New windows: will I regret not having some small openings?

[user1471530109]

I had a quote for some new windows. It's an ex authority semi so I'm just replacing some 40+ drafty aluminium framed ones for pvcu (agate grey I think...sandy coloured bricks and rural). I've plenty of old posts on this...it's been a decision over a few years grin.
But the chap doing the measuring up for the quote said it's not fashionable to have the top small openings and he advised to go just for large panels. Do you all agree? I just can't shake the idea that those small openings are safer from a security point of view if I want to leave them open at night etc.

Windows won't be going in until the new year. I've never bought new windows in my 20 years of house owning so if anyone has any tips or must haves, please do pass them on thanks

Obviously that should have been flowers 🤦‍♀️. What happened to the emojis?

I'd have the top bits personally.

I'd have the top bits, we changed yrs ago & were persuaded to have only 1 top opener (bay window) & wish we hadn't

We had new windows 12 years ago. No top openings. And I don't miss them one bit. We have most of them cracked open (still locked) except when it's really cold. Most of ours open along the bottom (so hinged at the top) rather than at the side. I think that's nicer aesthetically too.

We went for side openings rather than top hoppers

We have windows that are one large opener and one static window. I hate not having a small opener in that static one. I like fresh air at night but don't want the big window open in winter. It is so much easier with a small opener.

I would go for top opener and vents. I like to have a large opening window in each room for a fire exit too. You can buy and retrofit window restrictors to stop people getting in at night. (Just fitted some for this reason and to stop the cats high diving out of them).

I went for large openers but they can lock open about 5mm to allow airflow. The kitchen windows also have air vents in the top of the frame so there are a couple of secure options.
I think they are lighter and less 'bitty' but just personal choice.

Windows without small openings are cheaper.

I'd go with whatever matches the majority of the rest of the houses close by.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 I have a mesh over the windows to stop the cats jumping out (house cats)! I hadn't thought about restrictors.

I agree the top openers (and big openers) sea sensible. But I can't shake what he has said about not being 'in'. Looking on Pinterest is no help. All the agate grey wines seem to be just large windows or maybe with the bars-but I haven't seen any with the top opening which makes me think I'm going to make am expensive mistake.

Those of you without top openings, do you keep them open at night? I'm a single parent so security is even more important to me than it would have been when married.

Cross posted there.

I did wonder if it was to keep his quote down.

Is 5mm open enough in the summer though?

I hate the top openings as by hqving the extra bit blocks out some light. When we had ours replaced we just have the 1 main opening anf all our rooms are so much brighter!

I'm saving up to replace our windows and the main thing on our list is top opening ones as the ones we have don't have them and we really miss them. Also easier to keep the cats in (stupid cats who would jump out from upstairs if they saw a butterfly to chase)

We rented an ex-LA for years that only had large panel openings. We bought a house recently and bought double glazing this weekend, all windows we are replacing will have a small opening above the static window and a large opening to the side. I don't care of they're unfashionable. I hated not having small windows (especially in the bathroom as we could never open the bathroom window wide whilst in the shower).

All the double glazing salespersons we've spoken to have said the same - more openings, the more expensive the windows are.

We’ve got top openers, but always close the downstairs ones at night
Thats not helpful, is it 🤣
(They’re fake sashes anyway, so not what you’d be considering. But downstairs bay window gets wonderful breezes when they are open - previously we had a single tilt and turn, so bottom hinged but inward opening, and never got a breeze from
that. Was useful for chucking Christmas tree out though.)

I have living room windows that don't open at the top and I hate them (in rented at the moment so can't change).

It's a hot south facing room and can't have the windows open unless someone is in the room supervising basically.

I grew up with the top opening ones and I miss them in my current windows. But I would probably go for something similar to the original windows and/or the neighbouring houses.

I wouldn't go for grey myself, as that is already starting to look dated.

Is burglary likely where you are OP? I guess the likelihood would matter here.
We live in a low crime area, all our windows open fully, and we often leave upstairs windows open when we go out all day, and at night would be fine if not for the midges!
To be honest I worry about fire far more than burglars. I want every bedroom to have a window in it with an opening a person could fit through.

I have windows with small top openers.. they are open all year round!

I don't have any top opening windows & only miss them on the odd occasion the cat isn't allowed out & it's hot

Our house had no top openings when we moved in. When we replaced them I insisted on top openings. Drove me mad.

I have noticed the trend away from them in our area though. But then it seems people have to open the large windows even in Winter. They do look nicer without but more practical to have them I think. Especially if you have them now could be hard to get used to.

I'm not sure I'm any closer to a decision 😂.

The windows at the front of the house currently all have top openings and they are pretty much left open 24/7 in the summer (with nets over for bloody cats who have tried to get out as birds sit outside window). The back bedrooms just have single large panels and I struggle a bit when I don't feel safe to keep them open at night.

But I can't shake the idea that they may look better as all large panels.

That's one of the crap things about living in my own. No one to discuss it with! House on street all have different. Including tilt and turn which I had previously and didn't like.

How do we all feel about agate grey? The pale olive grey? £5-6k is a LOT of money to me.

they are windows, not fashion accessories! I would drefinitely go for transoms (what the small opening windows are called) Oh and DO NOT put what the rest of the houses have over what you want. we kept the georgian bars because everybody else has them and I loathe them with a deadly passion.

We couldn't have top windown opening in the bedrooms for safety reasons. We were told that regulation now means there has to be an exit from the bedroom to the outside (in case of fire).

We still have the top window dowstairs (easier to leave open safely, I agree with you there)

I have lock type things at the sides of the windows which restrict the opening.