Plastic windows have been able to win the hearts of millions of buyers around the world. However, it would be a stretch to classify them as budget solutions. A more affordable option would be wooden window frames. Special machines will cope with the production of frames faster, but if we are talking about the desire to create something with your own hands, then this material will definitely come in handy. In addition, wooden windows with double-glazed windows will be the best option for a country house or cottage, where the requirements for external gloss are much lower. So, how to make a window with your own hands?
Design Features
Even a professional is unlikely to be able to make a window that is not inferior in quality to products on sale. The reason is simple: the design of a wooden window must be made as accurately as possible, including the frame and frame - a deviation of a few millimeters can lead to significant problems with thermal insulation. Despite this, many people are quite capable of creating a simpler design.
Homemade window block made of wood
Wooden windows, which are produced in factories today, are almost identical to plastic ones, with the only exception being the material used. They are distinguished by a rather complex design, due to the possibility of opening the valves in two planes. If you start making the frame yourself, then it is better to simplify the design by replacing all the engineering delights with an ordinary rectangle made of bars .
The frame manufacturing process is carried out in several stages:
- selection of profile, procurement of materials;
- frame manufacturing;
- installation and glazing of a window block.
Selecting a profile
First of all, you should find out whether you plan to use ordinary sheet glass or double-glazed windows in future wooden frames. Each option has its own advantages: in the first case it is low cost and the possibility of cutting it yourself, in the second case it is lower thermal conductivity.
The thermal conductivity of a classic window is greater than that of a double-glazed window
One of the features of double-glazed windows is a special inert gas, which the manufacturer pumps between the individual sheets. Over time, its concentration may decrease. Do not be alarmed in advance - heat loss through the window, if it increases, will be minimal, it will practically not be noticeable.
There is also a special hybrid version - the so-called Finnish Eurowindow (or Scandinavian). It includes sheet glass and 2- or 3-chamber double-glazed windows. This approach will allow you to achieve high thermal insulation.
Finnish windows have the highest thermal insulation properties
The simplest and at the same time reliable and popular solution today is the option with a pair of glasses, between which there is an air gap of 2 cm or more in width . Another option is to make your own wooden windows with single glazing and double frame.
Installation of hinges, handles and fittings
Window fittings are a set of mechanisms that allow the window opening to operate correctly and control the functionality of the glass unit. There are several types of hinges that can be installed on a wooden window. Which one to choose depends on the characteristics of the window frame.
Hinges are classified according to the method and direction of opening, as well as the material from which they are made. They are:
- with left and right opening direction;
- lower and upper;
- rotary-vertical and horizontal, folding;
- plastic, metal and wood.
Hinges made of plastic and wood are installed on lightweight small structures. For heavier models, metal ones are used. To install the hinges, a hole is drilled at the bottom and top of the window frame and in the sash. The hinges are mounted on the frame, aligned along the axis and secured. The window sash is placed on ready-made hinges. When making a wooden profile for windows with your own hands, holes are made in the frame to install the handle. The product is inserted into it and screwed.
Material selection
Most often, pine is used to make a wooden frame. It is practical, easy to process and inexpensive material. As an alternative, you can use oak, but for the first experiments it will be too expensive.
As a rule, pine is used to make window blocks.
Whatever material is chosen, the timber must be thoroughly dried, there should be no flaws on its surface: knots, cracks or other damage - it is impossible to make windows from low-quality material.
What are wooden windows made of?
From solid wood: made from different types of trees. They have decorative value, but are not durable, as they can dry out, become deformed, etc., etc. Requires constant care.
From laminated veneer lumber: made from thin slices of solid wood, glued together, in quantities of two to four pieces: depending on the type, design and dimensions of the window. More durable and reliable.
Frame making
The main nuance of making wooden frames is maintaining the shape and geometry during assembly - pre-prepared drawings will help with this . The beam for work is selected based on the planned thickness of the glass. The minimum section size is 60x40 mm. An electric planer or milling cutter is used to create grooves. Experts recommend that beginners practice on small pieces before starting work - making a vertical or horizontal cut.
