In every yard there are definitely residents for whom installing metal bars on windows is a mandatory procedure both for themselves and for their neighbors. As a rule, these are representatives of the older generation, overcome by the desire to secure their home as much as possible. For them there is not much difference in what this defense will look like. The structures can be crooked, rusty, shabby - the main thing is that the thief does not get through.
Attention! Modern bars for plastic windows are made of stainless steel and treated with special coatings, due to which they have a completely different look and are an integral part of the interior of an apartment or house.
From this article you will learn what types of window guards are right for you and how to install bars on windows without the help of specialists.
Rules and precautions
When installing grilles, fire safety rules must be taken into account, since in the event of a fire the window is an emergency exit when the approaches to the door are blocked.
Important. It is unacceptable for all the bars to be solid; at least one of the structures must have opening flaps - this is necessary to create an emergency exit.
When installing bars on windows, do not neglect personal safety measures :
- when performing work at height, use a safety belt;
- When working with a welding machine, have a protective shield and work gloves;
- When using an angle grinder, wear safety glasses and gloves.
Installation of protective grilles on building windows. How to attach and install grilles
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Nowadays, to protect against burglars, bars are installed everywhere on the windows of residential buildings and office buildings. Most often, bars are installed on the windows of the first and second floors of buildings, which is understandable, since the windows of these floors are most accessible to burglars.
In order to avoid associations with places of detention, manufacturers strive to make bars so that they become a decoration of the home. The country cottage will be decorated with wrought iron grilles, which are fashionable now. Outwardly, they appear openwork and accessible to penetration, but this impression is deceptive, because numerous bends and connection points make them very durable. Welded grilles are installed on the windows in a multi-story panel building. They are not as beautiful as forged products, but their price is much lower.
Required Tools
When choosing a material, you should take into account:
- The diameter of the grille rods must be at least 14 mm.
- The distance between the rods is no more than 120 mm.
- The method of fastening the grilles is selected in accordance with the design of the window opening.
The type of installation is also selected:
- At the end of the opening (deepening into the window opening or in the same plane with it).
- Overlay (attached from above the window opening to the outer wall).
Important. Grilles fixed indoors are made removable as additional protection when an alarm system is installed. Such structures are designed to detain robbers before the security company arrives.
For each method of securing window grilles, you may need certain tools :
- welding machine;
- electrodes;
- protective mask and clothing for welding;
- hammer;
- screwdriver;
- tape measure and pencil;
- perforator;
- drill and drill bits;
- level;
- self-tapping screws, anchor bolts.
Purchase of finished products
The easiest way to protect windows with bars is to contact a special company that produces metal products.
In this case, specialists will take the necessary measurements, manufacture and install any structures. The customer is given the opportunity to choose ready-made design options or place an order in accordance with his wishes.
The advantage of branded grilles is the variety of models. However, you should understand that such products can be quite expensive.
How to install step by step?
Before ordering a grille, you must take correct measurements .
If the product is installed in a window opening, then it should be 60-50 cm less than its width and 30-40 cm less than its height.
Structures that are installed in an overhead manner must be larger than the window opening.
The most common methods are on top of the window opening or inside it . The installation method is selected depending on the type of grille, wall material and window location. If the window is installed flush with the wall or the walls are not strong enough, then only the overlay method is suitable.
For example, if the walls of a house are made of wood or gas silicate blocks, then the fasteners are passed through the wall - this is not very beautiful, but it is reliable. If the window is recessed into the wall, then the protective structure is mounted between the slopes, inside the opening.
Note. A grill installed between the glass does not provide full protection, since the windows remain unprotected and the fittings can easily be hacked. In addition, such structures negatively affect the thermal insulation qualities of the window.
Methods for attaching grilles to windows:
- by welding;
- fastening with bolts;
- fixing the grille through the wall.
Types of window grilles
Metal gratings are divided into several types depending on:
- manufacturing method;
- mechanism of action;
- appearance.
Let's look at each type in a little more detail.
