Fasteners for plastic windows - an overview of the necessary materials and fasteners for window installation

Any product needs to be securely fixed in its place. In the case of plastic windows, several products perform this role. There are several types of fasteners for plastic windows. The comfort of your indoor life will depend on the correct choice of quality materials. In order to choose the right fasteners, you can look at the photo of window fasteners.

What types of fasteners are there for plastic windows?

In order to fix window frames, a window or frame anchor is used. It can be easily distinguished from other clamps by the following characteristics:

• Threaded screw.
• Sleeve or metal shell.
• Inner sleeve.

It is used as follows: while screwing in the screw, the sleeve will paint the metal shell. This ensures reliable fixation of the mount.

The main disadvantage of this fastener is the inability to pull it back out. Thus, its advantage (reliable fixation) also becomes its disadvantage.

That is why, when using anchors as fasteners, it is necessary to immediately install the window frames correctly, so that later you do not have to redo all the installed products.

The length of the anchor can be one hundred to two hundred millimeters. Its thickness is from eight to ten millimeters. When choosing an anchor, it is necessary to take into account the distance of the slope to the window frame.

The anchor bolt must be attached to the inside of the frame. This DIY installation of fasteners for windows will be quite complicated.

Recommendations for selection and installation

Once you have decided which type of product is best suited for your situation, you can proceed directly to choosing a specific option. It is with this aspect that we will begin our consideration.

Criteria for choosing a window anchor

First, we need to understand the standard sizes of products; there are two main options:

• Anchors with a diameter of 8 mm are suitable for lightweight structures and are available in the following lengths: 72, 92, 112, 132, 152 and 172 mm. The length is selected depending on the thickness of the frame and the distance to the base. Remember one simple rule - the minimum fixing depth in the slope should not be less than 30 mm, this is the only way to guarantee reliable installation;
• Products with a diameter of 10 mm are more in demand due to their strength and reliability. In this case, the size range is much wider, the length can be from 52 to 202 mm . In order not to describe all the characteristics and options, below is a table that shows all the data that may be needed when making calculations.

The most popular sizes and their characteristics

When you have decided on the size, you can purchase the desired option, but there are a lot of products on the market, and not all of them meet the requirements of reliability and durability. Therefore, you should choose anchors very carefully; the quality of window installation largely depends on this. The table below presents the main criteria, taking into account which you will definitely choose a quality option.

Personally, I always determine the reliability of a product by the quality of its workmanship: a good coating, a clear slot for a screwdriver and a tightly placed spacer nut are a sign of a good anchor. Alternatively, you can grab the middle of the bushing and press it hard with your fingers; if it gives way, it is too thin.

It is easy to distinguish a reliable option based on the quality of workmanship

The price of products varies depending on the size, so anchors with a diameter of 8 mm will cost you from 6 to 12 rubles, and elements with a diameter of 10 mm cost from 5 to 14 rubles. These are averages and may vary in some regions.

How is installation done?

I'll briefly tell you how to secure a window using anchors; the process is simple once you understand it. Instructions for doing the work yourself look like this:

This is what the installation diagram looks like

• First you need to prepare the opening. If there were old structures in it, then naturally they should be removed, then the surfaces should be cleaned and, if necessary, significant irregularities that may form during dismantling should be repaired;
• You need to remove the sashes from the window frame; if it is solid, then you should remove the double-glazed windows. This, firstly, will simplify our work due to the reduction in the weight of the product, and secondly, without removing the elements we will not be able to fasten the window, so in any case we must release the side posts on the inside of the window. The frame is leveled; if necessary, wedges or wooden blocks are placed under it;

It is very important to align the structure perfectly level

• Next, you need to mark the fastening points; they are usually located on the side at a distance of 30 cm from the upper and lower corners, that is, four fasteners are enough for the middle window . For larger structures, the number of anchors must be increased. The frame is drilled with a metal drill with a diameter of 8 or 10 mm, depending on the selected anchors; a countersunk hole is made under the head with a drill with a diameter of 16 mm so that the fasteners are recessed and not stick out from the side;

You need to drill through the plastic and metal profile, which is located inside and provides rigidity to the structure.

