How to cut a window in a wooden house

Criteria for choosing the window system

The window system consists of several components, each having its own function and importance in its own way.

How to choose the glazing

The glass surface occupies the main volume of the window construction area, so a great part of the heat loss happens through it.

Modern double-glazed windows are characterized by a number of air chambers, filled with inert gas, which has low thermal conductivity. This is the origin of the name: single- or double-chamber.

The double-glazed unit consists of three 0.4 cm thick panes of glass, spaced 1.6 cm apart. That is the indicator 1,6 cm is the width of air chamber.

To strengthen the ability of glass surface to resist the heat loss, the windows can be protected by applying transparent or tinted layers. The shading can be gold, silver, bronze, bottle blue, or green glass.

How to choose the right profile

Inserting windows in a wooden house with their own hands, it is important to take responsibility for the choice of profile. Sashes and window frame are made of metal plastic profile. It, as well as double-glazed window, in its construction has a number of chambers, which directly affects its thickness. The air in the profile chambers has a low thermal conductivity coefficient. chambers. more energy efficiency of the construction. For example, a five-chamber profile with triple glazing, can also perform a sound-insulating function.

Each window construction is equipped with a drip tray to remove the accumulated moisture, as well as a special chamber at the bottom of the profile, which contains silica gel. these are small yellow granules. This substance accumulates in itself excessive condensate that may form on the windows.

To make a wooden wall with a PVC window look harmonious, the profile can be laminated. At the same time the universal white color will also look well on the facade of a wooden house. The profile can be laminated in walnut, cherry, oak or mahogany. these are the most common options. In case of natural wood species lamination, the lining and the window sill are made in the same version, and the sill is of brown color.

How to choose accessories and seals

Fittings are that element of the window system which must not only look nice, but also be durable and reliable. Internal mechanisms of the tilt-and-turn system can withstand multiple loads. That is why they are made of quality and durable material.

The material of the gasket for a plastic window must withstand temperature falls and not decay over time.

Manufacturing of door and window openings

If you decide to save money during construction and pre-cut the door openings, then make them 10 percent narrower, it will be necessary for the final alignment. Dowels in each door and window must be a minimum of two. When further sawing out openings in a solid wall, it should be done in a place without dowels.

How is sawing work done?? To do this, using a plumb line (the accuracy of the oil level will not be enough), draw the verticals of the future door openings. The horizontal mowing line is drawn with a laser level. The final sawing and alignment of the openings is done with a chainsaw. The upper and lower logs are sawed out by halves for convenience of further jamming.

How to cut a window in a wooden house

Wooden houses, baths, saunas and cottages have an important advantage they are completely environmentally friendly, since they are made of natural material. A wooden log house is alive, it breathes, shrinks and grows old, that is, lives its own life. House made of natural wood allows air circulation, cleans it and gives curative properties, thanks to phytoncides and resinous substances of natural solid pine. These same features of buildings made of slightly treated wood create some difficulties. For example, when you need to install windows in the log house and doorways, as well as when finishing sagging walls, but if you follow the technology of installation, all these problems can be solved.

What kind of windows are suitable for wooden walls

The walls of solid houses tend to be in some motion. It is affected by the time of year, seasonal changes, humidity and the environment log swells or shrinks, shrinking. Some common standards for installing windows and doors are acceptable in a log cabin, so a different design of framing notch known as flashing is needed here. It makes it possible to minimize the movement of wooden walls of houses, bathhouses and other residential structures made of logs.

However, not everything is so complicated, since the main shrinkage is the first 3 years under its own weight of the space between the logs is compacted and there is a natural drying of wood. Sometimes in this period the log house sags by 10-15 cm, respectively the window and door opening is reduced. It is therefore logical that for the new construction of a natural wood windows are more suitable wooden windows in the log house, and for older homes with plastic, then they will be less subject to excessive pressure and deformation.

If the house is built more than one year, stage by stage, then even unprepared live wood during this time will settle, and the installation of windows in the log house of wood will not be a problem. As a last resort, you can install temporary frames with a film that prevent the penetration of precipitation in the window opening. And after some time in a wooden log cabin you can put window frames with double glazing to protect against adverse weather factors. It can be both frames from specially prepared dry wood, and from the usual plastic for city dwellers.

