How to install a new plastic window with your own hands? This task, for a person with minimal construction skills and desire, is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Plastic windows differ from the bulky frames used previously in their lightness and ease of installation. Despite the increased functionality, anyone with a construction tool and one assistant can install a window system.
Does it make sense to install a plastic window yourself?
The nuances of this process require preliminary familiarization; they will help prevent annoying misunderstandings:
- You need to be very careful when removing the old window. If you act roughly, there is a high probability of destruction of the opening, which will require additional effort, money and time to restore it.
- Be sure to clean the workplace from dust generated during the work process. If this rule is not followed, the foam will not tightly close the cracks, which will cause the formation of condensation (and subsequently mold) and the appearance of drafts.
- Be sure to prime the slopes, which is not always done. This process will allow the foam to cling to every pore of the wall, which will prevent even the slightest cracks from forming.
- Be sure to cover the entire opening with self-adhesive waterproofing tape. This recommendation is given by manufacturers because it perfectly protects the walls, preventing the insulation from coming into contact with moisture.
How to install a plastic window yourself: installing a new window frame
Mounting frames into an existing frame, just like installing a plastic window yourself, is not too labor-intensive if you follow safety rules. The sashes and glass must first be removed from the frame.
It is important to correctly align the frame in relation to the opening, focusing on the level and organizing reliable fixation.
We place the frame this way:
- free the frame from components that may break;
- place in the opening using wedges and pads, clearly focusing on the level;
- align vertically, fix in the opening;
- one person holds the structure, the other takes into account the level by applying the top edge to the opening;
- both upper edges are attached, then the bottom of the frame;
- The components are fixed using anchor-type screws or fastening plates.
Important! It is necessary to monitor the placement of the frame in relation to the edge of the wall, despite the fact that this fact does not affect functionality in any way, appearance is also important.
Final assembly of the window unit: sequence of work
Installing metal-plastic windows with your own hands allows you to save a considerable amount of money on this not too complicated job. After installing the box, placing and fixing the frame, you need to deal with the double-glazed windows.
Sequence of work:
- The profile located below should be equipped with compensating gaskets: to ensure the correct temperature level (between the glass and the frame). This factor allows you to extend the service life of the entire structure;
- place the plates on the right and left of the frame;
- place the double-glazed window on the frame, leaving equal gaps between the left and right sides of the frame and the package itself;
- install glazing beads: start with the top element, it will hold the glass. Then you can go in order in any convenient direction. The beads are driven into the grooves using a special rubber hammer.
Do-it-yourself window installation is completed by installing the sashes. This work is carried out in the opposite order to the procedure for removing them before starting all work.
- Place the sash on the pin located at the bottom.
- Tilt the sash slightly until it connects with the top hinge.
- Place the pin using a pointer and a hammer.
- Place an overlay on the top hinge that performs decorative functions.
Now you need to treat all remaining free spaces with polyurethane foam. In order for the foam to adhere well and last a long time, the surface of the work should be moistened with water. High humidity allows the polyurethane sealant to polymerize quickly and very efficiently. Foaming of the window occurs along the entire perimeter, with equal force. After the foam has dried, the ebb and window sill are installed.
This is the entire process of assembling a window system. As you can see, with minimal skill, you can handle it yourself, without the involvement of professionals.
Hello everyone, dear readers! Since we receive many questions about window installation, we decided to prepare an article about the correct installation of windows in accordance with GOST, so that you can check the quality of the work yourself after the installation team. We hope the article will be useful.
When we buy a window, we hope that it will serve us for many years. But over time, we notice that first it begins to blow from it, and then openly blow. The slopes become covered with cracks, black fungus appears in the corners, and in winter the flowers freeze on the windowsill.
As a rule, it all comes down to improper installation of the window. In this article we will talk about existing installation technology. Let's dwell on the correct installation of the window and consider what materials are best to use.
The first step is to prepare the opening, clean it of dust and dirt. If the opening has uneven surfaces, they must be leveled using putty.
First, the sash is removed. This is done as follows. It is necessary to open the window, remove the pin from the top hinge and remove the sash. Then it is removed, taped at the junction with the frame with psul tape and installed back.
Preparing a balcony block for installation using technology is similar to preparing a window. The joints of the frames, according to technological requirements, are glued with Psul tape and covered with a joining profile and taped again. The frames are then connected to each other using a joining profile.
Correct installation is the key to success
In accordance with the standards and requirements of GOST, in windows made of white PVC, the distance between fastenings should be no more than 700 mm. and 150-180 mm from the inner corner of the frame. The diameter of the drill must be less than the diameter of the screw.
