Diagonals........HELP!

[Moo]

Chewing gum? It may well come to that, Joss.

I've made my template and checked and double-checked how well it fits, but am now facing a real problem.
I want to screw the plastic to the window so that I can take it off in the spring and leave the window unchanged (apart from the screw holes, of course).
But down both sides of the window I only have an inch into which I can screw the plastic. I'm reluctant to have the stuff cut to too tight a fit, so that makes it less than an inch, which means that the screws will be very near the edge of the plastic. And I have awful visions of expensive cracks happening.

Oh, why is nothing simple?

 

[Feltwell]

I wouldn't drill the plastic at all.

Either use the magnetic strip system I've posted up before, or, if you don't like the idea of the strips on the window, use the "easyfix" system Penners has posted up before - where you have a strip that goes round the edge of the plastic sheet and clips that you screw to the window frame.

http://www.theonestopplasticsshop.c...04_916.html?osCsid=1tbnmssoh6s8p0eo5lile62r17

 

[Flyfisher]

Perspex is quite an easy material to work, so I wouldn't worry too much about it cracking when drilling holes close to the edge, but do use a sharp drill bit so that it cuts rather than burns its way through.

The danger of cracking will be greater when screwing it to the window frame, especially if you are using some sort of sealing strip around the edge and fully tightening the screws would distort the perspex whereas it really only needs to be held firmly, not tightly, against the sealing strip.

But it's pretty resilient stuff so I think you'll have to try fairly hard to break it.

 

[Moo]

Messrs Plastic (there were two of them...) were absolutely wonderful this morning - very kind and patient. They had a little demo window on the wall that did exactly what I wanted, so I've left the template with them and they're going to ring me on Monday to give me a quote.
The plastic 'panes' will be edged with a narrow plastic strip (except for the middle edges, which will be slotted into "a haich moulding" so as to join the two halves together) and the whole thing will be held in place by little plastic clips that are nailed (not screwed, thank goodness) to the window frame.
When I want to take it all down in the spring, all I'll have to do is flip the clips sideways and out will come the plastic sheets, together with their edging, to go into storage(where?.....) until the next big freeze.

Couldn't be simpler!


Note to Joce: The plastic strips come in a choice of white or brown.
That link to the One Stop Plastics Shop looks brilliant - if there's nothing like Mr Plastics in Grantham, I reckon you could get everything you want from them.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

AttaGirl, nearly there :!: :!:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Well done Moo, and thank you for explaining it so carefully. If I've understood correctly, the plastic is attached to the window frame at the sides, still enabling you to open the window though?

This sounds great, but still doesn't address the problem of the draughts coming in through the moving parts at the sides, which is the worst feature of my windows!

Please keep us posted as to the difference it makes in your breakfast room.

I have some non sash windows where this system would be really good.

 

[Moo]

Be reassured, Joce - the plastic sheet covers the entire window, including all the working parts and draughty gaps, so there should be absolutely no air getting in.
The only downside is that you have to resign yourself to not opening the windows unless you actually remove the plastic (which is easy because all you have to do is twist the little clips through 90 degrees and out comes the plastic dg pane).

At least, that's the theory. Be patient for a few more days, until I've got mine installed.

xx M

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ooh! It's getting exciting now. Blocking off all sources of air is appealing, especially with the thought that if there were a fire blocking my exit through the doors it would still be possible to unclip the plastic and jump out the window (bedrooms and living room on ground floor here - for people who don't know my house).

So the little bits of paper I've pushed in these troublesome side gaps

would be obviated.

The only potential problem is that I've only got 1cm on which to attach the plastic. On those side bits. (What's their proper name?) Is it the same for you Moo?

 

[Moo]

1cm is all you'll need, Joce. You just have to tap the nails in close to those browny bits as possible.

xx

(I hope readers are impressed by our command of technical terms)

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

Thanks Moo. Wishing you a warm brekky room ASAP xx