What Materials To Finish The External Slopes Of Windows

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

• What is required to carry out the work?
• What to make slopes from?
• Application of metal structures
• Installation of plastic slopes
• How to decorate the slopes on the windows from the street?

After installing windows, many people forget that they need finishing the outer slopes of plastic windows. It is necessary to carry out this type of work: in addition to the decorative function, the slopes also play a very important practical role. They are used to protect the window structure and the facade of the building from moisture and drafts, so they should not be neglected. If the window installers overlooked this detail, you can finish what they started for them on their own.

What is required to carry out the work?

Exterior window decoration is not something complicated; it will require a simple set of tools. The slopes themselves can be bought ready-made or made by yourself at home. In this case, it is most convenient to use plastic or metal sheets as a material.

The main task is to assemble all the necessary elements, otherwise the structure will not be able to fulfill all its functions. You cannot fix the slope to the window itself, so it is mounted on the wall, most often wooden slats are used for this.

Tip: in the process of working, a void forms between the frame and the wall. It can be filled with insulation, for example, foam, polyurethane foam or mineral wool. This will not only make the structure warmer, but also reduce the noise level from the street.

The frame can be fixed using silicone sealant, self-tapping screws; the choice is made depending on the material of the walls. To work, you will need to have a hacksaw, a construction stapler, a building level and a drill on hand. If you work with metal, you will need scissors to cut it, and a clerical knife will not be superfluous.

Tip: when choosing material for slopes, you need to give preference to durable plastic or stainless steel. Materials should not be afraid of temperature extremes, humidity, and other negative influences.

What to make slopes from?

The exterior decoration of windows does not have strict criteria. For it, you can use the material that you think is the most optimal: for example, if you know how to plaster the slopes, you can form it from putty or make it from polystyrene and putty. Such work requires certain skills. It will be easier for the hobbyist to use ready-made materials such as plastic panels, which are a convenient and inexpensive way to get the job done quickly.

Not in favor of the putty is also its inability to withstand sudden temperature changes. Because of them, the slopes will eventually become covered with cracks and begin to let moisture through, you will need to cover them with a new layer of plaster. However, this is the cheapest option.

Tip: if the apartment is at a high altitude, and the window does not open onto the balcony, you will have to hire professionals who can use climbing equipment. Otherwise, you not only risk falling, but you will not do the job efficiently, since you will not be able to reach all parts of the structure; in addition, there is a risk of staining people and objects below your window.

A more affordable finishing of the external slopes of the windows is with the help of plastic corners. Working with them is quite simple and does not take much time, the corner weighs little, is fixed directly on the frame, for which double-sided tape is used.

Fixing to the wall is done with special glue. This option will be inexpensive, while it will allow hermetically closing the window opening from precipitation and condensation. The design is not afraid of temperature drops and ultraviolet radiation, wind.

Application of metal structures

Exterior decoration of window slopes is very often carried out using galvanized steel sheets. This material has a number of advantages, as it is very durable and can insulate the window space well. However, there are also disadvantages, for example, additional sound insulation is required.

Installation of a steel sheet is relatively simple, but it must be borne in mind that it has a sufficiently large mass compared to the same foam, which does not allow placing it simply on tape. You will need to create a frame, and drill the sheet with a drill and fix it on self-tapping screws. If you are a light sleeper, be prepared for a specific noise when raindrops hit the metal structure.

External finishing of plastic windows with galvanized sheets is quite acceptable, especially if the material is chosen in the color of the window frame or the facade of the building. The galvanized structure does not rust, usually it is covered with a special film, which improves not only the properties of the material, but also protects it from the negative effects of nature and minor damage. The structure will not require special care if all the seams are correctly closed initially. This can be done with a sealant.

Installation of plastic slopes

Finishing the external slopes of plastic windows is the most physically easy task: the reason lies in the low weight and pliability of the material. It is easy to cut it off with an ordinary hacksaw, you can give it the desired shape, the plastic is able to bend and not break, it can be attached both to self-tapping screws and to various adhesives, ranging from double-sided tape to special glue or foam.

It is possible to fix the slopes on special profiles, but such a warrant will cost more, therefore ordinary wooden slats are most often used for the lathing. You should not be afraid for their safety, since the slope located on them will be able to protect its frame from moisture.

How to decorate the slopes on the windows from the street?

In modern construction, a material such as siding is often used. Its use is quite convenient, and the choice depends on how wide your slopes are. If they are European standards, then a narrow siding with a width of no more than 12 cm is required, with standard Russian sizes, a strip of at least 22 cm is needed.

The material is fastened thanks to the use of a finishing profile; you can buy it ready-made. Installation is simple. First, a J-profile is attached to the facade, then a chamfer is applied, which makes installation easier and cheaper. The siding is simply inserted into the grooves, resulting in a sealed surface that does not have visually noticeable joints.

Siding is available in different colors, so if you choose it correctly, it will be in harmony with any windows and facade finishing materials. This approach will cost a little more than plastic, but will provide higher quality slopes.

Conclusion: the choice of how to decorate the slopes on the windows from the street is quite wide. All options are acceptable, therefore, it is necessary to take into account the financial costs and complexity of installation, which is an individual parameter for each buyer.

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