Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 May 17, 2009 1:18 pm Choosing our windows is doing my head in! Can I ask a dumb question? We currently have awning windows in our house but it is an older house and i HATE them as they are on a chain winder which only goes so far and IMO there is no ventilation. However DH assures me that new awning style windows allow you to open the window to a 90 degree angle so you get lots of air flow (and anyone walking past cracks their head but that's another discussion). is he right? i would have thought that the chainwinder would have prevented this? or can they come without chain winders? L Re: which windows? 2May 17, 2009 1:23 pm loretta - we're having awning windows and using Trend - haven't seen any like that. What window company? Do you have a view out those windows? If not - why not use louvres. Or a big picture window (for views) and then louvres on either side. I've seen the Breezeway ones and they are great. After 4 years - we're in! Re: which windows? 3May 17, 2009 1:33 pm i personally don't think there are windows like that here - he says that he had them in his house in NZ. we do have a bit of a view over what will be a rockery and quite pretty but as much as i originally wanted louvers, no good, as we are close to a train line and need to have windows with decent acoustic properties. i was originally all for double hung but now i am thinking maybe casement? but that means fly screen on the inside which i don't really like. arrgghh! too many choices and no clear winners! Re: which windows? 4May 17, 2009 3:41 pm Tilt and turn is the way to go. Tilt is for normal ventilation and with the turn of the handle the window is fully open. It is also very secure with multiple locking points, the hardware is adustable. Forget louvers or louvres?, they are not airtight when closed, not at all thermally efficient and they are an invitation for unwanted guests. Change is what we need! Can we? YES WE CAN!!!!! Re: which windows? 5May 17, 2009 5:26 pm loretta Choosing our windows is doing my head in! Can I ask a dumb question? We currently have awning windows in our house but it is an older house and i HATE them as they are on a chain winder which only goes so far and IMO there is no ventilation. However DH assures me that new awning style windows allow you to open the window to a 90 degree angle so you get lots of air flow (and anyone walking past cracks their head but that's another discussion). is he right? i would have thought that the chainwinder would have prevented this? or can they come without chain winders? L The awning window which opens 90 deg doesn't exist ( err... see note below). But as windowexpert says there are tilt & turn windows which can open 90 degrees into your home as an inward opening casement and then they can open like a hopper window (inverted awning). The flyscreen would be fitted to the outside. But in all cases for all windows, if it's a 1st floor window and the opening is below 1 metre from the floor you will need a restricted opening by law. Get double glazing and you won't need to open the windows so often or so wide . Ed Note: We do supply an awning window to Simonds - it's fitted with gas struts to open it to 90 degs... it's used exclusively in their alfresco to connect the kitchen bench right thru' to the outside - you can see it in Mernda (if it hasn't been stolen ). But not what I would use everywhere... "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: which windows? 6May 19, 2009 1:58 pm Dear Loretta,
I can understand your frustration with chain winders. We have decided to go without a chain winder on all manually operated awnings. On the other hand the maximised ventilation and the 90 degree opening for cleaning purposes are an argument for either tilt turn or for pivot hinged casement windows. To see the operation of a casement you can see the animation here: http://www.*****.au/windows/style/ Besides the opening option it's also important what kind of framing you are after to choose windows. Best regards Kris
Re: which windows? 7May 20, 2009 8:41 am Miglas Windows Dear Loretta, I can understand your frustration with chain winders. We have decided to go without a chain winder on all manually operated awnings. On the other hand the maximised ventilation and the 90 degree opening for cleaning purposes are an argument for either tilt turn or for pivot hinged casement windows. Best regards Kris Kris/Loretta, I have seen 500,000 chain winders installed with very few problems, including sealing. We had a problem at N4 with a Whitco chain winder that disintegrated under test. The winder we use has been tested in a NATA laboratory in Australia. We use Truth style winders on our PVC products and they are very good, but not (as I understand it) key lockable. The chain winder is a well tried performer which will be here for many more years. Regarding opening and cleaning... most windows are composed of fixed and opening lights, so a sliding window will cover a fixed light when the sash is open - every sliding window must have a fixed component to operate (most window configurations have fixed and opening lights). With cleaning, the fixed lights cannot be accessed with the offset pivot hinge so you are left with employing a ladder or a window cleaner. The Australian Standards say you cannot employ 90 degree opening with a first floor window below 1m above floor level. These need to be restricted opening or have a balustrade up to 1m. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: which windows? 8May 20, 2009 9:13 am Dear Lorette, Dear Ed,
Locks on many chain winders are more of a joke anyway given that they are fixed with two tiny screws. Additional locks besides the winder itself are the way to go. Besides insurance companies in Australia still believing that deadlocking yourself is the way to go, there is no need for deadlocks as long as the system is secure against forced entry from the outside. No deadlock means you can always escape to the outside. In regard to fixed windows I agree but that's common sense, plus the restriction is necessary. Nonetheless you would be able to disengage for cleaning purposes. You wilkl be surprised what the multiple locking points along the sash add in regard to air tightness. As mentioned in other topics. Air Infiltration is still a problem not quite represented in the NFRC-100 ratings. I didn't say that all chain winders are crap and in regard to functionality wasn't talking about the one of test were everyone can fiddle around on the window until they take the small hurdle. I am talking long term reliability and durability - a test that the NATA doesn't offer when they test structural strength. Our windows including winder and mullion are tested up to N6 - I guess that's good enough. They had to finish the testing before the windows gave up to not destroy there machine. Rgs Kris
