Hide

Platbands are necessary not only for decorating a window, giving the facade a designer look that allows you to bring any ideas to life, but also provide decorative protection for seams from freezing and negative impact natural phenomena. Metal trims are high quality, reliable material, capable of well protecting window seams, making them airtight and decorating the window itself.

Platband as decoration

Many have seen ancient wooden buildings decorated with carved platbands on the outside. Such decorations are made by hand and can have quite complex drawing, transforming boring house into a work of art. You can create a piece of a fairy tale using metal window frames. Any patterns can also be carved on them, but, unlike wood, metal is more reliable and practical material, able to withstand any load.

If wooden products do not tolerate moisture well, require constant care and are not very durable, then metal analogues do not have these disadvantages. It is enough to use stainless metal or paint the product regularly. Metal window frames can completely replace wooden elements. You can cut out the desired pattern yourself using flat metal sheets, and, unlike working with wood, you do not need to have carving skills or special tools.

WITH metal sheets it is much easier to work: they will not require drying, special conditions for this, you will not need to use varnish, which fades in the sun, which is why you have to constantly renew it. After installation, metal platbands will not require additional maintenance and will fit perfectly into the design of the facade. Installation of metal slopes will also not cause any difficulties.

Features of rough material

The thickness of a suitable iron sheet is between 0.40 and 0.70 mm. Such sheets are produced at factories in rolls up to 50 meters long. The width of the product is 1.25 m; the sheets do not always need to be painted, since you can buy an already painted product of the color and shade you need. To ensure that the material does not receive damage during transportation, it is protected from scratches with a special film, which can be removed if necessary. The metal is quite strong and flexible, so it does not cause difficulties when working with it.

What if the wall is brick or block?

Slopes are not always mounted on a wooden structure - sometimes the owners want to make it more decorative brick house. You can also use metal slopes for this. The construction of metal slopes in this case is no different, but the use of nails will have to be abandoned.

Before installation, you will need to drill holes for dowels in the walls. It is advisable to use materials at least 6 cm long, otherwise there will be a risk of the structure falling out of the wall. After the holes are ready, you need to insert plastic blanks into them. Holes for screws are also pre-drilled in the mounted slopes: make sure that all holes strictly coincide.

After everything is ready, the structure is put in place and screwed. Working with cracks occurs in a similar way. Can be used silicone sealant: colorless will be most convenient, since you won’t have to select its shade, but if both the wall and slopes are white, you can use white. Polyurethane foam use is not recommended. It cannot withstand moisture, requires protection from weather conditions and has an unattractive appearance.

You can easily make decorative and functional trims for metal windows yourself. You don't need expensive tools or carpentry skills to do this.

The creation of the front part of the house should be treated with full responsibility. After all, the first opinion about the owner of the house is determined by how the building looks externally. This is the “face” of the entire structure. That is why caring owners They try to make it unique and individual. Thanks to the finishing of not only walls, but also windows, it is possible to obtain unsurpassed results. Platbands are able to create the integrity of the composition, visually enlarge or reduce window openings. With their help you can achieve any visual effect.

Platband - a traditional element of facade decor

Platbands have been used since ancient times. These are traditional and loved. Naturally, on apartment buildings platbands are not installed. They are designed to decorate. With their help, it is possible to change the appearance of the house beyond recognition. Simple design creates a fabulous effect.

Platbands for windows wooden house, photos of which can be viewed on the Internet, clearly show how necessary these elements are. Beautiful and original products complement the building and make it look complete. With their help it is very easy to create an ensemble of all structures in the yard. That is why many years ago they were used in the most expensive houses. They were proud of them and presented them to guests, because once upon a time own home were treated completely differently. “My home is my fortress,” the ancient people believed and created strong and individual buildings.

Functions of platbands in wooden houses, their advantages

But the elements are famous not only for their beauty and noble appearance facade decor. Window trims perform different functions:

• a decorative element that serves as a real decoration. The platband emphasizes the windows, making their features more expressive and noticeable. With its help you can give the window a different shape;

• visual change in the window opening. This is an excellent option in cases where you want to narrow the window or, conversely, enlarge it. For example, it is very easy to enlarge small windows by framing them with openwork lace trim;

• highlights the style of the house. With the help of such products it is very easy to create a real ensemble of buildings in the yard. If you approach the design wisely and decorate all the windows in the courtyard in the same style, you can achieve the integrity of all structures;
• reliable seam protector. IN wooden village houses the window is placed in the same plane as the wall. At correct installation The product also slightly covers the wall, thereby reliably covering the joint. Thanks to this placement, the seam is reliably protected from cracking, dust and harmful effects environment. It will always remain airtight and will not let the cold into the house.

