Instructions for installing wooden platbands on a window opening. Carved platbands on windows: templates, photos Do-it-yourself wooden platbands on windows
Platbands are not only a beautiful element of decor, as many used to think. Often their functionality is much more than just a nice look and aesthetics. And far from always they have a bright appearance, immediately conspicuous.
Platbands are needed primarily in order to protect the window from adverse effects and improve insulation in the house. Therefore, in fact, they are often necessary.
Now platbands for the most part are also a beautiful component in themselves, which makes the house more beautiful and livelier. But protection is still their main purpose. The window frame is subject to various damages, and installation work by inserting it into the wall of the house, they leave behind an unpleasant-looking gap.
Platbands hide all defects. And also they are able to provide heat in the house, since their presence greatly prevents its loss.
Perhaps a structure made of brick or concrete is not so susceptible to this, but wood tends to deform after some time. Cracks may appear just for this reason. Platbands in this regard are extremely helpful: the process slows down.
Kinds
Platbands today are very diverse in appearance. Can be distinguished based on the material from which they were created. But basically there are two types.
Overhead
This version is older, but don't be dismissive of it now. The way to install it is quite simple: it is done on top of the frame.
Little effort is required, but this type of platband helps enough: it does not allow both sunlight and precipitation to penetrate. The joints are securely protected thanks to this.
Telescopic
This is a modern type, which has been used quite often lately. You do not need additional materials in the form of screws or the same nails. Such platbands are placed just in the slot. This ensures a secure fixation of it as a whole.
Priority should still be given to the second type. But to install it, you need to remove the windows. Doing this is not always convenient, if not impossible at all, so they often resort to the first one. But it's worth recognizing telescopic casing much more convenient to use.
materials
The first thing that comes to mind is wood. Wood is practical in itself, and it always looks natural and beautiful. Such a platband is universal, you can arrange it in different ways.
Plus, in private homes, it is the tree that usually looks most welcome. Any photo of platbands on windows in wooden house confirm this fact. Moreover, if the structure itself is made of wood, then the same material can be used on the platbands. This will help to combine well with one another. The color can be slightly changed if desired.
Indeed, this option is often used. Others require additional costs in the form of special processing. Yes, and rarely decorated. But in fact, platbands can be made of plastic or MDF.
Let's remember all the same about the minuses of the tree. Moisture will not make it better, and it does not have strong frost resistance. But plastic in this regard is much more reliable. Now you can do anything: including giving it the look of a tree to look the most natural.
Such material will not deform and will last much longer than wood. Yes, and it is much more pleasant to fix it: the platbands will not need to be rammed with screws. But still plastic artificial material no matter how it looks. Not every owner will want to use it, as this will reduce the environmental friendliness of his home.
And here you can turn to the third option, MDF. In fact, this is the same tree, only treated with a certain composition. Such platbands are distinguished by naturalness, but at the same time they are also reliable. Accordingly, they can last much longer than a tree.
Here, however, there is also a minus - they are not durable. Both plastic and wood have a much higher strength in comparison with them. What material to use you need to decide based on your own wishes.
Preparing for installation
First you need to accurately measure the window. The size here is very important and it must be measured with the utmost accuracy so that the frame is hidden from view. Only then, when you have taken the necessary measurements, you can begin to prepare materials.
If you opted for a tree, then you should first cut the blanks. Here you can arrange them according to your wishes. The other two types do not need additional treatment, but the wood must be impregnated with a protective solution.
Use only dry lumber. You can severely damage your own work if it is not dried.
Next, you will need to make notes on the platbands, with which you will need to indicate where the joints and fasteners will be placed. Holes must be drilled in advance. And then immediately grind the casing.
The place of work should also be given Special attention. Remember that then you will not be able to get to the joints. If there are any plans for which they will be needed, be sure to do everything that is necessary before starting the installation.
Overhead platbands can be attached in several ways. It is possible to do this with nails, and possibly with the help of various spikes.
Nails are easy to use but can ruin the overall picture, so spikes are usually preferred. There is a deaf spike and a through one. The technology of their application is similar, only the holes when using the second option in the casing are through.
Mounting
Now you can start the actual installation. First you need to assemble the casing, fastening all its parts together. You can use either spikes, or nails, or ordinary glue. The latter, however, is recommended to be used only in addition to the other two.
If you opted for spikes, then you will need to initially take care of measuring their location and make the necessary holes in advance.
Initially, you will need to mark the perimeter. It is necessary to know exactly the placement of all fasteners, as well as evenly arrange them throughout the structure. Remember that the load should not be uneven.
The installation itself is simple: the casing is placed so that the holes for the spikes coincide with them. The job requires precision. A lot depends on the placement of the location of the fasteners, which must be taken care of long before. Accordingly, the preparation for installation will greatly affect the result in general.
