The popularity of plastic windows is growing every day. They attract with their aesthetic appearance and tightness. Plastic windows are installed everywhere: in apartments and wooden houses. To ensure that plastic windows do not lose their attractiveness after several years of operation, it is important to take into account the nuances of their installation. In our article we will introduce you to the technology of their installation.
Thanks to self-installation, you can significantly save your money.
Construction of plastic products
The components of metal-plastic windows are:
Frame. This is an important part that carries out the main function of the structure—ensuring rigidity and tightness. The plastic profile from below is reinforced with a steel profile and fastened to it with self-tapping screws. It is welded at the joints in the factory;
Sash. It provides air access to the room and its restriction. Plastic gives it an aesthetic appearance, and the reinforced steel profile strengthens it, makes it strong and durable;
Accessories. It includes elements and mechanisms that facilitate closing and opening the window sash:
Accessories clearly
- Handle lock, which helps to hold the open window at an angle;
- Locking rollers. They press the sash against the frame;
- Involuntary closing blocker. It prevents the sash from closing from a draft;
- Tilt and turn fittings allow you to install the sash in 4 positions.
Double-glazed window. It is part of a window block that allows light to pass through. It includes 2-3 glasses. The chamber between the two glasses is filled with gas;
Glazing beads. They secure the glass to the frame;
Rubber seals. They are necessary to ensure the tightness of the structure;
Impost. This is a plastic profile, inside of which there is a reinforced steel pipe. It serves as a connecting element between the parts of the window;
Shtulp. It is located on the sash.
Sectional window
Metering
To correctly install the plastic structure, it is important to accurately measure the opening.
First you need to measure the width. Width is measured at 3 points: bottom, top and middle. The smallest indicator is taken and 5 cm is subtracted from it for the installation gap.
Next, the height of the window is measured in three places and 5 cm is also subtracted. When measuring the height of the window, it is important to take into account what the window sill will be. If it is thicker than the old structure, then the difference between the thickness of the new and old window sill is subtracted from the window height measurement.
We prepare tools and materials
We will need the following:
- Powerful drill and screwdriver.
- Level (preferably laser).
- Chisel.
- Roulette.
- Gloves.
- Polyurethane foam (or similar material).
- Pliers.
- Spacer bars (you can make your own).
- Anchor plates.
- Hexagon (it will be needed for final adjustment of the fittings).
- Anchor screws.
Preparation for installation
The preparatory stage includes: purchasing equipment and preparing tools, checking the completeness of windows, dismantling double-glazed windows, dismantling window units (if they are replaced), preparing the opening. After removing the windows in the opening, it is important to remove any remaining plaster that may be attached to the slopes, foam and other debris.
Equipment and tools
To dismantle old blocks (when replacing windows), you will need a chisel, a nail puller, and a hammer.
To make a pigtail, you need a circular saw, self-tapping screws, and a screwdriver. To drill holes for fasteners, you cannot do without an electric drill and a set of drills. Masking tape is necessary to protect plastic windows from chipping. A spirit level and wedges will allow you to properly level the frame during installation. The mounting gun will easily foam the gaps.
Required Tools
Checking the completeness of windows
First of all, it is important to check the integrity of the double-glazed windows, whether there are any cracks or minor damage. When delivering a window unit, it is important to check its completeness.
You need to check the dimensions of the opening and frame. Their difference should be 4-5 cm.
The kit includes a substitution profile for the window sill and ebb. It's called sweet clover.
If you ordered mosquito nets, you should check the availability of holders for them. You must purchase fasteners (screws) yourself. When checking the configuration, you need to count the number of parts. Special linings are required for glass installation. They can only be detected by disassembling the double-glazed windows.
Disassembly and preparation of double-glazed windows
The supplied glass unit must be disassembled in a certain order.
- The top pins are removed first.
- The handle is installed. With its help, the sash opens and is released from the lower fastenings.
- Using a knife or hammer, the glazing beads are knocked out. They are located on the inside of the window.
- The glass is removed.
- The protective film is removed from the outside.
- Holes are drilled in the frame.
- Mosquito net holders are installed outside the frame. In winter, mosquito nets can be removed, but the holders do not need to be dismantled, because they will be useful at other times of the year. Plugs are installed for drainage holes.
Important installation details
Taking into account the important features of installing a plastic window in a wooden house will help to complete the work efficiently.
Over time, the tree dries out, the logs press on the frame with considerable force. To prevent window deformation, a casing box is installed.
- The casing must be strong and 5 cm thick.
- To prevent the destruction of foam from rainwater and ultraviolet radiation, use PSUL tape.
- When installing the frame, you should level it to avoid distortions. Align it first horizontally and then vertically.
- We must not forget about waterproof insulation on the outside and gluing a vapor barrier film on the inside.
