Installing windows yourself will save up to 50% of the money that would be spent on installation by a third-party company. But it is very important to do everything correctly, otherwise the savings will be questionable. Wooden houses have their own characteristics that you should be aware of.
It is advisable to adequately assess your strengths in advance, because some mistakes can become very expensive:
If there is the slightest possibility of making one of these mistakes due to inexperience, it is better not to save money and order window installation. For an experienced builder, DIY installation should not be a problem.
Tightness and high sound insulation plastic double glazed windows presented as a definite advantage. But, unfortunately, not everything is so rosy. After all, the humidity in residential premises is constantly increasing, and thanks to unsealed wooden frames, a constant influx of moisture is ensured. fresh air. Of course too much large gaps They can make the house very cold, so Euro-windows have long become a very popular product.
How to solve the problem with high humidity? One option is to do forced ventilation. But in the absence ventilation holes This can be problematic - you will have to redo a lot.
It is for such cases that window frames were invented. supply valves– special profiles that are installed on plastic windows. What is especially pleasing is the ease of installation. It is enough to replace part of the standard seal with a special one and screw the valve to the window sash with several self-tapping screws. Unfortunately, the system will not work without an exhaust vent.
Another unpleasant surprise for owners wooden houses– companies that install plastic windows often do not guarantee their work, citing the unpredictability of wood behavior. So, even if all installation rules are followed, you may find that after a few years the windows no longer open. But you won’t be able to sharpen plastic with a file.
The first thing the installation of windows begins with is the installation of the casing. But is it always necessary and how to do it correctly?
A new wooden house made of logs or beams will shrink in any case. And no one has canceled seasonal soil heaving. In this case, the casing is required - it will protect the window from distortions, torsion or bends.
It is important to use only dry and durable material for casing boards - edged board 50 mm thick and edged timber 150x100 mm or 50x50 mm. The width should be equal to the thickness of the wall.
But in frame house There is no need to make a frame - the frame itself is already formed for window and door openings and provides the necessary rigidity. Some builders also do not install a casing in a log house that has stood for more than 10 years, arguing that it has already undergone shrinkage and is not deformed. But for peace of mind, it’s better to do it in your home; this process is not that complicated.
The last option is the most labor-intensive, but also the most reliable. If you have any doubts about your own carpentry skills, it is better to casing it into an embedded block. For this:
And this is how casing is done “into the deck”:
When the frame is ready, you can proceed directly to installing double-glazed windows.
The installation of double-glazed windows itself is not very complicated, but requires strict adherence to technology. Otherwise, the window will almost certainly condense and the frame will warp.
Under no circumstances should this moment be neglected! First, the dimensions of the window opening and glass unit are checked. So, if the opening is 184 cm, then the window frame should be 180 cm - the gap between the side posts and the wall cannot exceed 2 cm on each side. The height of the window opening, for example, is 120 cm, then the frame itself should be 116 cm, and at the bottom there is also a support profile (clover) of 3 cm. Thus, the gap at the top will be 1 cm. The clover must be included in the kit, and under You need to leave room for it when designing the window. It is needed so that a window sill can be installed from the inside, and the ebb can be screwed on the outside.
If mosquito nets are planned on the windows, you must also check the presence of fasteners. Handles are often “lost” because windows are shipped without them. But dowels are special fasteners that you need to select yourself.
Their length should be such that when fully screwed in, they only reach the middle of the casing board. And this is taking into account the gap. If you screw the dowel into the wall wooden house, the window will begin to deform regardless of the presence of the frame.
Often they don’t pay attention to small elements - decorative overlays fittings and drainage holes. They will also have to be counted. But the window sill and sill need to be ordered - if you forget to specify their necessity, you may find that the windows arrived without them. For installation, you will also need special linings for the glass themselves - their presence can only be seen by disassembling the double-glazed window.
They may not be included in the kit, so it is better to order them in advance. Wedges are convenient because thanks to them different sizes You can align the frame evenly by simply placing a wedge of the required thickness under the corners and posts.