You may need glue to work. When using it, the risk that the entire structure will simply fall is significantly reduced. Plus, the insulation of all holes made is improved.
After the installation is completely completed, it remains only to use a certain composition for the holes. This is necessary so that moisture is not absorbed.
It is important to remember that you need to follow the design after. If she demands it, then even devote time to additional care for her. Only in this case at the output you will get a decent result.
Photo of platbands on windows in a wooden house
Do-it-yourself window trims are a wonderful decoration for the facade of the house (ready-made stencils and templates will be given in the article below). They make the house look like no other, visually change its proportions.
Today, having certain skills, you can independently create elegant platbands for windows in wooden building. Moreover, they can be made not only from wood, but also from other materials.
Specificity
When the owner decides to mount the platbands, he seeks to arrange traditional decor in his possessions.
Platbands have the following advantages:
- Excellent decorative function. So the building visually increases.
- Complementing the overall style of architectural design.
- The space between the window opening and the wall plane is protected from moisture and dust.
- Reduced heat loss and noise levels.
- The individual features of the house and the style of the chosen era are highlighted.
There are platbands and shortcomings:
- Wood needs some processing from high humidity and deformation.
- Products need regular care and processing.
- They do not harmonize with metal-plastic windows. In this case, the platbands are made in the same color scheme.
Self-creation of templates
Today there are many platbands. Their types are determined by the way they are mounted to the window. There are two types of this criterion:
- Telescopic. Their specifics: L-shaped protrusions, coinciding with the grooves of the window frame.
- Overhead. Installation takes place on the window frame. Fasteners - construction glue or nails with screws.
Note: finished samples are created in full size. They are printed according to the required parameters.
An elegant solution is the installation carvings. Such plans can be realized independently only with special equipment.
Popular materials
- The most common material for platbands is wood. Products from it have an elegant and harmonious appearance.
- Plastic versions are often used as well. They are characterized by powerful resistance to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation. Plastic options are sold already finished.
- Another popular material is MDF. It is prepared from wood waste. It is more environmentally friendly than plastic. In addition, products made from it are characterized by a look reminiscent of natural wood.
- Polyurethane. Variations from it are highly practical. Facade stucco molding is often made from this material.
The nuances of choosing the right wood
As already noted, wood is the most popular material for platbands. And performance characteristics wooden platbands depends on the type of wood used.
Here, attention is usually paid to such options.
- Hard deciduous. These varieties include oak and beech. They are very durable. But it is quite problematic to create patterns on them.
- Soft leafy. These are: linden, aspen and alder. They are easier to process. On their surface patterns are created even by hand. And such surfaces are thoroughly processed by special means.
- Cherry and apple tree. They are optimal for creating small components that can be attached to the base.
- Pine and birch. They are also easy to handle. And they have excellent working qualities.
- Various combinations of wood types. The use of special protective compounds for powerful impregnation is mandatory here.
With the help of high quality wood, a beautiful original design window opening.
The nuances of creating templates with your own efforts
The basis of the work is to create stencils and design.
Self-printing stencils is quite feasible for everyone. It is important to achieve a combination of the selected ornament with the whole style. Mixing geometric and floral patterns is not allowed.
When working on platbands, the following subtleties are taken into account:
- There should be harmony in the color palette of the walls and decorative elements.
- Be sure to select the correct parameter. The platbands should not be very wide or small.
- A high-quality version of the coating is selected. Special paints are used.
- A template is needed for the manufacture of external carved components.
- The drawing is correctly positioned on the workpiece. Details follow along the wood fibers.
When you can achieve color combination architraves and the plane of the walls, it turns out a holistic and harmonious facade.
Manufacturing stages
Before creating window decor, carved platbands are selected from photographs. You need to make a template first. It should turn out the same for the design work of all openings.
Typically, the following methods of creating patterns are used:
- Applied thread. It has isolated elements of the pattern. They join the same base.
Installation of overhead components should be on the base in compliance with the template pattern.
- slotted thread. Here they make a through ornament. It looks like wood lace.
With all methods of work, the presence of stencils is mandatory. This is how they look:
Advice: for simple patterns, it is not necessary to make a large-scale stencil. Enough of the notebook paper.
You also need to have the following tools:
- Jigsaw.
- Hacksaw (oriented for wood).
- Knives and chisels.
- Drill.
- Milling technology
Platbands must be created from prepared materials. The working stages are:
- Rigorous measurements are taken.
- The selected tree must be dry. If it is wet or damp, it must be brought to dry conditions. The width of the boards is determined by the parameters of the window opening. The thickness of the material reaches a minimum of 3 cm if a slotted thread is made, and at least 1 cm when an overhead thread is made.
