Plastic is convenient and practical, but not everyone likes it. In addition, in old houses, standard plastic windows often look ridiculous. Do not forget about the dachas, where it is difficult and expensive to deliver and install double-glazed windows, especially if the adobe house is inherited, where they are not put by definition. So the restoration of windows has not sunk into oblivion, although ordering for it is not often seen: restoration of frames is sometimes more expensive than a brand-new double-glazed window not the cheapest. But if you have time and hands grow from where you need to, then you can do restoration yourself in your spare time.
Feasibility assessment
Before your restoration of old windows begins, take a sober approach to the question of its rationality and possibilities. It will take not only a visual inspection, but also tapping the entire perimeter. The idea of recovery will have to be abandoned if:
- Strong skew frames.
- Mass rotting wood.
- Numerous drying on the sashes and the opening frame.
If whole window fragments - most often the lower elements and corners - require replacement, it is available only to a fairly experienced carpenter. Having decided on such actions, pre-order the necessary details for the exact dimensions.
Usually, restoration of windows is not difficult if they are made of hardwood that was boiled in drying oil. Such windows are found exclusively in ancient buildings. In high-rise buildings of the Soviet era, the tree was used low quality, but the age at the windows is much less, so you can not do without a thorough examination.
What is needed
If you decide that you can do the restoration of the window with your own hands, prepare everything you need:
- Industrial dryer.
- Hard metal and rubber spatula.
- Fine-tooth hacksaw.
- Drill or screwdriver.
- Measuring instruments.
- Drill.
- Joiner clamps.
- Joiner's glue (necessarily waterproof).
- Antiseptic, primers, putty, paint and tools for applying thereof.
- Hammer.
- A grinder or skins of different grain sizes.
- Beadings, self-tapping screws, dowels, galvanized carpentry.
You may need a grinder. And do not forget about personal protection: gloves, glasses and a respirator will be extremely necessary at certain stages of your work.
Preparatory work
Window restoration begins with dismantling. And his first stage is the removal of glasses. If they are fastened with glazing beads, they are tacked off with any thin and strong tool and pulled out together with fasteners-studs. If the glasses are held on putty, it is removed with a chisel, and cloves are pulled out with pliers. After removing the glass, the rest of the structure is also disassembled. Including accessories.
Stripping old paint
The technology of window restoration in the next step requires the dismantling of the old coating. Often the frames are covered with several layers of paint, which are quite difficult to remove. You can do this manually using scrapers, a wire brush or grinder tips. It is laborious and the coating is not completely removed.
Another option is chemicals. They are applied to the frame until the layer is softened, the sour paint is cleaned off with a spatula. The drugs are poisonous, it takes a lot of time to use them, you do not have to wait for high-quality results.
Thermal disassembly requires the least effort - the old paint is blown out with a construction hairdryer. Under a stream of hot air, it bubbles and is immediately removed with a spatula.
After removing the old coating, all elements are sanded. Coarse sandpaper is used first, then finer. It is not necessary to bring surfaces to perfect smoothness: this is only an intermediate stage.
The most important stage: putty
Window restoration will give a good result only if the frames are perfectly plastered. If there are areas that are damp or touched by the fungus, before filling the frames, they are impregnated with antiseptics and left to dry completely.
To process the windows, a wood composition is used. Its color does not matter, but professionals recommend taking a white putty. Before applying it, the frames are primed. The mixture is applied with a rubber spatula, after filling the defects and recesses, the excess is immediately removed, since the dry putty is difficult to remove.
If significant pits are found, they pass up to three times until the plane becomes flat. The finished frame is dried for a day, after which it is ground with a fine sandpaper and primed again.
Aesthetic Return
Most often, the frames are painted. Of course, the wood structure looks more elegant, but paints are more resistant to external influences than varnishes. Yes, and patched defects mask the paint better. If your frames have not suffered much damage as a result of long years of service, and you intend to lacquer them, look for the compositions that cover the yachts: they are extremely resistant to atmospheric influences.
In more traditional cases, when buying paints, they pay attention to their purpose: paints should be designed for outdoor use. Purchased paint is diluted in strict accordance with the instructions: too thick will lie unevenly, with the formation of streaks and streaks from the brush, and too liquid will drain. In wide places, paint is rolled out; corners and curly elements are painted with a brush. Paint is applied twice; in between, it should dry completely.
Thermal insulation of old windows
And the last thing that restoration of windows requires is their insulation. According to Swedish technology, it is carried out quickly and reliably. The works are as follows:
- On the removed sash, a groove is cut through the entire perimeter of the grinder, located at an angle of 45 degrees to the epiglottis.
- Chips and sawdust are thoroughly cleaned from the recess.
- A seal is placed in the groove. It can not be fixed with glue or brackets. A special roller is used for pressing.
After the end of the insulation work, the frames are hung on the box, glass is inserted into them. From the outside, they are worked out by a sealant, the hardware returns to its place - and you have practically new “eyes at home” for a completely budget price. Unless, of course, all the work was done independently.
Restoration of plastic windows
In the end, I would like to say a few words about modern double-glazed windows. They represent a much more complex engineering system, and the restoration of "plastic" requires technical knowledge. You can adjust the flaps, grease the clogged hinges and carry out a number of minor maintenance work. But if the breakdown is serious, it is better to contact professionals: window restoration (Moscow) made of plastic is offered by almost all companies involved in their installation. And it costs much cheaper than “rebirth from the ashes” of wooden frames.