The finished glass unit is delivered to assembled form. But to install it, you will have to disassemble everything down to the frame. For this:
Once the preliminary preparation is completed, you can proceed directly to installation.
First, the frame is simply inserted into the window opening and temporarily fixed in it. For example, with temporary jibs nailed on the outside. But it’s much easier to do everything with an assistant - he simply holds the frame until it is leveled and screwed to the casing. Installing the frame also requires following the correct sequence:
Once the polyurethane foam has hardened, you can begin finishing the windows.
The easiest option that even girls can handle is to close them plastic panels. For this you will need:
And you don’t even need to foam anything. But to provide the necessary protection assembly seam And good insulation, you should lay insulation between the wall and the slope and cover it with a vapor barrier. On the outside, the seam is covered with a windproof film - waterproofing with good vapor permeability.
And in order for the windows to delight you with warmth and comfort, it is very important to protect the polyurethane foam from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, as well as from being pulled away by birds. You don’t need to restrain your soul’s impulses if you want to start doing something. with my own hands. And everything will definitely work out!
Installation plastic windows in the old wooden house can be performed according to standard instructions for such work. However, old houses have one feature that can be considered a big advantage over newly built houses - an old house no longer shrinks. In this case, there is no need for large gaps that are left for shrinkage of new houses.
Sequence of work:
If the house is old, then most likely the old windows were made of wood. Such windows are dismantled using a crowbar. If necessary, the old window is sawn. The doorway is completely cleared and inspected to determine the condition of the logs.
Important! If the house is old, then when windows were first installed, most likely, the window opening was not treated with antiseptic impregnations, which protect the wood from rot and bugs.
Old casing in doorway usually not suitable for a new window - it is either damaged or does not correspond to the size of a new window of the desired size - about 2 cm are left between the window frame and the casing on each side. If you use old casing, the window may turn out to be too small. Therefore, the old opening is expanded taking into account the size of the new plastic window.
New opening dimensions:
Attention! If there are even slight doubts about the possibility of shrinkage of the house, then it is better to leave a small gap of about 45 mm above the upper beam of casing to compensate for possible shrinkage.
The casing must be installed even if the house no longer shrinks at all. The casing is needed to fix the linear dimensions of the opening.
Attention! For casing, use only well-dried wood that will not shrink.
Tenons are cut out at the end of the logs on the side parts of the window opening, and recesses are cut out in the side beams of the casing, the size of which exactly matches the size of the tenon.
After trying on the beams, the opening is treated with an antiseptic impregnation and before laying the casing beams, a jute seal is secured with a stapler.
A casing beam is laid on the lower part of the opening with a sealant, then on top part opening. The side casing bars are installed last.
Before installing the side bars, sealant is applied to the joint. All gaps that were left above and below the casing are sealed with tow.
Unlike foam or reinforced concrete buildings, wooden houses have high instability. This term refers to minimal but constant shrinkage of the structure. The tree “shrinks out” not in 2-3 years, as some experts believe, but in at least 5 years. Of course, shrinkage visible to the naked eye occurs during the first 12 months, but then the home continues to decrease in volume. If you do not take this property into account and, for example, install a plastic window in a wooden house by analogy with reinforced concrete structures, you can seriously pay for a miscalculation.
The shrinkage of timber and logs is from 1 to 2 cm per meter of masonry. That is, a two-story wooden house can reduce its height by 10-12 cm after 5 years. If the owners decide to install plastic windows using generally accepted technologies, they will be disappointed within a year. The entire weight of the structure will put pressure on PVC products; First, the doors will stop opening, and then the frame will crack altogether, ceasing to perform thermal insulation functions. But you don’t need to take extraordinary measures to properly install plastic windows - just install a frame in the window opening.
The purpose of the frame (otherwise called casing) is to give the windows complete independence from the load-bearing walls of the house. The design has several undeniable advantages:
There are two types of casing. In the first case, grooves are made into which wooden blocks the same dimensions as the window opening. In the second, a ridge is cut out in the latter, onto which a carriage (a log hewn on opposite sides, better known as a gable beam) with a groove is fixed.