All blanks are pre-treated with a protective compound. Their cutting is done using templates. And the cutting of ornaments takes place using a jigsaw. This tool is better to use different types of files.
To work with an electric jigsaw, certain skills and special care are needed. The created holes must be overwritten. An excellent tool for this is sandpaper. After powerful grinding, the part is treated with a special impregnation.
Next comes the installation of all prepared parts to the base. Here you need to use glue or special nails. In such work, it is better to refuse the use of self-tapping screws. They will cause cracking of products.
Installation specifics
The created platband can be attached to the desired position using the following methods:
- On a dull thorn. Installation of such parts is on the inside. Especially for them, holes should be made in the frame. Glue is applied to the spike and distributed evenly. The spike is inserted into the groove. This fastening protects the platbands from dust and moisture.
- With the use of a through spike. The butt section here is thoroughly treated with varnish.
These techniques are justified when working with a wooden window. To attach to the metal-plastic, a special powerful liquid glue is used.
Care Required
Installed platbands need constant attention and care. For processing, special preparations are used - powerful impregnations. They create high-quality protection against:
- tree pests;
- the appearance of cracks;
- sudden fire.
Carved options are necessarily covered with a primer, then varnish or paint. The intensity of such treatments is 1 time in 3-5 years. So the operational life of the products will be seriously developed, and at the same time their attractive appearance will be preserved.
When installing plastic or metal products, some kind of thorough maintenance is not needed. For products, it is necessary to arrange high-quality protection against corrosion. Periodic updating of the paint is also required.
Thus, it is very possible to make platbands of extraordinary beauty with elegant patterns on your own. Certain carpentry, carpentry and tool skills are required. So you decorate with a very original method window openings and add an elegant twist to the chosen architectural style.
How carved platbands are made using the slotted carving technique, see the following video:
The exterior decoration of the house (of course, we are talking about private buildings) cannot be considered finished if the window openings are not decorated. Ready-made platbands for windows can also be purchased, although some articles indicate that they are rarely found on sale. No, there are enough of these protection and decor elements on the market, and in a large assortment and at an affordable price. Even carved samples cost no more than 300 rubles / m.
But upon closer inspection, you can see that they are all made somewhat uniformly, and the dimensions are mainly for the standard parameters and configuration of the openings. If the house is being built according to a special project, and the original one, taking into account all the preferences of the owner, it makes sense to install unusual window frames, emphasizing the individuality of the home. This article will tell you how and what to make beautiful architraves on the windows with their own hands.
Trim material
On this point, the opinion of all experts is unambiguous - if with your own hands, then only wood. First, the material is the most accessible. Secondly, it is easy to work with a tree with the simplest tool, that is, in the full sense of the word, independently make platbands from scratch, with the most complex pattern. Thirdly, wood goes well with any building and finishing material. Consequently, such architraves are equally well suited to various buildings, regardless of their features and the variant of the general design of the facade.
What to consider:
- Samples for platbands (board or plywood) should have a minimum of knots. Therefore, lumber should be of high quality, although it is more expensive. Otherwise, when cutting patterns or grooves, the tool will constantly stumble upon such problem areas, and it is not a fact that the board will not have to be rejected as a result.
- The thickness of the samples is chosen arbitrarily, depending on the characteristics of the electric / jigsaw and the type of wood. As a rule, for platbands ranging from 5 (overhead) to 50 (slotted) mm. How they differ will become clear in the course of the presentation.
wood species
If you take this issue seriously, and not just set yourself the goal of making do-it-yourself planks that close the gaps between window frame and an opening in the wall, then many points should be taken into account.
In cases where it is standard version in the form of a continuous narrow plank, it is advisable to focus on hardwoods. This parameter is directly related to the porosity of the material. Consequently, such architraves will last much longer, since they will not intensively absorb liquid, unlike soft rocks. Recommendations that they can be protected by painting with a moisture-resistant composition are hardly worthy of attention. Firstly, the naturalness of wood is lost, especially if the house itself is made of the same material. Secondly, updating the coating layer, taking into account the complexity of the patterns - the work is so painstaking and time-consuming that there are few who want to do this regularly.
Of the affordable wood species, oak, ash, birch, and pear deserve attention. With all their advantages, there is a significant drawback - such blanks are difficult to handle with your own hands. Even the simplest selection of grooves is already a problem. With a lack of experience hand tool will not help, and you will have to look for the possibility of using machine tools. That is, pay for the service.