Modern platbands are beautiful products that reliably protect the structure. That is why it is worth buying trim for windows in a wooden house. In this simple way, you will not only decorate your home, but also reliably protect openings from destruction, especially since the modern building materials market offers a huge number of varieties of such facade decoration elements to choose from.

Disadvantages of wooden platbands

In addition to the advantages of platbands, it is worth remembering their disadvantages. Although they are insignificant compared to the advantages, you still need to know about them:

• Platbands are very responsive to weather conditions, because they are not protected by anything. This applies primarily wooden products. To avoid such troubles, wooden frames are treated with special substances that contribute to their long-term service. Products made from artificial materials are less demanding to care for. Modern technologies allow you to create them that are similar in appearance to natural ones, but many times exceed them in functionality.

• They require increased attention. require constant care. They need to be painted or varnished. Cracked platbands look unsightly on a building; they have a detrimental effect on the entire appearance, making it untidy and sloppy.

• Inconsistency of material can have a detrimental effect on the appearance of the house. The choice of platbands should be approached with an understanding of style and design. It is best to entrust the choice to a professional who will help you choose the most advantageous decor option.

Types of platbands

Available to consumers today different types platbands:

• Cut-out ones that impress with their beauty and grace. Openwork patterns will emphasize individuality and peculiarity and indicate the excellent taste of the owner of the house. Such products are made as a continuous canvas with a beautiful pattern. Windows decorated with such platbands create the impression that the window openings are crowned with elegant lace. platbands for windows in a wooden house are best view decoration and a reliable protector from the harmful effects of the environment on the joints.

• Invoices that are more complex design. Such products are placed on a special plate. They have a variety of patterns. Fine lines are perfectly visible on the “lining” and impress with their transitions. Such an element can be placed on platbands that already exist on the windows. This The best way update . In addition, if the supporting material and the openwork casing itself are painted in different colors, then you can get the effect of a three-dimensional pattern.

• Simple. They have a smooth surface. They lack any patterns. The product may have different shapes, rounded edges. As a rule, this type of trim is installed to protect the seam. They also give facade finished look. The choice of such platbands can also be an element of stylish design.

Whatever the shape and appearance of the platband, it must withstand adverse weather, temperature changes, and not react to humidity. That is why special requirements are put forward for such products. platbands for windows in a wooden house allow you to create an element that will meet the requirements of the owner of the building.

Old Russian architecture is invariably associated with carved window frames. This form of house design is distinguished by its diversity of species. Just a few decades ago, each region had craftsmen with their own style of creating decorative elements. Today's return to origins is accompanied by a revival of interest in window decoration using carved frames.

Purpose of framing

The word “platband” itself speaks of its location - “on the face”, that is, one of its functions is to decorate the facade of the building. Therefore, people tried to express their individuality through it and decorate their windows with carved frames. In addition to the decorative role, window frames, first of all, perform constructive function, closing the gap between the frame and the opening. This prevents dust from entering the house, protects against precipitation, drafts and extraneous sounds.

In the old days, magical properties were also attributed to carved frames. It was believed that the window frame a certain form The planks protect against the evil eye and serve as a kind of amulet. Therefore, in the bizarre patterns one could see various figures and plants carrying a specific meaning.

IN modern architecture functional purpose platbands for windows are as follows:

• Properly selected carved design allows you to visually elongate a low building or expand a narrow wall.
• The opportunity to show individuality and decorate the building in accordance with the spirit of a certain era.
• Allows you to achieve a unified architectural ensemble between all buildings on the site.
• Protection of cracks from penetration of external negative factors (precipitation, noise, dust).
• It is one of the elements of thermal protection of the house.

Note! Sometimes platbands are the only option for framing a window. This mainly concerns wooden log houses when the use of other materials is unacceptable due to loss of harmonious appearance.

