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Original poster

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

94 replies

user1471530109 · 01/08/2022 14:24

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

OP posts:

Thread gallery

GrumpyPanda · 01/08/2022 15:09

ItsSnowJokes · 01/08/2022 14:34

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.

There are other ways to achieve the same thing.
German-style tilt action windows, or else simply get one of these little metal fasteners that restrict the window from opening too far.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 01/08/2022 15:09

During the summer we leave most of upstairs windows open at night, always have done.

Downstairs ones are open all day in the summer, then closed when it gets dark basically. Never felt the need to 'supervise a room' as a PP said

Bunnynames101 · 01/08/2022 15:10

I'd go for big tilt and turns. You can vent whilst maintaining security but also open wide for a thorough airing and ease of cleaning.

SushiShopSearch · 01/08/2022 15:11

We live in a townhouse and have the small openings on the first floor. Wish we hadn't as we either have the whole window open or nothing. Different for top floor where there are bedrooms.

Looks much nicer without the small openings. (skylights?)

thebloodycatwontstopmeowing · 01/08/2022 15:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This poster has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to withdraw this post.

Blossomandbee · 01/08/2022 15:12

We had all new windows and found it really hard to choose. It's a big expense so you want to get it right.

I wouldn't listen too much to the salesman. They don't have to live with them and they tend to try and tell you what's trendy rather than what would suit your house and lifestyle. Ours told us decorative bars would look awful, yet they were on the originally windows and looked really nice. The houses that had them replaced without them look really odd I think.

Some windows will have to have big openings as a legal requirement for fire escape. Have they talked you through this?
It affected our choices on some windows.

I chose small top openings for bathroom windows so I could keep them open overnight. Any windows you leave open are worth having a small opening on.
Try and think what works for you with what you currently have and what you would change. Take into consideration things like having to reach over a kitchen sink to open the window, could you comfortably reach. If there's a child's room it's nice to have an opening you can leave open without them risking falling out.

megletthesecond · 01/08/2022 15:13

You'll regret not having small top opening windows. I wouldn't sleep with large windows open either.

HarrietSchulenberg · 01/08/2022 15:21

All my windows are large openers as I want to be able to get straight out in the event of a fire. Downstairs open at the top half, upstairs at the bottom half. All have lockable restrictors. They also fit the look of my house as the original windows were big sashes, and windows with little bitty top openers and a huge glass panel at the bottom look weird.

Original poster

user1471530109 · 01/08/2022 15:23

This is the look I was hoping to achieve with the agate grey....any opinions? House is currently a bit fugly. But live in a beautiful village with stunning views.

Other question: french doors? Yay or nay? Currently have patio which are decades old and very drafty. Quite a small opening.

I'm quite interested in restricting the large window openings. Maybe that would be enough? My eldest has sensory issues (ASD) so has the bloody fan on all night, all year, anyway. I'd always have a large opening as fire safety even if I did have the top openings.

Unfortunately my bathroom is downstairs. Part of my money spending early next year is to compete the plumbing in of toilet that I've had the pipework put in for. Tiny house. So will need to be an ensuite. But I hate the bathroom downstairs so this will make a huge difference!

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

OP posts:

thebloodycatwontstopmeowing · 01/08/2022 15:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This poster has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to withdraw this post.

NoParticularPattern · 01/08/2022 17:57

I love a top opener. Small children can’t escape out of them, rain doesn’t absolutely pour in if it starts chucking it down and you’re out or you forget to shut them, you can leave them open pretty much forever and have basically no issues whatsoever. We are also on a farm so they let fewer flies in I find. I would rather have top openers than full pane openers any day of the week.

EhatBow · 01/08/2022 18:05

I've replaced windows in a number of houses over the last 30 years. Every time the salesman has tried to tell me I don't need small openers and everytime I've ignored them.

The more openers you have the higher the quote will be. They want to keep the price down so it looks more attractive, but yes IMO you'll regret not having small windows to leave openers at night etc. Don't just have small ones though, you'll regret that too!!

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 01/08/2022 18:08

I think you answered your own question @user1471530109 - you have too openers which are open most of the year. You will miss them if you don’t have them.

patio v French doors. You have house cats - are you thinking of a catio? If so, how big as the French doors will open into it and might restrict what you can have in the catio. However, a normal door could have a cat flap into a catio. Patio doors - no cat flap but less restrictive on outside space being sliders.