For carved platbands, you should focus on wood with a lower density. Basically, larch, pine, ash, linden, and spruce are used in construction and decoration. The last 3 breeds, although convenient in terms of do-it-yourself processing, are not suitable for platbands, given that they are attached to the front of the house. Such boards (slats) are characterized by hygroscopicity and insufficient strength. Therefore, there will be difficulties with protection from moisture (additional drying of blanks, repeated impregnation) and fastening. Therefore, the durability of such architraves is questionable.
Climate features
This factor cannot be ignored. It is better to immediately refuse soft woods for platbands if:
- humidity at the location of the house is constantly excessive (for example, near large natural reservoirs) or vice versa, minimal (that is, the air is too dry);
- even during the day, the temperature varies to a large extent (significant differences).
The best option for platbands is pine or larch. These types of wood are equally well suited for making any do-it-yourself platbands, regardless of the shape, size and pattern of the planks.
Drawing up a platband drawing
Any finished drawing can be converted to fit your window openings, observing scaling. Or design patterns of your choice.
Necessary tools and fixtures
Usually, " House master» uses what is at hand. But some tools are not among those in demand in everyday life, so you will have to purchase something.
- Electric jigsaw. Manual work is pointless. To achieve high quality patterns, you have to spend a lot of time. In addition, it has limited application, since the platbands differ not only in the thickness of the board, but also in its width. This is the main difficulty in using the simplest jigsaw.
- Screwdriver.
- A set of chisels - angular, cranberries, Caesars, semicircular and so on. Just one won't be enough. Even in a solid plank, you will need to sample materials with different groove widths, at different angles.
- "Spike cutter". A specific tool, but for the manufacture of eyes, seams in platbands is extremely necessary.
- Knives (cutter, joint).
- A set of drills (fountain).
- Sander. Even with great diligence, it will not be possible to manually give the wood absolute smoothness with sandpaper. And yes, it will take a lot of time.
The procedure for assembling the platband
Since there are enough varieties of platbands, one of the simplest options is considered. Its feature is the symmetry of the samples located on opposite sides of the window. Having understood the very principle of manufacturing individual parts of the casing and assembling them into a single structure, it is easy to choose any of those described on the Web or develop your own.
Decorative elements
Next - the algorithm of actions for the manufacture of figured platband. Regarding solid strips, no comments are required. The selection of longitudinal grooves with the help of a chisel (-ok) is all that is needed. You can perfectly decorate windows with simple, monolithic platbands and in a different way. In addition to sampling grooves in a tree, there are other options: art painting planks (with a brush, soldering iron tip) or firing.
- According to the sketch, a stencil of the frame element is made. For example, which will be attached to the left of the window.
- The corresponding pattern is transferred to the back (reverse) side of the selected bar.
- Holes are made along its contour. Their locations depend on the specifics of the pattern. It is in them that an electric / jigsaw file will be inserted for further cutting out fragments in the designated segment. The picture explains everything well.
The final stage of this part of the work is cutting the board along the outer contour.
The second "sidewall" is made in a similar way, but in a mirror image. To do this, it is enough to turn the same stencil by 180 0. This procedure is also observed to obtain the second pair of elements - the top and bottom of the casing.
No matter how interesting and original the drawing you like is, you should not choose patterns with small details for window casings, complex ornaments. Firstly, the work on the manufacture of individual figures is so painstaking, requiring perseverance and utmost precision, that not everyone will be able to complete it. Secondly, miniature elements are only beautiful when viewed up close. At a distance, they merge, so for exterior finish window openings it is not advisable to use such complex, small patterns.
Cleaning the front surface of the samples
There are grinders different type. That's why general recommendation- the grain size of the abrasive (skin or disk) is selected about 80. . Sufficient quality of grinding, regardless of the type of wood, will be ensured.
Casing frame assembly
Even if the casing is made curly, then it is pointless to attach such wooden patterned elements directly to the walls. There is no need to talk about strength, and it will not work to connect them reliably. How to proceed? Each master has his own opinion, so the author just shares his own experience. And it is up to you, the reader, to accept these comments for guidance or not.
As a rule, when measuring the geometry of a window opening, it turns out that all its sections do not lie in the same plane. That is, during the construction of the walls, some curvature appeared. For building a house, especially with your own hands, small tolerances are a common phenomenon. They are not critical if they do not go beyond the established limits. But for the installation of the platband, this fact matters. Therefore, for the purpose of additional alignment, you will have to make a subframe. In fact, these are boards (slats) that close the gaps between the frame and the end parts of the wall along the perimeter of the window opening. This is where the platband is fixed on them.
The dimensions of the platband are chosen so that on each side (external) it overlaps the window frame by at least 20 mm. In this case, you need to check whether the sashes will open at an angle of 120º (the generally accepted norm).