Carved finishes, especially those made of wood, have a number of features that should be taken into account during operation:

• Dependence on the influence of atmospheric factors. Moisture and temperature changes invariably cause damage to decoration.
• When selecting a frame, you should take into account the properties of the rock from which the frames are made and take care of high-quality processing. Timely preventive measures extend the service life of window products.
• Difficulties often arise when combining wooden carved elements with modern plastic frames. With this combination, it is preferable to install windows that imitate wood texture.

The meaning of carved elements

The desire to conform to ancient traditions requires knowledge of the meaning various elements carved platbands:

• The sun is usually placed on a kokoshnik. It symbolizes life and energy.
• The personification of wisdom and fertility is contained in the image of a snake.
• A symbol of harmony between spiritual and material aspirations is a cross in a carved frame.
• The feeling of unity with nature is emphasized through vegetation.
• The earrings testify to the hospitality of the owners of the house.
• The connecting element of all times is the silhouette of a bird on the window.

Characteristics of materials and forms

For the production of window frames, natural and artificial materials. Traditionally, carved elements were made from weather-resistant wood. Characteristics of the properties of individual rocks will help determine the most suitable type:

• Larch is minimally susceptible to rotting processes, but is not suitable for the production of carved frames due to its fragility.
• Aspen, alder and linden are the most convenient species for creating openwork decor on windows. However, the pliable and soft wood of carved frames requires special treatment due to its ability to absorb moisture well.
• Window frames made of oak, ash or beech are characterized by resistance to negative atmospheric influences, but the processing of carved elements is burdened with difficulties, overcoming which you will get a durable decor.
• A good choice would be birch or pine wood, which allows you to create neat carved decor. At the same time, the platbands are strong enough for external use.
• Small carved window decorations that are fixed to the main elements can be made from cherry or apple trees.

Advice ! Regularly updating the coating of wooden frames with waterproof paint or varnish will ensure their long service life.

What other materials are used in the production of window trims and what their features are, we will consider below:

• Laminated MDF allows you to accurately imitate the color of any type of wood, but is intended exclusively for indoor use.
• Plastic windows are harmoniously combined with platbands made of similar material(PVC), which is not subject to rotting, has a wide color palette, resistant to impact solar radiation. The color of the trim is selected taking into account the finishing of the house to match or contrast with the facade.
• For windows round shape Products made of polyurethane, characterized by ease and ease of care, are ideal.
• Metal strips are attached to protect the assembly seam, connecting them into a single unit with the profile box.

There are two main ways to install platbands:

• The invoice is the most common method when decorating windows. For fixation, special glue or nails are used.
• The telescopic method involves an L-shaped form of manufacturing the platband, which allows you to secure the product by entering into the grooves of the box. Most often used for finishing doorways. Its characteristic difference is the absence of traces of fasteners.

Patterns and types of threads

The carved shapes of the platbands give the window individuality, but to make them, you will definitely need templates. Having wood carving skills allows you to choose a complex ornament. If the ability to work with wood is not enough, it is better to find a light pattern for window trim. We suggest studying:

• variants of single element templates and their general appearance;
• top, bottom and side decoration details.

You can copy them completely or add your own details to the pattern. The carved frame design you like or a fragment of it needs to be enlarged to a scale taking into account the size of your window. For the manufacture of carved templates Fibreboard, thick cardboard or paper are used. It is advisable to decorate windows with platbands with the same carvings. Please note that making small carved elements is much more difficult, and they deteriorate faster than others. In this case you will need partial replacement framing.

Warning ! Be sure to take into account the slope at the top of the carved platband. This will prevent snow accumulation and ensure timely drainage of water.

The upper part of the window casing is called a kokoshnik, the lower part is called a towel. Most widespread The carved frames were decorated with outlines of plants, images of animals and geometric shapes.

The key details of the drawing for any window casing are:

• bottom strip or window sill;
• vertical rail;
• top bar.

