After installing a metal-plastic window, the owners must mount the slopes. This work is often entrusted to a professional master. However, it is quite possible to install this mandatory window part on your own. Plastic slopes are especially popular today. Their features and installation rules will be discussed further.
Features
Slopes for plastic windows are a must. They perform a number of functions. Without this, the operation of windows would be uncomfortable. Slopes are installed both inside and outside the room after the installation of the window. They perform primarily a decorative function. After installing the windows, unseemly seams remain between the frame and the opening. They are blown out with mounting foam, which looks at least unaesthetic.
It is also worth considering that the insulating materials that are used during installation remain exposed. If protective slopes are not installed, moisture, weather conditions will quickly destroy the mounting foam. She will be saturated with moisture and will not be able tofulfill their thermal and sound insulation functions. Fungus appears on the material. Over time, the insulation layer collapses and crumbles. To avoid this, you need to close the mounting foam with special slopes. They are made from different materials.
Previously, they made a slope of drywall or putty. They coped well with the task assigned to them. However, the installation required a lot of time and certain knowledge and skills. Therefore, with the advent of plastic slopes, many owners have chosen this option for window decoration. It is the easiest to install.
Today, several types of materials belong to the category of plastic slopes. To choose the right type, you will need to consider the features of each of them.
Benefits
Finishing with plastic slopes of metal-plastic windows looks harmonious. These materials are similar in appearance. Therefore, their combination allows you to create a single image. Aesthetics is not the only advantage of plastic. It has a number of performance characteristics that distinguish the material from other types of slopes.
Plastic allows you to lay a sufficient layer of insulation material under it, as well as a vapor barrier. As a result, the likelihood of condensation on the windows is significantly reduced. Also, thermal insulation will play the role of sound insulation. Therefore, plastic slopes are considered practical, multifunctional.
Installation of the presented finish is quick. This leaves the minimumwaste and construction debris. Even a person with no experience can cope with the installation work.
It is also worth considering that plastic is a versatile finishing material. It can be mounted not only indoors, but also outside. Plastic is not afraid of moisture, which makes it durable and practical. Also, the material is not afraid of temperature changes. It minimally changes its dimensions under their influence.
Plastic is easy to care for. It can be washed many times with different detergents. Such a finish does not lose its appearance for many years. It is for this reason that plastic is replacing other types of slopes.
Sandwich panels
One of the most popular options today are plastic slopes from sandwich panels. This is a new material that has appeared on the construction market relatively recently. This slope consists of two sheets of plastic. Between them there is a heat-insulating material. Most often it is polyurethane foam. However, other types of insulation can also be used, for example, mineral wool, polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene. It depends on what properties the panel has.
Single-sided and double-sided panels are on sale. The first ones are cheaper. However, they cannot be used for wide openings. Such panels do not have sufficient rigidity. They are installed using a plastic profile. A layer of mineral wool is additionally mounted under the guides. It is an environmentally friendly material that is non-flammable. When choosing panels, take into account the climate and the type of material that is used as a heater between the plastic. The thickness of one-sided sandwich panels can be 8-36mm. Even thin varieties are highly durable.
Double-sided panels also consist of two sheets of plastic. However, the front side is made of hard PVC. Its thickness is about 1.2mm.
The advantage of sandwich panels is their spectacular appearance, as well as excellent heat and sound insulation qualities. They are very easy to mount. At the same time, the finish will serve for many years without causing difficulties in the care. It is worth choosing products that have the appropriate quality certificates. If the manufacturer did not adhere to the established technology when creating the panels, the panel may delaminate over time.
Panelite
Often, plastic window sills and slopes are installed by a company that installs windows. In this case, they use the simplest materials. In this case, the installer may choose to create slope panels. The same option is often chosen by the owners of the apartment, who do the finishing themselves.
This material is made by extrusion. As a result, it acquires a cellular structure. There is air inside the capsules that make up the plastic panel. It creates additional thermal insulation. Panelite is an inexpensive but effective material. It is easy to install by hand.
Most often, panelite is used to create slopes withside of the room. Sandwich panels are more suitable for exterior decoration. Panelite under the influence of sunlight, weather influences may turn yellow. In such conditions, its appearance quickly becomes unaesthetic. Indoors, the material will last for many years.
The width of the panelite sheet is up to 25 cm. This significantly limits the scope of the presented material. You cannot join two panels. This worsens the appearance of the slope. Therefore, the panel is only suitable for narrow openings. The advantage of this material is its reasonable cost.
Foam panels
Plastic slope panels can be made from PVC foam. Such material consists of closed pores. They form a homogeneous structure. The same characteristics of density and stiffness are determined over the entire area of the sheet. The panel has a silky matte finish.
Foamed PVC panels are resistant to moisture. This feature contributes to a long service life of the material. It does not collapse under the influence of moisture and other weather conditions. Panels made of this material can be mounted both indoors and outdoors. Under the influence of cold and heat, foamed PVC does not deform.
