How to avoid damaging plastic windows during repairs?

If the necessary measures are not taken in advance, then the windows after renovating the apartment may not only lose their aesthetic appeal, but also stop functioning normally. Eliminating problems that arise often takes a lot of time and money, and sometimes a partial or even complete replacement of the structure may be required. An additional complexity of the situation is that before starting repairs, people hardly think about the scale of the negative consequences. Many owners believe that it will be enough to limit themselves to washing windows, but they end up having to turn to specialists for help. The information in this article will help you avoid unpleasant consequences and save money.

What film to cover the windows with?

The best solution is self-adhesive polyethylene. It is sold in construction stores. When applying protective film to windows, keep in mind:

• It cannot be glued to a double-glazed window - it is very difficult to remove stains from glass.
• If the repair takes longer than 3 months, the film will most likely stick tightly to the profile and will be almost impossible to remove.
• This material is not suitable for completely covering a window - there will inevitably be open areas. Through them, construction dust penetrates onto PVC, glass, and fittings. That's why it's better to use film, cellophane and construction tape at the same time. Cover not only the window with protective material, but also the mounting seam in the opening to protect it from damage.

Expert advice . It is convenient to use a special spray to protect the window. It is sold by window companies. Once applied, it reacts with air and forms a dust-proof film on the surface.

Using protective film “liquid armor”

We are talking about a liquid solution called “Liquick”, which is applied to the window using a roller or spray.

When using a roller to apply liquid film, it is important that it is evenly saturated. If you work with a sprayer, first you need to set the optimal pressure.

Liquick is the ideal solution for protecting windows during renovations. The liquid can be applied not only to glass, but also to plastic, including rubber seals and fittings, i.e. completely fill all surfaces with it. According to the instructions, a 20 liter can is enough for 120 sq. m area.

Before applying “liquid armor” to the window, it should be wiped free of dust. The coating should be uniform, but seals and fittings can be protected with a double layer. It is recommended to carry out work at temperatures from +10 C to +35 C. The film is removed after repair, although its complete hardening occurs after 24 hours.

General recommendations

• Protect windows from the influence of hot appliances (iron, hot kettle, heater, welding equipment).
• Avoid contact of the plastic frame with sharp objects. Do not use cleaning products that cause scratches or compositions with aggressive substances that can damage glass, plastic, sealing rubber, and fittings.
• Do not apply paints, protective compounds, or preservatives not intended for such a task to the plastic profile.

+7

Call

Order windows at a profit!

Until the end of the week, 30% discount on windows and balconies!

I want a discount

Window protection rules

1. To avoid deformation of purchased profiles planned for installation, they should be stored on stands in a vertical position, in a room with a constant temperature.
2. Before starting repairs, cover the windows with film (you can use self-adhesive film). It will protect parts from traces of paint, sealant, glue, and accessories from dust.
3. It is advisable to completely cover the doors in adjacent rooms with film so that dust from repairs does not penetrate through the cracks.
4. After repair work, the film from the plastic must be removed, and the factory polyethylene must also be removed. The warranty card (operation section) states that the protective film must be removed no later than 1 month from the date of installation of the windows. If you do not do this on time, marks that are difficult to remove may remain on the profile.
5. If dust gets on the fittings, open the window and carefully remove all dirt, then lubricate the elements with a special silicone-based compound or regular machine oil. It is not recommended to use vegetable oil or plain Vaseline.
6. If paint or other substances do get on the window, remove the traces as quickly as possible, especially from the profile. Otherwise, you will then have to use hard and sharp objects that can easily scratch the surface. Gasoline, white spirit or acetone may no longer help.
7. After cleaning the windows, check the drainage holes; they are likely to be clogged due to the renovation.

How to preserve windows after renovation

If the repairs are completed and the windows are not damaged, this does not mean that they are no longer in danger. To preserve PVC windows, you need to regularly care for them. Otherwise, it will not be possible to ensure the tightness of the glazing, its attractive appearance, or the required level of noise and heat insulation for a long time. Just washing the windows after finishing work is not enough. Dust settles on glass, plastic, and fittings. If the window handle is difficult to turn, the fasteners creak, or make noise when moving, call a window company technician. He will sort through and clean the mechanisms of contaminants. In other cases, simply lubricate the fittings and seals with a special compound. Upon completion of finishing, we recommend washing the glass with a 25% solution of vinegar or ammonia to give it shine and a flawless appearance. When cleaning windows, use a soft, non-abrasive material to prevent the glass from being scratched.

You can find out how to protect your window from damage and effectively maintain it from a window company consultant before ordering and installing the profile.

How to protect windows during dirty renovation work

The four most commonly used window covering materials are:

• Painting or stretch film.
• Black oilcloth.
• Thin cardboard or paper.
• Liquid film.

If you are lazy and do not pay a little attention to the shelter, you can get the following problems:

• traces and drops of plaster;
• window damage caused by sparks from an angle grinder;
• dirt from primer, putty, glue, paint.