The pattern can also contain all kinds of hangers, flowerpots or a tiara. Detailed description The names of carved decorative elements are presented in the diagram below:

If your windows have different sizes, experts advise making a drawing with an intermediate repeat repeating the required number of times. For rapport, you can choose one or two elements that are repeated alternately. An example of such a scheme is shown in the photo below:

There are several ways to make carved wooden frames for windows:

• Carved platbands are characterized by the greatest decorativeness and delicacy. The product is made of light-colored wood or is subsequently coated with white paint. This window design is more dark wall looks sophisticated and elegant, vaguely reminiscent of Vologda lace.
• With overlay carving, separately cut parts are fixed to a continuous board by gluing or nailing. This technique allows you to design a window with simple platband. Protruding elements are often coated with contrasting paint.

Sometimes both types of carving are combined.

Manufacturing process

Having decided on the pattern, material, type of carving and method of fastening the trim, you can proceed directly to the manufacture of carved frames for the windows.

Important ! The design on the workpiece needs to be placed correctly. The placement of elements along the fibers of wooden blanks will prevent cracking of the thread.

It is better to mark the places in the pattern where slits need to be made with color. The work on making platbands consists of the following stages:

• Taking measurements from the window.
• For slotted thread boards are selected from minimum thickness 30 mm, the overhead method allows the use of wood with a thickness of 10 mm. All work is carried out with dry lumber.
• Blanks are cut out.
• To ensure a tight fit of the carved frame from the inside, the wood is selected to a shallow depth (1-2 mm).
• The pattern applied using the template is cut out. Drills are used to form holes various diameters, a jigsaw will be needed to make the cuts. To create a beautiful cut, the jigsaw insertion point is marked with a drilled hole.
• All carved elements of the window casing are cleaned with sanding paper. Wood dust is removed from non-through holes using a vacuum cleaner.

Overhead thread involves fastening finished elements to a wide casing using nails with their heads removed. The strength of the connection will be strengthened by applying glue to the underside of the casing. It is not recommended to use self-tapping screws due to the risk of damaging the carved section of the connection.

Carved platbands are installed on wooden windows using blind or through tenons. The first option features a reliable connection and complex process installation The second method is simpler, but less reliable. Installation of carved elements on a plastic window is carried out using liquid nails.

Preliminary protective treatment of carved frames and regular preventive maintenance will ensure long-term preservation of the attractive appearance of the window.

Platbands are the overhead strips that frame the window. They have important function- hide the gap between window frame and the wall of the house, thereby protecting the home from drafts, heat loss and moisture ingress. They often serve unusual decoration at home, and in ancient times they were even a talisman against evil spirits.

Carved window frames were popular in our country before the arrival of the Bolsheviks, who considered home decoration an excess. Now the popularity of decorated window frames has begun to increase again.

Types of platbands

There are many types of platbands, which differ in design, material and installation method. Based on the type of installation, they are divided into overhead-type and telescopic platbands.

Overlays are attached directly to the window frame using synthetic glue, special spikes, or nails, while telescopic ones are fixed in the space between the window frame and the wall.

Materials

For the manufacture of platbands, materials such as wood, plastic and MDF are used.

Wooden window frames are very practical and will easily fit into any interior. Natural wood lends itself well to processing and a carved pattern will look great on it.

Plastic trims are practical, convenient and can replicate the texture of wood. They are very budget-friendly, do not require such careful maintenance as wooden trims, but they also do not look as impressive. Their advantage is their resistance to temperature and humidity changes, which saves them from deformation and increases their service life. The downside will be the paucity of choice of color, shape and texture of the trim.

MDF trim ( fiberboard medium density) combine the environmental friendliness of wood and the strength of plastic thanks to a special water-repellent impregnation. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of MDF is the low strength of the material compared to plastic and wood.

There are also metal trims on sale, but they have a purely functional meaning and have no artistic value.

Wooden frames will look harmonious on windows wooden houses, metal ones go well with plastic and metal-plastic facade panels, plastic ones will fit plastic siding, and products made from MDF are more often used inside the house.

The advantage of using platbands on windows in a house is the ability to visually expand window openings and increase the height of the building. By choosing the same ornament of the platbands, you can create a complete architectural ensemble on your site.

Making platbands with your own hands

To get a high-quality result of the work, you need to choose the right wood from which the casing will be made. For this purpose, timber made of pine, oak, birch, linden, walnut or alder is used. Wood from fruit trees is also used.

