After installing the windows, ugly joints remain between the opening and the frame. If they are not trimmed with suitable material, then over time the mounting foam will collapse, heat loss will increase. And the look of the window itself without a finish will be unaesthetic. This will spoil the overall impression of the design. Therefore, installation of window slopes is required. This procedure will be discussed in the article below.
Varieties of materials
To do the installation of window slopes with your own hands, you must first select the type of finish. For this, a lot of materials are used today. They have certain advantages and disadvantages.
It is also worth noting that the slopes will need to be done both indoors and outdoors. To the materials in this case put forward increased requirements. The following types of slopes are:
- Plastering. To create them, cement mortar is used. Such slopes can be mounted both indoors and outdoors. But their disadvantage is the duration of the work, as well as the need to possess certain skills.
- Plasterboard. They can be mounted on the frame from the profile or directly on the surface of the opening. The choice depends on the degree of unevenness of the base. Drywall is used only for creating slopes indoors, as it does not tolerate high humidity and other adverse weather influences.
- Plastic This is the most popular type of slope. You can purchase PVC panels and mount them on the aperture using a frame or frameless method. Also one of the popular options is the use of sandwich panels. This is a completely ready-to-install design in which a heater is provided. Installation is carried out in the shortest possible time. For external slopes , PVC siding is used. It withstands weather conditions. Installation of siding for window slopes is carried out quickly, and the appearance of the opening is very aesthetic.
To make the right choice of methodology, you need to consider the features of each option.
Plaster
The installation of slopes on the window opening can be performed using different materials. One option is plaster. This is a cement mortar, which is most often used in the restoration of finishes during major repairs. The advantage of this technique is its reasonable cost. But this is a fairly lengthy way to create slopes. Plaster is sure to stain the decorative wall decoration. Therefore, during cosmetic repairs, this technique is not used.
If the edge of the slope has crumbled, it must be strengthened with a metal corner. It is necessary to prepare the surface, having cleaned it of construction debris, the old finish. It is advisable to treat the base with a primer of the appropriate type.
Then set the beacons. These are devices made of metal or wood, by which the solution layer is leveled. It is best to purchase ready-made stucco beacons in specialized stores. The first of them is mounted directly near the window unit. The layer of plaster should be at least 5 cm.
When installing beacons, the distance is measured by the building level. The second lighthouse is installed on the corner of the opening. Along the entire perimeter, the distance between the first and second beacon should be the same. When the preparation is completed, you can start plastering.
Creation of slopes from a solution
Installation of window slopes from plaster inside the premises involves the use of gypsum mixture, and outside - cement. The solution is best prepared using a construction mixer. You need to purchase a dry mixture, which can be stacked in a thick layer (the finishing gypsum composition is not suitable).
For cement mortar, it is advisable to purchase a plasticizer. Sand is added to the mixture in a ratio of 1: 2. This will make the layer more than 3 cm. You can purchase a special dry mix in which all the ingredients will be correlated in the required proportion. First you need to install a layer of thermal insulation. Otherwise, the windows will be condensed in winter.
The solution is applied in several layers. Each of them should dry well (the time is indicated by the manufacturer of the solution). At the end, a finishing layer is applied. A primer is applied between the layers. The top layer is ground and painted.
At the joints of the putty layer with the window block, it is necessary to cover it with sealant before painting. It is necessary to trim the joint at 2-3 mm with a sharp clerical knife. He is led at an angle of 45º. The recess is primed and then treated with sealant. On both sides it must be glued with masking tape. The seam surface should be as even as possible. This must be done before the composition solidifies.
Drywall
Installation of window slopes from drywall has many advantages.
For a beginner, applying putty is pretty hard. It is especially difficult to align the corners. Therefore, drywall is often used for internal installation. This material has several advantages:
- Drywall is environmentally friendly, does not emit toxic, harmful substances to the body. It can be mounted even in a children's room, bedroom.
- Ready slopes look aesthetically pleasing, homely.
- The material is durable. It will not require repair and restoration for many years.
- Slope assembly is quick. Even a novice master will cope with this task.
- You can use insulation, which reduces heat loss in the room.
It is necessary to apply moisture-proof drywall. The surface of the base must be prepared by cutting the mounting foam, cleaning the surface of debris. You can install GKL sheets on the frame or use glue to fix it directly on the opening. There is a mixed method.
It is necessary to remove the protective film from the window frames. Otherwise, in the future it will be difficult to do without damaging the slopes.
Frame mounting
The method of mounting window slopes from drywall on the frame is resorted to in cases when the walls are sheathed with the same material. In this case, the general frame is assembled. The window opening is reduced. Therefore, for openings with small dimensions, this method is not applied.
The voids under the frame can be filled with insulation. This will avoid heat loss in the cold season, reduce the likelihood of condensation on the windows. The frame here should be assembled from the smallest profile. This will allow more rational use of free space.