Laminated with natural wood modern plastic windows will fit organically into the design of a log cabin, increasing the thermal insulation of the house. The experience of installers from Finland shows that the plastic window in the log house or wooden double-frame without problems inserted into the jamb, and you can combine different materials for the window frames.

What is important to know about the technology of installation

Today, prestigious two-story houses of different types are made of timber. They are built in eco-style according to the traditions of the ancestors and according to the projects of modern architects and designers. and more often offer wooden houses and saunas similar to Finnish, also in vogue are stylizations of country houses in the Russian terem. No less interesting are large homesteads in the Scandinavian style of wood and glass. It does not matter whether it will be a pompous structure or a small cottage with their own hands made of wood, the technology of installation of wooden windows in the log house is about the same.

Of course, wet wood is not very suitable for the construction of the walls of a wooden house. Finns use for export houses only dried and specially prepared wood, and develop special technology for houses, which are quickly assembled. According to the technology, window frames are not placed in the log cabin for at least six months after the assembly of prepared structures, and in the living wood even later. But in this case, too, some shrinkage is taken into account. don’t leave the building without windows.

seasoning time is required for the log house shrinkage and the final formation of wooden walls, and after about a year the log house will be close to the maximum parameters of shrinkage. However, you can not say exactly the technical characteristics of shrinkage (in percentages or millimeters), because it all depends on the type of wood and its degree of humidity.

Today, several options for installing windows in a log cabin have been worked out:

The most reliable method of installing a casing (flashing), where the window is inserted. Whole rectangular solid wood construction, up to 40 mm thick, with the lower slat forming a window sill and the ends of the fastened platband. For a long time, they were made of solid wood, giving the required shape, where the grooves for the window frame are formed. Nowadays trimmers are much more technologically advanced and look more aesthetically pleasing. Prefabricated structure trim rather expensive, so often use a more accessible technology of the installation of windows in the cabin, that is attached to the skull bars.

There is another option is to fix the window frame directly to the bar with special fasteners. Simple methods are used most often in log cabins of bathhouses and saunas, and in residential buildings more complex and reliable. Using a construction level, the window frame is aligned with the observance of distances and foamed with a sealant. However, the method of installation with sealing in the new walls of houses is not used. Foam is recommended to use to seal the bottom of the frame and window sill this plane is less susceptible to deformation during the shrinkage of the wooden window in the log house.

Often, special (skull) strips are used, which are inserted in slots and which can be freely moved at the ends of the window opening. This prevents shrinkage from sticking without creating gaps. Skull slats are able to slide into the grooves, thanks to the design, so the window will not be under pressure during shrinkage. The difference in the method is the attachment of the skirtboard to the skirtboard, and not in the opening directly.

Tip: Remember that even after the initial shrinkage of the log cabin, the sealing of the wooden walls will continue for some time. In climates with a high level of humidity and heavy rainfall, the frame of the log cabin will continue to absorb water, increasing the volume of the cabin. During hot and dry summers, the wood gives up moisture, giving substantial shrinkage. That is, the natural changes in the size of a log cabin, for example, from pine will be visible up to 5 cm, but even this figure varies depending on the time of logging. Installation of windows by special technology reduces the likelihood of warping, displacement of the base and the jamming of sashes and reduce heat loss.

Basic Conditions for the Use of Skirtings

Skirtings enables you to prepare the installation of the window in a formed box that minimizes the pressure of the log window frame through the natural process of drying wood.

Properly made a log cabin flashing prevents warping in the form of the consequences of shrinkage.

There must be a small gap above the frame, about 50 mm, and it must be insulated together with the side gaps.

Simplified framing can be made of smaller boards of about 20 mm thickness, where the forming linings will be attached, and the bottom board forms the window sill.

A flashing is fastened to the skirting beam with self-drilling screws, and the gap is insulated under the architraves.

Framing from the outside looks quite compact and neat, and you can put another frame inside.