Conventionally, all platbands can be divided into 2 groups (according to the specifics of the frame assembly): monolithic, that is, when the pattern is cut directly into the board (plank) and overhead. These are separately manufactured figures that are attached to the sides of the frame by gluing, grooving or otherwise. The technology described above (slotted) refers to the first option.
Wood processing
Soil impregnation
This is rarely done, but such preparation of the material has advantages. Firstly, the pores are filled with the preparation, which reduces the hygroscopicity of the tree. Secondly, with the subsequent application of the protective layer, the consumption of the paintwork composition (any of which is more expensive than the primer) is reduced.
Finishing design
As a rule, varnish, especially when it comes to a log house. In other cases, you need to focus on general design facade and shutters. .
The author hopes that this article will help the reader to make optimal choice and will become a step-by-step instruction for making decorative elements with your own hands. For those who are interested in more complex options for window trims, we recommend that you deal with such structural parts as “kokoshnik”, “towel”, “diadem”, “shoulder”. The work is much more difficult, but it's worth it - the exclusivity is guaranteed.
When installing plastic windows, many do not even suspect that there are special, simple and concise ones for them. appearance, platbands. And completely in vain - placing an order for the installation of such window systems, it is quite possible to immediately coordinate the installation of these elements.
However, this is by no means the only Possible Solution question. Platbands for plastic windows can also be made of wood and decorated with artistic carvings. If this option is used to decorate the facade of the house, then the window openings will be framed in the same way as Russian masters of wooden architecture have done for centuries.
No need to think that the platbands perform an exclusively decorative role. In fact, they are very functional, and are designed to close the gaps between the window frame and the wall, which in our time are most often closed. mounting foam. The platbands protect this filling from negative external influences, such as ultraviolet rays that destroy the polyurethane foam, direct moisture, etc.
Platbands and their functions
Briefly, the process of installing a plastic window is as follows:
- If old windows are installed in the openings, they are dismantled, and the vacant opening is cleaned of insulating materials and dirt.
- Then, a plastic frame is inserted into the opening, which is aligned with the building level and fixed on the walls in several places with special metal elements - anchors or plates (underframes). Double-glazed windows are installed and fixed with special glazing beads.
- Further, all the gaps left between the frame and the wall are sealed - filled with mounting foam, closed with special sealing and hydrophobic tapes, etc.
- After the foam hardens, its excess is cut off. Then puttying and installation of slopes is carried out from above.
- And, finally, platbands are installed, which close the gaps filled with foam from the outside or from the inside.
Self-installation of a plastic window is not an easy task.
When installing such a system, it is necessary to provide for many nuances. The process is described in detail in a special publication of our portal.
Standard equipment plastic window with double-glazed windows, as a rule, does not include platbands, especially since these finishing elements are not suitable in all cases. For example, if the windows are very recessed into the wall, then you need to choose very narrow platbands, or install them around the window opening. Moreover, in the second version, they will serve exclusively as a decorative element, therefore, they are installed only at will.
However, it should be noted that platbands have their own advantages, which attract many owners of private houses:
- Accuracy and aesthetic appearance of windows.
- In its own way - a certain exclusivity of the design of plastic standard windows, since, nevertheless, most owners do not use these elements of facade decoration.
- And the functionality already mentioned is the protection of the sealed gap from the influence of the external environment.
It should be noted that there are platbands designed for finishing windows and from the inside. Such products are usually intended only for decorative design, therefore, it is acquired mainly in cases where the interior of the room needs to be kept in a certain style. For example, such a design is suitable for a "rustic Russian" style or "country" - both of these trends have been actively coming into fashion lately.
Varieties of platbands in shape and material of manufacture
Platbands for plastic windows can be various types and profiles, manufactured using a variety of materials:
- Flat slats made of plastic, aluminium, polyurethane and wood.
The simplest - platbands in the form of flat plastic strips
Most often, platbands that are flat in shape are used to frame plastic windows, since they are simply mounted, create a neat look, are easy to maintain and have the most affordable price from all existing configurations.
- Carved architraves which are made of plastic or natural wood.
This version of the parts are manufactured mainly according to custom order made of wood, so they are very expensive. Plastic options for carved window frames are not easy to find in hardware stores, since their mass production is far from being organized everywhere and not on a large enough scale.
- Shaped platbands can have a smooth semicircular shape or almost flat, but with a relief pattern in the form of stripes of different depths. This type is produced from almost all of the listed materials.
- Profile architraves are made of plastic, wood, polyurethane or aluminium. They have a certain shape in cross section, sometimes made in a rather intricate configuration.
The peculiarity of profile architraves is a complex shape in cross section
The choice of platband according to the material of manufacture
It is important to choose the right platband, which would be suitable in its appearance not only for window frame, but also to the material of the walls of the facade or its external decoration.
