The need to figure out how to plaster slopes on windows arises during a comprehensive replacement of an old structure. The property owner is not always sure that the work has been done efficiently. If the installation is done incorrectly, it will be difficult to retain valuable heat in the room in winter. The emergence of microflora dangerous to humans is possible. Therefore, you need to learn how to process the slopes yourself.
Professional approach
Why choose plastering
There are other finishing methods. Many craftsmen use panels made of plasterboard, plastic, and natural wood. But slopes made of classic plaster have many advantages:
- Effectively hides mounting parts.
- Affordable price.
- Long service life.
- Thermal insulation.
- Simplicity and accessibility of execution; it is necessary to choose the right working composition.
- Resistance to mechanical stress and fungal attack.
- High strength.
- Isolation from extraneous sounds.
Good quality plaster, after installing plastic windows, significantly extends the service life of the product. Provides an optimal microclimate for living.
Application of the solution
Are they needed at all?
Slopes, like windows, are an important element of the interior. It is known that a large amount of heat is lost through windows. Slopes also take part in this process. No matter how expensive a window is installed indoors, if the slopes are made incorrectly and the insulation stage was missed, the heat will actively escape to the street.
Heat conservation is not the only function of slopes. They also take an active part in creating a cozy interior. Installation elements that have an unpleasant appearance may be hidden behind the slopes. Plastering window slopes allows you to make the entire window area complete, holistic and harmonious.
Dew point is another factor that makes finishing work a must. If the window slopes are not plastered, the dew point will be shifted towards the room. This will lead to the formation of condensation on the glass, increased humidity and the formation of harmful organisms. We hope we have dispelled your doubts and you are convinced that plastering the slopes after installing windows is necessary.
Use of building mixture
Plastering of external or internal window slopes is carried out with ready-made store-bought products or compositions made independently. For beginners, it is better to use ready-made mixtures, where proportions are not required and there is no need to understand the components of the composition. For a good result, it is necessary to provide binding elements: cement, clay, gypsum filler. The solution can be complex in composition or classically porous.
Important! The exact quantity of components is the key to obtaining a high-quality mixture. Otherwise, the product will be greasy and will quickly crack after drying.
Plastering installed slopes implies adherence to technology. The use of slaked lime is allowed. The component in the correct proportions ideally fits on plastic, stone, and wooden surfaces. You can buy it at any construction or hardware store.
Plaster is no less effective, but work must be done quickly. The mixture hardens 15 minutes after preparation. The component does not tolerate moisture; it is used for interior work.
The video contains interesting information about the rules for arranging slopes on your own:
Problems that may arise
Everything is prepared and waiting in the wings, but many nuances arise that prevent finishing the finishing work. What are the main reasons?
- The installation of the structure itself (windows, doors) was performed poorly. Therefore, all work done by third-party specialists must be carefully accepted, and independent work must be done conscientiously from the very beginning. Otherwise, it will turn out that the plastered areas will have to be broken in order to correct the original defects.
- The electrical cable was not taken into account. Few people pay attention, but in old houses the electrical wire runs under the frame of the front door. Just in the corner of the slopes. It is easily damaged.
- Temperature indicators do not correspond to the necessary ones: for cement mortars - above five degrees;
- for gypsum mixtures - from ten degrees.
Therefore, you should eliminate all secondary causes, and then get to work.
Preparing tools
To understand how to plaster new door and window openings yourself, you need to study the recommendations of specialists. If you approach the process correctly, you can save your family budget. But without tools and materials it is difficult to achieve a good result:
- Roller for applying the finishing coat.
- Primer, paint brush. A hardware store consultant will recommend the right brand of mixture.
- Putty or plaster in the form of a dry mixture or sand and cement.
- Medium length spatula. A width of 40-45 cm is suitable for work.
- Construction level, wooden slats.
Plastering a doorway cannot be done without tools. There is no need to process large areas; large equipment is not needed. In such conditions it is difficult to work with a long level and a wide spatula. If the master decides to choose high-quality cement mixtures, then to give the structure an aesthetic appeal you will need a trowel or grater. Plaster surfaces are treated with a sponge grater and trowel.
Perform plastering wearing protective gloves. To work, you need a table on which you can place a container with the mixture and tools.
Creating a perfectly smooth base with a spatula
Plastering external slopes of plastic windows
This procedure consists of several stages:
- The most difficult stage in finishing work is plastering the top part. This is where we begin attaching the base for the applied solution - the type of mesh you have chosen. The shape of the fastening depends on the type of slopes you will make - straight (perpendicular to the window frame) or unfolded.
- We strictly determine the thickness of the layer that we will apply using a plumb line and mark the value with a marker.
- The surface on which we will apply the plaster must be treated very well with a construction primer, this will allow the solution to adhere more firmly to the surface.
