed.

For a window flush with the wall, a narrow slope is used.

Internal slope made of furniture board - 18 mm thick pine

By location

Internal slopes give the room a beautiful look and protect from drafts. They are made from any materials.

In order for external slopes to be durable and protect windows from environmental influences, it is important that they are strong and wear-resistant. They are made of plastic, wooden lining or planed boards.

By shape

The shape of slopes can be straight or oblique. Direct ones are mounted to windows with standard double-glazed windows. Oblique ones are necessary for roof windows. They protect glass from freezing and condensation.

Sloping slopes on a dormer window made of lining

Recommendations for competently laying an opening using a frame method

Then the freed surfaces of the opening need to be cleaned of debris, dirt and dust. Next, a kind of casing is installed, which is also required in this case. It is made of boards or thin timber and attached to the walls of the log house with self-tapping screws or nails. Unlike installing a full-fledged window unit, in this case there are no serious requirements for the window frame.

At the next stage of the work, the frame is attached to the installed casing. Usually it is sheathed with a block house, matched in profile and size to the material that was used in the construction of the log house. After this, insulation is placed in the interior of the opening. As a rule, mineral wool, extruded polystyrene foam and other materials with similar properties are used in this capacity.

The filling of the opening is completed by installing the frame from the inside, which is then also covered with clapboard or block house. To create an effective and durable structure, it is recommended to protect the laid insulation from the inside with a layer of vapor barrier, and from the outside with a hydro- and windproof film. In addition, it is necessary to construct a ventilation gap that allows moisture accumulating on the vapor barrier material to freely leave the opening space.

Features of PVC and wood material

Slopes in a wooden house are often made of wood and plastic. Let's consider their features.

Plastic is a synthetic polymer without taste or smell. The density of PVC is 1.34 g/cm3. It has low heat resistance and high dielectric properties.

The advantages of plastic include:

• strength and reliability;
• moisture resistance, the ability to protect windows from destruction and pathogenic microorganisms
• does not fade in the sun;
• its cost is low, which saves the budget;
• it is not affected by chemicals: acids, alkalis and alcohol. Therefore, any detergents are suitable for cleaning. Simple cleaning with soap and water helps keep the panels clean;
• the material is environmentally friendly, does not emit toxic substances, and is hypoallergenic;
• has frost resistance, can withstand low temperatures, does not crack from cold;
• a variety of designs will allow you to choose the finish to your liking;
• has a long service life. It is estimated at more than a dozen years.

Plastic slopes when finishing the interior with MDF panels

The disadvantage of PVC is the inability to replace individual parts. The plastic is dismantled if the appearance is completely lost.

The advantages of wood are:

• naturalness and environmental friendliness;
• high breathability. Wood breathes, improving a healthy microclimate in the home;
• easy replacement of individual elements;
• aesthetic appearance;
• strength and resistance to physical influences, durability.

Economical solution - slopes made from the remains of imitation timber

The disadvantage of wood is the high price, especially of valuable tree species.

What to fasten with?

This type of work does not require complex expensive tools.

Note. If you do not have the necessary power tools, it is more profitable to rent them for a short period, since the entire work will not take more than one or two working days.

Basic tools, equipment and auxiliary materials that will be required to install Euro-windows in wooden frames:

• mechanism for gripping double-glazed windows;
• jigsaw;
• electric drill with drills for metal and wood;
• regular and rubber hammer;
• screwdriver with replaceable heads;
• set of hex keys;
• handle with hexagonal tip for removing pins;
• universal adjusting key;
• wedges and gaskets for installation;
• measuring tools: level, square, ruler and tape measure;
• a clamp with a wide grip for securing materials during cutting;
• fasteners;
• casing board;
• flax batting for thermal and noise protection of side seams in the casing;
• insulation and waterproofing tape for thermal protection of large seams;
• galvanized self-tapping screws for fastening the casing;
• linings;
• sealant.

Important! In the case where only one person will install a PVC window in wooden openings, a set of mounting slings will be required to lift and fix heavy frames in the window opening.

How to make slopes on windows in a wooden house

Window decoration in a wooden house, slopes and window sills can be easily installed with your own hands. It is important to choose high-quality material without damage. It is better to take wooden or plastic slopes. A wide range of products will allow you to choose slopes of the appropriate size. For installation you will also need the necessary tools: glue, sealant, nails, screws, screwdriver.

May be interesting: Step-by-step instructions for installing a metal entrance door in a wooden house

Requirements for windows

Today, manufacturers, using modern technologies, produce a huge range of functional, practical, beautiful and budget options for the market.

Any homeowner, understanding how to choose reliable windows for his wooden house, will make the right decision when purchasing.

However, a qualitative establishment of a different model is possible only if certain conditions are met:

1. Any window, regardless of what material it is made of, should become a reliable protection for housing construction from various external influences, be it insects, dust or weather conditions (rain, wind, etc.).
2. The glazing of the room must provide the interior space with sufficient light.
3. The design of a house with selected windows should have a harmonious and finished look.
4. Reliable security for home owners.