Methods for making window railings
- Welded products. The cheapest option, which consists of steel reinforcement bars arranged in different orders. This can be a classic “checkered” lattice, a pattern of longitudinal or transverse rods, or the composition outside the window can take on other fancy shapes that the manufacturer’s imagination is capable of. This budget option can look whatever you want, the main thing is that it perfectly fulfills its main task and protects your home from the penetration of various types of ill-wishers.
- Forged fences. This is still the same metal structure, but now supplemented with decorative designs and complex patterns. The most advantageous difference between forging and welded products is the external component - they are more aesthetically pleasing, lighter and more airy in appearance. Grilles with forged elements are an undoubted decoration of the facade and add elements of style to the entire house, while not forgetting to fulfill their main protective function. The option is no longer so cheap, since the production of products involves very extensive manual work. But an order for production will undoubtedly be worth the money if you involve a good designer in the design. Then you will certainly receive exclusive products that will emphasize and enhance the stylistic identity of the house.
Differences between window grilles based on their mechanism of action
- Blind structures. They are also called stationary, since the individual elements are welded to a frame that is tightly attached to the window opening. These grilles cannot be dismantled and represent a serious obstacle to the evacuation of people in case of fires and other emergencies. At the same time, they provide 100 percent protection against thieves, which is why blind fences are used mainly on the windows of warehouses and technical rooms.
- Sliding (hinged) devices. When this mechanism operates, individual grille doors are opened (or all together if necessary) or parts of the structure are folded (displaced) to the side thanks to special hinges. Despite their external accessibility for robbers, sliding grilles are most advantageous from the point of view of evacuating people in case of fire. To release the window, simply open the locks on the fastenings with a key. It is recommended to keep the key to the locks inside the room, placing it in a visible place and marking its location with signal signs.
Window decoration
Metal structures for windows come in a wide variety of shapes and varieties. The main criterion on which the choice of the appearance of the structure depends is the material from which it will be made. The following components are most often found in modern solutions:
- square;
- rod;
- stripes.
Rod and square are the most preferred because both materials are reliable and have high strength. It is through their use that the most diverse elements for decoration are obtained. For the manufacture of window grilles, a rod with a cross-section of 0.6-1.6 cm is used. For a square, this figure fluctuates within 1-2 cm. The strip, as a material, is much inferior to the others in terms of strength, and it cannot be used to achieve any special decorative effect. . But this is an excellent budget option for those who want to protect their home from theft, but do not yet have the funds to install an alarm system.
The use of one material or another determines the shape and design of the gratings. Flat structures are cheaper, most often made of a square or rod and are a two-dimensional product (located in 2 planes). Convex (or French) products look very elegant and unusual. In addition, they provide simple and convenient access to the window, making it easy to clean or paint. Convex grilles will cost an order of magnitude more than flat ones, and if you decide to get one, carefully study all the offers for reviews. Making such products requires skill and skill, so use the services of only trusted craftsmen and experienced designers.
In general, when you choose window bars, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:
- thickness of alloys and their strength;
- the quality of the fittings and materials from which they are made;
- professionalism of the craftsmen;
- price.
Attention! If you choose all the components wisely and think through the details, window grilles will not only provide you with protection from unwanted guests, but also an exclusive decoration of your home.
How to install an overhead structure?
Overhead structures are mounted, as a rule, to walls that have little strength or on a window that is installed flush with the facade wall.
Wooden or silicate walls
If the walls of the house are built of wood or silicate blocks, then it will not be difficult for an attacker to pull out the anchor bolts by force. In such cases, the fasteners are passed through the wall.
Work is carried out in the following order:
- Eyelets are welded to the grille frame in advance - 2 on each of the 4 sides. There may be 6 lugs: 2 on the sides, 1 on the bottom and top.
- You need to make holes in the eyes for bolts. Their diameter should be 1-2 mm larger than the bolts so that they can pass through the holes freely.
- The lattice structure is applied to the window in order to mark the places on the wall for drilling holes.