Typical drawing for the manufacture of a window frame with dimensions
Before starting work, all measurements should be taken carefully. If there is such a possibility, it is better to delegate this work to professionals - a deviation of a millimeter can lead to undesirable consequences; in this case, making a wooden window will not work. The ends are filed at an angle of 45 degrees.
The elements of a wooden double-glazed window are assembled with your own hands using wood glue. To give additional strength, holes are made at the corners into which wooden rods, also coated with glue, are inserted. For additional reinforcement, a groove is knocked out on the connecting elements using a milling cutter, into which the key is installed. As a result, the structure should become motionless so that the homemade binding is almost monolithic.
Types of corner connections
As an alternative, you can use a tongue-and-groove connection. However, working with it can be much more labor-intensive, as it requires very high precision. Therefore, most often when making windows from wood, the option described above is used. After this, window manufacturing proceeds to the final stage.
Wood species used in production
Wood species (from left to right): oak, larch, pine.
The following wood is most often used as a material:
- Pine. A common inexpensive coniferous species, it is widely used in construction and has all the necessary qualities for use in the manufacture of window structures. Pine is resistant to moisture, quite durable with appropriate processing, and is also the most accessible and easy to process. Considering the price of wooden windows, only the highest quality materials are used in their production. That is, there are no knots, resin pockets and natural defects in it, in addition, only fine-grained wood that does not contain a core is suitable for the manufacture of Euro-windows.
- Oak. Strong, hard and very durable material (100 years or more), with beautiful texture and color. The main disadvantage is the high cost due to its rarity, labor-intensive preparation and processing difficulties. The high specific weight of oak imposes a number of restrictions on the size of the opening doors, since not every fitting is able to withstand the loads that will arise later. Exposure to direct sunlight can also negatively affect oak (discoloration, cracking). Therefore, in window structures, it is either covered from the street with aluminum overlays, or in the process of gluing the timber, external slats from a different species (pine, larch) are used, which also has a positive effect on the price.
- Larch. Perhaps the most popular breed at the moment, as it combines a number of advantages of the options mentioned above. It is resistant to atmospheric influences, not as strong as oak, but still significantly stronger than pine, durable, resistant to putrefactive formations and fungus. All possible defects (deformations, delaminations) on larch appear at the preparation stage, which allows you to select a better quality material. Of the minuses, it is worth mentioning its significant mass, comparable to oak.
Frame installation
Do-it-yourself installation of a wooden frame is done in a pre-prepared hole in the wall. The opening should first be prepared: level it, remove all dirt and construction debris. Holes are prepared in the walls for dowels in increments of up to 80 cm. The box is fastened with self-tapping screws, and subsequently the cracks are sealed with polyurethane foam or other heat-insulating materials.
Installing a box in a window opening
In the process, it is very important to observe the geometry of wooden windows: angles of 90 degrees, deviation in evenness of no more than 1 mm per 1 m, difference in diagonals up to 10 mm.
Glazing
This is followed by placement of double-glazed windows in wooden frames. The main nuance is the exact choice of sizes, because... The design of a wooden window does not allow deviations. A deviation of a millimeter will create so-called cold bridges, which lead to extremely negative consequences . You should also not neglect safety precautions - you must wear gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes.
During glazing, it is necessary to ensure the tightness of the connection between the glass and the frame.
Traditionally, a diamond glass cutter is used for cutting; polishing is done with fine-grain sandpaper. The technique itself is simple - measure the required size, apply a ruler along a straight line and draw along it with a glass cutter. After cutting, you should check whether the glass fits and, if so, all that remains is to install it in the frame, not forgetting about the sealant. The glass is secured to the frame using a bead - when making wooden windows with double-glazed windows, you should take care of it in advance.
Windowsill
One of the stages of installing wooden windows with double-glazed windows is working with the window sill. The material for it can be anything.