Re: which windows? 9May 20, 2009 10:58 am Miglas Windows Dear Lorette, Dear Ed, Locks on many chain winders are more of a joke anyway given that they are fixed with two tiny screws. Additional locks besides the winder itself are the way to go. Besides insurance companies in Australia still believing that deadlocking yourself is the way to go, there is no need for deadlocks as long as the system is secure against forced entry from the outside. No deadlock means you can always escape to the outside. In regard to fixed windows I agree but that's common sense, plus the restriction is necessary. Nonetheless you would be able to disengage for cleaning purposes. You wilkl be surprised what the multiple locking points along the sash add in regard to air tightness. As mentioned in other topics. Air Infiltration is still a problem not quite represented in the NFRC-100 ratings. I didn't say that all chain winders are crap and in regard to functionality wasn't talking about the one of test were everyone can fiddle around on the window until they take the small hurdle. I am talking long term reliability and durability - a test that the NATA doesn't offer when they test structural strength. Our windows including winder and mullion are tested up to N6 - I guess that's good enough. They had to finish the testing before the windows gave up to not destroy there machine. Rgs Kris Kris, You have a fantastic window, why do you have to say everything else is "cheap" (from your quote re PVC), or "small" (from your quote re hardware), or "tiny screws" (as above). They all work and work well... If the insurance companies require key locking, that's what they require, (and the chain winder works well and is stronger than the surrounding glass). I personally think, forget locking (as they do in the USA) and work on egress in the event of a fire. We have multi-point locking on PVC... it's great - much stronger than the surrounding glass, but as said previously, a brick is as good as a key. Regarding long term reliability etc... look around - there are many homes with ancient timber and aluminium windows. The only reason to upgrade is for energy efficiency. What's the oldest window Miglas have out there? Regarding "fiddling around to overcome small hurdles" the test laboratory requires everything to be appropriately documented on drawings. Regarding cleaning, you still cannot clean the fixed lights. Regarding destroying the test machine... I expect our window to pass N6 as well... the test laboratory we use can test any window to any level - including absolute failure - and that would include Miglas's window, the structural integrity of the test equipment will not be breached well in excess of N6. Kris, you have an excellent window, but other windows are very good too - and there are some even better than Miglas. Do you need to make negative comment about everyone else's window design? They all have their positives and negatives. You could just say what's good about Miglas, and I agree it is good. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: which windows? 10May 20, 2009 11:11 am We've just installed tilt & turn windows and they are fantastic! Friends are all envious!! Forget awing on chain winders - we have them now and you're right - they don't ventilate especially if you want to catch the cool breezes after stinking hot day. Re: which windows? 11May 20, 2009 12:01 pm Quote: We've just installed tilt & turn windows and they are fantastic! I second that!!!! I've seen them all over Europe and they're wonderfully flexible. I've got them for my new house. Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: which windows? 12Sep 29, 2009 8:30 am I'm Hijacking this topic a bit, but I couldn't find another with answers to my questions. We have A & L sliding (except for awning at the front) windows in the new house, the sliding ones have locks that can be key locked when they are shut, but is there a way of locking them slightly open? We had key locks on the alum windows on the old house, they were on the bottom track and I just drilled a hole where I wanted and was able to lock it into that position, these new windows have the plastic lock that slides up and down from top to bottom. Any advise would be appreciated. Vid Re: which windows? 13Sep 29, 2009 10:31 am vid I'm Hijacking this topic a bit, but I couldn't find another with answers to my questions. We have A & L sliding (except for awning at the front) windows in the new house, the sliding ones have locks that can be key locked when they are shut, but is there a way of locking them slightly open? We had key locks on the alum windows on the old house, they were on the bottom track and I just drilled a hole where I wanted and was able to lock it into that position, these new windows have the plastic lock that slides up and down from top to bottom. Any advise would be appreciated. Vid Yes, call A&L and ask for vent locks... easy to fit. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: which windows? 14Sep 29, 2009 4:45 pm Loretta, take a look at Rylock's awning windows. They are hinged differently from other awning windows and allow air to pass through the top part of the awning as well as the under side. They are a solid window and also look good as well. We are having them in our custom built home. Re: which windows? 15Sep 30, 2009 4:59 am radiuz Loretta, take a look at Rylock's awning windows. They are hinged differently from other awning windows and allow air to pass through the top part of the awning as well as the under side. They are a solid window and also look good as well. We are having them in our custom built home. The ventilation is still not near as good as t&t and the rain comes in on top Plus you have the window in the middle of youir view Change is what we need! Can we? YES WE CAN!!!!! Re: which windows? 16Sep 30, 2009 7:41 am ed @ EcoClassic vid I'm Hijacking this topic a bit, but I couldn't find another with answers to my questions. We have A & L sliding (except for awning at the front) windows in the new house, the sliding ones have locks that can be key locked when they are shut, but is there a way of locking them slightly open? We had key locks on the alum windows on the old house, they were on the bottom track and I just drilled a hole where I wanted and was able to lock it into that position, these new windows have the plastic lock that slides up and down from top to bottom. Any advise would be appreciated. Vid Yes, call A&L and ask for vent locks... easy to fit. Ed Thanks Ed Re: which windows? 17Sep 30, 2009 8:08 am Just had our windows for entire house (rebuild) delivered. They're cedar sashless windows There is a big bay window as well which has these nifty wind out doovers Are sashless windows the same as what this thread is about or are they a totally different window It's all over my head Saw them at a house our builder took us too & thought these were really nice. Gotta me better than what I had before Jazz Life is like a lolly, suck it and see Black on light wood does look good. Not sure if it will be as long lasting as a steel finish? 6 6349 brokers will also be in a position to get you a better rate than the advertised rate most times. 6 7566 Thank you. Do I use timber floorboards for stairs or do people use timber treads? Or is both the same? 6 7271 |