- After this, mix the plaster solution for the first time. To create the best quality mortar, it is recommended to use a drill with a construction mixer. It will ensure thorough mixing of the components and uniformity of the structure.
- Using a trowel and spatula, we apply the first rough layer, trying to fill in all the flaws in the surface of the walls as thoroughly as possible. The installed mesh will serve as additional reinforcement and will not allow the plaster to peel off, but to set directly on the wall.
- If you need to fix a lot, and the layer turns out to be very thick, then you should not immediately apply it completely. It is better to do it in stages, adding the required layer several times, each previous layer being pre-primed. It is advisable to let each of them dry for at least 1-2 days.
- The last layer must be removed with a spatula, forming the finishing surface. Usually, after drying, small cracks remain on it; they are caused by the fact that “starting” mixtures are used for the plaster. To remove them, you need to use a small (the size of the slope or slightly smaller) spatula to treat the dried slope with a slightly more liquid solution than was used previously. By applying a moderately thin layer, we will hide all the imperfections of the rough surface under it. After the last layer has dried, the surface is carefully sanded, removing small wave-like irregularities.
- After they are formed, it is necessary to draw a corner with the main wall. To do this, two trowels are used, one of them is placed on the plane of the main wall of the building, and the second one is drawn out at a beautiful even angle. It is recommended to first mark the line of the corner using a plumb line so that it does not turn out to be blocked. For this, the plaster solution needs to be moderately thick, so that the required angle can be freely formed, and after rubbing with a float, the applied layer does not immediately float, but begins to set.
- After the formation of the corner is completed, you need to wait until the applied solution dries completely. To do this, you need to wait at least 2-3 days in dry weather so that you can safely proceed to further improvement of the slopes.
- Next, gently but thoroughly rub in the last layer of applied plaster. Visible cracks and minor flaws can be easily corrected with a soft paint brush and liquid solution. This layer does not require much time to dry, and soon you can begin priming the slopes.
- The next mandatory step is to protect the plaster from moisture. The ideal option for this would be to use hydrophobic paint from the same manufacturer whose plaster mixture you used. This layer will protect your plaster from water and will not allow external natural phenomena to adversely affect it.
- After protection from moisture, the finished smooth slopes can be painted with facade white paint. A recommended, but more expensive option would be to use acrylic sealant, which, in addition to protecting against moisture and dirt, will add another protective layer. In addition, it is easy to clean, which will allow you to return your slopes to their snow-white, original appearance using a regular rag and soap. In addition, the service life of this paint is approximately twice as long as usual, which will allow you to soon not return to preventive maintenance.
Preparing the work surface
In order to properly and efficiently plaster classic slopes on PVC windows, you need to know the design features. It is better to install the window sill before plastering, otherwise you will have to remove frozen drops of the building compound and smooth out defects. A newspaper or plastic film is glued with mounting tape to prevent damage to the plastic structure.
If a novice master knows how to plaster and strengthen openings, the installed windows will last for decades. Surface preparation includes several stages:
- All traces of the frozen solution are carefully removed and the dust is swept away so as not to disturb the adhesion. Hardened plaster will become covered with cracks of varying depths or fall off.
- Protect the window frame and glass unit from dirt.
- During interior work, radiators and fittings are covered with paper.
- At the final stage of preparation, treat the surface with a deep penetration primer for maximum adhesion.
Attention! If you take into account the nuances, a beginner will be able to plaster the slopes on the front door or window.
Checking the surface with a level
Plastic and drywall
These two materials are at the peak of popularity today. Each of them has its own disadvantages and advantages. Therefore, before purchasing one or another sample, you need to figure out which slopes are better, plastic or plasterboard.
Drywall
What can you say about finishing slopes with plasterboard? There are several technologies used to install them. You can choose the simplest one, and if it is carried out correctly, the quality of the final result will be at its best.
Of the two options offered, this is the cheapest. GCR slopes are easy to install; insulation can be laid under them. The only negative is the so-called semi-finished product. The drywall will have to be modified. That is, it is necessary to putty to bring it to the maximum level of evenness.
Puttying plasterboard slopes is a simple operation. To do this, you must first treat it with a primer, and after drying, apply a thin layer of the mixture. Most often, the desired result is achieved in one pass. Next, the plane is sanded and painted.
Many people try to bring the evenness of the slopes to zero by applying repeated layers several times. This is not recommended. Firstly, sanding with sandpaper will bring this indicator to the maximum. Secondly, this is not the most critical plane. If it were a ceiling, then it would be a different matter. Thirdly, the window opening will still be hidden under curtains and tulle.