- Using a hammer drill or electric drill, make a through hole in the wall. The diameter of the drill is selected equal to the diameter of the bolt that will be screwed into the wall. As a rule, it is 14-16 mm.
- From the inside of the room, a recess is drilled into the wall for a washer and nut so that they can be recessed and then masked.
- The grille is attached and the bolts are inserted into the wall. Inside the room, a nut and washer are screwed onto them - this will create resistance if they try to pull out the grille along with the fastening.
- Using a grinder, the bolts are cut to the same level as the nut.
Brick
Installation of an overhead lattice structure on brick walls:
The grating is applied to the wall and its outline is marked. This can also be done using a tape measure.- To drill holes for the rods (pins), masonry joints are selected.
The hole is drilled with a diameter of about 15 mm and a depth of up to 12 mm. They do this at a slight angle towards the window opening so that it is difficult to pull out the anchor. - Rods 12 cm long are cut from a metal rod. Each pin is driven into a hole in the wall so that up to 30 mm of the rod remains protruding above the wall surface.
- A fastening plate (“heel”) is welded to each pin.
- Eyelets are welded to pre-marked places on the grill.
- The structure is applied to the window and the lugs are attached to the “heel” of the rod by welding.
The pins can be replaced with anchor bolts. In this case, the grille is not welded, but screwed with nuts.
Advice. If the grille is mounted on siding, then a washer is installed on a bolt or pin between the facade cladding and the grille.
Inside the window opening
Installation of grilles inside a window opening :
- On the slopes, places are marked for drilling holes in accordance with the eyes, which are welded to the grating in advance.
- Using a drill, make holes up to 12 cm deep. If the wall is concrete, then you will need Pobedit drills.
- Anchor bolts or prepared rods are inserted into the holes and plates are welded to them.
- The lattice structure is welded to the anchors (bolts or rods).
There are also sliding lattice structures. When installing such grilles in the window opening, guides are fixed to which the sashes are attached. But this is difficult work and it is better to trust the installation of such structures to professionals.
Two ways to attach grilles
There are two methods of attaching gratings. According to the first method, grilles are installed permanently , which provides reliable protection from burglars, but poses a serious obstacle to the evacuation of residents through a window, in the event of a fire, for example. Therefore, the fire inspectorate prohibits the installation of stationary grates. Sometimes the fire inspectorate gives permission to install stationary, non-opening grilles, but on the condition that one window in the house does not have such a grill and opens freely.
The second method of fastening provides that the grille can be opened . Opening grilles are divided into hinged, sliding and removable.
- The most common are hinged grilles, which can be opened using a special device placed in the wall of the house. This locking mechanism is operated by a lever that is placed under the sill or on the side of the window, making it impossible to access from the outside. This type of fastening is the safest in case of fire or other dangers when residents need to leave the building urgently.
- Sliding grilles allow you to block window openings if necessary. Top-hung grilles are a popular type of sliding grille because they have a proven mechanism and smooth operation. Another type of sliding grilles, which have a lower roller, has its own advantage, which is its low price. Both types of sliding grilles are practical to use and meet fire safety requirements.
- Removable grilles are installed in the window opening using screws or anchor bolts. Typically, such gratings are installed starting from the second floor and above. When moving, the removable grille can be easily dismantled, but it does not meet fire safety requirements.
Related article: How to insert a window into a brick wall
Methods for installing gratings.
Installation of gratings is carried out in two ways. The first method is to install the grille at the ends of the window opening. The second method is to place the grille on the window opening. With the first fastening method, it is necessary to ensure that the window of the outer frame can be opened outward, and the window of the inner frame can be opened inward. With the second method of fastening, it must be borne in mind that the size of the grille should exceed the window opening.
The choice of installation is determined by two conditions: customer preferences and the material of the walls to which the grille is attached.
Installation Tips
In order to avoid mistakes and subsequently not have to redo the work, you should know some of the subtleties of installing bars on windows:
Installation of gratings is carried out only after finishing the facade and slopes.- The embedded parts for welding the gratings must be installed before the start of work on the façade.
