Platbands: tips on choosing and installing

Platbands can be considered an indispensable decorative and protective attribute of any window or doorway in a private wooden house. To choose the finished products correctly or to cut and install them yourself, you need to know certain nuances. The article is dedicated to the frames, their varieties, features of choice and installation.

The platbands are the patch slats that form the window or doorway, in most cases in a wooden house. Often these elements are made of carved wood and perform a decorative function, decorating the facade of the building.But they also have a practical task - to close the gap between the window or door opening and the box, so it is necessary to install the trim when the exterior is finished in any case, regardless of the chosen material and design.

The history of the emergence of platbands in Russia begins in the pre-Peter the Great, in those times when wooden architecture was already developed. But they were most common in the XVIII - XIX centuries in connection with the development of the glass industry and the emergence of various metal tools for wood processing. It was after this that almost any wooden house owner sought to decorate his glazed windows with wooden slats with fancy patterns. They could be painted in different colors or have a natural wood texture.

The most common houses with frames were traditionally in the central part of Russia and in the north, where carpentry and wooden architecture were developed. Today, too, many strive to decorate and protect their windows from external adverse influences with the help of this remarkable detail.

Platbands are relevant only for buildings with wooden walls.In multi-brick or concrete houses, according to GOST standards, external slopes are provided, and the gaps between the wall and the window box are usually filled with mounting foam or another insulator. The same is true for modern PVC windows.

The advantages of the products are as follows:

• they emphasize the individual, inimitable style of a wooden building, talented carved platbands can be a real architectural masterpiece;
• using this element you can visually increase / decrease the height or width of the window;
• they close gaps in window openings from dust, moisture and wind;
• serve as additional protection against cold and noise from the street;
• trim can be the only decor option for window openings in houses of timber or logs.

According to the reviews of experienced owners can be identified and the main disadvantages of these elements.

• Wood, unlike other materials, is highly susceptible to external aggressive factors: rain, temperature extremes, sun rays, Can rot, swell from moisture,crack and fade in the sun.
• The casings need constant care to maintain their integrity and attractive appearance.
• Wooden products can not (not recommended) to install on the windows with PVC windows, brick and concrete walls, the frame should be made of wood.
• The cost of carving beautiful carved platbands can be high.

In order for these decorative products to serve as long as possible, it is worth treating them with antiseptics and protective coatings: varnishes and paints. Regular maintenance and cleaning can also increase their lifespan. In addition to wood, there are other materials for the manufacture of window frames, which can last much longer and at the same time have a very attractive appearance.

Decorative trim for wooden window boxes can be of several types:

• Flat option in the form of a usual straight bar with a smooth surface it can be made of wood, plastic, polyurethane, aluminum with a color coating. If this part is made of metal or polymers, then it is not solid, but has a hollow structure with transverse stiffeners.This option is the most practical, because it has the lowest cost, it is easy to install, it can be of different colors.
• A slightly complicated version of the previous type - it is trimmed type. They can be flat or rounded, different colors, but the surface has longitudinal stripes of different depths. Thanks to such a relief texture, they can imitate the wood of many species and can be combined with almost any building facade. Shaped platbands are as easy to install on a window opening as flat ones.
• Profile trim also relatively simple to install, but have a more intricate sectional shape, so they look much more interesting and luxurious. Figured profile can be angular, curved, with several projections, grooves, roundings. They make such decorative items from plastic, aluminum or wood.

All previous types of platbands are factory-made, that is, they are produced at enterprises on an industrial scale. Another option is carved products that are produced piece, often for individual orders. Most often they are made of different types of wood, but there are also platbands of plastic. The painstaking work of an experienced master can be expensive, but such decorative details can completely change the appearance of the building.

According to the design of the casing can be overhead and telescopic. Due to the special slot, the second type can be adjusted according to the thickness of the joint between itself and the wall. Such products are particularly relevant to wooden buildings, when the walls under the influence of moisture and temperatures may eventually change their thickness.

Platbands are not only window, but also door - closing the gap between the wall and the door frame. They do not have such a variety of designs and patterns, as for windows.

The material for the trim should be chosen carefully as different types not only look different, but also have different physical properties.

• Products from MDF It is best to use indoors, as outside they may deteriorate quickly due to adverse weather conditions. The material is made by pressing crushed wood fibers, which are then covered with a color protective film on top. The variety of colors and surface textures makes it possible to perform any design, MDF boards can be easily cut and fastened to a wooden surface. It is very easy to care for them - just wipe them with a damp cloth.
• Metal casing (from galvanized steel with polymer coating or aluminum) is used for buildings decorated in a modern style. It usually has a simple shape with a straight profile, suitable for both metal frames in double-glazed windows, and for wooden window and door frames.