- Plastic options have the most affordable price and a very aesthetic appearance, however, they do not differ in too long service life.
Usually, all manufacturers have in their product range and platbands of the same color as the profile for the frames. Therefore, when placing an order, you can immediately ask what types of decorative platbands can be offered.
As a rule, plastic platbands are made in different colors, but the most popular option is White color. After it, “on the ladder of popularity” is brown-chocolate, and other colors follow, which are used much less frequently. Therefore, not all window manufacturers can find a profile of the desired rare shade.
The color of the frames is usually matched to the shades of the walls or the roof of the house, and sometimes the design of the facade is carried out on contrasting principles.
Plastic framing options are produced in sets that are assembled into a single casing on site, or in a finished, solid form, in the likeness of a frame, which remains only to be fixed around the perimeter of the window opening.
There are special plastic profiles for platbands that are mounted on the wall and snapped into place with a special locking connection on the slopes installed around the window. This option allows not only to create a neat frame, but also to securely connect the slopes with the decorative frame of the opening, without any gaps.
- Platbands made of polyurethane also deserve attention, as they are often used to decorate windows.
Profiles made of this material can have a different relief shape, they are light in weight and quite simply adjusted in size and mounted on a window opening or even directly on a window.
Polyurethane framing options are resistant to moisture and sunlight, so they will last a very long time.
This material can be coated with paint, so if you decide to change the facade design, there will be no problems with changing the color of these elements. When painted, polyurethane becomes even more resistant to external influences, acquires an aesthetic appearance and is very easy to clean from dust deposits.
Platbands are also made from expanded polystyrene, which usually have additional internal reinforcement. They are somewhat inferior in quality to polyurethane foam, but they can also be used both for external and for interior decoration window openings with plastic windows.
- Platbands made of natural wood are very durable and beautiful, provided they are well treated with protective compounds. Such parts, with high-quality performance, have a fairly high cost.
Wooden architraves- this, of course, is a "classic" facade decoration
Wooden frames for plastic windows are perfect for a house that has wooden walls or trimmed with a material that faithfully imitates wood. As mentioned above, wooden architraves with figured carvings are most often made by hand and ordered individually for each style of the chosen facade design.
Wooden options can be painted in various colors, which are selected depending on the other shades present in the overall ensemble, so as to achieve harmony with the facade decoration and the color background of the roof of the house.
The disadvantage of wooden platbands is that they need to be painted much more often than polyurethane - on wood, the paint is more prone to fading.
Installing trim on windows
Platbands are installed different ways. It depends both on the material of manufacture and on the place of installation, since the window can be recessed into the wall or be in the same external plane with it.
- If the window is deepened into the wall, then they are first mounted around it, which will close the unsightly sections of the wall around the frame that can spoil the overall aesthetic appearance.
To do this, a special plastic starting profile is fixed to the window frame, into which the slope panel will be inserted.
The figure clearly shows the principle of installing a slope in the starting profile, and then a plastic casing.
To join the platbands at the corners, their edges are cut at an angle of 45 degrees. The cuts will be neat and accurate if you follow some recommendations:
- sawing off should be carried out using a special template - a miter box;
Smooth joints of platbands in the corners are ensured by using a special device for cutting them - a miter box
- if the miter box is not used, and the casing is sawn off in a horizontal position, then washed down should be carried out from the outside;
- If the platbands have special grooves for fastening them with slopes, then they are simply installed with spikes in them and snap into place.
Video: an example of installing plastic trim - flashings on a PVC window
- In the case of fixing the platbands to the wall surface separately from the slopes, the prepared parts are tried on the window opening, and their location is marked on the wall plane. After that, “liquid nails” or “Moment” glue is applied to the back of the trim panels, and the frame is glued according to the markings. The joints at the corners are also glued together with glue.
Application of "liquid nails" on the back of the casing
Wooden platbands are fixed to the walls with dowels or self-tapping screws. For this in wooden details first, through holes are drilled, which then expand somewhat on the front side so that the head of the fastener is hidden in the thickness of the wood. According to the markings on the wall, a hole is made where the dowel is installed, and then a self-tapping screw is screwed into it through the casing. The remaining hole in the casing, in which the head of the self-tapping screw "hid", is closed up epoxy resin mixed with fine sawdust. Such a putty will make the installation sites of fasteners almost invisible.
Manufacture of platbands
Some craftsmen prefer to make carved platbands on their own. They are cut according to a pre-made template, through which the pattern is transferred to a perfectly processed high-quality board.
You can also make platbands in the form of even panels, which will be very simple to make, but in this case, the board should be flat and smooth. It is treated, and then with water-repellent compounds. Sometimes the wood is darkened with a stain, and covered with yacht moisture-resistant varnish on top.
