Platbands are strips for masking seams located at the junction of the window frame and the wall. The corresponding element is also intended to complete the glazing design on the outside.
The dual purpose of platbands complicates their selection and installation. Therefore, thematic products deserve a separate topic.
Selection of platbands depending on windows
When choosing glazing trims, it is important to pay attention to the composition of the latter. If the windows are made of wood, then the platband should have a solid wooden profile.
Accordingly, plastic platbands must be used for plastic windows. However, this rule can be neglected if the appearance of the platbands is similar to the appearance of the glazing.
For example, on the market there are:
- Wooden trims in colors to match siding or plastic;
- Plastic trim with a laminated wood-look layer;
- Platbands made of MDF with wood imitation;
- Aluminum trims with a laconic appearance (suitable mainly for plastic windows, provided that the facade has a modern style).
There are also carved platbands. They stand out for their carvings, which are typical of ethnic Slavic houses. Some people believe that making patterns on wood can only be entrusted to an experienced carver.
But in fact, the appropriate framing can easily be done with a copy router or a 3D printer.
Varieties
Plastic as a material is universal and in any case has the protective functions necessary for window structures. Manufacturers offer varieties of platbands that differ in structure and purpose.
By location
There are two types of products:
- Domestic platbands have excellent heat-saving properties, withstand temperature changes, do not allow steam to pass through and preserve materials inside.
When choosing, experts pay more attention to their appearance. The elements must perfectly match the design of the room, match in color or texture. It is recommended to buy them immediately with finishing materials in order to choose the perfect set on the spot and not make a mistake. - External platbands are resistant to aggressive external environments, their composition is denser, diluted with protective substances. Plastic products often become a visual complement to window frames in color.
By design
According to their design features, they are distinguished:
- Flat plastic platbands are suitable for straight surfaces when the mounting seam and the outer or inner window frame are in the same plane. The width of such a product varies from 3 to 8 cm, the length can be any, depending on the parameters of the window opening.
- Telescopic or L-shaped suitable for walls where the installation seam is uneven and there is a difference in the depth of the window opening.
This plastic casing consists of two parts: a flat main one with a groove and an extension with a ridge. The extension can be adjusted to size individually. This option is great for walls with uneven surfaces; it helps visually correct the appearance of the window structure and make it neat.
By PVC type
Distinguish:
- Sheet plastic – flat surface, without texture. It can be monolithic, flat, or with voids that act as insulation and are divided into blocks by partitions. Sheet plastic does not deform when exposed to temperatures, and no compensating gaps are required for installation.
It is recommended to install such platbands close to the installation seam. Experts recommend it for placement on the street side; due to its insensitivity to temperatures, it can be used in both heat and cold. It can also be installed inside a building. - Cast plastic platbands are made not only with straight, but also with embossed strips. Products are made from polyurethane, less often from polyvinyl chloride. Thanks to extrusion, the material acquires high strength, is not subject to rotting, and tolerates changes in ambient temperature well.
Molded plastic can be placed on the sunny side, this will not affect its color and composition, the design will retain its properties. Manufacturers offer products with complex geometries, interesting designs, and can be painted in any color. Also, cast products are covered with a film that imitates natural materials for visual effect.
Wooden trims
These window trims have a thickness of at least 30 cm. The width depends on the structure of the profile. If the wooden profile is simple, then it is enough to use a sawing machine to make it.
Wooden frames are loved by many for the following features:
- Availability;
- Easy to install.
But thematic planks have more disadvantages:
- Small assortment;
- Susceptibility to rot and insects;
- Requires regular painting and varnishing.
In cross-section, wooden window frames are rounded, beveled, and smooth. The length of each species reaches 2 meters.
Adviсe
- If you want to decorate your house with wooden trim, you can purchase selected material that has been kiln-dried. In such a chamber, moisture is rapidly removed from the wood, bringing its level to a maximum of 12 percent. Boards that are cracked and warped during drying are rejected, and only a high-quality product reaches the consumer. Therefore, when buying it, you don’t have to worry about the fate of future products.
- It is better to look for boards that have undergone special treatment in hardware stores or sawmills. In no case should specimens have large knots, resin residues or other traces of a negative property that could make themselves felt when creating a pattern. It is best to order boards whose width is 10-15 centimeters and thickness 3-4.
- Before starting the actual creation of platbands, it makes sense to hone the carver’s skills and the skill of creating a specific design on cheap boards.
When creating platbands, the owner of the house was given the opportunity to express himself, conveying certain information to others. For example, the sun in the center of the upper part of the casing means energy and life. The snake as a decorative element represents fertility and wisdom. The cross, inscribed in the carved decor of the window frame, symbolizes the harmony of spiritual and material aspirations.
Floral ornaments personify unity with nature, and such a common element as earrings signals the hospitality of the owners of the house. The frog is a sign of continuity of life and resurrection.
Platbands with threads
Carved window frames are common among wooden window trims. They are distinguished by carvings, which are relevant in Russian-style wooden house construction.
To make such planks, you need to contact a master carver or have the appropriate tool:
- Jigsaw;
- Electric planer;
- Grinder machine;
- Sandpaper.
The first three devices can be eliminated if you have a copy milling machine. In this case, you can even abandon the stencil through which the patterns are drawn. The main thing is to have the original strip.
Some enthusiasts manage to make PVC trim using a 3D printer. However, not everyone can afford such a mechanism, and the plastic itself, which is processed by the device, is not suitable for thematic use.Installation of platbands
In most cases, craftsmen, instead of making platbands from scratch, purchase ready-made themed products. This speeds up the installation process of the strips and the readiness of the glazing for full use.
Specialists, in turn, get rid of a lot of hassle, including the use of certain machines, the cost of stencils for window frames, etc.
The complexity of the installation itself is explained by the configuration of the platbands. If they are wooden, then you need to use nails or screws. It’s easier with other models, because... they provide fastening elements in advance.
The fastening of the planks is carried out in stages:
- First you need to mark the window opening to determine the required dimensions of the slats;
- Next, the planks are sawn at a 45-degree angle according to the established area;
- The next step is to attach the platbands to the seams between the frame and the wall (if the glazing is recessed, then the platbands are attached to the wall by means of extensions).
Extensions are strips for filling the ends of the walls of the opening. They are used when installing window and door structures.
Nails and screws are common materials for fastening window casings. However, the latter are made of plastic and aluminum, which makes the use of metal fasteners impossible (when the tip passes through plastic-metal, the structure of the artificial material is destroyed and cracks).Concrete walls require the use of dowel screws to attach the planks. And if the frames on the windows in the house have an aluminum or plastic profile, then on the back side of the latter there must be ready-made latches for docking with the frame.
It is recommended to use adhesives only for auxiliary fastening of the planks to the frame. An exception is foam trim for interior window decoration. Such planks can be installed completely on glue, without using nails and screws.
Installation Tools
To install plastic trims, you may need different tools, depending on the location and type of fastening of the elements. The following will help you fix the products on the wall :
- glue gun;
- nails;
- self-tapping screws
Additionally, to align the planks on the wall, it is recommended to use a building level and a simple pencil , which is used to mark the line on which the casing is attached. To install on self-tapping screws, you will need a hammer drill to drill holes.
Photos of window trims
Read: One-story houses - beautiful projects, design options and features of building one-story houses (90 photos)
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