If money was no object - what windows would you have? Maybe that will
help….

ItsSnowJokes · 01/08/2022 18:20

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 01/08/2022 18:08

I think you answered your own question @user1471530109 - you have too openers which are open most of the year. You will miss them if you don’t have them.

If money was no object - what windows would you have? Maybe that will
help….

You can have cat flaps in glazed doors now so that's no problem at all. We are just about to have one put in our French doors.

Dougieowner · 01/08/2022 18:23

You definitely want top vent windows and some top hinged openers.
When it is raining you can have fresh air without worrying about rain ingress, you can't do that with all large or side hinged windows.

FAQs · 01/08/2022 18:25

For building regs you’ll need one upper floor opener for a fire exit. The picture you’ve put up is lovely !

Oblomov22 · 01/08/2022 18:27

Go top openings. I T would be a big mistake not to. I regret not having them. As you said you have them open all year.

QuattroFromagio · 01/08/2022 18:35

I wish I had openings to get some kind of cross breeze in my flat!! I can't open windows easily and if some of the other windows had little openings, it would be easier.

Window restrictors are OK for stopping people falling out etc. They aren't likely very good for stopping intruders etc, which is why i still don't use them to keep windows open at night, sadly. I'm on the ground floor. They might be OK for higher windows, though.

For ground floor, all it takes is a pair of bolt cutters and they'd be gone, and with the sort of window I have, they could reach in and open the rest of the window that way, and be in before I know it. I know angle grinders would make a bit more noise, but even still, they are very very quick at it, and even if I'm awake, the fact that someone is breaking in would scare me.

I'd love to find some way of restricting windows that is safer. You might think bolt cutters etc would be uncommon for intruders to have, but they're not really, as they can cut cable locks, bike locks, etc, which are pretty popular.

However, they would be OK for stopping a child escaping or falling out.

CrabbyCat · 01/08/2022 18:35

Why is it you didn't like the tilt and turn windows?

We have them downstairs and they give you the ability to have a small opening (tipped on the bottom edge) or a large opening (hinged on the side) without having anything cut across the middle of the window. If you are in the shorter, they are much better than top openers for any windows over kitchen units as the handle is lowe - I used to have to stand on a chair to open our old top openers. You can also fit retractable external fly / mosquito nets, which are great for keeping flies out a kitchen.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 01/08/2022 18:36

@ItsSnowJokes can you have them in a large expanse of a patio door? I know you can have them in smaller double glazed units - having one ourselves in a fixed window to the catio. (No way for someone to reach in and unlock the window) Was under the impression there is a limit on pane size ??

ChicCroissant · 01/08/2022 18:38

We replaced our windows and doors recently - previously we had large (side) opening windows and I didn't feel they were safe when my DD was young, we fitted our own restrictors on them (rented property at the time), top openers were a must for us, we have a large opening window in each set as well but it's the top openers (especially in the kitchen as we have a gas hob) that get the most use.

fakename13778 · 01/08/2022 18:38

Function over fashion with something like windows. We bought a house without small openings and swore about them frequently until we changed them. It just isn't practical.

We now have large openings, small openings and trickle vents

QuebecBagnet · 01/08/2022 18:39

I think tilt and turn are the best of both worlds. I love mine. I think the grey frames are lovely.

ApolloandDaphne · 01/08/2022 18:40

We are changing our windows at the moment. We are not having small top openers, just one big panel that hinges outwards but can be locked in place at any open amount. I hope that they will be good! We need more light more than we need top openers.

80sMum · 01/08/2022 18:46

Bunnynames101 · 01/08/2022 15:10

I'd go for big tilt and turns. You can vent whilst maintaining security but also open wide for a thorough airing and ease of cleaning.

Tilt and Turns are definitely easier to clean but they can be rather unwieldy in my experience.
As they open inwards, they need a lot clearance, so take up a lot of space in the room.
Also, the ones I used couldn't be fastened when fully open, so couldn't be opened if it was windy.
They're also not suitable if you have blinds rather than curtains, as you can't have the windows open and the blinds closed at the same time,

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