• The base also needs to be drilled through the holes in the frame; there is no need to remove the window, since it is already exposed, and there is no point in doing the work twice . Carefully insert the drill into the concrete until it stops in the slope, and then drill to the depth you require, which should be at least 30 mm, although it is better if the anchor goes in 40 mm or more. For loose foundations, the depth can be up to 100 mm;

Carefully drill slopes in the right places

• Before installation, pull the anchor all the way, that is, screw the screw into the nut until it rests against the bushing (it should not push it apart) . Next, you need to insert the fastener into the hole; most often it fits very tightly, and it is unlikely to be possible to push it in manually. Therefore, you should take a hammer and carefully hammer in the fastener until it stops or until the head rests against the frame, do not overdo it and do not move the structure;

Gently hammer in the anchor until the head snaps into place in the frame.

• Lastly, the anchors for PVC windows are tightened using a screwdriver with a PZ3 blade or a screwdriver with an appropriate attachment. Again, you don’t need to be very zealous, work evenly along the entire perimeter, otherwise the structure may become skewed, and you will have to loosen the fasteners in one place and tighten them in another for alignment.

To hide the attachment points when purchasing anchors for windows, purchase special plugs to match the color of the frames.

This is what the fastening process looks like in the diagram

Screws for concrete walls

A regular screw may be suitable for fixing a plastic window. Their great advantage over the anchor is considered to be simple dismantling (if necessary, of course).

In terms of technical characteristics, it is similar to an anchor boat - its length ranges from one hundred to two hundred millimeters, its diameter varies from eight to ten millimeters. The length of the screw should be exactly the same as the anchor screw.

The plastic window can be fixed using anchor plates. They are divided into those that can rotate and those that cannot.

Among the advantages of the anchor plate:

• Does not require additional through drilling of the frame, as is the case with an anchor bolt or concrete screws.
• If there is reinforcement in the wall, this in no way affects the fastening itself. The plate can be rotated.
• Such fasteners are used in difficult houses, which include buildings of the P-44 series.

The standard plate has the following dimensions - from one hundred to two hundred millimeters. Attach it to the outer edge of the plastic window.

When choosing fasteners for plastic windows, pay attention to the width of the PVC profile. Each manufacturer produces window frames with different profile widths.

Combined mount

In some cases, installers use several types of fastening at once, based on the characteristics of the object and the structure of its walls.
For example, when glazing a balcony, both anchor plates and MRS screws can be used. It is more advisable to secure the upper part of the translucent structure with an anchor plate - this way will avoid a violation of the tightness, which is quite likely with through fastening. The sides and bottom of the frame can be secured with MRS screws. Screws will be the best option when installing windows or doors in a finished room - they will not damage decorative elements or compromise the integrity of the interior. When installing windows on anchor plates, the finishing materials at the fastening points will have to be dismantled (for example, a suspended ceiling) and everything will be returned to its place after the work is completed.

Recommendations on the selection of fasteners for installing plastic windows can be given by specialists from the manufacturing organization or invited measurement specialists. They are the ones who must inspect and evaluate the condition of the walls, choose the method of fastening, calculate the number of fasteners and the optimal distance between them. Windows installed by professionals, taking into account all the requirements, will delight owners with impeccable work for a long time and will not fail for many years.

How to properly install plastic windows

A brick house is considered one of the warmest and most reliable. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to install plastic windows in such houses. This is due to the fact that when using a frame dowel, it is necessary to make the necessary holes only on site, and not in advance. Otherwise, there is a risk that the anchor will not end up in the mortar that the builders place between the bricks.

The frame dowel must extend into the brick by at least six to ten centimeters. If the material is hollow, a two hundred and second anchor may be suitable.

Anchor plates can be used for fastening plastic windows in brick walls if there is complete confidence that the brick is not hollow

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Unfortunately, sometimes construction companies sin by using solid bricks of poor quality. In this case, attaching the plate by non-professionals will be quite problematic. If you want to choose the most reliable fasteners, you can familiarize yourself with the catalog of galvanized fasteners.

Types of products and their features

For some reason, all the reviews on the network are written about only one mounting option. Meanwhile, two types of structures are used, which differ markedly in principle of operation and design. Let's deal with this aspect first.

Type 1 – classic window anchors

First, let's look at their design; under the photo and drawing all the components of the product are described:

Tact looks like a standard frame anchor

• The cut steel bushing is made of galvanized steel; it has protrusions in the upper part that prevent the element from rotating when fastening it, and in the lower part there is a groove into which a special nut fits. When tightened, the sleeve expands and thereby achieves strong fixation of the anchor in the surface;
• The threaded screw is inserted into the bushing, thanks to which the fastening is made. The head is made for a PZ3 slot, which allows you to work with a powerful power tool. Length may vary depending on the size of fastener you use;
• A special cone-shaped nut is screwed onto the screw; it has special protrusions that are inserted into the slot of the sleeve. When tightened, the nut is pulled towards the head and wedges the sleeve until it securely fixes the anchor.

