What are soft windows
To produce flexible windows (they are also called liquid), a film made of polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane is used. Polyurethane is better suited for doorways due to its high frost resistance.
soft windows photo
Mandatory film requirements:
- resistance to aggressive environmental factors;
- strength, absence of creasing on folds when folding;
- resistance to temperature changes;
- high degree of transparency (up to 96%);
- easy to care for and wash.
The canvas with zippers on both sides is intended for doorways. Edging made of awning fabric. Less commonly made from eco-leather or waterproof Oxford fabric. They can be of any color, which will allow them to harmoniously fit into the design of the building. Stainless steel eyelets and plastic fasteners are installed in it. Fittings made of galvanized or nickel-plated steel will be resistant to weather conditions.
Using garter straps, you can roll the curtain into a roll and fix it in the folded position at the top. To strengthen the structure along the perimeter from the bottom edge, a weighting material is sewn into a secret pocket of the edging 8-10 cm wide. The film does not freeze in the cold and maintains a comfortable room temperature.
Important! Before frosts, you should secure the window with fastenings. If this is not done, the fabric may shrink or become deformed.
The materials do not support combustion and are self-extinguishing. They comply with fire safety rules for elements of wooden buildings. They ignite under direct flame but do not spread fire. Therefore, a soft type of window can be used near barbecue or barbecue areas. The service life with proper operation will be more than 10 years.
soft windows for gazebos photo
Main characteristics
The designs have some drawbacks, but in terms of durability, reliability and price-quality ratio they have no analogues. The table below presents the main characteristics with a description of the advantages and disadvantages of soft windows.
| No. | Characteristics | Description |
| 1 | Versatility | Suitable for openings of any geometry. Used to protect landscape gazebos, verandas, summer outbuildings, outdoor terraces of restaurants and cafes |
| 2 | Insulation | Protects from adverse weather conditions and maintains room temperature |
| 3 | Heat resistance | Designed for use without loss of properties at temperature changes from -40°С to +60°С |
| 4 | Durability | The minimum service life of PVC film with a density of 500 ÷ 750 g/m² is 10 years. The cost of the product directly depends on its thickness. |
| 5 | Practicality | Regular cleaning is sufficient, for which a damp cloth or soft sponge is used. Rain and snow do not leave streaks or stains on the outside |
| 6 | Tendency to creases | The appearance deteriorates and the insulation is damaged. Deformations are possible on low-quality film, if installation technology is violated |
| 7 | Thermal expansion | At high temperatures, the fabric stretches noticeably; in cold weather, strong tension appears |
| 8 | Tightness | Almost no fresh air is allowed through. The problem is solved by installing a block with a mosquito net on individual sectors of the windows |
| 9 | Easy to cut | The film can be scratched and cut. It will not be possible to seal the damaged area; you will have to replace the entire sheet of cloth |
flexible windows for veranda photo
This is an indispensable option for buildings where conventional glazing is not possible, such as openwork welded gazebos. Flexible windows do not have to be removed during the cold season; they can easily withstand sub-zero temperatures without losing their benefits. The quality of translucent curtains depends on the responsibility of the manufacturer of the materials. When making it yourself, before purchasing, you should ask the seller for a certificate of conformity.
Using soft windows in winter
1. Soft windows made from high-quality materials are not afraid of frost - they do not crack, do not become cloudy, or turn yellow. If necessary, they can be bent, bent, just like in the summer, they do not need to be folded!
2. If you suddenly decide to remove the windows in winter, you won’t be able to put them back in without the help of a gas gun, because the PVC film shrinks a little in the cold.
3. When the end of the summer season is just around the corner, we recommend our clients not to wait for cold weather and to extend soft windows until the daytime temperature is not lower than + 10 C and leave them in this state until spring.
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Soft windows photo
When viewing photos of soft windows, the variety of design variations strikes the eye. Materials may differ in the degree of transparency, structure, color of the canvas and finishing. There are windows of a combined type, where the top is made transparent and the bottom is covered with colored material.
soft windows for veranda photo
Colored inserts can be installed alternating vertically with transparent ones - some window openings are decorated with opaque inserts. This solution will protect from unwanted light if part of the room faces the sunny side. Monochromatic solutions are more popular, but if desired, there is room for imagination.
How to make soft windows with your own hands
Even a beginner in construction work can sew up a veranda or terrace with PVC curtains with his own hands. The step-by-step instructions in the article, equipped with useful photos and videos, will help you cope with the installation alone, without special knowledge or professional help.
How to take measurements
Without experience in construction, you should not take measurements without the help of a specialist if there are protrusions on the surface that have a complex plane shape. If the surface is flat, measurements should be made taking into account allowance for seams and edging.
