Slopes for windows in a wooden house: finishing options

Today you can hardly meet a person who would not like to own a wooden house in the countryside. After purchasing land, the process of building such a house will not take you much time. The main thing is to choose the right materials that are not only of high quality, but also highly durable.

After the construction process is completed, you will certainly be faced with a choice of which windows to install in such a house? Today, plastic windows are considered the most durable, high-quality and durable.

The photo shows one of the window opening design options.

Having installed them, you will certainly ask yourself the question of how to design the windows in such a way that they harmoniously combine with both the facade and the interior decoration of the building?

In a wooden house, the following materials are used to decorate windows:

• Plastic;
• Tree.

For exterior finishing, you should use whiter, practical finishing materials that are not capable of absorbing moisture. And the interior decoration can be done with any finishing material, since indoors it will be protected from various climatic phenomena.

Slope arrangement diagram

Installing slopes in a wooden house

To make high-quality external slopes for windows, the material must be very resistant to moisture. For interior decoration, you can omit the requirements and choose any desired material. Window frames can be finished with plastic, wood or clapboard. Slopes made of lining are considered to be the most universal of the listed materials, since the material is perfect for finishing a house both inside and outside.

Moisture-resistant material is used for exterior finishing

To install window slopes you will need:

• wood panels;
• corners;
• set of self-tapping screws;
• polyurethane foam;
• screwdriver

Work area:

1. If the walls in the house are not even, it is necessary to install lathing, the slats for which must be selected in proportion to the thickness of the panel for finishing.
   When preparing the bars, consider not only the size of the slopes, but also the installation method. The sheathing should be attached with self-tapping screws around the perimeter of the window frame using a screwdriver or drill. Carefully fill the vacated space with material with a thermal insulation function. If the walls in the house are smooth and beautiful, you can safely skip the first step of lathing and go straight to the slopes of the window frame. For interior finishing work, lining is most often used
2. Next, we fasten the paneling with a screwdriver onto the screws.
   When installing vertically, we fix the slopes on windows from the outside or inside according to the area of ​​the frame where the grooves should lie. Using fasteners, secure the panel to the body. When installing horizontally, start work from the bottom side, having previously mounted the starting strip on the frame. We fix the window slopes first in the strip openings, then with each other. When installing the lining horizontally, installation begins from the bottom side
3. We provide installed slopes with corners that will help hide minor errors and defects, and also contribute to high tightness.

How to choose the right finishing element

The functions of a window sill are known, but not everyone knows why slopes on windows in a wooden house are needed. Slopes in a wooden house not only add completeness to the interior, but also provide a kind of protection for the materials used to install the plastic window:

• protect window frames and openings from water ingress;
• help cover the mounting foam, prolonging its service life for as long as possible;
• visually improve the appearance of the window.

Slopes prevent moisture from entering the window opening and frame.
Based on the type of window that will be installed (metal-plastic or wood), it is necessary to consider various methods for creating window slopes. There is a huge range of products on sale that will not only effectively protect materials, but also decorate the facade and the inside of the room. Materials for installing slopes must have several basic characteristics: moisture resistance, strength, practicality, long service life, ease of installation and dismantling. To install the slopes, you can hire specialists or make and install slopes on a wooden house with your own hands.

In a log house or timber structure, a plastic slope, as well as cladding inside and outside with wooden panels, will look harmonious. The most popular options for a log house:

• plastic;
• lining made of natural panels;
• tree.

The most practical material for constructing slopes is plastic.

Despite the use of a wide variety of finishing options, when choosing plastic windows in a wooden house, it is best to create the finishing of the façade window opening using practical materials that do not absorb atmospheric moisture. In the best case, PVC window slopes are recommended to be installed from plastic. In a house made of timber, you can make slopes inside yourself and choose the material based on your own taste.

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.

Varieties

Plastered

Plaster is a traditional material for finishing a window opening. In its original version, the method was used to save money and in conditions of shortage of finishing materials. The process consists of leveling part of the wall using a primer, applying plasters and then painting the slopes. Thus, the slopes could become a full-fledged continuation of the walls, but at the same time they did not have a tight connection with the window frame. Because of this, after some time, cracks formed, and the thermal insulation was practically zero. The windows needed to be insulated from the outside, and not always using aesthetic methods - cotton wool, moss and even plasticine. At the moment, the technology for applying plaster mortar has changed a lot, and now this type of slopes is considered the best and most stylish option.

