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

No you can have them in fully glazed doors now worries.

Have attached some Google images for you.

I can have my tilt and turns open at the top and have a roller blind down. They don’t open out past the windowsill when on the top opening so don’t intrude into the room. I only open them on the wider side opening for cleaning and I like the fact in a fire I could get out.

Window restrictors are OK for stopping people falling out etc. They aren't likely very good for stopping intruders etc,

I agree with @QuattroFromagio about window restrictors.

we recently had some new windows and I had a large bottom one open with the restrictor on. My 18yo soon worked out how to open the window fully from outside as he appeared half way through the window to “surprise” me.

It really did surprise me how quickly he undid the restrictor. He showed me how and it proved they are clearly not designed for outside security. Please don’t rely on them for security.

i would also go for top windows. I would also stick to white as dark grey is already dating I think. I know your colour is not the standard dark grey but I would be wary of something you have spent that much on dating so easily.

@ItsSnowJokes rhats good to know!! Thank you.

@272Newnames You can offset the restrictors so it doesn’t allow the window to open more than an inch or less if you want. - too small a gap for fingers or bolt cutters to get in. But a slightly larger gap than the locked open vent gap for more ventilation.

I view it as cat protection and another layer in several for security. Like having prickly planting under windows - doesn’t stop the determined, but hopefully makes you less inviting. Or gives me time to grab the heavy windlass and go all out angry on them.

Lots more replies! Thank you!

The tilt and turn I had at the previous house were ancient to be fair. We also had a break in through one of them so it's put me off. Admittedly that was in a city and I know live in a rural village but being the only adult, I feel more anxious about security.

The catio is a lovely idea! Selfishly .worried about it looking a bit of a mess. If anyone has any pictures of theirs to convince me. The cats would love it which of course should be the main thing. I think the garden full of baby birds would send them wild though.

I am definitely swaying towards top openers now. I'm wondering if I can get them that go straight across a full window rather than just the side or middle. Even if it's only part of it that opens.

And I don't know what to do about the colour. I love the agate grey with the colours bricks we have. But both companies that have quoted can't do a composite door I'm the agate grey (only pvcu). So I'd either have to go elsewhere for the door or get another colour and I can't work out what would look good 😂.

Sorry ladies. My sad dilemma is what's been going around in my head for about three years! Finally about to finally act on it and I still can't make a decision 🤪

We have chosen pebble grey. Here is a pic of one that is currently in our garage.

@user1471530109 If you are on Facebook - search for Bespoke Aviaries. He has some wonderful catios ….. 😉
the website 4wire also do catios.

@ApolloandDaphne I LOVE your window. And flush casement too (I doubt I can stretch that far). It's gorgeous!

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 will do, thank you!

Thank you! We took a long time to choose them! It's a massive expense.

We don't have any small top openings. Both sides open up fully. And have a restrictor that leaves them at around 8 inches open, then a latch that leaves them slightly a jar.

I don't miss the small top opening. When the weather was really hot I remember looking at my neighbours house with small openings and thinking 'I'm so glad I can open both windows all the way each morning'.

We did it purely because of the look, we wanted clean thin frames. But from a practicality point of view it works well for us, our only windows down stairs are north facing so it naturally cool without having to keep the windows open while we're out the house.

I have French windows with a full width top opener. It’s a narrow opening so patio doors wouldn't have done in terms of single door access (which is all you get with patio doors of course).
Bottom part of the doors is a small solid panel and our cat flap is in that.
(pic of fake sash front windows also included, from when they were new and dazzling)

Lots to think about and thank you so much for listening to my quite boring ramblings.

I've got another local company to contact (I already like them as they haven't badgered me like bloody Anglican who I did lose my shit at!) and I will see what they can offer.

I've looked at the catio ideas too! Lots of ideas. I'm actually wondering if a catio would fit better in a different area (and easier to put a cat flap in a wooden lean to) as I think the cats would love it.

@user1471530109 😊😀

The crux of it is definitely fashion v function.

What you want is more fashionable and what you don't want it more functional. It's going to be one or the other - where will your compromise be?!

We have the small top windows and opening bottom ones, our neighbour does not. I prefer ours for purely functional reasons!

We only have large side opening windows and much prefer them. We have them locked slightly open all of the time with no issues, I don’t like the look of the smaller top windows.

I wish we had small top openers in our windows, if I was having new I definitely would.

Depending on the size of your windows you should be able to have the top opener the full width of them. We have 3 windows with only top openers on- one is 110cm wide, the other two are 130 and 150cm wide. When we had them done I don’t seem to recall any tooth sucking over the idea of one large top opener and the size of them so that leads me to think they were at worst nowhere near the width limit if it does in fact exist at all. Ours are just basic white UPVC but are much better than the child escape hatches we had previously (especially as two of them have sills less than 18” off the floor so definitely escape hatches for small children of which we have 4 🙈)

For bedrooms, I always like a top opener as we have at least one open all night every night. I also have a lower opening casement for when I want a lot of fresh air at other times, like when cleaning or in warmer weather. For other rooms, either casements, or casements + top openers.
In this place we found two small secondary windows in bedrooms that didn't open at all. We changed them both to full casements.
One we still have to deal with is a large bay with just two tiny top openers. I doubt it was even legal when fitted. I can't use cleaning/decorating chemicals or anything other than low-emission paints in that room because it's impossible to ventilate it properly.
If a window has openings, you can kep them closed. But if it doesn't have enough openings, there is nothing you can do about it. I like to keep my options open and have lots of opening sections. How they look from outside is not nearly as important, as I'm not looking at them, but I think ours look fine. The one that actually looks horrible and cheap is the bay with only tiny openings. That's for the chop in the next phase of improvements.

One think to consider is the thickness of the frames. It seems cheaper windows have wider frames and you can end up with a transom window that looks like a letter box.

Aesthetically I think large windows look better but practIcally transom windows offer security (can be left open).

We have single windows and have to ensure they are closed when we go out. I know you can get restrictors but we were warned that if a window is partially open a determined rogue can force it open quite easily even with a restrictor. Apparently they often use (your!) garden spade as it has a thin edge, a long handle for leverage and are very strong.

Something else to add op, the boring bit, check whoever you use is Fensa or Certass registered, that they have current membership and that they will issue you a certificate on completion.

I am having mine changed in the next few weeks. I own my own home but am in a housing association area. They've just replaced a lot of the windows for windows without the openings. I assumed this was because they were cheaper. Some of the tenants were complaining. Especially those in bungalows who are old and don't feel like they can leave their windows open now and then be in another part of their home. Some of my neighbours have also had similar ones done but I assumed that was due to the cost of extra openings. Rather than trend. Ours will all have smaller openings. I have small children and like a bit of fresh air in the house without worrying about them escaping! My window fitter said that I was looking at about an extra £50 per opening. But I think that's worth it. You probably won't replace them for years and years. So make sure it's exactly what you want!!

We have tilt and turn Windows, you can open them wide or just tilt them so they open slightly at the top for fresh air etc, and it's all one big pane so views etc are uninterrupted and there's lots of light

I think top openers look OK if they are symmetrical (i.e you have two if you have two panes below). Having said that we went with windows without them which have an option to lock when they are a cm open to let in air and it works well.

I would always have top openings, in the property before this one they were all side opening, hated it, made me feel exposed in the bathrooms 😂