The choice of wood for platbands
Properly selected wood will greatly facilitate and speed up the work on platbands, so the choice of material must be taken seriously.
It is best to choose wood that is easy to process. So, linden, alder and aspen are well suited for cutting out complex lacy elements of the casing. Do not choose coniferous trees:
- for example, spruce has a large number of knots, which can significantly spoil the pattern;
- pine is an excessively fragile material on which chips may appear during operation;
- cedar and larch, in principle, are well suited for long-term operation of platbands in outdoor conditions, however, they have a very high structural density, so they are difficult to process.
The wood should be moderately dried so that when it dries, the finished parts, on which a lot of effort will be spent, do not deform or crack.
The thickness of the boards for platbands is selected depending on the height of the relief pattern, and can vary from 10 to 40 mm. Therefore, before buying material, you need to decide on the choice of ornament.
If there are small protruding elements in the relief, then it is recommended to make and process them separately, and then paste them in the place provided for them.
If the platbands are not supposed to be painted, then you need to choose boards with a beautiful textured pattern, without a large number knots that have an even “healthy” structure of one shade, which will be in perfect harmony with the design of the entire facade.
Casing dimensions
Calculations are made as follows:
- The height and width of the window opening are measured - these will be the parameters of the inner perimeter of the casing.
- Then, from the line of the opening, the width of the platband is measured to determine how much it will cover the wall. This is especially important when the window frame is in the same plane as the wall.
- The height of the platband should be equal to the height of the window opening plus two widths of the platband panel. Thus, the calculation is carried out if the horizontal upper and lower bars of the created frame will have the same width as the vertical ones. If the horizontal panels are planned to be made wider, then the vertical ones should have a height equal to the height of the window opening plus the width of the upper and lower sides of the casing.
- The size of the sides of the platband will also depend on which corner joint will be chosen, so before you start cutting the board, you need to carefully consider all the nuances.
Production and processing of wooden platband
The selected pattern is applied to the prepared boards. As already mentioned, it is best to carry out this process using a pre-cut stencil.
If there is no experience in cutting out drawings, then it is better to choose not the most difficult drawing.
When the drawing is completely transferred to the board, you can start cutting it out. For work, an electric jigsaw is used. In each closed section of the drawing, a through hole is drilled with a drill, into which a vertical jigsaw file will be inserted, and from this place this fragment of the board will be carefully, slowly, cut out.
When cutting out a curly pattern, special care and discretion will be required - any awkward movement can ruin all the work.
In addition to a jigsaw, you can use a milling cutter for work. It will help smooth out sharp corners in a through drawing, and it is more convenient to cut out some relief elements with this tool.
In order for the pattern on the casing to look aesthetically pleasing and professional, it must be processed with sandpaper, first with medium grain (140 ÷ 180), and then with fine grain (220 ÷ 400). Processing is carried out manually, and to make it less laborious, you must first work well with a milling cutter.
If individual parts of the relief were made separately, then they are fixed with wood glue after all surfaces have been processed. When the glue dries, the entire casing, including all relief elements, is impregnated with antiseptic compounds and also left to dry.
The final stage of work is the coating of all surfaces with a waterproof protective composition for wood. by the most the best option for external details, yacht varnish will be used. Naturally, if desired or subject to the facade color solution, architraves can be covered with paint of the desired color.
Figured platbands will help to "revive" the look of standard plastic windows
If there is a desire to try your hand at making this facade decorative detail, then it is best to start practicing on pieces of the board, to “fill your hand”. Then, when it starts to work, you can go directly to . Detailed Instructions can be obtained in a special publication of the portal.
In conclusion, we can summarize that no matter what type of platbands is chosen, they will make the appearance of the facade of the house more aesthetic and neat. In addition, these details will create additional protection for the gaps hermetically sealed with insulation between the window frame and the wall.
Platbands are called overhead strips framing the window. They have an important function - they hide the gap between the window frame and the wall of the house, thereby protecting the home from drafts, heat loss and moisture ingress. They often serve as an unusual decoration of the house, and in ancient times they were even a talisman against unclean forces.
Carved platbands for windows were popular in our country before the arrival of the Bolsheviks, who considered home decorations to be superfluous. Now the popularity of decorated platbands on the windows has begun to increase again.
Types of platbands
There are many types of platbands that differ in design, material and installation method. By type of installation, they are divided into overhead and telescopic platbands.
Overheads are fastened directly to the window frame with synthetic glue, special spikes, using nails, and telescopic ones are fixed in the space between the window frame and the wall.
materials
For the manufacture of platbands, materials such as wood, plastic and MDF are used.