This does not include random scratches and dirt that happen during cosmetic repairs.

Toothpaste

You can glue any paper to toothpaste.
Use the composition by squeezing it out of the tube and applying it pointwise to the snowflake in the center and at the ends of the rays. Lubricate the silhouette figure around the perimeter, at a short distance from the edge. Place the decor against the glass and press with a cloth. If there is a lot of paste, it is squeezed out along the edges of the paper

It must be carefully wiped off before it dries. The viscous composition becomes hard after drying and holds even large snowflakes well.

Do not use toothpastes with colored stripes. Painted compounds leave marks on the pasted figures, penetrating through the paper.

You can remove jewelry with a knife blade. With light pressure, a piece of dry paste separates from the glass surface, leaving a white mark on it. It can be easily washed with warm water and then wipe the windows dry.

Insulation of window sill, drainage and slopes

If there are no cracks in the frame, and heat still escapes from the room, the problem may be the presence of cold bridges in the space under the window sill or inside the slopes. In this case, repair and insulation of wooden windows will be required at the same time.

Polyurethane foam

Universal insulation for windows - polyurethane foam. It can be used to seal cracks and install slopes.

To prevent heat loss from under the window sill, it is necessary to clean out from the space under it old fallen plaster, crumbling foam, caked cotton wool or other type of insulation that has become unusable. Then install the foam can into the gun and blow insulation into the gap

It is important to remember that the composition expands several times. Excess foam can be easily cut off with a knife after drying.

To seal large cracks under the window sill, it is better to use polyurethane foam.

Foam is also blown into the seam between the frame and the wall and along the edges of the slope, then any insulation is laid and a slope made of plasterboard, plastic or sandwich board is installed. Temporarily it must be fixed to the wall with masking tape. All joints must be coated with sealant.

Polyethylene film

Insulation of windows in a wooden house can be done using other methods. A new and not yet sufficiently proven method is to seal the window opening with completely transparent plastic film. The method is not entirely aesthetic, since gluing the film absolutely evenly is difficult. It can only be partially leveled with a hairdryer. But, judging by the reviews, the method allows you to reduce the heat loss of the window to the level of a blank wall, which is much more effective than sealing or sealing the cracks.

Sealing a window opening with film significantly reduces heat loss, although it does not look entirely aesthetically pleasing.

The film is fixed in different ways:

• Double-sided tape;
• Furniture stapler;
• Masking tape.

This type of cold protection is easy to install and dismantle. The same film can be used repeatedly.

Since there are different ways to insulate old wooden windows for the winter, it is best to use several at once to eliminate not only the obvious problems, but also those that may arise in cold weather.

It is recommended to do the insulation of windows yourself in the summer or autumn, because many types of work cannot be performed in the winter season.

What types are there?

There are many materials for sealing windows, but the most common and quite effective are as follows :

• various tapes;
• scotch;
• self-adhesive insulation (seal);
• self-adhesive foam rubber;
• heat-saving film;
• sealant.

To fully understand which tool to choose in a particular situation, it is necessary to analyze the advantages, disadvantages and features of each option.

Various tapes

Paper tape for insulating windows is the cheapest option that can be used to get rid of small drafts.
This method dates back to the 20th century, when newspaper was used to seal cracks to maintain a comfortable temperature during the cold season. Now you can buy a special tape at a hardware store - it is characterized by increased strength and a large number of different colors. The material can be attached to the structure using a soap solution or using diluted wallpaper glue.

The use of paper tape is considered one of the least effective methods, so if you have the financial opportunity, it is recommended to choose the options described below.

Scotch

One of the fastest and least expensive options is to seal the windows with tape. Among all the variety, masking (paper) adhesive tape is mainly used for insulation .
It is also recommended to pay attention to reinforced tape, which has increased strength and adhesiveness. Despite the simplicity and popularity of this method, it has a number of rather serious disadvantages. The key disadvantage is that you won’t be able to achieve decent protection from extreme cold and winds using tape alone. There is a high risk that such protection will come off during prolonged unfavorable weather conditions and leave the apartment owners alone with drafts.

Self-adhesive insulation

Another popular tool that has become widespread due to its availability (can be found in almost any hardware store), undemanding skills and low cost. Other advantages worth highlighting are :

• Durable . Can last two seasons or more.
• Hollow . It fits tightly to the structure, preventing drafts from penetrating inside, and does not interfere with the opening/closing of windows.
• Universal . The presence of self-adhesive tape allows the material to be used on internal sashes as well.

As for the negative aspects, the main disadvantage is the presence of a large number of fakes on the market . This product is much less durable.

Self-adhesive foam

This product will help residents of residential premises protect their own home from drafts, without making high demands on the skills of the owners or on their wallet.
As additional advantages, it is worth highlighting the speed of work and the thickness of the material. Don't forget about some disadvantages :

• due to its thickness, foam rubber can prevent the windows from closing completely;
• the material cannot absorb steam from the air;
• foam rubber does not have a protective layer.