Drywall slopes

This method is quite economical, and also modern for cladding a window opening. Drywall retains heat perfectly, is inexpensive in itself, and its texture will be an excellent basis for applying any type of decor. Pieces of drywall are often left over after a modern renovation of a room has been carried out, and to save money they can be used as materials for slopes. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting that this type of finish is unstable to dampness (if you use the usual option), and also has a tendency to deform at the junction of the wall and window.

Plastic slopes

This type of cladding is the most popular today. The plastic used for slopes can have different textures and modifications, and can also be used as decoration, or stylized to resemble any other material. Plastic panels are practical and durable, easy to install. Using thin sheets, you can hide all the ugly “insides” of the window opening - insulation, foam and missing pieces of the wall.

In addition, plastic can be easily washed using household products that are found in any home, and the material is not afraid of moisture and prevents drafts. Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting that it is expensive and also fragile at low temperatures in an unheated room. In the construction materials market, plastic panels are presented in variety and different shades. It will not be difficult for you to choose any shade of beige, white, milky color to match the frame, as well as any other pattern or color to match the wall, wallpaper or accent in home design.

Wooden slopes

What is even better for finishing the slopes of plastic windows inside? It is not for nothing that wood is considered an elite type for slopes, but also has a high cost and requires high-quality care. As a rule, wood panels are left in their original natural color, and then simply coated with a varnish. It makes sense to install wooden slopes as a continuation of a frame made of wood material, which in themselves will be indicators of respectability, or as a continuation of a brightly accented log wall. For example, this is an excellent option if the interior is made in a chalet, country or rustic style.

The main advantage of wood is its environmental friendliness, beautiful appearance, which is often called “warm,” and durability. Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the high cost, as well as the requirement to follow special rules for caring for wood.

Cork slopes

Cork as a facing material has a number of advantages in the form of a high level of thermal and noise insulation, and it is also available in various natural shades and is very pleasant to the touch. But the high price of cork panels in combination with not very good durability, simple appearance and difficulty in maintenance is a huge disadvantage. Due to such circumstances, cork slopes are not so popular and therefore are extremely rare. But they can be taken as a pencil to develop various style directions indoors.

Metal slopes. Installation of metal slopes and ebbs

Metal slopes

Finishing with a metal slope is a set of works for the installation of auxiliary elements designed to extend the service life of the entire structure and improve its functionality. Slopes also cover holes between the frames and partitions of the house. The installation of such slopes, depending on the type, is classified as external or internal decoration of the apartment.

In winter, the slope does not allow cold to pass through and retains heat, creating a comfortable microclimate in the house. This detail of the opening insulates seams and closes microcracks, improving the sealing of the apartment

This is especially important given that polyurethane foam breaks down quite easily and quickly. By the way, the same functions are performed by internal slopes, which are moisture resistant if the room is ventilated or there is a radiator in the window sill niche

Currently, steel slopes are especially popular for windows and doors in private homes, as well as on the ground floors of offices and high-rise buildings.

Dimensions and design

Since slopes are made individually, measuring each window or doorway, the parameters of the product can be very different. The same applies to the level of complexity of the design. However, the metal slope is always solid and exactly fits the measurements, so high protection of the seams from water and sun is guaranteed.

The following types of slopes may have an unusual design:

• For ventilated facades or siding facades. In this case, the slopes will have protruding elements and shelves for fastening.
• For a brick facade. The slope will have a Z-shape.

Slopes for different facade windows, for example, can have a width of 2-60 cm. The length varies from 10 to 300 cm. Standard lengths are 125 cm, 200 cm and 300 cm. The thickness of the metal varies from 0.4 to 0.8 mm.

Advantages/disadvantages

Metal slopes are extremely popular on the market because the plates do not crack like plaster, do not swell like drywall and do not fade like plastic. If the main part of the materials is suitable only for creating internal slopes, then with metal it is also possible to produce external slopes. The main advantages of steel slopes include the following characteristics of the product and the material itself:

• High-quality sealing. Good metal-based slopes protect assembly seams from natural precipitation, as well as the very inside of the walls from dampness and mold processes.
• Long operational period. It is enough to invest in the installation of window slopes once, and you will be able to enjoy their quality for several decades in a row.
• High strength. Slopes on windows or doors made of metal perfectly overcome the negative influence of the external environment, be it high humidity, ultraviolet exposure, strong winds or temperature changes.
• Simple rules of use and care. To ensure that the metal slope retains its beautiful appearance and usual shine, it is enough to wipe it occasionally with a damp cloth. Unlike other materials, metal does not need to be repainted regularly.
• Home decoration. Laconic and stylish slopes for doors and windows complement the overall design of the apartment and become a decorative frame for each opening, because they have a special three-dimensional shape. Currently, there are different color solutions for steel slopes, so you can choose a part to suit any interior. The most common are white slopes for plastic windows and doors and brown ones for frames imitating wood.