It is advisable to install plastic windows in log house(or timber) with an assistant, since installation of the pigtail requires high precision, and sometimes it’s difficult for one person to handle the weight of a double-glazed window.
To install PVC windows you will need basic set construction supplies, including:
In addition, you will need a special adjusting hexagon for window structures. There are hundreds of videos on the topic of installing windows in wooden structures that are easy to find. However, the basic and most valuable advice are given below.
The first thing you need to do is dismantle the old window. If its condition is not bad, it may be useful in another matter (for example, during construction country greenhouse). Window dismantling is carried out carefully so as not to damage wooden walls. After this, the opening is cleared of dust and dirt.
Measuring the parameters of a window opening must be as accurate as possible. It is advisable to record the obtained values on paper. Installing a new window is simple, but just one millimeter of miscalculation can seriously warp it.
If the contour of the opening is not completely smooth, it will have to be leveled using putty or sealant. A properly prepared surface for a new PVC product is characterized by ideal geometry (right angles).
It is also necessary to maintain a reserve for shrinkage at home. This is about 6 cm in height, 2 cm in height and sides for foaming, 4 cm under the window sill.
Depending on the time of year and the current stage of construction, ordering double-glazed windows either precedes dismantling or becomes the final stage. Few people would want to install a window in a wooden house and replace it after a year or two, so some points need to be taken into account. The buyer should decide on the number of sashes, the direction of their opening, the shape, size, and color of future products. And, of course, you should order from reliable manufacturers.
The ideal distance from the floor to the window sill will be 80-90 cm. This is slightly higher desk. The user must lean freely on the window sill, bending the body minimally. The further sequence of actions is given below.
In general, the window frame is ready, all that remains is to insulate the upper landing gap. The same jute will do; the opening is caulked as tightly as possible. Now you can install a plastic window inside the opening. To do this, do the following:
Due to the installation of an additional structure (casing), it may seem that it is difficult to install windows in a timber or log house, but this is not so. To be confident about the durability of the structure and the reliable performance of functions by PVC products, it is better to allocate a couple of hours for additional work. The casing will allow you to avoid unnecessary expenses as the home shrinks, and will also save the plastic novelty from deformation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s3VKuxmy4o Video can"t be loaded: Installing a plastic window in a casing in a wooden house or log house (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s3VKuxmy4o)
Repair work in a wooden house differs significantly from similar buildings in other types. Most companies do not provide a guarantee for installations carried out here, especially for windows. Isn't this a reason to think about DIY installation? Armed step by step video, you can achieve high-quality results while significantly saving the family budget.
There are many prejudices about wooden houses. The service life of the windows installed here depends entirely on the quality of the structure itself and compliance with the technology of the installation process.
You cannot start working on a window opening in a new wooden house right away. To avoid deformation in the future, it is recommended to wait some time for the structure to stand, the wood to dry, excess moisture to evaporate, and the walls to become static. Thus, the chance of the opening being undermined is minimized.
The outer part of a wooden house is not chosen as a place for a window. The opening may be in the center or closer to one of the corners, but not in contact with it.
Window opening cutting diagram
The installation process itself is not too labor-intensive: it can be done with one pair of hands in a few hours. Subtleties of carrying out preparatory work depend on whether the windows have already been installed before or whether the casing needs to be created from scratch. Similar technology can be used for PVC installation to any wooden building: bathhouse, gazebo, etc.
To install plastic windows yourself, you need a reliable foundation - a frame. If the previous windows were installed over the past few years, did not have time to acquire physical damage and were not touched by rot, then you can use the box from them as a frame for new system. With this option, measurements are made according to the new size of the opening, focusing on the preserved box.
If PVC is installed in a new building, then you will have to take care of the piping. This is the name given to the design that prevents the window system from deformation. There are several types:
Framing a window opening is one of the necessary stages of installing a plastic window in a wooden house
Using a rag, you can remove dirt, dust and start taking measurements. The reliability and expediency of all further work depends on their accuracy: inattention to at this stage may jeopardize the entire installation.