The only tools you will need are a tape measure and a sheet of paper with a pencil to record marks. First, measure the height of the light openings. Then separate the width of the elements between them (pillars, racks). If you need to close the railings, write down their width and distance to the floor. Then the amount of required material, fasteners and tools is calculated.
It is worth remembering that primary installation is done only in the warm season. At low temperatures, the material becomes less pliable and easily deforms. Film cutting begins after measurements of the room.
Accessories and tools
For installation you will need several types of clamps, a hammer, a screwdriver, self-tapping screws, and press washers. You should also purchase nickel-plated locks, designed for openings no more than 2 m wide, and silicone straps. You will also need stainless steel staples. This type of fastener is useful for openings more than 5 m wide, as it is stronger and more durable.
To stitch, you need a sewing machine or a hair dryer, a powerful soldering iron, and a rolling roller. You will need weighting dies for inserts into the lower part of the edging; fittings, corners, and a channel strip are suitable for this. If desired, the openings can be equipped with zippers, and the edges can be trimmed with special anthers.
Cutting and joining material
Manufacturers produce film in rolls 140 cm wide. They choose it according to the main parameters and color (transparent or colored). Not only polyvinyl chloride, but also polyurethane is suitable. It has high elasticity with less thickness. Polyester is characterized by increased fire resistance and the ability to stamp patterns and designs on the fabric.
Cutting is carried out (taking into account seam allowances and edging) according to their dimensions. Place the material into the grooves of the edging, smooth out the folds, and fasten them together.
The fabric is connected using two methods:
- Stitching: The edging joins the PVC film and is stitched using a sewing machine. We use fabric with a water-repellent coating and lavsan threads that are resistant to temperature changes.
- Welding: pieces of film are overlapped step by step with a margin of about 3cm. Under a stream of hot air using a hair dryer or a special soldering iron, the seam is securely sealed.
During soldering, air is supplied to the groove. The upper part is moved with a special spoon. Begin welding from the middle, moving towards the edges. The finished seams are rolled tightly with a roller. Then repeat the manipulation on the reverse side.
Methods and rules of fastening
The structure can be attached to the building using a combination of several methods. Self-tapping screws with a press washer are used on top, staples on the sides, and eyelets with a strap. To make it easier to tighten the product in the future, a weighting agent is sewn into the secret pocket. The simplest option is reinforcement.
The width of the posts should be taken into account. For strength, a wooden pressure strip 5-20 cm wide is mounted on top of the fastening. A more complex sliding design requires the installation of aluminum guides on rollers. Instead, you can hang a cable with carabiners by inserting it into the sheathing fabric. Fasteners for removable fittings are nailed along the entire perimeter of the room.
If you plan to mount only from the top, it is still recommended to install eyelets at the bottom. With their help, it will be convenient to roll up and secure curtains in the form of a roll. The fixing straps should be nailed on top, in the center of each panel.
To avoid damaging the PVC by contact with the floor, it is recommended to install special boots. They will protect the room from dust, soil and other contaminants. After installation, you should wait several hours for the canvas to straighten and take on the ambient temperature. Then it is stretched and fixed at the attachment points.
Winter installation
Not everyone, for one reason or another, has time to install soft windows
in the warm season. Some people put it off until later, some are waiting for discounts, some doubt the feasibility of this process. And then autumn comes, factories remove all possible discounts, because during this period demand greatly exceeds supply. And the cold breeze, and even with the rain, no longer allows us to sit with the former pleasure on the gazebos and terraces that we so loved over the summer.
And now the cold weather comes, snowdrifts cover the benches, tables and floors. Now, right now is the time to install soft windows! All factories that respect themselves and their customers, unlike garage workers, have long switched to frost-resistant film with a large percentage of plasticizer. The most demanding customers can choose polyurethane film, which retains its plasticity in the cold.
Installation of soft windows in winter is carried out only with the use of gas guns, and as practice shows, winter installations are the most beautiful and high-quality. The PVC film heats up, the process is somewhat reminiscent of installing suspended ceilings, and cools quickly, which is why it smoothes out as much as possible, like glass. We recommend that installation be carried out at temperatures down to -10 C, guided by two factors: at lower temperatures, installers do not have time to work with the still warm film, since it cools down very quickly, and the second, no less important, we are all human and freeze in the cold and We're in a hurry.
To summarize, installation of soft windows in winter is:
- no queues,
- minimum deadlines,
- discounts,
- promotions, special offers,
- installation specialists are ready to take on complex objects that they didn’t even look at in the fall.
