Window decoration in a wooden house: slopes and window sills

The slope is the part of the window opening that frames the window around the perimeter. After installing the window, this part needs to be processed to give the entire structure a finished look.

Those who are faced with renovating or building a house for the first time do not always understand why slopes on windows are needed. And really, why? After all, the frame is already in the opening, the doors open and close, so why spend extra money on framing? But after a while, even the most inveterate skeptics will admit that this window trim detail performs very important aesthetic and practical functions.

Note that it is advisable to install slopes immediately when installing windows. But if this is not possible, you can do it after some time.

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

Finishing methods

Narrow wooden slopes in folk style
Inside the house, the material is chosen depending on the style of the room and interior decoration. In the bathroom and kitchen, plastic cladding or a surface lined with ceramics looks appropriate. These types are in harmony with the material of the tiled walls and PVC ceiling, so they look organic and resist the damp microclimate. The areas are easy to clean and free of grease (kitchen) and hard salts (bath).

For slopes of living rooms, plaster is used, and decorative putty is made. The surfaces are covered with wallpaper to match the color of the room, but snow-white slopes that are suitable for any style always look better. Wooden slopes are suitable for country style and finishing with natural materials.

The planes around the windows on the street side are often made of various types of siding, plastic, and modern lining. The materials meet the requirements of working in difficult weather conditions and retain their performance characteristics for a long time.

Plastic

Plastic slopes to match the windows
The material is placed outside and inside on the slopes when finishing windows in a wooden house. Practical PVC panels are characterized by long service life and affordable cost. The surface has a glossy or matte finish; the user has the right to choose the plastic color. Panels are produced with imitation of natural materials, for example, stone, different types of wood. A pattern of ceramics, brickwork, or fabric wicker is applied to the surface.

Plastic has qualitative properties:

• the simplicity of installation and processing technology allows you to sheathe the planes yourself;
• easy to clean with ordinary detergents;
• does not support the development of microorganisms;
• under normal conditions it does not emit components harmful to health.

PVC plates weigh little, so they do not increase the load on the walls. Plastic can withstand temperature fluctuations and heat from the sun, and due to its moisture resistance, it does not collapse in the cold. Due to the cellular structure, they additionally isolate the room from noise.

Wooden

Siberian larch contains a lot of resin, so the wood does not absorb moisture.
Various species are used, and elite boards of oak, beech, and cedar are used for expensive interiors. As an inexpensive option, coniferous species of pine and spruce are taken. The average cost material is Siberian larch, which contains resin, which protects the material from moisture.

Positive qualities of wood in finishing slopes:

• environmentally friendly, does not contain or emit harmful substances when heated from the sun;
• does not fade over time;
• creates an atmosphere of warmth and comfort;
• compatible with many building materials.

Wood of any quality requires treatment with antiseptics, fire retardants, and stimulants so that it is not spoiled by bugs and the risk of fire of the finishing layer is reduced. The material is rarely painted; impregnations and varnishes are more often used to emphasize the original texture. Wooden slopes can last 2–3 decades without losing their original properties if installed and maintained correctly.

Plastering

Standard plaster contains cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3. This is an economical type of finishing around a window that performs well outside and inside the house. Thin layers sometimes freeze.

Plaster does not stick well to the wooden ends of walls, so be sure to stuff a metal mesh before adding the mortar, and add gypsum or alabaster to the mixture in a volume of 1/10 of the mass. Liquid glass is mixed into the composition to increase moisture resistance. The finished surfaces are puttied and coated with acrylic-based water-based paints.

The modern market offers ready-made plaster mixtures with increased adhesion to wood. Such compositions are sold in ready-to-use form, packaged in buckets or sold as dry mixtures in bags of 25 - 30 kg. They contain polymer additives and fibrous impurities that increase adhesion to wood and provide elasticity of the coating. With the use of dry mixtures, the cost of the layer increases.

Lining

Lining is used for slopes outside and inside.
Glued material is made from wood fibers, which are compressed under pressure under high temperature conditions. Modifiers and artificial types of resins are added to the mixture during production to improve performance characteristics. The material looks like natural wood after being coated with varnishes or impregnations.

For outdoor use, linings of complex composition are produced, which include wood waste and polymer composites (polypropylene components). As a result, the elements receive fire protection characteristics and do not ignite up to a certain heating limit.

Modern lining lasts up to 15 years, the material is easy to install, and does not require complex maintenance during operation. Under normal living conditions, the panels do not emit harmful substances into the environment. For slopes of plastic windows in a wooden building, lining is a suitable cladding, as it is combined with the natural material of the walls.

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

Requirements

There are some requirements that should be taken into account when independently selecting and installing products:

• the installed materials should improve the performance characteristics of the window;
• the slope must withstand mechanical stress;
• the service life of the product should not be less than the service life of the window itself;
• the decoration must correspond to the general style of the room;
• wooden slopes must be well secured with self-tapping screws or adhesives or sealants that are designed specifically for this purpose;
• The temperature and humidity conditions in the room where the slope will be installed must be observed;
• joints should not have gaps, corners should be installed at transitions.