• Framing of windows from a professional flooring advantageous to do because of the low cost and ease of cutting and mounting material. It will serve for a long time, it is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes and mechanical damage. In addition, there is a choice of different colors.
• Plastic for the manufacture of casings it is advantageous because it is cheap, it can be given a wide variety of forms, and it is very easy to care for it by wiping the surface. Polymer plastics with the addition of dyes resistant to fading in the sun, components protecting against high and low temperatures, are used for external plastic products. This type is most successful for plastic windows.
• Natural woodused for several centuries for the manufacture of platbands, has a number of advantages. It is most harmoniously combined with a wooden house, has the most natural look, is easily processed, so there is an opportunity to create unique and nice carpeting from different wood species.

Manufacturers offer the following materials for wooden frames.

1. Pine and spruce widely used for the manufacture of such decorative items for private houses, because they have the lowest cost and are easy to process. To create carved items usually take dried planed and polished boards. As a result, we create platbands with a beautiful texture and a long service life.
2. Oak Platbands good because of the strength and durability of this noble wood. They will not be afraid of the wind, heat or frost, and with a quality treatment with varnish or stain, they will retain their fresh look for a long time.
3. Aspen remarkable for its bright colors, thanks to which it can be easily treated with any varnish or paint. It has good strength and durability, original texture.
4. In addition to these types of wood, others can be used to create carved frames: beech, ash, cedar, linden, birch.

Standard frames produced at the factory and sold in stores have a certain set of widths: from 30 to 70 mm, the thickness of the profile bar can be from 10 to 30 mm. These dimensions allow you to securely close the gap in the window and door openings.For buildings with wooden walls, which, due to different seasons and weather conditions, change their thickness, it is worth buying telescopic platbands with interchangeable dimensions.

For plastic windows at the doors and windows with metal frames, the most popular color is white. Next come the shades, combined with the texture of wood: dark brown, chocolate, beige. When choosing factory products, it is necessary to take into account that they are in harmony with the walls and other details of the facade. For home-made wooden parts there is an opportunity to cover them with transparent varnish or paint of any successful colors.

For private houses from a profiled timber, brick or concrete in a modern style, it is not necessary to select carved platbands with complex patterns. In this case, strict and minimalistic forms - flator profile of various materials. They will cost less and will perform their main protective function. Carved platbands with drawings, shutters and a variety of decorative details are most suitable for log houses. A classic example of the design of a similar window decoration may contain the following elements:

• the rectilinear shaped eaves belt protrudes above the window plane and is its protective element;
• above it is an ochelie, consisting of side ears and a central diadem;
• under the eaves girdle are "crackers" and a valance in the form of small carved parts;
• Below are the frame in the form of a baguette, panels and brackets;
• directly above the window there is a lobar;
• lockable shutters consist of trim and panels;
• under the window there is a subwindow profiled belt, apron overhangs and a carved plate in the form of a fan.

Other decorative or functional details may be present in carved frames, it all depends on the project and the skill of the carpenter.

It is not recommended to install patch frames from any material on ordinary metal nails, since their cap will stand out sharply on the surface and spoil the whole picture. In addition, such fastening under the action of moisture can rust, which is also a negative factor.

Finishing nails are the best option for fastening fasteners to the wall of a wooden house. They may have narrow flat caps to match the surface color or be without them at all. The standard length of the finishing nails is 4 cm, it is necessary to choose such that they are 1.5 cm longer than the trim. Fasteners are driven in at a distance of 0.5 m from each other, so that the cap does not sink into the bar, you can use a doboynik. The advantage of finishing nails is also in the fact that later the trim is easy to dismantle.

To avoid any traces of attachment, you can use "liquid nails." This is a special glue that is applied to the inner surface of the casing, then the part is pressed against the window or doorway and held for a few seconds.After that, the decorative element can be operated for a long time. More reliable fastening than nails are screws, which, thanks to the thread, rigidly fix a wooden or plastic part. It is possible to choose a mount with a hat to match the color of the surface. First, holes of the desired width are drilled in the casing, then recesses under the cap are made. After that, the element is mounted on the screws to the wall of the house.

To attach the plastic casing to the wall of the house, you can use special brackets, which are nailed with a stapler. This method is quite convenient and does not require any skill. Telescopic frames are attached to the wall using a special slot. It must be secured in the groove of the door or window box.

Before installing the frames, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work: dismantling of old elements, leveling and cleaning the walls, measurements. If the window and door openings contain damaged platbands, they should be removed carefully so as not to damage the box, the walls and the access points using a nail puller or mount.