Materials and technologies

Plastic windows in a house made of timber or logs have been used for a long time and everywhere, so for them there are practically no restrictions in the choice of materials for slopes.

It is noteworthy that in this case the wooden finish also looks normal, while the opposite option - plastic slopes with wooden windows - is much less common.

To make slopes, you can use several types of materials, including some that are specially designed only for this purpose. Let's consider each of them according to three criteria: cost, practicality and installation complexity.

Plastic

The production of plastic windows is not limited to double-glazed windows and frames. The main products, as a rule, are accompanied by an extensive list of related parts, including specialized panels for window treatments.

Whether or not to use such materials to install slopes in a log or beam house depends on the artistic taste of the customer, but we immediately emphasize that from the point of view of installation, this approach is the simplest solution.

Two types of plastic slopes are poured:

• regular profile;
• sandwich panel.

Warm slope in section

The first option is the most inexpensive and is most often used to make slopes for mass orders (for example, in public buildings).

In the second case, the slope provides additional thermal insulation, which is always welcome in houses where energy efficiency has the highest priority (especially important for windows in baths and saunas).

In terms of installation complexity, both options are the same and allow for self-installation without purchasing expensive equipment.

The installation sequence for plastic slopes consists of five simple steps:

• installation of the leveling rail and fixing latch;
• determining the exact dimensions for each panel;
• cutting the material using a mounting knife or hacksaw;
• installation of insulation (or application of polyurethane foam);
• panel assembly.

It is important to consider that the arrangement of slopes should be carried out only after the window sill has been installed

Please note that only internal slopes are made of plastic, since such panels quickly collapse when installed outside.

Tree

This can be a solid board made of stable and properly dried wood or a composite composition made of lining.

Note that wooden slopes are most often straight and can be used for both interior and exterior window decoration.

The cost of such a solution is quite high, but as a result, the windows will acquire a more respectable appearance than when using plastic structures.

From a technical point of view, assembling a wooden slope is difficult only in cases where it is assembled, and its installation requires preliminary installation of guides.

Fixing the slats onto the guides is done using clamps.

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

Why are slopes needed?

The basic technology for installing PVC windows assumes that they are not installed close to the casing, but with the creation of a small installation gap. After centering the window, the gap is filled with polyurethane foam, and waterproofing and slopes are installed to isolate it from the external and internal influences of the atmosphere.

In general, two goals should be highlighted that are achieved by installing slopes:

• decorative concealment of construction irregularities and communications;
• additional thermal insulation of the window.

The listed goals can be achieved both simultaneously and separately.

Plastic window in finishing casing

For stone houses, the specified installation scheme is unchanged, but in wooden houses, solutions are possible when installing slopes is not necessary. A typical example of this approach is when plastic windows are installed in a finished frame with a reverse quarter, in which the casing frame, window sill and slopes are integral elements of one wooden structure.

In modern construction practice, it is customary to use a universal option, when the slope is not only a decorative panel, but also additional protection for the window from freezing.

It is traditionally believed that the slope is an element of interior decoration. Indeed, if the window is installed in compliance with all the rules for installing waterproofing, then the internal slopes will completely eliminate heat loss through the installation gap.

External slope

However, in cases where the window has a deep seat in the reverse quarter, it is not possible to close the installation gap using the platband alone, and in such cases it is necessary to install an external slope.

At first glance, the slope is just a panel covering the construction cavity of the window. But from a technical point of view, this is far from such a simple design, consisting of several elements:

• decorative protective panel;
• internal filler, which plays the role of thermal and sound protection;
• devices for fastening the outer edge of the slope;
• decorative corners for external finishing of joint areas.

Slope design in section

Both polyurethane foam and mineral wool can be used as an insulating filler.

In the example given, the filler serves as the basis for the decorative panel, but it must be taken into account that for some models of slopes it is necessary to install a more complex supporting structure.

