Advantages of using wooden windows
The use of natural materials in home decoration is a fashionable trend in recent years. One of the components of such an interior is wooden windows. Modern technologies of wood processing can improve the performance of natural materials, providing strength, reliability and long service life.
Features of wooden windows
For modern wooden windows, most often not solid wood is used, but a beam, the strength and rigidity of which is much higher. The natural material of the window frames is environmentally friendly, does not emit harmful substances. Modern varnishes and paints used for processing are safe for health.
Wood selection
High-quality material and correct installation ensures durability and good thermal protection, which is not inferior to metal-plastic windows. In addition, wood wins in many respects, providing the necessary plasticity in combination with strength. This provides resistance to deformation and allows you to withstand loads.
The wood species that are most commonly used for windows are classified as hard and soft.
Hard rocks:
- oak;
- beech;
- mahogany and others.
Soft:
- alder;
- Birch tree;
- Linden;
- elm and others.
Needles are a frequently used material. It has a durability, which provides the entry of resinous substances. An important disadvantage of wood is flammability. In order to neutralize this deficiency to some extent, wood is impregnated with special compounds.
Double-glazed windows
The production of a window and its installation require the use of special accessories: fasteners, seals. Wooden euro-windows should have insulating glass units made of heat-saving or ordinary glass. Additionally, glasses can have a special coating with films.
In double-glazed windows, the distance between the glass and the gas used for filling is also important. The created tightness largely depends on the seal used.
How to insulate wooden windows? Seals can be of various materials, but most often silicone is selected at the junction of the glass and the sash itself. Elastomers are placed at the contact points of the sash with the frame. These materials are resistant to temperature fluctuations and sun exposure. They provide a snug fit and tightness of the window structure.
There can be 3 or 2 sealing circuits.
Fittings
High-quality fittings from well-known manufacturers will serve for a long time without loss of performance. It is recommended to choose all elements in the same style and color. In addition, windows can be additionally equipped with mosquito nets, blinds and shutters.
Advantages and disadvantages of using
Advantages of using wood for window frames:
- low thermal conductivity;
- good sound insulation;
- environmental friendliness;
- ease of installation;
- strength;
- ease;
- the possibility of repair work.
If wooden windows are installed with insulated glass units with fireproof glass and appropriate impregnation, then such a structure can withstand up to 90 minutes of exposure to fire.
In addition to obvious advantages, wooden windows also have some disadvantages. During production and installation, all dimensions must be strictly observed, and the parameters must be adjusted as carefully as possible. Equally important is the use of seals.Only under this condition can sufficiently high noise and thermal insulation be achieved.
Without appropriate impregnation, wood cannot compete with metal-plastic. The impregnation provides resistance to external influences. A wooden window won't last long without it.
The quality of the wood affects the service life and appearance of the product. With flaws in the form of knots, cracks and other defects, the wooden structure will not only lose its appearance, but also lose its performance.
Design features
Depending on the style of the building and the preferences of the owner of the house, appropriate designs of wooden windows are selected. Most often, three-leaf and double-leaf structures are used, which have a traditional appearance.
When buying wooden windows, you should pay attention to the quality of the material. The window should be complemented by a window sill and drain structure.
Multi-leaf structures
Equipped with a pivoting mechanism, such sashes can be separated by a vertical crossbar, which serves as an additional fastening of the structure. The presence of a vertical strip can allow both leaves to be opened independently of each other. If there is no dividing strip, then it must be determined which of the leaves opens first.
Popular and practical are windows with profiles that combine the use of metal for the outside and wood for the inside. An aluminum profile or overlays on the outside of the window add resistance to adverse external influences and protect the tree.
Single leaf designs
In recent years, there has been a greater demand not for multi-leaf designs, but for single-leaf designs. When ordering wooden windows from the manufacturer, this point must be discussed. In this case, the thickness of the product and the number of chambers can vary.
Non-opening windows are usually used when there is a balcony door or an opening window nearby. This issue is clarified at the time of design. The cost of such a window will be lower, since there are no locking mechanisms and fastening accessories in it.
Types of wood processing
In order for a wooden window to serve for a long time and have advantages in comparison with metal-plastic structures, the material must be processed to resist decay and deformation. Impregnation can be done in several ways:
- surface treatment;
- immersion in solution;
- dousing;
- using a vacuum;
- pressure.
Not all forms of processing are created equal. The best protection of the material is provided by vacuum action. It increases the service life up to half a century.
After impregnation, proceed to the next stage - the primer. It is necessary to give durability to the top coat - paints and varnishes.
The finishing treatment of the wood surface can be one that will highlight the wood texture.
DIY wooden windows
Wooden windows for a summer residence or a country house can be made by hand. In order to achieve a good result, it is necessary to observe the production technology and the thoroughness of the work at all stages. The process of working on a window should begin with developing a drawing, preparing tools and calculating the amount of material required.
Required tools:
- hammer;
- chisel;
- a plane (better - electric);
- glass cutter;
- screwdriver;
- drill.
A good tool will make the work easier and help to carry out them efficiently.
Box making
A solid durable box must be made of high quality material. Pine is considered affordable. The board must be free from defects (cracks, knots, etc.). Optimal boards are 5 cm thick and 15 cm wide.For fastening, grooves 1.5 cm deep are made on each of the boards.
A box is made of boards. The parts are fixed with wood glue.When connecting, the right angle between the surfaces must be verified. Additional fixing and fixing of the right angle is carried out using 30 mm wooden rods, which are inserted into the drilled hole.
After preparing the window opening, a box is inserted into it. Fastening to the opening is carried out using dowels and self-tapping screws. Gaps and slots are filled with polyurethane foam.
Frame making
Depending on what kind of windows you plan to make with your own hands, the option of making a frame is selected. A beam of 40x60 mm or more is suitable for execution. Take into account the small gap of a couple of millimeters required for the free movement of the flaps. Sawing of a bar must be done accurately, with an error of no more than 0.1 cm.
An electric planer or milling cutter is used to make a profile. Wooden glazing bead should be 10x10 mm in size. It is advisable to choose glass at least 0.4 cm.
An additional decoration of the frames can be a carved casing.
Glass fixing
When cutting glass, it is important to accurately measure the size. A good adhesion of the glass to the frame must be ensured. If deviations exceed 1 mm, the tightness will be broken. The glass is cut with a glass cutter, the sharp edge is processed with fine sandpaper.
Fastening to the frame is made only after preliminary fitting. The edge can then be sealed with a sealant. Glazing bead performs the function of additional glass fastening in the frame. Fix it with thin carnations.
The next step is to attach the hinges and handles, paint the surfaces and install in the window opening.
Restoration work
In order not to change the windows that have lost their appearance and performance in the country, you can try to carry out restoration work. Restoring the condition of old windows often comes down to painting and installing seals. In difficult situations, when the con is running, additional processing will be required.
The problem with gaps can be solved by using a seal. It is more difficult to solve the problem with skewing, which affects the possibility of free movement of the shutters. This condition can be the result of subsidence of the hinges, swelling and skewing of the wood itself, or too much paint applied. In this case, the prevention of the hinge mechanism is carried out, the excess paint layer is peeled off, which interferes with the opening and closing of the flaps.
It is more difficult to cope with rotten areas. They require removal. The resulting recess is processed with wood glue, the missing part is inserted and the final processing is carried out.
Wooden windows blend perfectly with most interiors, have a long service life and an attractive appearance. Installation in compliance with all design features allows you to create a cozy atmosphere in your home.