One of the most important processes in the repair is the installation of window slopes. The gap between the wall and the window must be sealed. There are a whole host of ways to do this. Even the waste that remains after construction is suitable for finishing window slopes. But each of these methods must be analyzed separately. This is what we will do in our today's article.
Varieties
The choice of window slopes depends directly on what the window itself and the walls near it are made of. If the window is wooden, then it would also be logical to make a wooden slope. It is important to choose the right wood flooring. After all, then the design looks solid. Wear and deformation of the entire structure will occur at approximately the same pace.
Recently, plastic window slopes are gaining more and more popularity. According to reviews, they are able to fit perfectly into any interior. In the presence of concrete or brick walls are also usedplaster or plasterboard slopes, which then go through another stage of finishing.
It is necessary to consider each type of window slope separately in order to take into account the full characteristics of the material before choosing it.
Drywall construction
Many craftsmen recommend this particular material for window slopes. However, it must be borne in mind that it also has its drawbacks.
These include:
- Low strength. Drywall is a very fragile material. In case of mechanical damage, the structure can be restored. But for this you need to putty and then paint the coating.
- Inability to replace one fragment of the structure. In this case, it will be necessary to change the entire slope.
- High care requirements.
- Needs periodic maintenance and painting.
- Accumulation of moisture between the wall and the slope, which may cause deformation of the structure or the appearance of various spots on the surface.
The installation of these window slopes is a lengthy process that takes two to four days. Also note that the material must be resistant to moisture, as it will always be outside on one side of the house or apartment.
Stucco options
In the installation of plaster slopes, it is important to pay attention to every detail, and even better - seek help from a specialist. After all, this is the only way to be sure that the construction will be completed with sufficient quality.
It is important to note that this type of slope has low thermal insulation characteristics, which in the future can significantly affect the duration of use of the structure. Due to temperature differences and poor thermal insulation, condensation may occur on the panes. This can then lead to mold or mildew at the window joints.
However, some types of such slopes still have sufficient thermal insulation properties, and it is preferable to choose them.
The downside is that the material and solution have different expansion coefficients. Therefore, after a short period of time, cracks may appear on the slopes.
Plastic
This type of slope has a relatively low cost, and therefore has recently been gaining popularity. Nevertheless, before choosing it, you should also take into account the list of disadvantages that it has:
- Material not suitable for wide slopes. Over time, it may disperse, and the structure itself will be unstable.
- If the coverage area is not insulated, the plastic will tend to deform after a short period of time.
- The thermal insulation properties of such slopes are quite low.
- The service life is low due to the fact that the structure itself is hollow and tends to flake off over time.
Sandwich
Of all the above materials, these window opening slopes have the least number of disadvantages and many advantages. They have excellentnoise-reducing and heat-insulating properties, always installed immediately with insulation.
Outside, window slopes sandwiches will look like a single structure along with plastic windows, have the highest service life and will not require further development. In addition, they are completely sealed.
Such designs can also be installed to a depth of up to 50 centimeters, which cannot be said about any other type of material.
Plaster finish
This finishing method is suitable for both external and internal work. It is this type of window slope that is preferred, because they are easy to install, have an affordable price and are durable.
Cons
Among the shortcomings - low thermal insulation (however, as in many other types of finishes). But with proper installation, deformation and cracking due to different temperature coefficients can be avoided.
Can I do it myself?
Window slopes can be made in different ways. However, it is worth analyzing the most popular of them. Particular attention should also be paid to the fact that each structure must be mounted clearly according to all the rules.
If you will do the work yourself, before starting the installation, it is recommended to consult with a specialist regarding the various nuances of installing each of the slopes.
Plastering and painting
This method is distinguished by its low cost, and therefore is the most common. This is due to the fact that plaster itself is quite cheap.material, and therefore it can be safely used for facing window slopes.
To begin with, it is enough to dilute the dry mixture with water, and then get to work. The operation is performed in several steps:
- It is necessary to thoroughly clean the entire surface of the double-glazed window, remove dust or any other unnecessary elements from it, bring it to perfect condition.
- Wall joints must be expanded by at least ten millimeters.