Advice. If the opening is distorted, then to create a plan diagram with measurements, they are guided by the presumably correct geometric shape and right angles, and deformations are removed using sealant or ordinary putty.
It is the basis of the entire window system, so its installation must be carried out with a level: the horizontal surface must be ideal from both longitudinal and transverse positions.
To do the work yourself, the following algorithm of actions is used:
Overall, install pvc window in a wooden house does not cause any particular difficulties if you familiarize yourself with all the nuances of the work in advance
As for the window itself, before installation it is necessary to attach the handle in the down position (closed state).
Attention! No need to take off protective film completely: just open it slightly at the place where the handle is attached.
Installing a window in a prepared area of a wooden house is no different from installing it in another structure. The process is performed in the following sequence:
Installing a PVC window yourself can save up to 60% family budget. Following the detailed instructions for their installation will make the structure resistant to seasonal deformations of the wood, extending the service life of the system for a long time.
Today, PVC double-glazed windows are very popular among the population. This is due to the good performance of the design. Plastic windows are installed not only in city apartments, but also in private wooden houses. Wooden buildings are not rigid, so the installation of double-glazed windows in such structures has certain features. This article will tell you how to choose and insert a PVC product into a window opening in a wooden house yourself.
Before you buy a double-glazed window, you need to dismantle the old window, measure the window opening, and draw up a diagram. To prepare a drawing for this you will need a tape measure. The quality of installation depends on how correctly the measurement is performed. It should be taken into account that in a wooden house the window opening has parallel slopes.
Measurement is carried out according to the following algorithm:
The width of the window sill should be equal to the width of the wall. If you plan to replace an old wooden window structure with a new one made of PVC, then the openings are slightly widened. To change the geometry of the opening, use an electric or chainsaw.
Often, when comparing measurements of a window opening on the right and left, above and below, the master identifies discrepancies in the results. This is due to the skew of the existing opening. This is especially true for panel and frame structures.
To determine the exact dimensions, use a rectangle with equal opposite sides.
Given the availability old frame, plaster and other factors, you need to strive for the following indicators:
Having completed all the measurements and the drawing according to the rules, you can order the window, fasteners and window sill. Typically it takes about 10 days for production and delivery. If you cannot measure the window opening yourself, then it is better to seek help from specialists. But it is worth considering that the prices for this service are considerable. Photos of the work can be viewed on the forums.
When the double-glazed window is manufactured and delivered, it is allowed to begin its installation. This work requires certain skills, knowledge of rules and installation technology. It is necessary to prepare certain tools and buy special fasteners.
Here is a set of tools and materials that will be useful for high-quality installation double-glazed windows in a wooden and timber house:
When the glass unit is delivered, it must be kept in room temperature. Acclimatization of the product before installation is important for quality installation.
To PVC installation was successful, you need to perform a certain procedure. Typically, the manufacturer attaches to a specific double-glazed window model detailed instructions on installation. It must be strictly followed. First you need to install the socket or casing in the embedded block. Then the glass unit is inserted.
Inserting a plastic window into a log house has some methods and features. Installing a PVC structure in a wooden house with your own hands is possible. But this will require the help of a second person: the size and weight of the structure are large, making it difficult to carry the window alone.
Often, those people who installed double-glazed windows in a wooden house with their own hands have a problem with the windows sweating, condensation accumulating on them, or, conversely, leaking through the frame due to insufficient sealing. The reason why this happens lies in mistakes made during installation. Therefore, the installation must be carried out responsibly and competently, in warm and calm weather.
A window frame is an element of window construction that removes all gaps and cracks between frames and helps retain heat in the room.
Is it necessary? Also, the casing does not allow the side bars to move horizontally and allows them to move vertically. This protects the glass from cracking. The window frame is especially important if the partition between adjacent windows is small. In addition, this element acts as a decoration for a wooden house.