Holes for connection are drilled in the frames. Self-tapping screws are inserted into these holes and the frames are twisted. When fastening the structure with anchor dowels, holes in the frame are drilled in advance. According to GOST, there should be 150-180 mm from the frame corner. Between fasteners no more than 700 mm. Holes for dowels are drilled from the outside of the frame.
Then support blocks are placed under the frames. The support blocks can be made of hardwood or plastic. Next, the structure must be inserted into the opening and the frame must be secured with pillows. Then you need to take a level and use it to level the window structure horizontally, helping with support blocks and cushions.
After horizontal alignment, the frame must be aligned vertically relative to the facade using the same level and cushions. On the outside, it is necessary to mark the place where the PSUL tape (vapor-permeable self-expanding sealing tape) will be glued. After marking, the frame is removed. 
If you plan to finish the slopes with PVC panels, then you need to snap the starting profile for the slopes onto the frame.
With a shift of 5 mm. From the marks applied, a psul tape is glued to the outside of the frame. First on the top, then on the sides.
PSUL– pre-compressed sealing tape – used to connect a vapor-tight water-repellent layer to the outside of the assembly seam.
On the inside, to protect the installation seam from moisture, it is necessary to stick a full-butyl vapor barrier inner tape and secure it in the corners. Then the structure must be placed back in the opening and finally leveled using cushions and support blocks.
After this, holes are drilled in the wall for the dowels and vertical spacer blocks are inserted on the sides of the frame and the window is secured.
After securing the window, you can hang the sashes. The next stage is insulating the window seam with polyurethane foam. For high-quality sealing, it is better to use professional foam for a gun with low secondary expansion. Before applying the foam, you need to moisten the opening with a spray bottle.
Shake the foam canister thoroughly and fill the openings to 70% of their depth. Seams larger than 5 mm are filled with foam in several layers.
If the window is installed in winter, then it is necessary to use frost-resistant materials and winter foam. 15-20 minutes after applying the foam, it is necessary to close the inner tape. A metallized vapor barrier tape is installed under the window sill. On the outside, an external diffusion vapor-permeable tape is installed under the ebb. The window is installed.
Finishing a plastic window after installation
After the plastic window is installed, you can begin the process of decorating it, i.e. installation of slopes and ebbs.
End caps are put on the pre-sawn ebb. To reduce noise from rain, it is recommended to apply full-butyl tape at low tide. Then the ebb is attached to the frame using self-tapping screws.
The window sill is installed as follows. Special brackets are attached to self-tapping screws under the window to simplify installation of the window sill. The space under the future window sill is lightly foamed with mounting foam so that the window sill does not rise. After this, the window sill itself is inserted between the frame and the bracket. Again, using a level and support blocks, the window sill is leveled horizontally.
Note. When leveling the window sill, it is necessary to make a slope of 1-2 degrees towards the room. After installing the window sill, you can begin to decorate the window opening. To do this, take special PVC panels that are attached to the initial profile with a clip. The platband is wound around the corner and secured to the wall with self-tapping screws. It is covered with a decorative strip on top.
Don't forget to put end caps on the windowsill. The seams between the slope panels, the end trims of the window sill and the ebb are sealed with neutral silicone sealant.
Those who have decided to replace old wooden windows with plastic ones may wonder: is it possible to install them yourself? Although this is a job of average complexity, it can still be done by those who have at least some construction skills. Installing small windows in private homes is much easier than installing large windows on the balconies of apartment buildings. In this article we will look at a more complex option for installing windows in a multi-storey building.
If you are not an expert in this matter, then it is better to ask a more experienced craftsman to calculate in advance what size plastic windows need to be ordered. So that they are not too big or too small. When the windows are delivered to you, immediately check that all components and fittings are present, and also check that the window dimensions are accurate. Only then sign the windows delivery documents.
Do-it-yourself installation of plastic windows
First you need to dismantle the old windows. To do this, you may need a wood saw to cut the beams and window sill. You will also need a pry bar.If you do not live on the first floor, then when the windows are delivered they will be disassembled to make it easier for the movers to bring them into the apartment. This is good because you also need it. In addition, you will have to additionally disassemble the double-glazed windows by removing the glass, since they provide the main weight. The glass must be dismantled so that it is convenient for you to attach the window sill and ebbs. Dismantling of the drains is carried out by removing the plastic bead.