Previously, a wooden window frame with separate sashes into which glass was inserted could expand or contract with the building. Today, PVC windows absolutely do not coincide with the entire structure in terms of deformation level. Therefore, when installing these windows, a special additional frame is used.

Step by step instructions

The stages of work depend on the material of the slopes. The installation of slopes made of wood and plastic differs from each other. We will talk about how to properly install plastic slopes and wood trim.

Sandwich finish

Technology for installing plastic slopes

Plastic slopes are installed in stages.

1. First, the starting bar is mounted. It is attached around the perimeter of the opening.
2. Slopes are inserted into its grooves. They are fixed with self-tapping screws.
3. Decorative corners are glued with silicone.
4. The window sill is matched to the color of the slopes. It is attached to the horizontal strip of the opening using sealant. Self-tapping screws are not used.

Wooden slopes

Wooden slopes are secured with nails with small heads or self-tapping screws. The screw heads are puttied. The surface of the wood is stained and varnished. The planes of the opening are carefully leveled.

You can use lining for finishing. Internal slopes made of wood will be in perfect harmony with the cladding of the façade of the house using wood materials.

• A plastic starting strip is mounted to the frame.
• Lay the lining horizontally from the window sill upward, connecting with a tongue-and-groove lock. The width of the lining should be equal to the width of the window slope. Its edge is inserted into the starting bar.
• The second edge is attached to the wall with self-tapping screws.
• Trim the corners. Decorative corners are glued to the wall and part of the slopes.

Fastening slopes to polyurethane foam

The installation procedure is as follows:

• measure the dimensions of the slope;
• cut out the sandwich panel in accordance with these dimensions with a margin of 0.5 cm;
• excess foam is cut off after installing the window unit;
• Make a furrow 0.5 cm deep along the window in the foam;
• try on the panel, insert it into the groove, align the edges;
• remove the sandwich panel, and apply polyurethane foam to the wall, having previously moistened it with water;
• apply foam from bottom to top, departing from the corner 1 cm. You do not need to foam the entire surface, but only part of it: along the edges and in the middle. The fact is that the foam expands, taking up free space. If you do not leave room for its expansion, the foam will squeeze out the slope;
• moisten the foam with water from a spray bottle and lay the panel on it; attaching to the wall with masking tape;
• other slopes are mounted in the same way;
• The cracks are filled with sealant.

Introduction

Man is designed in such a way that without the presence of light flowing freely through the window opening, and without the first star near the moon, timidly peering into the luminous window, “the crown of nature - man” goes out like a candle flame swaying in the cold wind. Windows in a house are the eyes through which a person looks at this world! And this means that these eyes must be light enough, transparent and as reliable as possible in order to preserve not only the beauty of the world, but also the warmth and comfort inside the house where a person lives.

Metal-plastic windows produced using modern technologies, or, more simply put, plastic ones, would be ideal for these purposes.

If the house is old

When repairing an old wooden house, the window sill is part of the window opening, therefore, if it is not deformed or rotten, then there is no need to dismantle it. A new plastic window sill is placed on the old one. The length of the window sill and the angle of rotation are measured. Dimensions are marked on plastic. Cut out the part with a jigsaw. The workpiece is mounted on silicone or polyurethane foam. They place the load.

A day later the slopes are installed. The starting profile is screwed into the frame. Remove excess foam from the window opening. PVC slopes are placed on the foam and the panels are secured with masking tape. The final profile is glued along their perimeter.

Basic tips for doing the work yourself

Recommendations from craftsmen who know all the intricacies of measuring and installing window structures will help you get the right result:

If you have accurate information, you can choose the window model, the type of opening mechanism, the color of the frame, the type of glass unit, and the finishing of the slopes.

The result of the measurements taken should be:

• Correct opening parameters.
• Correct calculations of window structure sizes.
• Quick and high-quality installation of the frame, window sill, ebb, mosquito net.

Frequent mistakes and problems when finishing window slopes

Window slopes in a wooden house, if done incorrectly, lead to a number of problems during operation. Let's look at installation errors and problems associated with them:

• installation of slopes under profiles, and not on them, leads to blowing;
• incorrectly selected linings under the window sill violate the level of the structure;
• displacement of the window sill can cause its deformation;
• early removal of cargo from the window sill will reduce its service life;
• For external cladding, materials that are intended for interior use are used. They are destroyed under the influence of external influences;
• Do not seal the cracks under the window sill. Such an error can lead to moisture getting under the tide;
• cutting out the polyurethane foam completely from the window opening violates the tightness of the structure.

The effect of "crying" windows

In order to avoid suddenly finding excessive sweat or heavily frozen glass on your windows on winter days, which subsequently begin to thaw and “cry,” certain conditions must be met, namely:

• Install windows carefully. Think through all the points, carefully consider the installation process;
• use energy-saving glass;
• do not forget about ventilating the room;

These are, of course, only the most general tips, but even they will help you avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.