- For reliability, the distance between the pins should be 70-80 cm.
- For a standard size window, it is advisable to install 2 embedded parts on each side of the grille.
- It is advisable to choose a steel profile for fastening pins.
- For brick walls, embedded parts measuring 15-20 cm are suitable, for walls made of foam blocks - up to 30 cm.
- There should be a minimum distance between the grille frame and the slope to make it difficult for intruders to reach the fasteners.
- When the welding work is completed, the protruding parts of the fastening pins are cut off, the welding areas are cleaned and coated with paint.
No. 2. Profile type for grille
The gratings are manufactured using the following types of profiles:
- rod - a profile, usually of round cross-section, which is obtained by pressing or rolling. Bar gratings are very durable and quite aesthetic. A rod with a diameter of 12-20 mm is used;
- square – square profile. It also makes good products from an aesthetic point of view, and they are not inferior in strength to rod. A profile with a section of 12*12, 14*14 and 16*16 mm is used;
- strip - a flat profile with a rectangular cross-section. Width up to 20 cm, thickness up to 6 mm. The simplest and far from the most artistic specimens are made from strip, and in terms of strength they cannot be compared with the two previous options, but in terms of price they confidently win;
- the combined option involves the use of different types of profiles.
Average prices for specialist services
The average cost of installing bars on a window outside a room in the Russian Federation is from 600 rubles. for 1 sq. m. Companies often offer grating production and free installation. Other companies offer installation of gratings they make at a price equal to 20% of the order cost.
The cost of the service is affected:
- number of storeys of the building;
- work on dismantling the old grille;
- complexity of the design (opening grilles);
- additional services (for example, painting of grilles).
A few more nuances
The cost of production depends on the quantity and quality of the metal, the complexity of the design, its functionality and labor costs. It’s quite easy to make and install it with your own hands; the necessary materials and tools are sold at any hardware store.
Caring for the installed protection is also important - so that it does not collapse under the influence of natural forces and does not spoil the facade of the house with rusty streaks, it is necessary to choose materials that are initially undamaged by corrosion, carefully prime all elements, and cover the top with water-repellent paint.
For reference! Please note that covering all openings with blind structures is contrary to fire safety rules, because in the event of an emergency evacuation, exit through the windows will be impossible. In a convenient place for this case, place sliding or swing options.
Preparatory stage of lattice construction
The first stage is determined by the selection of a suitable grille design for the window. Today, blind and opening structures are manufactured. But regardless of the system used to protect the work of making a grating with your own hands, they start with preparation.
- Before starting work, it is important to take correct measurements. The width and length of the product should be equal to the window opening minus 50 mm. Naturally, the length of the grating can be shorter if necessary, but so much so that an intruder cannot get through the resulting opening.
- After taking measurements, it is important to clearly draw a drawing on which to draw all the decorative elements. Structures with complex patterns are made taking into account maximum openings that will not allow a thief to enter the room.
- If you plan to make swing structures with your own hands, it is important to provide for the installation location of the locking mechanism. In this case, one sash can be blind, and the other can be opened, which will give the protective window structure greater rigidity and allow you to leave the room in the event of a fire. It is also important that the swinging part of the grille is located near the opening window sashes.
- When preparing a grating construction plan, it is important to take into account the strength margin of the structure so that it does not collapse during operation. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the presence of stiffening ribs, which are made from a metal angle made into a frame. In turn, decorative grilles must have elements connected to each other in both vertical and horizontal planes.
- Based on the prepared drawing, the calculation of consumables is carried out: a metal rod and angle, pins and decorative or forging elements, as well as hinges and a lock if the system is hinged.
Also, to carry out problem-free work on assembling a window grill with your own hands, you cannot do without a good tool:
- electric grinder;
- electric welding;
- a drill with a rebound function and a set of drills for metal and stone;
- an ordinary hammer.
Several options for metal gratings