Installing a doorway frame has some peculiarities. First you need to prepare the window opening. It should be at least 10 centimeters wider than the frame. When calculating the size of the gap, it is important to take into account the thickness of the boards and casing seams. The shrinkage coefficient of a wooden house is also taken into account. Subsequently, the gap is filled with special insulation and covered with platbands.
According to statistics, shrinkage of a wooden house can be up to 30 centimeters. Much depends on the material. Within a year after construction, the shrinkage of a structure made from timber is 3-4 centimeters, from logs – 4-6 centimeters, from laminated timber – 1-3 centimeters. The subsidence of the room already in the first year can cause the window to be pressed down by the crowns of the wall structure. Sometimes shrinkage of walls occurs even after 5 years of operation of the structure under the influence of air humidity and seasonal climate changes.
After preparing the window opening, the ridge is cut out. For this purpose, it is preferable to use glued or monolithic timber. This element will be the base for the carriage with a groove. During shrinkage, the logs will move inside this groove. This will relieve the window of unnecessary load.
To make a carriage, use a beam with a cross-section of 15x10 centimeters. There should be a groove 5 centimeters wide in the middle of the beam more windows. The comb is cut out using a chainsaw. For the top, use an edged board measuring 15x4 centimeters. On each side, grooves are cut into it for the comb. After installing the carriages on the sides of the window opening, the top is fastened with self-tapping screws. After assembling the casing, caulk all the gaps and make a seal using jute tape.
After the frame is made and installed, they move on to inserting the plastic window. Installing a window without casing is considered blunder. First you need to check the parallels. Leave gaps between the PVC glass unit and the frame of 5 centimeters on top and 2 centimeters on the sides.
It is important to install correctly window design along the depth of the wall of a wooden house. Then, at sub-zero temperatures outside, condensation will not form on the surface of the glass, slopes and window frames, which causes the glass to fog up and get wet. window system And interior decoration slopes. The location of the double-glazed unit should be determined by a competent designer, taking into account design features walls.
It is better to attach the structure to special elements. They are supplied complete with double-glazed windows and are also sold in any hardware store. These elements are metal plates with holes. Their prices are reasonable. How much the fasteners cost depends on the window model and the quality of the product. Some owners of wooden houses decide to use self-tapping screws for fastening. Is not the best option, since such parts do not provide proper thermal insulation and tightness of the structure.
The window is inserted using a level. Otherwise, the double-glazed window may be installed crookedly. And this reduces performance characteristics windows and negatively affects the aesthetic appearance of the product.
Before installing a white plastic window, experts recommend removing the sashes. This will reduce the weight of the window, making installation easier and more convenient. The window is inserted into the opening, aligned and secured. Then all existing gaps are sealed with special polyurethane foam. To make the fixation more reliable, bars are used. This way the window will not move during foaming. This completes the installation of double-glazed windows in the window opening of a wooden house. All that remains is to put on the flaps and let the foam dry. To improve the protection of a wooden house from bad weather and extend the service life of a plastic window, you should additionally install a drip molding on the outside of the window.
PVC windows have many advantages over their wooden counterparts. The only plus wooden structures is a more presentable appearance. But Lately Manufacturers of double-glazed windows offer different colors and models of products. In addition, the frame of a plastic window for a veranda can be lined with a textured film that imitates wood.
Unlike wooden frames, plastic ones have the following advantages:
Also, the advantages of using plastic windows in wooden houses include:
In view of the masses positive qualities and advantages, plastic windows are installed today by everyone large quantity owners of wooden houses.
Thus, it is preferable to install in a wooden house. This is the most affordable, reliable and attractive-looking product. Installation and cladding of PVC windows in a country house is not difficult. The main thing is to follow the instructions and work in tandem with an assistant. If you have doubts about the possibility of high-quality installation of a plastic window with your own hands, then you should seek help from specialists. This service is offered by various companies engaged in the production and sale of double-glazed windows. But you will have to pay a certain amount of money for the work of the master. On the other hand, the work is guaranteed to be done with high quality, which means that the structure will last a long time. Video self-installation plastic window can be viewed below.