Window sill installation
Installation of the window sill is carried out in the following sequence:
- The desired shape should be cut from a purchased window sill.
- The window sill must be partially placed under the frame; in the lower part, fixation is carried out using wooden wedges.
- The empty space below is filled with foam. Subsequently, the protruding excess is removed with a knife.
Impregnation with antiseptic, varnish and painting
External factors such as dampness, insects and sunlight greatly affect wooden windows. To increase their service life, windows are treated with sealant, varnished or painted. Processing consists of 4 stages:
- Before painting, a wooden window must be soaked with an antiseptic. It will protect the wood from fungus.
- When the window is dry, it is sanded with abrasives.
- After sanding, the window is coated with a water-based primer.
- Colored varnish or paint is applied to the primer. If the coating is translucent, then the wood is varnished. If the coating is covering, then paint.
To make a wooden window, you need to become familiar with the manufacturing technology of structures and prepare all the necessary tools for the job. In this way, you can independently assemble a window structure and glaze your country house or cottage. If it doesn’t work out, or the upcoming task seems too difficult, then it makes sense to trust the professionals and buy ready-made windows with installation, for example, from Dentro windows[/anchor].
Find out the cost of double-glazed windows in Moscow. (Only for residents of Moscow and the Moscow region), send a request to calculate the cost:
Painting
Painting wooden windows yourself is not particularly difficult. However, you need to remember the following nuances:
- If this has not been done before assembly, the binding, ready for painting, should be treated with an antiseptic. Particular attention should be paid to the ends, since it is through them that the pest most often penetrates the tree.
- Before painting, the surface must be primed. This is done for two purposes at once: firstly, the primer will help reduce paint consumption, and secondly, it will play the role of an antiseptic, increasing the service life of the window.
- It is recommended to paint with a brush; the procedure is carried out in several layers.
- For the outside, it is recommended to use a special paint for outdoor use, but for the indoor side, you can use any paint.
The frame is painted with a brush in 2-3 layers.
At this point, the production of a wooden frame for windows can be considered complete.
Preparatory stage
Any construction work consists of a preparatory, main and final stage. When making a window, the preparatory stage includes the selection of carpentry tools and optimal raw materials. In addition, it is necessary to make a detailed drawing, which shows not only the general dimensions of the frame, but also the dimensions of all components.
Required Tools
To work you will need the following tools:
- hammer;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- glass cutter;
- chisel;
- milling machine;
- grinding machine;
- saw.
The list is not exhaustive. If you want to save as much as possible, you will also need a circular saw. In this case, you can buy any wooden canvas and cut it into the required pieces yourself.
Necessary materials
Wooden window frames are mostly made from dry or laminated wood, but in some cases new plywood sheets can be used as a raw material.
Plywood is the cheapest and lowest quality option. Suitable for indoor windows only. Even well-treated with protective impregnations, plywood quickly picks up moisture and begins to crumble.
A solid wooden beam is a good and relatively inexpensive solution. The disadvantage is that such a board can move, which will lead to a change in geometry. In addition, you need to pay attention to ensure that there are no cracks or knots.
Laminated wood is an excellent choice for making a frame. Firstly, it is light in weight, but at the same time quite durable due to its multi-layer nature. Secondly, this type of wood is not susceptible to sedimentary influences and deformations.
It is recommended to use 5x5 cm timber for the frame.
In addition, you will need:
- wooden glazing beads;
- PVA glue;
- wood screws.
It is advisable to stock up on putty, stain or antibacterial impregnation in advance.
Results
As you can see, it is quite possible to make a wooden window with your own hands. Of course, in terms of quality it will be inferior to factory models, but the difference in price is also quite significant. In order to cope with everything yourself, you will need not only to thoroughly study the technology, but also stock up on suitable materials and tools. If everything is done correctly, the result will definitely delight you and your loved ones with both beauty and warmth, which wooden double-glazed windows and frames will help preserve in the house.
