Anyone with Pvc Sash Windows? Quick question!

[InTheLostAndFound]

I'm looking at replacing my old plastic windows with Upvc Sashes but live on a main road and was wondering if they let the noise through more than the typical casement style? Any thoughts would be great!

[SweepTheHalls]

Much quieter IMO

[InTheLostAndFound]

Thanks Sweep, do you think they're suitable with young children? Restrictors can be fitted to the ones I've seen but I wasn't sure how easy they would be for the kids to open!

[Polter]

We've got them. They'd be really hard for small kids to open beyond the restrictors.

[ContraryLollipop]

Ours don't let noise through either.

You can lock them with keys.

If you left the bottom open a little bit with the restrictors 'off', then yes a young child could maybe push it up further if they were very determined to squeeze through. We don't leave the windows open like this.

If we want to leave our upstairs windows open we normally leave them such that the top half/third is open and the bottom half is completely closed.

Downstairs we wouldn't do this for security reasons, so we have the restrictors permanently 'on' so you would only ever open the windows leaving a small gap at the bottom.

Both ways are safe for small kids and we don't think of them as a safety issue.

In the first (upstairs) configuration, there is no way a child under 5 could push the bottom up from completely closed, unless they are unusually small (therefore light) windows, and the child is unusually strong, in which case you probably want to avoid this and keep to the second (downstairs) configuration.

Regarding our downstairs configuration, the restrictors are about 3 inches above the bottom of the top sash. In our case this is about 1.5m off the ground and safe from kids. The restrictors really need two hands to push and click in to undo them (on two sides of the window).

Hope this makes sense!!

[InTheLostAndFound]

That's great Contrary, very helpful description of how to use them. I've been driving dp mad with the search for a fire safe and child safe option for our windows! I know it's down to personal opinion but how do you like the way they look?

[user1499169579]

I have upvc sash windows, and I am very happy with them.
They have run through horn detail
From outside look very convincing.
The restrictors do their job well, and no child could lift the windows beyond this point.
You need to move both restrictors before pushing them up.
I got mine from Colin's sash windows, they were very inexpensive, but really they are great.
I chose them for their price, but as an interior designer I've selected more costly upvc and wood windows for clients. I've looked at lots and lots of them in show rooms. But didn't have the budget myself. However, one year on im still thrilled. our refurb has been very slow (diy) and public since we live next to a primary school, and a number of parents have asked me where we got our windows.

[tsonlyme]

I like the way mine look, you can’t spot they’re not painted wood sashes unless you look very closely, but I got the horn detail which helps.

Much quieter than the old windows which were double glazed metal frames (bought with the house).

Can’t comment on child safety as mine are 20 & 18, the last time one of them climbed through one was 5yrs ago when she was grounded 😂

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

We had Georgian style sashes - UPVC but looks like wood until you get v close up - from Bygone windows. They have period detail and were more expensive than the usual, but they're extremely child-safe, with catches, and you can have them opened a few inches, but locked. They can also open inwards for cleaning the outside, not that I've ever done it.
They are very good at keeping noise out, too.

[TheNotSoGoodWife]

We have them too - the Masterframe Bygones. We’ve had them done in stages - the first lot 3 years ago and upstairs earlier this year. We still have 6 more to go - the downside of lots of lovely big Edwardian windows!!

We keep ours with the restrictions ‘on’ as the default - in a fire the drop would be too great for them to be a viable escape route upstairs.

There is a very noticeable reduction in noise when they are shut too - we live by a fire station and a train line and neither disturbs us with the windows are closed.

[TheNotSoGoodWife]

1st picture - the restrictiors ‘on’

2nd picture - max opening of bottom sash with restrictors on. Used the sun cream for scale as I couldn’t see anything else obvious

3rd picture - restrictors ‘off’. They sit flush so the window can open as much as you want. The little knob is the mechanism for tilting the window inwards for cleaning.

[TheNotSoGoodWife]

Oh and we went for the cheapest ‘Melody’ range, ifmoney was no object I would go for either Harmony or Symphony but we have huge windows so don’t lose lots of light by having the thicker frames.

[InTheLostAndFound]

Thanks for the pictures notsogood, the restrictors look quite unobtrusive, I'm leaning more towards the sashes now instead of the half split casement windows, I've just got to convince dp that the extra money will be worth it! Looking at the rehau profiles online so just got to see some in real life now.