If the sashes fit tightly to the frame, in order to glue the foam rubber, it may be necessary to partially cut off the top layer of wood of the window structure. In such cases, it is recommended to choose another remedy.

Heat-saving film

A relatively new option that allows you to retain some of the heat in the apartment by treating the joints of glass with the window frame.
The film can be called an effective remedy, but still not in all cases :

• the material is highly expensive;
• the film is not used to seal the gaps between the frame and the sashes, so it will not be possible to completely get rid of drafts.

Thermal-saving film is mainly used as an additional means to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.

Sealant

This product will help to quickly and reliably protect windows from cold penetration at the joints of the frame and window. However, the sealant will not be able to help seal the cracks in the frame itself. Also worth noting :

• relatively high cost of the product;
• the need for careful pre-processing of the structure;
• difficulties with washing off the sealant after the end of the winter season.

It should be mentioned that the process of applying the material is quite labor-intensive due to the need to make an even seam.

Preventing heat loss through other places

Once the source of heat loss is identified, the most suitable method is selected. In most cases, plastic structures are insulated with adhesive tape. Window tape or other methods used on wood frames will not do the job if the problem is in the slopes or sill.

Windowsill

If a cold air stream comes from under the window sill, it is necessary to replace the polyurethane foam. It is cut out, the free space is treated with a primer, and after drying it is blown with construction foam.

Slopes

To reduce heat loss, it is recommended to glue foam to the wall. In order for it to last a long time, it must be covered with plaster on top (through a mesh). The finishing can be completed by whitewashing, painting or plastic.

Which is better: TOP

When ranking the best means for window insulation, places will be distributed as follows:

Black film for blocking windows from prying eyes during repairs

Black oilcloth film or cellophane is the second most common material. If the room being renovated needs to be made invisible from the street, this is the most affordable option. However, it is not without its drawbacks.

Black film has a number of properties that you need to know about:

• Black polymer material heats up more easily in the sun and emits an unpleasant odor.
• Overheating of the black film can heat up the glass unit, which in winter causes thermal shock and leads to the appearance of a crack in the glass unit.

It is better to use cardboard or paper instead of PVC film. It's more environmentally friendly and safer.

How to glue it yourself?

To insulate a double-glazed window with heat-saving film, you must:

1. Clean the frame well and wipe it with degreaser.
2. You need to stick double-sided tape around the perimeter of the glass and cut the film into pieces of the required size. The material is applied to the glass so that it completely covers it. The edges of the film should be in close contact with the tape.
3. The film is heated with a hairdryer, due to which all large wrinkles are smoothed out and the material evenly adheres to the glass.

If the problem is found in the slopes:

1. First, unnecessary parts are dismantled.
2. Then the very uneven surface is plastered, and the slopes are treated with a primer.
3. The old foam must be dismantled.
4. The required fragment of the slope is cut out of polystyrene foam, glued and pressed.
5. Then the surface is puttied and the casing is installed.

If there are cracks in the window sill, then use foam:

1. The old material is disposed of, completely removing its excess.
2. Then clean the cracks with a brush and apply new foam.
3. At the final stage, the work site is puttied.

The video explains how to seal and insulate PVC windows with foam and sealant:

And this video explains the method of sealing with adhesive tape:

Plastic

In the case of plastic frames, slightly different materials and technologies are used. It will not be possible to seal windows for the winter using the above methods.

To insulate plastic slopes, you can use extruded polystyrene foam, fiberglass or mineral wool. They are all good, you just have to choose the one that fits best in size. After insulation, the slopes are puttied and painted. To achieve maximum effect, such insulation is carried out both from the inside and from the outside during the installation process.

If air enters the cracks under the window sill, they need to be blown out using foam. After hardening, its remains are cut off with a knife. If necessary, putty and paint are applied over the foam.

If plastic slopes have been standing for a long time, but relatively recently they began to be blown out, the following measures will help. First, thoroughly wash the window on all sides and wipe it dry. Remove the sashes and look at the seal: it has probably cracked and sagged over time. Remove the old seal with a knife, degrease the grooves and glue a new seal there that is suitable in size and thickness. While working, try not to stretch or compress the rubber, otherwise the insulation will not work. The sealant can also be used to seal cracks on slopes and window sills.

Protecting the window with paper or cardboard during repairs

Window sealing paper is the best option for the following reasons:

1. Sold in convenient rolls, which reduces unsticking time,
2. Thin paper and cardboard allow light to pass through, which somewhat saves electricity on lighting,
3. Unlike black cellophane, it does not overheat the room and double-glazed windows,
4. Easily attached to tape, and also easily removed upon completion of the repair,
5. Does not have any foreign or unpleasant odor.

Life hack: it’s better to stick it with masking tape or PVC adhesive tape. They are easier to tear into pieces and do not leave a sticky residue, which happens when using regular adhesive tape.

Paper is more expensive than covering film. The price, however, is not so high that one can refuse it.