Platbands for windows in a wooden house: additional decoration of the facade

Platbands are a traditional decoration for windows outside the house.

Advantages and disadvantages of platbands

Before you start making carved frames for windows in a wooden house, you should consider their advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects of this element of home decoration include the following:

• with its help, you can visually change the size of the window opening, for example, expand or narrow it. This is very convenient in cases where the window in your house does not look exactly the way you would like it. The element also affects the appearance of the entire facade of the house;
• emphasizes the original style of the building, and also allows you to combine all the buildings on the site into one architectural ensemble. If we make the patterns on the window frames of all buildings the same, then this will create the impression of a holistic composition;

Wooden house is decorated with beautiful window designs

• protects gaps between the window and the wall from moisture and dust. Increases the level of thermal insulation and reduces the noise level from the street;
• is the only best option for exterior decoration of wooden windows. Any other design option for a window opening in a wooden house will look simply inappropriate.

Installing platbands on windows in wooden houses can also have a number of disadvantages:

• the product is very dependent on external conditions, especially if wood is used for manufacturing. Wooden decorative elements can crack from frequent temperature changes, swell from high humidity and burn out in the sun. To prevent this from happening, wood must be treated with special compounds that extend the life of the product;

Windows with shutters and discreet but pretty trims

• the need for regular care and treatment. The element will have to be constantly opened with varnishes and paints, otherwise it will quickly lose its attractive appearance and will only spoil the facade of your house;
• inappropriate installation on modern plastic windows.For PVC windows, wood trims may look alien, therefore it is recommended to install them on classic wooden frames.

Helpful advice! If you nevertheless decided to install an element with a plastic double-glazed window, then you should paint the frame under a tree, or paint the platband white.

Window trims define the style of the entire home

DIY carved window frames templates

The type and design features of the platband largely depend on how this element will be attached to the window. There are two main types of fastening:

1. Overhead - mounted on a window frame using nails, screws or construction glue.
2. Telescopic - have special L-shaped protrusions that fit into the grooves of the window or door frame. This type of thicket is used for door framingrather than windows, and is more difficult to manufacture.

Pattern of carved window frames

Also, platbands can be flat and standard, and the most attractive option from the point of view of appearance is carved platbands on the window. Life-size stencils can be easily found on the Internet. The carved version is usually made using specialized equipment.

As for the material for the manufacture of this design element, it can be wood of various species, plastic, polyurethane, metal or laminated MDF. The first option is considered classic and is most often used for decorating wooden buildings. Its advantages include the original appearance and style, and its disadvantages include greater dependence on external conditions.

Sketches of carved wooden window frames

The expediency of using plastic trims on windows is due to the fact that, unlike wood, plastic does not swell from water, tolerates temperature changes and does not lose its attractive appearance as a result of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

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Do-it-yourself slopes on installed plastic windows: video and installation instructions. Comparative characteristics of various options for finishing window blocks, installation of drywall.

Disadvantages - not so authentic appearance and violation of the general stylistic concept wooden house... However, this can be corrected by decorating the plastic under a tree. Photos of plastic window trims, stylized as wood, confirm the demand for such a solution.

Platbands made of laminated MDF visually do not differ from wooden

MDF platbands are a borderline option between wood and plastic products. They are made from wood waste, so they can boast of being more environmentally friendly than plastic. They are also more resistant to moisture, ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes than natural wood. In the photo, window frames made of laminated MDF are indistinguishable from wooden ones.

Products made of polyurethane compare favorably with other types in that they are unpretentious in operation. You can buy a frame for a window in a wooden house made of polyurethane, install it and forget about its existence for a long time.

Unusual trims for the attic window

Metal platbands are good if you need to protect the assembly seam from the outside or inside of a door or window. The metal product is connected to the profile box into a single structure.

Wood selection

If you decide to stay on the classic wooden version, then it is worth considering that the main operational characteristics platbands depend on the type of wood from which they are made. There are the following options for carved window frames in a wooden house:

• from hard hardwood - beech, ash, oak.These types of wood are characterized by durability and strength, however, it is quite difficult to cut a pattern on hard breeds without special equipment, it takes a lot of time and effort;

The choice of patterns for platbands is quite varied, which allows you to choose the most suitable option

• from soft hardwoods - alder, linden, aspen. Such materials are much easier to process, and you can even cut patterns on them by hand. On the other hand, such wood very easily absorbs moisture and becomes unusable under the influence of external unfavorable factors, therefore it needs special processing and impregnation;
• conifers and deciduous species - birch, pine. They have good performance characteristics, while being quite easy to process;
• from apple or cherry - these types of wood are good for making individual decorative elements that are attached to the top of the main structure.

The most common material for the manufacture of platbands is wood.

Helpful advice! The combination of several types of wood can give an interesting result from a decorative point of view, but do not forget about the practical side of the issue. Try not to use both soft and hard grades at the same time, use impregnations and coatings.