The protrusions on the nut should be located in the grooves of the sleeve in order to open it well

Type 2 – window anchors for hollow structures

If you need to fix windows in structures that have voids, then the classic option may not be suitable; you need an improved solution that will ensure strong fixation in both hollow and solid bases. Let's look at the design features:

This option differs significantly in the method of fixation in the surface

• The sleeve differs in that the cuts in the lower part are not located at the very end, but indented from it. The result is a system similar to butterfly dowels, when when fastening the protrusions move apart, which can perfectly fix the fastener in hollow material . The photo clearly shows and understands the principle of operation of this version of anchors;
• The stud used is the same as in the version above, with the only difference being that it may have a longer threaded part. This is necessary so that the anchor can be tightened until the fasteners are firmly fixed in the void;
• The nut in this case is not cone-shaped, but flat, since it should not wedge the bushing, but tighten it.

How to fix windows in a wooden house

An anchor plate is considered an ideal option for fastening plastic windows in wooden houses. Their advantages include:

• Quick installation of plastic windows in wooden walls.
• Compensation for temperature expansions.
• Does not affect window connectors during house shrinkage.

Thus, the advantages of fasteners for wooden windows are immediately visible.

Anchor dowel or anchor

The fasteners are professional and reliable. The design of the anchor dowel consists of a threaded screw, a metal shell (sleeve) and an internal sleeve.

When screwing the screw, the bushing expands the sleeve and the fastener is securely fixed. But such fasteners have one main drawback. It is fixed so securely that sometimes it is impossible to remove it back.

When you install a plastic window, you don’t think about it. But if during the process the window becomes crooked and it needs to be reinstalled, then the problem will reveal itself. And from my own experience I know that when drilling, sometimes you can get into the reinforcement and then you will have to drill a new hole. And this will lead to the fact that the entire structure can be turned around to a terrible state.

If you install a window in a house with multi-layer walls, for example, in the P-44 panel series, then difficulties will arise with fastening. The fact is that the anchor in such walls simply falls through and the spacer cannot be fixed.

The length of the anchor for installing a plastic window varies between 100-200 mm, thickness 8-10 mm. You need to choose the length of the anchor based on the distance from the frame to the slope. The anchor bolt is attached to the inside of the glass unit. If the profile thickness is 4 cm, plus the anchor should enter the wall 4 cm, then 8 cm is already occupied. If the distance from the frame to the slope is a couple of cm, then you will need an anchor 110 mm long, if 5-7 cm, then a 150 or 160 mm anchor.

Aerated concrete and fastening of plastic windows

In order to secure window frames in loose concrete, it is necessary to use dowels with the maximum length. Otherwise, you can use anchor plates that are attached to special dowels.

It is up to you to decide which fasteners are best to choose for window installation, but it is recommended to consult with professionals who will take into account the specifics of your walls and the material of the window frames.

The process of attaching a window to plates

The first step is to fasten the anchor plates in increments of no more than 1 meter. In order for the frame to maintain a stable position, the fastening elements relative to the corners of the frame should be located at a distance of no more than 25 cm.

The distance from the plates to the corners must be at least 25 cm

It is important to remember that the distance from the border of the window structure to the opening must be at least 2 cm . If this condition is not met, it is necessary to make recesses in the surface of the opening to accommodate fasteners. To do this, the plates are installed on the frame, then it is installed in the opening.

On the surface of the wall, use a pencil or chalk to mark the future location of the fasteners. Then the frame is removed and in place of the marks, using a chisel, a recess is made into which the plate should fit and be tightly fixed. This will allow you to subsequently effectively mask the plates when finishing the slopes.

At the next stage, a window structure is placed in the opening and its position is leveled using wooden blocks prepared in advance. Their thickness should not exceed 3 cm and their installation occurs only horizontally, while vertical alignment occurs, which is controlled using a level.

Vertical alignment is done by level

When the position of the frame is leveled, you can begin to secure the plates using 6*40 dowels on a concrete base or with self-tapping screws in other cases.

Gaps are sealed using polyurethane foam

To avoid frame distortion, the plates are secured in order. First, fix the lower left corner, then the right, monitoring using a level. The top plates are secured last. At the final stage, the seams are sealed using polyurethane foam.