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The tide is an important part of the window. Thanks to this not very expensive part, water does not get inside the wall. That is, the ebb on the window prolongs the life of buildings, eliminates the occurrence of damp spots, mold and the whole range of problems associated with high humidity of the walls. Installation of ebbs on windows is not subject to any strict requirements or standards. There are no GOSTs regulating this procedure. But there is experience accumulated over the years, which must be able to apply in each of the cases.
Types of ebbs for windows
An ebb is installed on any windows from the outside – this is a special board mounted at the bottom of the window opening. It is needed so that rain or melt water flows down it. This is probably why this part is sometimes called a drainage system.
Window sills can be:
- Plastic.
- metal;
- galvanized steel, coated:
- polyester;
- plastisol;
- metal paint.
- copper;
- powder coated aluminium.
- galvanized steel, coated:
- Concrete.
- Stone (granite, marble).
- From facade tiles.
Currently, external concrete ebbs are almost never made. Or rather, they are made, but on top they are still covered with either plastic or metal. Concrete slopes can, of course, be whitewashed, and this was once done. But today this type of window decoration is very rare.
If we talk about the exotic, we can recall the stone tides. They are made from polished granite or marble. They look, of course, excellent, they do not make noise, they can only be broken with a sledgehammer. But their cost is not for every wallet.
There is another interesting type of external tides on windows – from facade tiles. It works great with any window – both wooden and plastic. If your basement or the whole house is finished with similar tiles, it will look very “in theme” on the windows. At the same time, the house looks like a single ensemble. Such slopes are made extremely simply: the tile is cut so that it protrudes 1 cm beyond the wall, the desired slope is formed using a cement-sand mortar. The seams can be rubbed with cement milk, or you can use hydrophobic impregnation. But it is better to mount such slopes before the exterior wall decoration.
Although window slopes come in different materials, the vast majority of homeowners settle on two: plastic or metal. Each of them has its pros and cons, and we’ll talk about them in more detail, as well as how to install ebbs on windows.
Plastic: good or bad?
Plastic ebbs on windows are considered the most “quiet”. When rain drops fall on them, there is almost no sound. And they are also considered inexpensive, which is important if the budget is limited. Only unpainted galvanization is cheaper, but after several years of operation, its appearance is not very attractive, the paint does not hold very well.
What are the disadvantages of plastic moldings? The fact that plastic loses its elasticity under the action of ultraviolet radiation, becomes brittle, and can crack under load. And, even if there are no serious cracks, there are always microcracks. They form over time, dust clogs in them. After a couple of years, the once snow-white plastic becomes grayish or has a yellow tint. Nothing can wash it off. If installing window tides every five to ten years doesn’t scare you, you can use them.
The following disadvantages of plastic ebbs are flammability and significant thermal expansion. Plastic melts at high temperatures. If a cigarette butt gets on it, a hole will be provided. It doesn’t happen that often, but it’s possible.
Thermal expansion is manifested if the installation of ebbs on the windows is made rigidly – the bar is fixed with self-tapping screws. Then, in hot weather, he “goes in waves”, bends. After that, it usually goes back to normal. In order not to worry about thermal expansion, in the edge of the ebb, for which it will be attached, oblong, not round holes should first be made. When tightening the screws, do not press the plastic too hard. Then, when changing the size, the plastic tide will not “lead”.
The second point is to leave a thermal gap on the sides, which is filled with silicone waterproof sealant (for outdoor use). In this case, thermal expansion will not cause the appearance of a “wave”. The plastic will just expand a bit, squeezing the sealant, then bounce back. So the installation of plastic ebbs has its own nuances.
Metal – types and features
Metal tides on the windows are durable, there are no problems with them during operation. Installing metal sills on windows usually does not cause problems. Their minus is “noisy”. Raindrops can “knock out” rather loud sounds from metal. The problem is partially solved during installation – all cavities must be carefully filled with mounting foam. Any void will work like a drum. So here we try to do everything as best as possible.
A metal window tide will be even quieter if you stick foam rubber or any other sound-damping sheet material (for example, linotherm) from below. That’s just it must withstand significant temperature changes – outdoor operation. These two tricks in total will make the metal tide not too noisy.
As already mentioned, metal castings can be made of galvanized steel coated with polyester or plastisol. Galvanized with polyester – metal tiles are made from this material, so the technology has been worked out. Such ebbs are not too expensive, but you need to look for them in companies that manufacture or sell metal tiles or similar roofing materials.
Plastisol coating is a more expensive option, but it has a greater thickness, due to which the metal is not so booming. It is also interesting in that the surface can be not only smooth, but also “under the skin”, embossed, etc. If your budget allows, try a plastisol-coated galvanized metal shed. There are no negative reviews yet.
Another option for a “quiet” metal window tide is powder-coated aluminum. By itself, this metal is not so “voiced”, due to which the noise level is reduced. Everyone knows the advantages in operation, as well as the fact that the cost is not low. Installing sills on aluminum windows is a good idea, but it is not so easy to find. Aluminum outflow is not very popular, so you will most likely have to order via the Internet. Especially if you live in a small town.