Important! Parts for outdoor installation should not be made of material that is not resistant to moisture. During the winter and fall, the product will be exposed to snow and rain, so it must withstand harsh weather conditions.

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

What types of wood are suitable?

It is not enough to simply choose a wooden slope in a store and install it on a plastic window; you also need to know what type of wood such products are most preferable from. It is recommended to consider the main breeds that are used today:

• 
  Larch. It has a beautiful red-brown tint and good performance indicators.
  Does not require the use of antiseptics, durable and fire-resistant. Resistant to moisture and frost, tolerates temperature fluctuations well.

  The downside is that it is not thermally conductive, takes a long time to heat up, and may crack over time.

• Oak. This is a durable material that exhibits unique hardness characteristics.
  Oak can withstand high loads. It is dense and dry, so it is well suited for finishing. Oak is resistant to moisture and biological influences. Insects do not like it and fungus rarely forms on it. The downside is the high cost of the material.
• Pine. Easy to process, resistant to moisture and environmentally friendly.
  This material is the most affordable and has many color options. The disadvantages include the possible release of resin and the appearance of dark spots during prolonged use.
• Linden. It is easy to process, has a low cost, but requires careful drying and is not a dense material.

From the point of view of installation outside the window, it is important to choose those species that are resistant to bad weather and different temperatures. Larch and oak are suitable, pine will also be relevant, but if not properly processed over time, this species may become covered with dark spots. For indoor installation, both linden and oak, pine and larch are suitable.

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.

Pros and cons of use

The main positive aspects of this solution:

• 
  environmental friendliness;

• noble appearance;
• functionality;
• variability of patterns and colors;
• ability to choose the type of wood;
• durability;
• wear resistance;
• safety;
• maintainability.

Along with a lot of advantages, there are also a few disadvantages:

• For example, a high price, which is determined by the type of wood.
• It is also worth highlighting careful care of the wooden product, without which the wood will become more susceptible to various negative influences.

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

Installation on wooden blocks

If the slopes are purchased with a window block, installation is simplified. Grooves are cut into the frames. They are installed the day after the window is installed. The necessary measurements are taken and the boards are cut to length.

Wooden ends are treated with a fine file or sandpaper. If the base of the opening is wooden, holes are drilled in the panels, inserted into the grooves (installation begins from the top panel), pressed tightly, and screwed with self-tapping screws.

When the frames and slopes are not included in the kit, the ends are adjusted. The correct fit is checked with a square. Next, the procedure is the same as in the previous version.

When the base is brick or concrete, a sheathing is made from thin wooden planks. They are mounted using self-tapping screws and dowels. A level is used to check for plane deviations. Insulating mineral wool is laid in the sheathing, finishing is placed on top, and screwed to the planks.

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.

What are the benefits of wooden slopes?

Wood is a natural material. This determines the remaining advantages of wooden structures.

Aesthetics

The advantage cannot be denied. Wood is unrivaled in terms of aesthetics. No fake oak made of plastic or metal can compare with it.

Birch FSF

Environmental friendliness

Wood is more environmentally friendly than synthetic material. But we cannot talk about the environmental friendliness of the panels. Their base is plywood impregnated with glue.

A popular brand is FSF (plywood impregnated with phenol-formaldehyde resin glue). It is characterized by high water resistance, strength, and wear resistance. The base is covered with expensive wood veneer and primed with polyurethane varnish.

FSF can be used when equipping children's rooms if the formaldehyde emission class does not exceed E1.

If you make panels from natural boards on your own, you cannot do without chemicals. You still have to soak it with an antiseptic and varnish it.

The statement that a wooden slope “breathes” is not true. The varnish is practically vapor-proof.

Practicality

Wooden window sills, frames, and slopes are easy to care for. Just wipe off the dust. If the pollutant is paint, soot, etc., the procedure for removing stains from the surface without damaging the panel is difficult.

In terms of service life, wooden structures are inferior to metal or plastic ones, unless larch or oak wood was used for manufacturing.

Oak wood

Availability

Factory-made oak slopes are expensive; panels are ordered from cheap species. If you have the skills, install them yourself or invite a specialist.

Pine texture

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.

What can it be made from?

The cheapest finish is plastering. At the same time unpresentable and unreliable. The process is long, the plaster must be laid layer by layer. The next one is applied after the previous one has dried. The plaster needs to be sanded and painted. It does not adhere well to profiles, comes off, moisture gets into the cracks, the coating is destroyed, and does not hold heat well.

Other options (sandwich panels, thermal slopes, metal and plastic slopes) are more preferable. However, they do have disadvantages. Sandwich panels are expensive, difficult to install, and deform when heated. Thermal slopes are fragile, it is better not to try to install them yourself. The appearance and durability of plastic panels depend on the integrity of the manufacturer.

In the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) mass, poor quality raw materials are used. Metal cladding makes a lot of noise when it rains; installation of noise-absorbing tape is required.

The tree looks stylish

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.