Platbands must be installed after all other construction works: wall finishing, installation of window and door frames, cornices and other elements. Be sure to check the vertical level of the walls: they, along with the box should lie strictly in the same plane. Failure to do so will not effectively close the gaps, they can look uneven from a distance and deform over time.

After preparing, leveling and cleaning the walls and the box from dust and debris, it is necessary to measure window or door openings in width and height. According to these parameters, the required number of meters of material is selected, and the choice of product thickness depends on the width of the dobor. Overhead plastic casing can hide irregularities and cracks up to 3 mm wide.

If the surface of the wall is relatively flat and smooth, the gaps between it and the box are small, then it is advisable to install narrow plastic casing with a cable channel and a front covering to match the color of the existing wall.They consist of two parts: the base, which can be attached to the wall on ordinary screws on the tree and the cover, which is easily put on and removed.

The main advantage is that all fasteners are hidden, and the surface remains flat and smooth with no traces of fixings. Such decorative elements have many colors and textures, they are very cheap, they are easy to cut off with an ordinary knife. Plastic or PVC, which are made of cords with cable channel, are not afraid of moisture, mold and fungi, for a long time retain their color.

Factory overhead trim, direct or profile before installation must be properly cut to the size of window and door openings. The main problem here is the docking of the corners. Pairing vertical and horizontal slats may be at a right angle, but it does not look very nice. It is best to cut each of the parts at a 45-degree angle with a miter saw with the help of a carpentry stousla and then connect them exactly on the opening.

Self-made wooden parts after trimming before installation must be treated with an antiseptic and varnished. Attach them to the wall only after drying.

The Russian manufacturer Profil Doors produces high-quality trim for interior doors from ekoshpon, PVC, MDF, solid wood. They are easily mounted on the fasteners, so that the outside fasteners are not visible. A huge variety of colors is presented, including those imitating different types of wood.

The Russian manufacturer TPK Les Mari produces high-quality exterior trim for doors and windows at affordable prices. For the production of an array of natural lime, all products are guaranteed. Products have a variety of colors for any facade of a wooden house, perfectly polished and treated with varnish, resistant to natural influences. Such decorative details can last for a long time at a country house.

Manufacturer Wooder produces platbands on windows covered with several layers of environmentally friendly varnishes. Thanks to this coating, parts keep their original appearance for a long time, they are protected from moisture, sunlight, fungi and mold.All products are given a three-year warranty, they are supplied with high-quality European fittings, have excellent thermal insulation.

One of the most popular products from the manufacturer Woodeer are Finnish platbands. Their characteristic features are a wide upper visor protruding above the window, decorative consoles and vertical pillars.

The domestic manufacturer "Kontur" offers invoices universal platbands with a straight and figured profile. Plastic, wood and MDF are used for manufacturing. The surface is treated with a special polymer layer, which retains its fresh color for a long time. There is a large selection of shades and sizes.

The Russian trademark "Bakrilie" has a wide experience in the production of high-quality exterior and interior platbands of wood: veneer, lining. There are simple low cost products with a smooth surface and elegant carvings that represent real artistic value. For the production of various types of wood are used, differing in color and texture.Carved platbands and other accessories represent handmade goods. The products of these companies for the most part receive numerous positive feedback from customers.

It is important to know the following:

• Before installing any kind of trim It is recommended to seal the gap, which always remains between the window or door frame and the wall. No matter how even the additional elements were fitted, some gap always remains or appears due to the drying of the tree, its swelling under the action of moisture and changes in temperature. Through this gap penetrate cold and water, wind blows, noise insulation decreases. There are many options for sealing: mastic, putty, silicone or polyurethane foam.
• Self-made wooden frames before installation must be dried and treated with protective materials. For fasteners it is best to choose liquid or finish nails. From time to time, the trim should not only be cleaned, but also applied to the surface an additional layer of varnish or paint, to get rid of cracks.
• If beautiful carved elements are often chosen for the exterior walls of a wooden house, then for interior decoration is to use the most simple models of plastic or MDF. For doors and windows from the inside you can use thin frames with a cable channel. Often interior doors from the same manufacturer are sold complete with the appropriate cashing.
• There are cheap curly options for exterior windowsmade of plastic or foam. They are easy to install on glue, are not afraid of moisture and have good thermal insulation. They can be set as a temporary budget option.

Self-made carved platbands, decorated with old patterns, with shutters and a cornice in the same style.

Option casings with patterns and painting.

More simple option, suitable for modern style.

Platbands on the window in the Finnish style.

An example with a chic carved cornice.

On how to make trim on the window do it yourself, you will learn in the next video.