Purpose of the casing (plugs)
A wooden house is unstable. Over the course of five years or more, the tree shrinks. The walls dry out to 6 cm. During shrinkage, the house loses height. To ensure that the height of the openings does not decrease and the doors open and close easily, it is important to install a door frame. The casing will strengthen the opening and prevent the impact of shrinkage on it.
The inserted window frame is fixed in the opening using the tongue-and-groove method. There are 3 options for sliding fastening:
- In the embedded block. This method is characterized by inserting an embedded block into the groove of the sidewalls of the opening. It should move freely inside the groove. The casing frame is screwed onto the top of the embedded insert using self-tapping screws. The disadvantage of this method is the gap between the pigtail and the block;
- Into the deck. It differs in that the grooves are made in the casing, and the tenons are made in the sides of the opening;
- In the thorn-monolith. The element driven into the groove is T-shaped. An important advantage of this method is the absence of cracks in the casing.
Fastening the window structure into the prepared opening
Install a window sill. In the casing, cuts 8 mm deep are made on each side for ease of fastening. Fix the window sill to the bottom of the casing, placing washers under the screws.
They put the pen down. The handle should be positioned vertically. Insert side struts. They help ensure equal distance from the edges of the opening.
Then they begin to align the frame vertically. When the frame is level, it is attached to the frame. They bait the dowels. Check that the frame is level, then secure it to the end. A casting is made from the outside under the frame. It is inserted into a special groove at the bottom of the frame and secured at the edges with self-tapping screws. The gap between the frame and the ebb is foamed. Install double-glazed windows and hang the sashes. Attach mosquito nets last.
Control and foaming of the structure
To find out whether the installation was completed correctly, open the sash. If the frame is aligned correctly, the sash will only open halfway. A half-open sash will not move forward or backward. Close the sash and foam the installation gaps. Leave the foam to dry for a day. High-quality thermal insulation of a window opening is an important point in the installation of windows; it will reduce the cost of heating the house in the future. Since the main heat loss occurs through the roof, window and door openings, as well as the floor. Proper floor insulation in a wooden house will also provide significant savings. Only after the frame has been completely fixed can the foam be cut off. The foam can be covered with plastic trim on top.
Frame attachment
How to make and install a window in a wooden house with your own hands
Making a box
The most common type of wood for making boxes is pine, as the most accessible and inexpensive material. The wood must be well and properly dried, and, preferably, it should not have knots or cracks.
Tenons and grooves are arranged in the box blanks, then all four parts are prepared with wood glue and connected to each other “tenon to groove”. After that, holes are drilled in the nodes of the resulting box and wooden dowels are hammered into them. They provide additional rigidity in connecting the elements to each other.
Tenon-to-groove connection
The box is mounted motionlessly in a pre-prepared window opening and secured with self-tapping screws, and the gaps between the wall and the block are sealed with polyurethane foam.
Making a window frame and inserting glass
In order to make a window frame, you will need a beam, the size and thickness of which depends on the design of the window itself. Its profile depends on the number of future glasses and their thickness, and you also need to remember about the margin for the width of the glazing bead. A single-glass profile has 2 rectangular grooves (for glass and installation in a box), and a profile for two glasses adds a groove for a second panel. To make grooves, you can use an electric planer or a milling cutter.
Frame for one or two glasses
Then all the elements are assembled together, having previously prepared tenons and grooves on all elements of the future frame and wood glue. Additionally, all frame elements can be fixed to each other with self-tapping screws or dowels. After that, glass is inserted into the prepared grooves and secured by nailing down glazing beads, having previously applied sealant along the entire perimeter of the groove in the frame.
Types of window installation
The installation of plastic windows depends on the type of wooden house: log, timber and frame. A special feature of wood is its shrinkage during use. Dried wood is used to build houses. But the moisture remains in it. After the construction of a house, its shrinkage occurs over many years. The moisture evaporates, and the building material decreases in volume, and with it the height of the house.
In autumn, wood absorbs moisture and expands, and in summer it dries out from the heat. A wooden house constantly changes its size: it breathes.
The most stable of wooden houses is frame. It almost does not change its size.
The log house gets the most traffic. Its mobility is explained by the presence of high humidity in the logs. In order for the logs to dry well, they need to be stored somewhere for several years. To avoid additional expenses, a log house is built with high humidity of the building material. In addition, during construction the logs do not fit tightly together. Under the weight of the logs located above, the lower crowns are deformed. The height of the house frame is reduced. The cracks in the log house are being caulked. After some time, the caulk settles and the walls become lower. Subsequently, you can sheathe the outside of the wooden house.
In a house made of timber, wood shrinks in average values among these houses.
Let's consider the installation of PVC windows in wooden houses of various types.
When can you do without a joint?
The casing will protect the products from distortions in the event of shrinkage of the house.