The correct use of fitting technology enables to counteract the loss of window seal.

Fixing external trim allows the use of synthetic seals, including rubber, to exclude the penetration of moisture into the window space.

Cutting, Framing and Installing a Giant Window in a Blank Wall!

If you have difficulties and questions how to install windows in a log house, it is recommended to contact experts.

Main problems when installing doors and windows in a log cabin

According to the experience of installation of houses made of natural wood, even a structure made of specially prepared and well dried material in the first year will give up to 5 cm of shrinkage. In steady rainy weather, the house will swell again. Live or not dried wood with a high percentage of moisture gives a year much larger amplitude.

Installation of windows or doors in a wooden log house is technologically simple, and specialists have no problems. However, difficulties and problems with unprofessional approach arise much later, when the windows in the bath or in the house begin to warp because of the pressure of the natural drying of wood. In other words it is much worse when problems occur during the operation of the building.

Increased humidity can cause window or sash windows not to open due to wood swelling with increased pressure from shrinking logs. Sometimes it is enough to whittle a little adjoining planes of sashes, and worse, if the window can not be opened for the entire operation period. It is important to have a small gap in the trim or the right sliding design to avoid such troubles.

Tip: It is important to use dry and quality timber, preferably softwood. Before sawing the window openings, it is important to strengthen the boards on its sides so they do not separate.

Instructions for window opening processing

To perform the work you will need a chain saw, nails, studs, timber, edged board, angle, plumb and assembly foam.

The contours of the window (door) opening are marked on the log cabin wall, using 4 planks. It is important to correctly mark the bottom of the window about 80 cm from the floor.

Boards are selected slightly larger than the height of the opening for fixing the studs with washers.

Make holes in the corners of the planned opening in the uncut rims, similarly in the fixing boards.

Mark the vertical level and fix the boards to it, which are connected to the logs by means of studs and tighten the boards.

Put metal washers under the nuts to prevent the nuts cutting into the boards, and fix the boards on both sides of the marking.

Then we can proceed directly to the process of sawing the opening with a chainsaw, starting from the upper log. You can also use another tool.

Proceed to process the sawn logs and fasten the edges together with lintels.

We form a window frame from the lintels and jambs in pairs, and form outside grooves to match the size of the studs.

Start to make a window frame by mounting the jambs, nailing the lintels together with the timbers.

To check the right angles, use the square, which can be formed before the final fixing of the block.

Tip: To dispel doubts, it is advisable to view a video on installing jamb, and only then proceed to the installation.

Step by step installation of windows

Today there are a few ways to install window frames in the log house, but we’ll consider the simplest example.

First, you need to visually imagine in a cut, as it looks like a window in the log house scheme for installing windows in the log house is shown in the figure below.

This casing box with grooves, the gap under the shrinkage with a sealant, outer and inner platband, the stud with a sealant, the window with the sill, the bottom interventional sealant.

Jambshell is made after the formation of the opening:

• Prepare a bar 150×40 for the top of the window opening, it should be the width of the opening, on both ends saw on 2 rectangular notches under the previously formed ridge;
• Install the board on top of the lap board, secured with self-tapping screws;
• Make an opening 3-5 cm larger than the inserted window height for filling with sealant or foaming from below;
• The gap between the log and the flashing board in the window opening should be about 5 cm (for shrinkage), which is filled with insulation;
• when a window is inserted and fixed, on the jamb are attached casing, so that the design had an aesthetic appearance;
• Do not forget to check before installing the trim and the final installation both vertical bevels of the window frame on the plumb line and horizontal level, because later it will be impossible to correct;
• It is necessary to impregnate all wooden surfaces with antiseptic to counteract the destruction of wood.

Process of installation of plastic windows in a log cabin

The step-by-step process of installing PVC windows looks about the same as in the example with natural wood:

The optimal distance of the window sill from the floor 80-90 cm, and if the design in the interior is planned to use the sill in the form of a countertop, for example in the kitchen or in a teenager’s room, its design and installation is better to think through in advance.