Plastic
This is the most convenient option. A plastic slope is a finished product that is simply installed at its destination, fastened and that’s it. No additional procedures for leveling, painting, etc. Its only drawback is the high price. Although this is compensated by ease of installation, smooth surface with a presentable appearance.
Until recently, manufacturers offered plastic slopes only in white or grayish colors. Today the palette of shades has expanded greatly. There are even products that imitate wood.
Sequencing
Knowing the rules of plastering will help you level the doorway. Follow the diagram:
- A little solution to make it more liquid. Apply it to the base so that the next layer adheres better to the surface.
- Place the square flush with the window frame to draw a line on the window sill. Similar actions are performed at the top. Plastering is accompanied by drilling holes for the next fixation.
If the structure does not have a window sill or the frame is made of wood, you need to place a square against the edge of the glass unit to make a mark at the bottom. For the left and right edges, the rule is set aside by 7 cm to avoid mistakes. This will create a nice "calculation angle".
How to plaster slopes on windows: step-by-step instructions
To make the window opening of the apartment beautiful and complement the interior, you can use the work manual, which will be presented in the article. Before starting work, you need to remember the basic rules that allow you to make high-quality slopes on windows, they will not crack and will last a long time:
- The temperature in the room where the slope is being made must be at least 5 degrees Celsius if a cement mortar is used, and also from 10 degrees when using a rod band. All mixtures are prepared according to the instructions on the bags.
- All mixtures have restrictions on the period of use. As a rule, the time for using the prepared solution is indicated on the pack. Cement plaster is used for half an hour, which means you don’t need to prepare it much.
- Before plastering the windows, you should calculate the number of mixtures based on the thickness of the window openings and the size of the slope.
Knowing the basic rules of success, you need to know how to plaster the slopes on the windows outside and inside.
Features of preparation
You can do the finishing yourself. Plaster is in greatest demand. At the first stage of work, you need to close the window. Scotch tape and film are suitable for this. Clean the side surface and then level it. The composition fits well on the base if the previous layer has been completely removed. The old mixture will simply fall off.
To figure out how to plaster the slopes on the door, you should know that brick walls are treated with a weak solution of hydrochloric acid, then they are washed with water. If there are oily stains, they are covered with oily clay and allowed to dry. Then wash with running water and dry.
Preparation and distribution of the solution
What is important to understand
Materials
Most people wonder how to do the work.
From a large selection of mixtures, it will be more rational to choose one that meets the following criteria:
- Cost-effectiveness - if the composition is required only for leveling, then there is no point in taking those that are expensive, if there are other options that will provide environmental friendliness, strength and fire safety at a lower cost.
- Strength.
- Suitability for plastering facades (for solutions used externally).
- Environmental friendliness (an important factor for interior decoration).
All these qualities are found in mineral plaster, which is made on a gypsum basis (for indoor use) and cement based (for outdoor use). Moreover, lime-cement materials are often used for interior work. If the building has not yet gone through the shrinkage stage or is located in a seismic region, then mineral compositions will not be suitable, because they are not resistant to vibration loads, and then silicone or acrylic-based compositions will help you out, because they are more elastic.
Roughing
Specialists know how to plaster a doorway so that the result is of high quality. The working surface is first cleaned of dirt and dust, and then thoroughly moistened. The solution is applied with a wide spatula or a paint bucket, moving from bottom to top. The plaster mixture is used to smooth out unevenness and defects. A template or rule is used to guide the applied mixture along the guides. After the first treatment, it is difficult to achieve an even base, but it is important to monitor the condition of the corners. Remove excess.
Final finishing
Careful processing of window slopes allows you to get good results with minimal investment. If you plan to apply paint and varnish, use starting and finishing putty. First, defects that cannot be eliminated with cement mortar are eliminated. Indoor work is not significantly different from outdoor work.
To putty the slopes, you need to sand the uneven areas with a special mesh. Then apply finishing putty, which is more plastic in consistency, so you can use a thinner layer.
Attention! If during installation of the door the old slopes on the inside were not seriously damaged, they are simply restored, which reduces the amount of work. Fill the depression with a classic solution and level it with a spatula.
More interesting information on how to make slopes in the video:
Useful tips
Remember that plastering can be carried out in a room where the temperature is at least 6 degrees Celsius.
If this rule is not followed, the quality of the slopes will be low. Carefully read the instructions for preparing the solution that the manufacturer puts on the packaging. The expiration date is also important, since after its expiration the mixture will not have the necessary characteristics. The expiration date that is close to expiration may also not have a very good effect on the final result.
When working with plastic windows, do not forget to make a groove along the entire perimeter between the frame and the slopes, 5 mm deep. After the solution has dried, the recess is filled with silicone sealant. This ensures that in extreme heat, when the volume of plastic increases, the slope will not crack.
Source