Before you start installing the windows, you need to attach the fasteners for the mosquito net, since then it will be difficult, because if you do not live on the first floor from the street, it will be impossible to do this. To do this, place the mosquito net against the window opening and screw the top fastenings, then the lower ones, but in such a way that the net can be removed, for example in winter. Therefore, the lower fastenings should be slightly lower than the size of the mosquito net.
Next, you can mount metal fasteners to the top and side of the window block. This is done using self-tapping screws, which should be included with the fittings.
If the window openings are long, then several window blocks are usually ordered, which are connected to each other with special fasteners (connectors). It is necessary to immediately fasten the windows with a connector on both sides, and additionally fasten them with self-tapping screws.
If you have ordered visors, they must be attached to the top of the window block by screwing them into the profile with self-tapping screws. This is done after you have installed the metal fasteners.
Next, you can start installing the window. If the windows are large, then you will need help from at least one person to help lift and place the window. Also, when you attach the window to the wall, you also need to hold them.
Immediately try to level the window block by placing wooden wedges under the bottom and leveling it horizontally.
Once the window is approximately level, it can be attached to the wall on the side and at the top. To do this you will need a hammer drill and quick installation. After drilling the hole, bend the metal fasteners, and then hammer the quick assembly into the hole.
After you have secured all the metal fasteners, check the level of the window unit again vertically and horizontally.
If everything is in order, then proceed with the installation of further parts. First, you can fix the window sill; it is attached with self-tapping screws to the lower profile from the street side.
After this, from the street you also need to screw the sills into the lower profile of the window. Keep in mind that canopies, ebbs, and window sills will not always be exactly the size you need. Most often they are slightly longer. Therefore, you will have to cut off the canopies and ebbs with a grinder or metal scissors, and the window sill with a jigsaw or grinder. You will need a tape measure to measure the required dimensions and a square to accurately draw the lines along which you will cut.
At this stage, you can blow out the openings between the windows and slabs with polyurethane foam. To save a little on foam, especially if the gaps are large, you can use polystyrene foam.
Then the opening windows that have been removed are attached to the window block. To do this, you immediately need to screw the fittings (handles) to them, then insert the window into special grooves.
In order for the window to open freely in all modes, the window must be adjusted with a special key (hexagon). In the grooves on which the window is placed, there are special holes for the hexagon, where you can adjust the window by turning it with a key from above and below. The goal of the setting is to make the window easy to close and come off in all modes.
When purchasing a window, we plan that it will be able to serve well for many decades. However, this is only possible if the window is installed correctly. Almost all specialists have their own methods and secrets, but there are also special fixed standards - GOST and SNiP. It is the installation of PVC windows in accordance with GOST that can give the highest quality results.
Regulations
Installation of PVC windows in accordance with GOST will guarantee its long and trouble-free service. Today, all types of work related to this area are regulated by four main standards:
- GOST 30674-99. It contains general information on the issue and basic requirements for windows. There is practically no mention of the installation process itself in this GOST.
- GOST R52749-2007. This standard focuses on the process of installing windows using vapor-permeable, self-expanding sealing tape.
- GOST 30971-2012. This document contains the most detailed information on the issue. It also contains exact requirements for window sizes, device parameters and materials for filling joints, methods of fastening structures and similar information. It also describes the requirements for regulatory documentation, some warranty obligations of the work contractor and general requirements for the performance of work. This standard was introduced at the beginning of 2014 and replaced the outdated GOST 30971-2002 for window installation.
- SNiP 02/23/2003. The standard sets the parameters for thermal protection of premises. Suffice it to mention that it requires the installation of a 3-chamber double-glazed window for most climatic zones of Russia and a 5-chamber double-glazed window for Siberia.
All of the above regulatory documents are valid, but not mandatory. The only exception was various requirements related to safety in one way or another.. Compliance with GOSTs only helps to achieve the highest quality window installation.
Preparing for installation
The installation of plastic windows according to GOST is not much different in general terms from the usual installation of a PVC window. The main differences lie in the nuances and compliance with a number of requirements. The technology for installing plastic windows is as follows:
Measurements
Before starting work, a number of measurements should be taken. The dimensions of the window are set as follows: the width of the window is the width of the window opening, from which the double width of the installation gap (which will be on both sides) is subtracted, the height is the same. According to GOST, the minimum width of such a gap is 2 cm, and in calculations the figure most often used is 2.5-3 cm.
When installing a quarter window, measurements are taken from the outside If we are talking about installing a window in an opening with an external quarter, then all measurements should be made from the outside. The width will be the distance between the quarters, increased by the size of the frame plant per quarter, which ranges from 2.5 to 4 cm. The height is determined in the same way.