Tip: Remember that wooden frames are also subject to partial shrinkage, and PVC windows have a rigid and stable base they cannot be put in a fresh log house, and a flashing must be used. It will give an opportunity to keep sufficient autonomy glazing from the log house, so the installation on the foam and without joints in this case is unacceptable!

A simple design at the end of the opening a 50×50 mm groove is formed for a timber (not suitable for PVC windows).

reliable variant, when in the end logs on the window openings a ridge is formed, on which subsequently put the bed with the groove, otherwise known as the carriage, and here during shrinkage will be provided by movement on the rails without deformations. It is a construction from a bar of 100×150 mm which exceeds the size of a window on 5-6 cm, in the center of which the groove 50×50 mm is chosen, the lath is fastened to the ridge.

Further we assemble a jamb from a board 150×40 as described above, accordingly saw grooves in it that are dressed on the ridge is the top of the opening, where we put a PVC-window. Be sure to cover the slats with hemp (in rolls) and secure the battens, and secure the upper slat of the jamb with self-tapping screws to the battens.

After the alignment of right angles, vertical and horizontal mowing line in the openings, framing, proceed to the installation of plastic windows. Monitor the quality of fasteners and tightness so as not to compromise the thermal insulation of windows in the log cabin. All steps do according to the instructions that came with PVC-windows. When buying plastic windows, pay attention to the fasteners that mount in the end. The frame is exposed to a level and mounted with fasteners to a jamb, do not forget about a place for an assembly foam under a window sill. It remains to hang the sashes and install the flashing.

Advice: Pay attention how the window is screwed to the boarding in no case to the ridge, otherwise the meaning of movable mount window to counteract shrinkage is lost.

Structural changes as serious as eliminating an existing window opening must be seriously motivated. over, they are in most cases accompanied by considerable financial costs. In practice, the decision to caulk the window in a wooden house is usually made in the following cases:

• major renovation or reconstruction is planned due to change of owner or unsatisfactory technical condition of the building;
• there are high heat losses through the window openings, which was the reason of the owner’s decision to reduce the area of glazing;
• the layout of the building is changed, as a result of which one or more existing windows are no longer needed;
• mistakes were made during construction, and in order to correct them it is more economically feasible and profitable to put a timber frame window in a wooden house than to change the trim and installed windows with new PVC constructions.

The last of the above examples is difficult to meet in real life, as the production of work that allows you to lay a window in a structure from a log or beam, not only requires serious financial costs, but also a lot of labor. In addition, their competent performance imposes high requirements for technological elaboration of the issue. over, this solution leads to a change in the appearance of the facade of the building, which may also lead to the need for additional decoration of the house.

Average bill of quantities

Many companies on the market offer both the installation of window units in wooden exterior walls, and finishing the inner edge of the opening. Taking into consideration high level of competition between these companies, with the same quality, the price level does not differ much. Rates depend on the following criteria:

• Type of material.
• Number of production operations for the interior and exterior finishing of the opening.
• Number of windows to be finished within a single order.
• The complexity of the device selected decor elements.
• The total area of the surfaces to be decorated.
• Remoteness of the object from the city.
• Availability of official contract.
• Order payment form.
• The necessity of GOST requirements.
• The need to use their own tools and supplies.
• Other external and internal factors that may affect final price correction.

Thus, each property owner can order the service for the finishing of the opening at the following cost:

• Caulking slots. from 50 to 150 / n. м.
• Framing the inner perimeter of the premises. from 150. 200. м.
• Installation of trim. from 500 /pc. for a standard window with dimensions not more than 2100 x 2100 mm.
• Frames painting. from 50. м.
• Sealing of joints. from 50. м.
• Complex finishing wooden windows on both sides. with dimensions of 900 x 900 to 1500 x 1500 mm. from 1500 / pc.
• Complex finishing of wooden windows on both sides. with dimensions from 1800 x 1800 mm. from 2000 /p.

When finishing more than 10 windows at one address, the company gives great discounts to potential customers. The average amount of bonuses is 5%. 15%.

The above may be adjusted depending on the complexity of the order, the distance from the city and the details of the estimates of a particular company.