Pieces of the appropriate size are cut out from the drywall. They are attached to the profile using special screws. Their hats are slightly sunk into the material. The empty space under the GCR must be filled with mineral wool. Non-combustible basalt insulation, which meets the fire safety requirements for residential premises. This material does not emit harmful substances. It has high thermal insulation properties.
The joints of the plates are glued with a serpentine, and then the places of installation of the screws are putty. A building corner can be used for these purposes. So the joints will be smooth. This will facilitate the work of a novice master. Having leveled the surface, the slopes are treated with a gypsum solution (finish). When it hardens, the plaster is sanded. Then it can be painted.
Glue mounting
In the process of installing window slopes from gypsum plaster, a different technique may be used. In this case, glue is used. The size of the opening is reduced slightly. Drywall sheets can be fixed with putty or special glue. Such formulations are sold dry. They are kneaded with water using a construction mixer.
Slopes before finishing need to be treated with a primer. First, the surface of the base must be cleaned of old building materials. The back side of the drywall must also be primed. When this composition dries, glue is mixed. It is applied with a spatula on the back surface of the drywall sheet.
It is best to glue material from the top slope. If necessary, you can align the surface of the slopes. To do this, apply the same glue. If the height differences are very large, you can cut small planks out of drywall. They are laid in appropriate places.
Then a perforated corner is glued to the corners. Slopes are putty with a finishing solution. This will hide the metal corners. Putty is applied in two layers. The lower one should dry well. If the surface of the slope is planned to be painted, before that the hardened plaster is sanded with sandpaper. You can stick wallpaper on the surface of the slopes. In this case, grinding is not needed.
Mixed way
You can install window slopes from drywall using the L-profile. This method is called mixed. A profile of the L-shaped configuration is fixed along the edge of the slope. Acrylic based sealant is poured inside. Until it has frozen, you need to insert strips of drywall into the grooves.
This allows you to fix the sheet on one side. The side that is perpendicular to the window is glued. Further in the remaining sections, the sheet is fixed with screws. The presence of adhesive during installation significantly simplifies the procedure. This method is applicable for beginners. It is the L-shaped profile that ensures the installation of the sheet exactly at right angles.
The cavity formed under the GCR is filled with 2/3 basalt wool. It needs to be installed closer to the window. The remaining space is filled with glue. Putty can be used for these purposes.
Further, the slopes are primed and covered with a layer of putty. When it dries, the finish layer is sanded and stained.
Plastic
There are many types of plastic slopes. They differ in operational characteristics and installation process. Recently, installation of window slopes from sandwich panels has been popular. They are very easy to install with your own hands. This can be done almost on the day the window is installed. On sale are many types of similar finishes.
Installation of window slopes from sandwich panels has many advantages. Condensation does not form on the windows and the frame during the cold season (with properly equipped ventilation). The structure of such a product provides insulation, which reduces heat loss in the room.
To mount such a slope, first, a wood rail is installed along the perimeter of the base. The slope load will act on it. Therefore, you need to fix the rail very firmly.
The start profile is inserted into the slots. A slope is mounted to it. The outer edge is fixed to the wall using screws or brackets. Screw them deeper into the material. Top caps are closed with special caps.
Installation of window slopes from sandwich panels is very fast. This is an advantage of the presented method.
PVC foam
A popular method is the installation of PVC window slopes. This material has a smooth surface, easy to cut with a grinder. PVC foam panels are easy to bend. Therefore, if the window has a rounded top shape, it will not be possible to find better material. In places of bending make small incisions. Furrows should be frequent, but should not exceed 1/3 of the sheet thickness. The cuts are treated with special glue.
In the mounting foam, you need to prepare the furrows. They make the adhesive composition. A panel is installed in the prepared seat. A metal profile is attached to the slope. Plastic is fixed in it. Foam must be blown out between the wall and the PVC panel. Be sure to leave space for expanding the mounting solution.
A profile is also fixed to the outer corner. The joints are treated with silicone (preferably sanitary) sealant. It is smoothed with a spatula or a damp cloth. Joints can be closed with special plastic corners. Plastic is best used when installing window slopes indoors. On the street, under the influence of weather and climatic adverse factors, the material may turn yellow.
External slopes
Not every type of material is used in the arrangement of external slopes. It is important to consider what kind of decoration is used for the facade. It is best to plan the installation of external slopes in the process of repairing the walls of the building.
A popular type of decoration in this case is the installation of window slopes when siding the house. This material may be vinyl or metallic. To do this, a J-profile is installed near the frame on the outside of the window. Mount siding in it. The joint is closed with a special corner. It will hide the junction of the panel on the window and the facade material.
If the window on the outside has virtually no slope, it is framed by a special platband. Its width may be different. Siding can also be used. It is framed by a J-profile.
It is possible to make external slopes of cement putty. This option will be appropriate if the facade is finished with the same material. The technology for applying the solution is the same as for internal work. But in this case, you can not use gypsum mixtures. The composition of the cement mortar should include appropriate plasticizers. After the solution solidifies, it is painted in the same color as the facade.