Wooden platbands on the windows are very practical and will easily fit into any interior. natural wood it lends itself well to processing and a carved pattern will look great on it.
Plastic architraves are practical, convenient and can repeat the texture of wood. They are very budgetary, do not require such careful maintenance as wooden trim, but they also do not look as impressive. Their advantage is resistance to changes in temperature and humidity, which saves them from deformation and increases their service life. The downside will be the scarcity of the choice of color, shape and texture of the platbands.
MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) trims combine the environmental friendliness of wood with the strength of plastic thanks to a special water-repellent impregnation. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of MDF is the low strength of the material compared to plastic and wood.
There are also metal platbands for sale, but they have a purely functional value and have no artistic value.
Platbands made of wood will look harmoniously on the windows wooden houses, metal goes well with plastic and metal-plastic facade panels, plastic ones are suitable for plastic siding, and MDF products are more often used inside the house.
The advantage of using platbands on the windows in the house is the ability to visually expand the window openings and increase the height of the building. When choosing the same ornament of platbands, you can create a complete architectural ensemble on your site.
Making platbands with your own hands
To get a high-quality result of work, it is necessary to choose the right wood from which the platband will be made. For this purpose, a bar made of pine, oak, birch, linden, walnut or alder is used. The wood of fruit trees is also used.
For the first experience in making a trim with a carved pattern, linden, aspen and alder are best suited - they belong to soft-leaved tree species, so even inexperienced people can easily carve a pattern on them. Important correct handling platband - this wood is very hygroscopic and is subject to rapid decay.
A more suitable choice would be hardwood or softwood. Birch and pine have a sufficient margin of safety, while they lend themselves well to processing.
Architraves made of oak and ash (hardwoods) are very difficult for beginners to process due to their increased hardness. They are very reliable and durable, but it is better to entrust the manufacture of platbands from these types of wood to professionals.
Fruit species are well suited for making small details of the casing.
bar
To choose the right timber, you will be helped by a few tips:
- Do not buy a bar with a blue or black tint - this indicates the presence of a fungus in the wood
- Do not buy a third grade tree, the savings will be insignificant, but the quality will be noticeably lower, which will affect the durability of the final product
- Do not take a curved beam - it is very difficult to straighten it.
Usually the thickness of the casing is 20-35 mm. Try to pick up the timber immediately you need the thickness, so as not to waste a lot of time on cutting and processing
The standard timber length is 220 cm, so buy a tree with a margin - you will have a lot of trimmings that are better not to use - the components of the casing will only spoil its appearance and functionality.
Dimensions
The width of the platbands on the windows ranges from 100 to 250 mm. To cut a workpiece of the desired width, nail a bar of different thickness around the perimeter of the window and see from afar which thickness will look more harmonious.
Please note that the trim should go on the frame by 5-10 mm and its upper part can significantly exceed the width of the side and lower parts.
So that your product does not interfere with opening windows, during installation, an indent from the hinges of about 10-20 cm is required, take this into account when measuring.
Thread
To make a pattern on the workpiece yourself, you will need a set of chisels for woodcarving, saws and many other tools. Their set depends on the complexity and type of pattern you choose. At the moment, the appearance of modern power tools greatly facilitates the work.
The most commonly used threading techniques are:
- Through type of processing. In this case, the pattern is sawn through or cut through the tree. These patterns are made using a file and a jigsaw. This technique helps to create an openwork, lace-like product.
- The flat-bladed type is characterized by the creation of a pattern that will be lower than the main background in its level. When choosing such a technique, you will need a knife, semicircular chisels and cutters.
- Relief type. The elements in it are somewhat raised above the rest of the background. To create it, you need the presence of chisels of various shapes.
patterns
To create interesting design platbands, you should look for photos of platbands on windows on the Internet. This will allow you to decide on the color, texture and pattern of the intended product.
Now it is easy to find window trim stencils in the public domain. You should not choose complex patterns for the first woodcarving experience. It is important that the same pattern should be depicted on all products.
After you find the wood and stencil that suits you, print the desired pattern in life size and place it on the workpiece, attaching with buttons.
When placing the stencil, make sure that the thread will go along the grain of the wood, not across. Transfer the pattern to the workpiece and you can start carving. Do not rush, this can ruin the workpiece.
Be sure to carefully sand the resulting pattern, and then remove wood chips and dust from hard-to-reach places vacuum cleaner.
Installation
Attach decorative platbands to wooden frame it is possible on self-tapping screws, nails without hats and special spikes. For plastic frames, only liquid nails are used.
Care
As for plastic, metal and MDF platbands, they are unpretentious in their care. Just occasionally repaint them and protect them from corrosion.