Deciding on sizes
Metal ebbs can be sold in long strips – up to 6 meters long, you can find companies that will cut into pieces of the length you need. The second option is good, because you do not have to think about where to put the leftovers. The length of the window tide is determined by the width of the opening. The tide board is usually made wider by 2-4 cm on each side. When preparing, the excess is cut off, leaving protrusions on both sides of the window opening. But you can cut off exactly along the width of the opening. It depends on the exterior finish of the wall and your desire/taste. In any case, if you order planks of a certain length, and do not cut them yourself, add a few centimeters – this can be corrected if they are cut crookedly.
The depth of the tide on the window should be such that its edge protrudes a few centimeters. Too much protrusion is not needed – it can interfere, but 4-5 cm is quite normal. In this case, the flowing water will not fall on the wall or under the foundation. With such a ledge, moisture flows onto the blind area around the house, then goes into the storm sewer.
When choosing a plastic ebb, you may encounter difficulties. The narrowest ebb is 15 cm, and then the increase goes with a certain step. Usually this step is 50 mm. So there may well be a situation – either too little or too much. It is necessary to make a decision according to the situation – how critical is the ingress of water close to the foundation, how often do people walk along the windows. After evaluating these factors, you can choose a wider or narrower one.
Installation of flashings on PVC profile windows
Regardless of the material – metal or plastic – the ebb on the window is installed according to the same scheme. In the case of metal, gaskets are needed to reduce noise, but the general procedure remains unchanged.
There is a special protrusion in the frame profile for the installation of a low tide. Under it, the upper edge of the ebb starts. But this protrusion is available only if the PVC window was mounted on a stand (mounting) profile. Then the installation of the slope is a very simple matter. It must be cut in width, if necessary, on the back of the bar, “plant” rubber or other material for “silence” on universal glue.
Then it remains only to put the ledge of the ebb into the groove, blow out the required amount of mounting foam, fix the ebb to the stand profile with three or more self-tapping screws. In order not to leak from the sides, the places where the tide adjoins the window opening should be smeared with silicone sealant. It is better to take transparent – it will be less noticeable.
And if you play it safe?
For reinsurance, before installing the ebb in the groove, you can apply the same silicone sealant. This will definitely not allow water to get inside, even with a very strong wind directed through the window. The second “control shot” also concerns waterproofing. It is relevant for materials that are very afraid of getting wet. For example, this is exactly what it is desirable to do when installing slopes on windows mounted in a frame house. In this case, a waterproofing tape is laid before installing the window tide. It is desirable that the tape hangs over the wall – then even if some of the water gets on it, it will still be outside the walls.
For waterproofing, you can use any roll material that is suitable for the street, can withstand frost and heat. Installing tides on windows in this way will prevent the area under the window from getting wet, even if the rain is very heavy.
If the plastic window is installed without a support profile
What to do if the plastic window is installed in violation of technology and the groove is not available? During installation, a plastic window is often leveled using triangular bars. After alignment, the window is attached to the opening, and the bars are left like that. If you have such a case, you can fix the slope to these bars. If necessary, they can be cut. You just have to be careful not to move them.
If everything is already installed and sealed, only the frame frame is available, you can screw the ebb to the frame. For sealing, you can use a sealing gasket (rubber tape), lubricate with the best sealant possible. Additionally, you can screw some kind of flashing on top. Maybe he’ll save the day a little.
But even with this approach, there is no certainty that the water will not leak. Maybe initially everything will be fine, but over time, moisture will obviously get in. So if possible, it is better to dismantle the incorrectly installed plastic window and install it again – according to the rules.
Features of ebbs for wooden windows
A groove for installation must also be made in the frame of a wooden window. In this case, there are no problems and installing ebbs on windows is no different. It is also possible, for reliability, to lay a strip of waterproofing under the ebb, tucking it into the same groove. When using a sealant, you need to look for one that has good adhesion (adhesion) to wood and metal or plastic – depends on the type of ebb.
If there is no ebb groove in the wooden window, you can make it yourself. The groove is not made too deep and wide. It can be a narrow cut, into which only thin metal can be filled. To prevent the destruction of wood, cut before installation, treat with protective agents. In extreme cases, you can go through the paint.
Semicircular or shaped windows
Not all windows are linear. But what are the best ebbs for semicircular windows? All the same metals can save. But only this time, the ideal option is copper ebbs. Copper is a plastic material and a slight curvature can simply be given by tapping with a hammer.
If copper is too expensive, there are factories that make radius moldings to your measurements. Since this is an individual order, the cost of such a tide will also be calculated in each case.
If there is a need to save money, it is possible to make ebbs for figured bay windows from ordinary galvanized ebbs with a polymer coating. In this case, they are cut into pieces, with which you can create the desired bend.
With this method, one piece should go over the next one (by 3-5 cm) – this will make leakage less likely. To further reduce the likelihood of water ingress, a layer of sealant is smeared on the joint.