The exception is a frame house. There is no need to casing it. The frame is rigid, made to fit window openings. Therefore, a pigtail is not needed.
Some people think that a casing for installing windows in an old house is not required because it has already shrunk. But before you install plastic windows in a wooden house without a frame, you need to think 100 times. You can seek advice from specialists who have been installing windows for several years. They will advise you on how best to proceed. The casing is not made in a house made of laminated veneer lumber, which has undergone a drying procedure during production and is therefore less susceptible to shrinkage. But in this case, you should be sure that there will be minimal movement of the beam, and fasten it with pins, and fix the plastic structure with anchor plates.
Installation of plastic windows in frame houses
Installation occurs in stages:
- Preparing the opening. The window opening is leveled if necessary. Thoroughly clear debris and prime slopes. The opening is treated with an antiseptic to prevent the occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms: mold and mildew;
- Opening insulation. The waterproofing film is installed from the outside, and the vapor barrier film is installed from the inside. A film is laid around the perimeter of the opening and secured with tape and then with a construction stapler. A film is also glued to the window: a waterproofing film on the outside, and a vapor barrier film on the inside;
- Fixing the window with wedges;
- Fastening with mounting plates;
- Foaming a window block.
Installation of windows in a wooden house on an existing frame
If the house has been standing for many years, then when replacing old windows with new plastic ones, they use the old frame without removing it from the opening. The old frames are dismantled and any chips and scratches in the window frame are repaired. Dust, dirt, and debris are removed by shaking off with a slightly damp rag. The window sill board is placed using a laser level. To make it convenient to attach the window sill board, the ends are inserted into the recesses of the side posts. Then fix the window sill with self-tapping screws. The unpacked frame is inserted into the middle of the box. Spacers are placed under the side posts in order to align it vertically and ensure an equal distance from them to the frame. Fix it to the box with self-tapping screws. The gap on each side is foamed. The wedges are not removed until the foam hardens. Excess foam is cut off and covered with solution. You can use platbands to prevent its destruction from precipitation. Double-glazed windows and sashes are installed into the installed frame.
Installing a window in a log house
Construction work begins with the installation of the frame.
Inter-crown insulation is used for free movement of the casing. They cover the spikes and the upper compensation gap between the casing and the opening. Attach the lower cross member of the frame to the opening. Place the top part of the pigtail on the spikes, then its side walls. Lower the top onto the side posts of the pigtail. The racks are fastened to the crossbars with self-tapping screws. Remove double-glazed windows from blind sashes. The swing doors are removed. You need to secure the corners to the plastic profile. The window is installed in a frame. To adjust the window, it is fixed with wedges. The metal-plastic window is secured to the casing with corners. Treat the gaps with an antiseptic. When it dries, foam them. A vapor barrier film is installed on the inside, and a moisture-proof membrane on the outside. Double-glazed windows are installed. Movable sashes are put on. The installation is completed by installing ebb and window sills. The foam is cut off and trims are installed. When further insulating the house, it is necessary to take into account the size of the ebb and flow immediately with a margin, so as not to change it for a new one later.
In bad weather, with proper installation of windows, the house is warm
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.
Possible problems if windows are installed incorrectly
Installing a window in a wooden house is not such a difficult task, but if you do not follow the step-by-step instructions for installing metal-plastic products, a number of problems will arise. which are very difficult to fix.
- Frame distortion. It appears if you do not level the frame using wedges and a laser level. Incorrect functioning of the plastic product or incorrect operation of the sashes will lead to breakage of the fittings. The error can only be corrected radically: remove the plastic structure and install a new one;
- The destruction of double-glazed windows and deformation of the plastic frame are the result of the lack of casing during installation. The pigtail holds the logs and prevents them from moving apart. Its absence will lead to pressure from the timber on the frames and disruption of the tightness of the joints;
- Freezing of slopes and condensation formation. The problem occurs due to the incorrect position of the window unit. It should be located in the midline;
- The appearance of drafts and noise from the street. The problem occurs due to incorrect measurement. The inserted frame is significantly smaller than the size of the pigtail. To correct the error, use an expansion profile;
- Violation of the window seal, precipitation flowing inside. The problem arises when the gap is unprotected. Usually it is hermetically sealed with PSUL tape. It is important not to waste precious time installing a window with its help. PSUL tape is glued around the perimeter of the frame. The main thing is to have time to insert the plastic structure into the casing before it reaches a certain size;
- The destruction of foam is a gross violation of installation rules;
- Thermal expansion of a plastic profile. The dimensions of the frame correspond to the dimensions of the opening, while they should be much smaller. At high temperatures it expands and the windows become deformed. As a result, it is necessary to increase the size of the opening.
Correctly installing plastic windows in a wooden house with your own hands without the help of specialists is a difficult task, but possible. We are confident that you will cope with the task, and our advice will help you with this.