For the first experience of making a frame with a carved pattern, linden, aspen and alder are better suited - they are soft-leaved trees, so even inexperienced people can easily carve a pattern on them. Important correct processing clypeus - this wood is very hygroscopic and subject to rapid rotting.

A more suitable choice would be deciduous or coniferous species tree. Birch and pine have a sufficient margin of safety and are quite easy to process.

Platbands made of oak and ash (hardwood) are very difficult for beginners to process due to their increased hardness. They are very reliable and durable, but it is better to entrust the manufacture of platbands from these types of wood to professionals.

Fruit species are well suited for making small details of the casing.

timber

To choose the right timber, a few tips will help you:

• Do not buy timber with a blue or black tint - this indicates the presence of fungus in the wood
• Do not buy third-grade wood, the savings will be insignificant, but the quality will be noticeably lower, which will affect the durability of the final product
• Do not take a curved beam - it is very difficult to straighten it.

Typically the thickness of the platband is 20-35 mm. Try to select the right thickness of timber immediately, so as not to waste a lot of time on cutting and processing

The standard length of the timber is 220 cm, so buy wood with a reserve - you will be left with a lot of scraps that are better not to use; the components of the casing will only spoil its appearance and functionality.

Dimensions

The width of window casings ranges from 100 to 250 mm. To cut the workpiece required width, nail a beam around the perimeter of the window different thicknesses and see from afar which thickness will look more harmonious.

Please note that the casing should extend onto the frame by 5-10 mm and top part may significantly exceed the width of the side and bottom parts.

To ensure that your product does not interfere with opening the windows, during installation you need a distance from the hinges of about 10-20 cm, take this into account when taking measurements.

Thread

To make a pattern on a workpiece yourself, you will need a set of wood carving chisels, saws and many other tools. Their set depends on the complexity and type of pattern you choose. On this moment The advent of modern power tools makes the job much easier.

The most commonly used carving techniques are:

• Through type of processing. In this case, the design is sawn or cut through the wood. These patterns are made using a saw and jigsaw. This technique helps create openwork, lacy-looking products.
• The flat creased type is characterized by the creation of a pattern that will be lower in level than the main background. When choosing this technique, you will need a knife, semicircular chisels and cutters.
• Relief type. The elements in it are somewhat raised above the rest of the background. To create it, you need chisels of various shapes.

Patterns

To create interesting design platbands, you should look for photos of window platbands on the Internet. This will allow you to decide on the color, texture and pattern of the intended product.

Nowadays it is easy to find stencils for window frames in the public domain. You should not choose complex patterns for your first wood carving experience. It is important that all products must display the same pattern.

Once you have found the wood and stencil that suits your needs, print the desired pattern in life size and place it on the workpiece, attaching it with buttons.

When placing the stencil, make sure that the carving will go along the grain of the wood and not across it. Transfer the pattern to the workpiece and you can start carving. Don't rush, it may ruin the workpiece.

Be sure to thoroughly sand the resulting pattern, and then remove wood shavings and dust from hard to reach places vacuum cleaner.

Installation

Attach decorative trims To wooden frame You can use self-tapping screws, nails without heads and special spikes. For plastic frames Only liquid nails are used.

Care

As for plastic, metal and MDF trims, they are unpretentious in maintenance. Just repaint them occasionally and protect them from corrosion.

Photos of window trims

On multi-storey buildings It is rare to see wooden platbands, but in private construction this is the most common element. Modern a private house You can make it original and stylish by installing homemade carved frames on the windows. In former times, each house had unique patterned platbands installed, which were not only decorations, but also served as amulets. Today in Russia there is a tendency towards the revival of traditions, and many owners prefer to install beautiful wooden cash instead of “boring” metal-plastic frames. In this article we will tell you in detail how to make a carved platband with your own hands.

Modern platbands are made not only from wood, but also from metal, plywood, PVC and laminated MDF. Plywood and MDF products are not intended for outdoor use, since they are not able to withstand temperature changes, humidity and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Useful: the correct name for the external elements of window decoration is casing, and the casing is the internal frame.