Separately, we note that if the window opening is wide enough, then the window sill area can be used as an additional useful area, and elements of household infrastructure (sockets, network communicators, etc.) are introduced into the decorative panels.

Plastic trim

Let's start by identifying the advantages of plastic slopes:

huge variety of designs

;

this material does not allow
moisture
or
air
, which means the insulation is 100% protected;

plastic is easy to clean

household detergents of liquid or gel type;

life time

This material is practically
unlimited
;

low price

products, which does not greatly affect the construction budget, and when replacing or repairing it will not greatly affect the wallet of the owner of a wooden house;

it's eco-friendly

material;

good frost-resistant characteristics

.

Plastic slopes for outdoor installation

Technology for installing plastic slopes

Let’s immediately make a reservation that the window opening in a wooden house is made quite accurate in terms of size. Because the more defects, differences and irregularities, the more difficult it is to install the window, and even more so to finish it. In addition, the gap is also a small opening in width.

The plastic slope includes: a panel, which is the main decorative element, a starting strip and decorative corners. First of all, a starting strip is installed and secured with wood screws to the wall of the house in the opening near the installed window frame. It is mounted in sections along the entire perimeter of the opening. The main thing is that the slats create one plane, that is, they are aligned exactly horizontally and vertically.

Now ready-made plastic slopes cut to the required dimensions are inserted into the groove of the starting strip. They can be attached to the surface of the opening with adhesive or polyurethane foam. Some craftsmen fasten the panels along the outer edge with self-tapping screws. And the opposite edge is held by the starting bar.

Plastic window with plastic slopes and window sill in a wooden house

Then they move on to installing decorative corners. In fact, they cover the end of the slope and part of the surface of the external wall of the house. That is, the joint between the plastic strip and the wall is closed. Pay attention when choosing a corner. It must be of a certain width in order to form a platband on the facade of a wooden house. But here, as they say, you won’t find a friend to suit your tastes and colors. Therefore, the designer must take this into account in the building design. And one moment. It concerns the method of attaching the corners. To do this, use a special silicone-based glue.

As for the window sill, it is chosen to match the color of the slopes. It also fits into the starting bar. But they attach it with sealant or mounting foam to the horizontal plane of the window opening. No screws or nails.

There are slopes on the market, which are a corner with shelves of different widths. The small one is the editing room. It is pressed against the window frame, where it is secured with self-tapping screws. The large one is the slope itself and covers the plane of the opening.

Types of wooden slopes and their properties

The slope is part of the window opening both inside and outside the window structure. They are made from different wood species, as well as from cork oak bark, and their function is mainly to mask traces of installation of window frames, such as polyurethane foam and unsightly joints. High-quality and correctly selected, they can become a worthy interior decoration and a beautiful frame for windows.

Wooden slopes give the window nobility.

In addition to the decorative function, slopes for window openings function as a kind of window insulation, since they cover joints and cracks. So, let's look at the main functions that wooden window slopes carry:

1. Provide protection against freezing. Wooden slopes can save you from poor-quality thermal insulation when installing windows, since they cover the gap formed between the frame and the window opening. At the same time, slopes significantly improve the thermal insulation of the room. Also, wooden slopes prevent the appearance of condensation on the window frame, because it is condensation that contributes to the formation of mold and rot.
2. Protect from wind and drafts. Polyurethane foam used to seal seams when installing windows loses its properties when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and water, which is why it quickly collapses. By installing slopes, you can prevent the destruction of the polyurethane foam, which, in turn, will eliminate the appearance of drafts.
3. They have high decorative properties. In addition to masking polyurethane foam, chips and joints, wooden slopes look very impressive in the interior and give the window frame completeness.

During the manufacture of wooden slopes, special glued boards are used, which are treated with special compounds to prevent exposure to the environment. To make slopes, it is recommended to use the same type of wood that was used to make window frames - in this case, both the color and texture of the window block will completely match, and wooden windows with slopes will look seamless.

Different types of wood, such as larch and pine, have different textures, and even if the same varnish is used to finish the window and slopes, the original color will still differ.

As a rule, wooden slopes are not installed on the same day as windows in a wooden house; this is done so that the installation foam has time to dry and become durable. At a minimum, 11-12 hours should pass between installing windows and wooden slopes. But it is not recommended to delay the installation of slopes, because environmental influences gradually destroy the polyurethane foam.