Preparatory work
After the windows have been manufactured and delivered to the customer, work should not begin immediately. It is recommended to first prepare the room: clear the space near the window for convenient work, remove unnecessary things and furniture, cover the walls and remaining objects with film or thick fabric. The doors are removed from the frame, and the cavity of the stand profile is filled with heat-insulating foam. It is recommended to do the latter one day before installation.
Particular attention should be paid to the opening itself - it must be cleaned of dirt and dust in advance. If there are noticeable irregularities, they are leveled with putty.
Fastening
GOST stipulates two main types of window fastening. The first is done in the mounting plane - self-tapping screws are attached directly through the frame. This option is used most often, but requires that the door leaves and double-glazed windows be removed from the frame in advance. The advantage of this method is the ease of installation in the opening.
Most often, self-tapping screws are used for fastening The second option is based on the use of reinforcement mounted in the frame during production. The entire structure can be mounted. It should be noted that its weight will be quite large, so the process will require certain efforts and skills.
Installation work
Installation of plastic windows according to GOST provides for one important point: the frame is not installed on a bare brick or similar base. Instead, small wooden blocks impregnated with solutions are placed. They will help in aligning the window.
After this, either a separate frame or the entire structure is placed on them, which depends on the preferred type of fastening. For greater stability and reliability, the supports are left as part of the structure, and wedges are knocked out between the window and the wall on top for fixation. After this, the frame is attached from the sides in the same way. By controlling the process with a level, the frame is leveled, and adjustments are made by adding substrates.
The frame can be fastened, according to GOST, through pre-drilled fasteners. You should start from the bottom, gradually moving higher. To top it off, the structure is additionally checked for horizontalness and all screws and anchors are tightened.
Drain installation and window assembly
Most often, a special groove is provided on the outside of the window into which the drainage system is mounted. GOST states that during installation it must be foamed. If you need to create a more durable structure, the drainage system is additionally secured with screws.
The drainage system is mounted in a special groove on the outside Upon completion, another control check of the entire structure is required: for strength, verticality and horizontality. After this, all that remains is to assemble the window. The assembly process takes place in the reverse order of disassembly: during the process, stops, handles and other fittings are returned to their places.
Filling gaps
GOSTs pay special attention to filling gaps. This procedure is almost always performed using polyurethane foam-based polyurethane foam. This material has been tested over years of work, but still has a number of disadvantages. First of all, its resistance to environmental influences and ultraviolet radiation leaves much to be desired. That is why GOST standards require maximum insulation of all seams on all sides - this will avoid destruction of the insulation, which can result in loss of tightness, fogging of windows and the penetration of cold from the street into the house.
The insulation procedure is as follows: waterproofing tape for PVC windows is glued from the inside around the entire perimeter. The tape must also have vapor-tight properties. A strip of foil is glued to the bottom, which will subsequently appear under the window sill board. They pass along the outside in a similar way. Adhesive strip PSUL (moisture-resistant and vapor-tight). This membrane film can allow steam to pass out.
Installation of windows in accordance with GOST requires mandatory waterproofing of gaps Both mentioned materials are characterized not only by the fact that they are not difficult to find on the construction market. They also differ in accessibility, that is, the final price of the work will not increase that much, but the quality will increase significantly. In addition, the structure mounted in this way will last several years longer.
To fill the gap when installing PVC windows according to GOST, the strips are slightly bent and the surface is wetted from the inside. Apply the composition using a pistol. Foam is used as a filler, intended for use all year round. According to GOST, ordinary foam can also be used, but only at temperatures up to 30 degrees below zero. Considering the conditions in most regions, such seam insulation in Russia turns out to be of little use.
Window sill installation
At the last stage of the work, the window sill is installed. This process is considered quite simple - you just need to adjust the size and, if necessary, trim the finished window sill so that it fits perfectly under the frame. According to GOST 30971, it is allowed for the window sill to extend onto the walls at a distance of 5 to 10 cm. Pegs are used to create a level, after which the cavity under the board is sealed with polyurethane foam or mortar. Experts recommend making a slope of 1-2 degrees towards the room during installation.
When installing a window sill, it is necessary to adjust it to the correct size To decorate the window sill, plastic panels are used, which are attached to the initial profile using a clip. The casing, which wraps around the corner, is secured with self-tapping screws and covered with decorative film on top. All that remains is to put on the end caps and seal the seams with sealant.
Many construction companies interpret GOST and SNiP standards as they wish and can simply ignore them, and there is no need to say again what the consequences of incorrect installation are. There are two ways out: either carefully monitor the installation process and immediately notice violations, or install windows according to GOST on your own.