What functions does cashing perform:

• decorative – window openings acquire a complete and aesthetic appearance. A correctly chosen form of platband can visually lengthen a low building or expand a narrow one;
• with the help of a well-chosen pattern or ornament on the platband, you can express individual preferences, traditional characteristics of a family or region;
• platbands help to unite all buildings on the territory into a single architectural style;
• cashing out protective function, preventing moisture, debris and dust from getting into the gap between the wall and the window;
• due to the additional wooden frame of the window, heat loss at the points where the window frames adjoin the walls is reduced;
• sound insulation increases;
• often wooden frames are the only acceptable way to decorate a window, especially if we're talking about about a wooden house or log house.

There are no disadvantages to platbands as such, but there are a number of features that you need to know in order to install them correctly and extend their service life. So, wooden carved platbands will sooner or later deteriorate from exposure external environment– after all, wood does not last forever and is destroyed over time by moisture, frost and sunlight. But at the same time, treatment with anti-corrosion compounds will extend the “life” of beautiful home-made structures.

It is very important to choose the right type of wood for making platbands, as well as to properly process all areas. It is necessary to regularly monitor their condition, promptly replace damaged parts, tint the surface, etc.

If you plan to install wooden casing on plastic windows, you need to choose the design and color very carefully, otherwise such a design will look ridiculous. But often wood and plastic are simply incompatible. Better install wooden double glazed windows, lamination to look like wood, or paint the trim itself white.

Types of platbands

To make carved window frames, you need to decide on the installation method and the type of design itself. So, there are telescopic and overhead trims. Telescopic ones are often installed not on windows, but on doorways. Special L-shaped protrusions are made on them, which slide into the grooves of the box. This is a rather complex connection, but the result is a very beautiful and harmonious frame of the passage.

Overlay casings are attached to window frames using weatherproof wood glue or nailed into place. Very often, cashing is complemented by carved shutters, which make the facade of the house even more picturesque and authentic.

Wood selection

Since the cashbox is placed outside the house, it must be made from the strongest and most durable wood possible to withstand the elements. To make carved frames, the material must also be pliable so that intricate patterns can be easily cut out.

What to make the platband from:

1. Deciduous species with hardwoods are ash, beech and oak. They are very strong and durable, but it is impossible to make “lace” trim from such wood, since they are very difficult to process. When choosing these breeds, it is better to limit yourself to a simple ornament.
2. Deciduous species with soft wood - aspen, linden, alder. In this case, the tree, on the contrary, is very malleable and allows you to carve unimaginable motifs, but if processed incorrectly, all your work will very quickly deteriorate. If the finished casing is poorly coated with moisture-resistant varnish, it will very quickly crack and rot.
3. Birch and pine are the most the best option for the manufacture of carved platbands. In addition to the fact that these rocks are inexpensive, they have sufficient hardness for external use, they allow you to create fairly small designs and make neat cuts.
4. Apple and cherry are mainly used for cutting out small inserts, which are then applied to the main pattern of the canvas.

Select a template

To choose a pattern for carved window trim, you need to determine what you want to achieve or demonstrate with the pattern. If you just need to “revive” the facade, you can choose a not too complex design, especially if you need to add windows to all the buildings on the site. This way you will save time and effort.

If you want to emphasize with the help of carved frames your belonging to an ancient family or any nationality, reflect cultural heritage homeland, we recommend studying traditional motifs and symbols. Moreover, each region, moreover, each village or city may have its own distinctive features.

If possible, decorate all windows with the same trim. The carving may differ slightly, but the same motifs must be present. For example, on kitchen window there is a frame with a deer framed by flowers, on the window in the living room there can be a bear surrounded by the same flowers, etc.

Below we will show several examples of patterns for carved platbands, but in order not to repeat someone else’s work, you can copy only part of the design, adding your own patterns to it. This way you can be sure that your windows have a unique frame.

Useful: if you are dealing with wood carving for the first time, practice first on a separate piece of wood of the same species from which the platbands will be made. Hone your skills in hand placement of chisels, basic movements and cuts. Video lessons and tutorials for beginner woodcarvers will help you do this quickly and correctly.

It is easiest to make patterns with round holes because they are quite easy to drill even for a beginner. If you want the platband to last as long as possible, give preference to templates with large elements; besides, they are easier to cut. Small parts will require much more time and skills, and will become unusable sooner, since moisture and small debris will accumulate in them faster.