Tools and consumables for installation

You can install wooden slopes on PVC windows yourself. To do this, you need to prepare all the tools and consumables. Tools you will need:

• manual jigsaw - for trimming panels;
• level - to check the accuracy of installation;
• sandpaper - for smoothing edges;
• a circular saw;
• drill - for fastening;
• screwdriver - if there is no network connection;
• spatula - for finishing work.

From consumables:

• 
  The strip of wood itself will come in handy, from which pieces will be cut to the required length.

• Corners are also needed. If necessary, you can purchase a metal corner or profile for more reliable corner protection.
• You also need polyurethane foam or mineral wool to eliminate gaps and seal the structure.
• A primer will be useful for treating the wall, self-tapping screws for fastening, or silicone sealant if the fixation will take place on it.
• For finishing work, before installing the slopes, it is necessary to putty the walls. To do this, you need to purchase ready-made putty or buy powdered putty and then dilute it.
• If the wooden planks are not treated, then you need to stock up on varnish to preserve the appearance of the wood.

Note! For external finishing work, special sandwich panels are often used, which already contain insulation.

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.

Is it possible to install wooden parts on a PVC structure?

Slopes on plastic windows perform 2 functions: they decoratively mask construction irregularities and communications, and also additionally insulate the window. Since after installation there remains a small gap between the window and the wall, builders usually fill it with foam. Protruding pieces of material always do not look very nice, so the decision is made to use slopes.

For PVC windows, they choose plastering or installing plastic slopes, but today wooden materials are also often used.

On a note. When answering the question whether it is possible to install wood parts on a PVC frame, it should be noted that the appearance of the structure will only improve, and the protective properties of wood can additionally preserve all corners and surfaces intact.

Wood products can be used both externally and internally:

• 
  If you decide to install wood outside the window, it is important to choose the right material and the type of wood from which it is made.
  It must be a moisture-resistant material that is also resistant to temperature changes.

• For internal products, there will be fewer requirements, since there will be no interaction with precipitation.

Today, construction stores have a large selection of wooden materials, among which you can choose exactly the option for slopes that will be relevant.

What materials are most often used for installing slopes?

Slopes on windows are not simply installed to hide all traces of installation; they are also used to isolate extraneous noise from the street, as well as for thermal insulation and eliminate fogging of windows. The basic rule is correct installation, otherwise about 40% of the heat will escape through the window. Slopes are not just a beautiful attribute of the interior, but also protect the polyurethane foam that is used in installing windows. Without a slope, the foam will crack, absorb moisture and collapse, due to which the insulation will deteriorate every year.

Plastic window without slopes

There are a wide variety of materials for window cladding, but the main ones are:

1. Plastic.
2. Drywall.
3. Plaster.
4. Sandwich panels.

Increasingly, during repairs, plastic is used on slopes, for plastic windows, working with your own hands. It is not only easy to wash and care for, plastic also has other features, but all this can only be seen in a comparison of materials. Below are the advantages of the materials:

As for plaster, it has more disadvantages. Over time, such material will lose its color due to sunlight. In a few years, restoration will be required, because plastering is not durable, cracks appear, and sometimes the plaster simply comes off the walls in pieces. The thickness of the plaster will be large, since several layers are applied to the window opening, and the technology takes a long time, because each layer dries. After plastering, the surface is treated with primer and paint. This material does not imply the use of a heat insulator, due to which the windows will fog up.

Drywall slopes on windows

The disadvantage of drywall is that not all types of gypsum boards can be installed in wet rooms, and it is also necessary to use paint and a primer during work. You can also finish the window using the following materials:

1. Tiles.
2. Metal or metal profile.
3. Siding.

Some people create a wooden slope, but it is better to use the material inside the house and treat it with additional means to prevent mold and mildew from appearing. In general, there are many materials for finishing windows, some are used as external cladding materials, and some are used as external ones.

Dismantling an old wooden window creates large holes in the opening, even after installing a new metal-plastic window. In this case, it will blow from the windows and you will need to foam the holes. In addition, additional sound insulation and thermal insulation will be obtained using insulation if the frame method of slope design is used. In this case, insulation is placed in the frame and covered with finishing.

Among the available and modern insulation materials and methods are:

1. Filling voids with mineral wool when installing window sills and slopes on plastic windows.
2. Coat the joint between the window and the wall with foam to prevent freezing.
3. Place the trim on the slope, and also install the flashing if installation is carried out from the street.

In addition to cotton wool, you can use other materials:

1. Penoplex.
2. Expanded polystyrene.
3. Sandwich panel.
4. Izover.

The choice of insulation depends on the width of the gaps and the characteristics of the window opening, as well as the junction of the walls with the polyvinyl chloride frame. If the gap is up to 50 mm and the surface is smooth, then polystyrene foam or isover up to 3 cm are used. For unevenness, mineral wool is suitable, it is also suitable if the defects are very strong after the old window has been removed. Having familiarized yourself with the materials used for windows, as well as insulation, you need to understand the method of installing slopes on plastic windows with your own hands.

Types of materials

Exterior finishing of windows can be done with various materials, which create different decorative effects and levels of protection for the installation seam due to their properties.