The nuances of making platbands for windows in a wooden house: photos and tips

There are a number of general points that you should pay attention to when making platbands:

• Consider the color scheme of the walls of your home when painting decorative items. This does not mean that the color of the wall and platbands should be the same, but there should be no obvious contrast. In the first case, the element will simply merge with the wall, and in the second, it will violate the integrity of the appearance. You can see the best options for color combinations on numerous photos of window frames on the Internet;
• the size of the platbands is very important. They should not be too large or too small, since an overly large element will obscure the window, and a small one will be lost against its background. The best option for the standard size of the window opening is 3-4 cm wide;

Platbands for windows can be made by hand

• the quality of the coating with which the element is processed is very important. To do this, you need to use special varnishes and paints intended for external work. Be sure to take into account the climatic characteristics of your region and choose a coating that will withstand all natural influences. And if a special fireproof impregnation is provided for your wooden house, then the platbands should undergo the same processing;
• for the manufacture of external carved platbands, you must create a template. You can do this by focusing only on your imagination or download one of the many options on the Internet.

Carved platbands on plastic windows of a wooden house

Platbands for windows in a wooden house: step-by-step instructions for manufacturing

As already mentioned, before you start creating decorative elements for the window with your own hands, you need to make a template or stencil. It should be the same for all windows to give the whole house a consistent style. If you are new to wood carving, then it is recommended to use variants of patterns containing large elements that will be easy to carve. In addition, it should be borne in mind that there are two main ways to create threads:

1. Slotted thread - a through pattern that makes the decorative element look like the original wood lace. Quite difficult to manufacture, but it looks very original.
2. Applied thread - the elements of the picture are created separately, and then attached to the main board. This option is easier and better suited for beginners.

Do-it-yourself platbands on windows, step 1: preparing wood and the necessary tools for work

When making do-it-yourself window frames according to a template, stencils are recommended to be used regardless of the selected type of thread. In this case, the elements of the pattern must be placed along the grain of the wood, so the thread will be insured against premature cracking.

For your own creation of frames for windows in a wooden house using a template, you will need the following tools:

• hacksaw for wood;
• a set of special knives and various types of chisels;
• sanding or sanding paper;
• manual or electric jigsaw;
• drill;
• milling machine.

Do-it-yourself platbands on windows, step 2: applying a pattern to the front wooden surface with a simple pencil

Photos of hand-made carved platbands on windows in a wooden house show that with certain skills and special tools, you can create a pattern of almost any complexity. The work itself is performed in this order:

• measurements are taken. For a window in a private house, the standard dimensions have fairly floating values, so you need to make accurate measurements of the height and width of the opening;
• boards are selected from the wood of your choice. The lumber must be dry, otherwise the deformation of the pattern and the rapid loss of the attractiveness of the appearance by the platbands is possible. The width of the board is selected depending on the size of the window opening, but the thickness should be at least 30 mm if you plan to make a slotted thread, and at least 10 mm for the invoice;
• according to sketches (pictures, templates) of wooden carved platbands, blanks are cut out on the windows. This is best done with specialized carpentry tools;

Do-it-yourself platbands on windows, step 3: after applying the pattern, you can start cutting with a router and a special cutters for wood

• from the seamy side of the casing, it is necessary to select wood to a depth of about 1-2 mm. Thus, you will ensure a tighter fit of the element to the surface;
• the pattern, which is applied to the board according to the template, is cut out using a jigsaw and drills of various diameters;
• all holes and slots are processed using sanding paper, after which wood dust and shavings must be removed from the holes. This is done so that fine dust does not interfere with further processing of the product;
• casing elements are attached to its wide base. This can be done with nails without heads or with a special construction glue for wood.

Helpful advice! It is not recommended to use self-tapping screws for fastening, this can damage the joint, and also accelerate the cracking of the structure.

Do-it-yourself platbands on windows, step 4: the finished platband can be tinted with a stain or immediately covered with weather-resistant varnish

Installation of platbands on the window

There are two common ways to attach a finished product to a window. The first of these is the installation on a blind spike. Such spikes are installed on the inside of the element, and special holes are drilled in the frame for them. Then you need to apply a little wood glue to the thorn and insert it into the groove. This type of fastening is good in that it protects the installation site of the platband from moisture and dust, and also does not spoil the appearance of the element.

The second installation option is a through spike. It is simpler, but less reliable, since water can get into the attachment point, which will damage the casing. Therefore, the place of entry of the thorn must be carefully painted over or varnished.

To fix the platbands on the windows, use special high-strength glue or liquid nails so as not to violate the integrity of the profile

Both of these options make sense when the platband is installed on a wooden window. If we are talking about plastic double-glazed windows, then it is necessary to use liquid nails that will not violate the integrity of the frame.The installation process is not affected by the standard window dimensions for a private house or the original shape of the window opening.

Platband care

It doesn't matter if you are going to buy carved frames for a window in a wooden house, or make them yourself, such a product always requires special care and processing. If we are talking about the classic version of wood, then the wood should be processed using special compounds that will protect it from cracking, wood parasites, fire and other negative influences.

Regular care of window trims will ensure their beautiful appearance for a long time.

Remember that processing should be repeated every few years, so you will not only significantly extend the life of the product, but also maintain its attractive appearance for a long time.

If you have plastic, metal or polyurethane platbands installed, then they do not need special care, the main thing is to update the paint in a timely manner and make sure that the decorative elements do not suffer from corrosion.