Here’s what the window trim options look like in a wooden house:

Requirements for installation in a log cabin

At the initial measurement take into account the peculiarities of the material of which the house is built. Wood has a tendency to shrink and expand from the moisture regime, which varies with the season. Therefore, with attention to the rules of installation.

How to fit correctly? When doing the work, you must first take measurements. Take measurements taking into account the width and height of the opening. Take into account the available depth, which is also affected by the presence or absence of finishes, both inside and outside the room.

Pay attention. It is necessary to take into account the last point. It is desirable to fully complete the finishing work on the side of the rooms and facade. Only in this case a full-fledged installation in a window opening is carried out.

In the manufacture and installation of windows should take into account the requirements of GOST 30971-2002:

• The glazing unit should be less than the window opening by several centimeters.
• It is not allowed to use assembly foam, and instead of it are used mechanical fasteners.
• The margin of error may not exceed 1.5 mm per 1 meter of the window structure length.
• The installation joint from the outside must create a good waterproofing.

The next step is to choose plastic or wooden windows. Particular attention is paid to the choice of fittings, which must be of high quality. Preference is given to German products.

High-quality jambs. reliable protection against deformation of buildings

Framing is a protective wooden construction that prevents the deformation of windows, doors during the shrinkage of the house, bath and any other wooden structures. Another name is the house trim. This is a must for frame houses, from a fresh log house. If you do not install trim, then soon it will threaten the violation of the correct geometry of window or door openings. So you should not save on this stage of construction.

Kinds of flashing (flashing)

In order that the window moves freely in the process of shrinkage in the ends of the logs of the window opening you can make a rectangular 50×50 slot in which to insert the bars, and the bars to fix the window.

This is a fairly simple method which is ideal for wooden windows. They are fixed to the bars with nails or assembly foam. But this method will not work with plastic windows.

Plastic windows are better installed in a special molding representing a bar 150h100 with selected in it on the length of the groove 50h50, which is mounted on the ridge, formed at the ends of the logs of the window opening. Ridge is a rectangular protrusion 50×50, that is just the size of the groove.

What such a ridge looks like is shown in the picture below:

Why a flashing for a plastic window in a log house??

To get quality PVC windows in a wooden house, you must carefully observe the peculiarities of the installation, ie, to produce mounting to a special frame (base). The need for such a construction is due to the peculiarities of structures made of wood. Unlike a building made of stone (concrete or brick), a wooden panel house is unstable over a long period of time.

The building will sit in the first five years after its construction. In this case, the drying of the walls to 6 cm. This important nuance must be considered when installing a plastic window in a frame house. It is clear that you can not just insert a plastic window in a wooden house, you must create a design for the opening, which is called mantling, also say. jambskin. Its direct purpose is to prevent the shrinkage of the walls on the frame, so the jamb:

A jamb looks like a box made of thick boards. Fasten the structure to the groove in the side post, no fasteners are used. Above the jamb there is a shrinkage compensation gap for a wooden house. There are several options for its installation:

• A groove is cut in the log, into which the joist is placed. In the last element of the embedded bar screwed self-tapping screws;
• in the posts on the sides of the structure cut a groove, from the end of the log in the opening saw a spike;
• A groove is made in the end of the logs, and a cleat is placed on the side posts of the box.

To get a high-quality construction, it is necessary to follow the technology of installation of plastic windows in a wooden house. To begin with, the log combs are encased with insulation and fastened with staples or small nails. This step is necessary to insulate the house and eliminate squeaks. Then mount the bottom crossbar of the jamb, and on the combs are nailed lafety (side posts of the jamb), in the upper groove of the posts laid the top lintel. Once the box is assembled, carefully join it with self-tapping screws, it’s important that they don’t hit the logs.

Gaps that are visible in the opening after installing the flashing should be filled with hemp or insulation. Then the standard installation of plastic windows in a frame house or log cabin takes place.

The compensatory gap is filled in with flat pieces of wood, wrapped with gauze beforehand. As the wall shrinks, they gradually get knocked out. To do this, remove the top platband and, by knocking out the plank, put it back.