The advantages of the presented material include fire safety, resistance to ultraviolet radiation, chemicals. It is easy to install. However, you should not purchase colored varieties of PVC foam panels for external installation. They arefade over time. Colored panels are for indoor installation only.
Also, do not install this material on the outside of windows if the temperature in winter drops more than -20 ºС. It is also worth considering that although the material does not burn, however, when the temperature rises, it is able to release harmful components into the environment.
Plastic sheets
Slopes for plastic windows can also be made from sheet materials. This is the most versatile option. Sheet plastic is used everywhere. This is a simple and high quality material. It is durable and strong. Also, the presented material allows you to mount a sufficient layer of thermal insulation under it.
Installation is easy even for a beginner. For installation, you will need to purchase plastic corners for slopes, as well as profiles. Assembly is completed in a short time. The presented material is used in houses of any type.
Plastic sheet may be white. This is the most popular and inexpensive material. However, textured sheets look more impressive. They can be white or colored. In this case, the surface of materials can imitate different materials. It can be the texture of wood or leather, etc. The choice depends on the design features. For exterior decoration, it is recommended to choose a simple smooth plastic. Better if it is white. High quality products will not fade in the sun. Also, plastic is not afraid of temperature changes, exposure to moisture.
It is extremely important to pay attention to the rulesinstallation. If mistakes are made, the slope will not perform the functions assigned to it. Therefore, if you wish to perform the installation yourself, you need to consider this process in detail.
Mounting panels on the profile
How to install plastic slopes? There are several mounting options. You can install the panels on the profile or without it. To do this, you will need to purchase the necessary materials. Most often, sandwich panels are used for these purposes. For their installation, you will need to purchase an initial U-shaped profile, corners, wooden slats. You will also need construction glue for work, as well as silicone sanitary sealant. Instead of corners, you can use an F-shaped profile.
First, along the perimeter of the window opening, you need to fix the initial profile with self-tapping screws. It will run along the perimeter of the base. Plastic panels will be installed in this profile. Further along the perimeter of the opening, a crate is made of wooden slats. It is attached with dowels. A gap of about 9 mm is left between the top and side rails. The plastic panel will be installed here.
First set the sheet on top of the window opening. The material is cut according to the dimensions of the base. One end of the panel is inserted into the profile, and the other end is inserted into the protruding end. Fixation is carried out with the help of small self-tapping screws ("fleas"). The fastener caps will be covered with a plastic corner. Next, plastic slopes are installed on the sides of the window opening.
Finishing installation
Mounting slopes forplastic windows with your own hands, you need to perform all the steps in sequence. Otherwise, the result will be unsatisfactory. After installing the plastic panels, attention should be paid to the aesthetic design of the slopes. Where the panel forms an angle with the wall, an uneven or open joint is formed. It needs to be closed. To do this, use a plastic corner. Such architraves serve for beauty, making the slopes neat.
To fix the corners, their edges need to be trimmed. The line should be inclined at an angle of 45º. This will make a smooth, beautiful junction of the two corners. Before installing the corners, their reverse side must be treated with glue. Next, the platbands are pressed tightly against the plastic panel and the wall. In order for the glue to dry well, you need to fix the corners with construction tape. After a couple of hours, it will be possible to remove it.
When the glue dries, you need to seal the joints. For this, sanitary silicone of the same color as plastic is used. It is applied using a special mounting gun. A strip of silicone is leveled with a rubber spatula. The work won't take long. Even a novice master can install slopes.
Installation without initial profile
Do-it-yourself plastic slopes can be installed without an initial profile. Such a need may arise due to the fact that such a structural element will be visible after installation. If it is impossible to choose the same color for the profile and slope material, you can use the following method.
You need to make a slot in the mounting foam. For thisuse an ordinary construction knife. Its blade must be new and sharp. The slot width is 1 mm. It is deepened to 1 cm.
When the crate is created, you need to insert the panel into the prepared nest. The opposite end, as in the previous installation method, is screwed with small self-tapping screws. If the sandwich panel does not provide places for fixing, you can create them yourself. First you need to cut it across with a construction knife. Next, make an incision across. This will separate the insulation and the bottom layer. This piece of plastic will play the role of a spike. Next, the installation is carried out according to the same scheme as with the participation of the initial profile.
Recommendations from experts
When creating plastic slopes, you need to consider the type of climate. If it is very cold, even when using sandwich panels, a heater is used. If ordinary sheet plastic is used for finishing, the thermal insulation layer should be thick enough. It is best to use mineral wool for these purposes. It does not collapse under the influence of adverse factors, and also does not burn. Therefore, this material is installed between the base of the wall and the plastic panel.
Having considered the features and rules for installing plastic slopes, each owner of a house or apartment will be able to finish the windows on their own.