Important: in the upper part of each platband it is necessary to make a slope so that snow and water do not accumulate on the surface of the tree. Just a few degrees of slope, and moisture will quickly flow down, and the surface will dry out faster.

Manufacturing of platband

The laudable desire to do everything yourself requires not only knowledge and skills, but also special tools. In the case of woodworking, you will need a large set of chisels, a hacksaw, sandpaper of various grits, a router, a drill and a jigsaw. In addition, stock up on impregnation to protect the wood from insects, weather-resistant varnish or paint, and stain if you will be tinting the wood.

To make the same pattern on the trim for all windows, prepare a stencil. It is better to cut it out on thick paper, cardboard or plastic.

Important: place the stencil pattern along the grain of the wood so that the carving does not crack, and place colored dots in places where you will need to make through holes.

There are two carving methods:

Step-by-step instructions for making a wooden carved frame:

1. Take measurements from the window.
2. The wood for platbands must be thoroughly dried. The height and width of the boards can be any, depending on your preferences, but the thickness should be 3 cm for the slotted carving method, from 1 cm or more for the overhead carving method.
3. Sand the wood with sandpaper (first No. 3, then No. 1 and zero) - the surface should be perfectly flat and smooth.
4. Cut out the stencils.
5. On the back side of the casing, select a layer of wood up to 2 mm thick, leaving small edges along the edges. This way the cash will fit more tightly to the window frame.
6. Apply the pattern to the front wooden surface with a simple pencil. Paint over the places where there will be through cuts.
7. Start cutting out the pattern. First, it is more convenient to finish with the through holes, and then start working with chisels. Use drill bits for through cuts. different sizes, jigsaw and milling machine. Make the entry point of the jigsaw using a drill - this will make the cut more accurate.
8. Carefully sand all holes with sandpaper (from larger to smaller grit).
9. Remove all dust from non-through patterns with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
10. Nail the elements of the applied thread to the canvas with nails without heads. For a more secure fixation, apply weather-resistant glue to the back of the element.
11. Wipe the cut out casing with a damp, clean rag to completely remove dust from the surface. The rag should be barely damp to prevent the wood fibers from rising.
12. Now you can tint the casing with stain or immediately coat it with weather-resistant varnish. Alkyd or yacht varnish is suitable for this - they will reliably protect the wood from fading and moisture.

Platband installation

The durability of cash depends not only on the correct processing of the carved elements, but also on its proper installation on the windows. For this, two types of fastening are used: blind or through tenon. In the blind tenon method, tenons are attached to the casing, and in window profile drill out voids of the appropriate shape. Weatherproof glue is applied to the tenon and inserted into the hole. This is pretty complex fastening, but very durable and neat.

To make a through fastening, install the tenon in the most inconspicuous place of the platband and make the fastening. This method is less reliable and durable, but it is much easier to implement.

However, please note that these fastening methods can only be used for wooden windows. For fixing carved trims to plastic or metal-plastic windows use special high-strength glue or liquid nails so as not to violate the integrity of the profile.

At the very beginning of the article, we mentioned that previously carved wooden frames were used not only as protection and decoration of the house, but also as security amulets for residents. The application of certain symbols and ornaments protected the family and created a barrier to evil intentions and black witchcraft.

In former times, our ancestors believed that evil forces entered the house through doorways and windows, so they tried to protect these places with everyone possible methods. The most common and “reliable” way to protect houses was to apply magical patterns.

Even today, in most templates for platbands posted on the Internet, you can find these protective symbols, but now they play more of a decorative role. If you want to make not only an aesthetic, but also a useful element on the windows, you can combine various security symbols with decorative elements. It should be taken into account that each country (region, village) has its own traditions. So, for example, it was customary for the Scandinavians to apply runes, and for the Slavs it was common to have object images (animals, plants, birds).

The images on the platbands helped not only to protect houses from evil spirits, but also strengthen or develop certain qualities in a person. So, floral ornaments have always meant unity with nature and love for Mother Earth. The wings meant strength of spirit, and the bird entirely personified the unity of times. The snake symbolizes wisdom, and the cross indicated that the owners of the house strive to maintain harmony between the spiritual and material worlds.

Carved platbands: photo