- First of all, the walls are plastered, and only then it comes to the slopes themselves. Despite the fact that there may be several layers of plaster, each time you need to wait for the previous layer to dry. If you neglect this rule, after a short period of time, the plaster may begin to fall off. Soon the repair will have to be redone again.
- Plastering time is at least two days, you should not hurry in the process.
- Gaps between double-glazed windows must be eliminated with mounting foam. In private homes, special heaters can be used to seal gaps.
- After applying the foam (which is needed to increase the noise reduction properties), you need to wait for it to dry completely, and only then proceed to the next step.
- Slope sinuses must be completely filled with mortar. However, this must be done carefully, in a layer of no more than seven millimeters at a time. Each time you need to wait for the solution to dry, and then proceed to apply the next one.
- It is also important to monitor the even position of eachfrom slopes, for which a wooden lath is perfect, which should be fixed from above.
- You also need to keep the corner away from the box to keep the sunrise from the window. This should be done on each side.
- After completely leveling the surface with a wooden lath or other devices, you need to apply the final layer of the mortar, and then clean it thoroughly. The cleaning procedure occurs only after complete drying. Be careful, otherwise you may damage the final layer.
- It is important not to forget about the stripping procedure, because the final look of the structure will depend on it. If necessary, the last layer can be repeated or all defects can be corrected during painting.
- When painting, you also need to wait for each previous layer to dry and try to make them all as thin as possible.
- If a mixture of several colors was chosen for the work, it is advisable to mix the shades in an amount sufficient to cover several layers. The thing is that the second time to create the same proportion of colors will not work. As a result, the color may differ in places, which will be quite noticeable from the side.
Plastic panels for window slopes
Installation of this type of structures takes place in a fairly short period of time. Everything takes about two hours. This is due to the fact that the panels themselves already have all the necessary properties, do not need to be refinished or plastered.
Besides the short timeinstallations, such slopes are also convenient because they can be used to create the most original design solution that will fit into any interior. Cleaning plastic panels is very simple - they only need a wet cleaning, which will not damage the structure in any way.
The steps for installing plastic panels are as follows:
- Slopes of the desired width must be cut out of PVC (it is measured in advance).
- Panels are fixed with liquid nails.
- With the help of various kinds of rails (wooden or any other that are easiest to fix in a certain interior), plastic panels for slopes are fixed.
- The end between the slope and the wall is covered with special plastic corners. Such corners are necessary not only directly for the installation of plastic panels, but also in order to extend the life of the wallpaper near the window. The latter are often peeled due to various mechanical damage in these areas.
Before starting installation, it is also important to consider that not every PVC material is suitable and used for plastic panels. They must be resistant to UV rays and mechanical damage. Sandwich panels are considered the best option, which have the best properties among any other plastic panels.
Gypsum board finishing
It is important to note that not any drywall is suitable for finishing. It must be moisture resistant. If it is not possible to purchase one, ordinary drywall is bought, which must later be finished with a specialsolution.
Without this, it is strictly forbidden to use the material in finishing window slopes. Otherwise, the structure will not last for a long time and will soon require replacement.
The algorithm of actions here is as simple as possible:
- Before installation, the blocks must be fixed into the window groove. This is not a mandatory requirement, but in this way you can achieve greater structural strength and reliability.
- Next, special panels are installed, in which there is already space for drywall inserts.
A few words in conclusion
As you can see, window slopes can be of different types. All of them have their own characteristics. Nevertheless, each of the structures is quite possible to install independently, if you make enough effort.
During the installation process, it is important to follow all the advice of the experts mentioned above, otherwise the design will not last a long time and will soon require replacement. This is quite unprofitable, because every time you have to buy new materials and again spend a fairly long period of time on installation.
Before proceeding to the choice of material, it is important to make all measurements, compare the necessary characteristics and the allowable price category of the material. Only in this way can you be sure that soon you will not regret the chosen material, and it will serve exactly the period of time that you expected.
It is important to consider the factor of the selected double-glazed window and the type of material,what the walls are made of. It will be much more interesting to look at the design that will look solid, and its details do not differ from each other or do not stand out much from each other.
