Inward opening windows ...

Above the ground floor, it is a lot easier to clean the outside of the glass if a window open inwards.

Colin Bignell brought next idea :

Not impossible, depending on the design, for them to still be cleaned from inside even if the open out. Mine move away from the frame hinge side when fully open, leaving a gap - so you can get your arm through at the hinge side.

Mine open in from the top, but for cleaning they open like a door, making it easy to clean them, without contortions.

Never been abroad? The only way you can have external shutters on windows is if they open inwards (assuming you want to be able to close them from indoors).

And also for escape purposes, which is why they were fitted in our house (they are BIG).

Commonly known as 'tilt-swivel'.

Yes, but you can't have an house plants or ornaments there.

Many years ago we had a discussion with an elderly French couple about it, they asked about cleaning and thought it a wonderful idea that we had someone come round to do it for us!

You can have shutters on outward opening windows, as long as you have the roller shutter type, with electric operation or a winder that passes through the wall.

If you have shutters, as much of the world does, you need to have inward opening windows. Your shutters open outward, your windows open inward. That means you can close the shutters but leave the windows open, allowing ventilation but preventing solar heat and light from coming in. It also means you can lock the shutters at night / while you're out while still getting ventilation.

Old British buildings have wooden shutters on the inside to keep the heat

Outward opening casement windows are mostly a British thing, because we don't need shutters as It Never Gets Too Hot (ahem).

(another option is sliding aluminium profiles - like a sash but horizontal - which are also a solution to the shutter conflict. I tried to find a supplier but they're really difficult to find - importing them from Greece seemed to be the best option)

Theo

Mine are tilt and turn, so they open at the top for ventilation, which doesn't disturb anything inside. Lifting things off to clean the window is just part of the routine.

I have a window cleaner, but he only comes once a month.

But then you can't close the shutters while leaving the windows open - surely the point of having shutters is so you can let a breeze through while blocking sunlight and burglars?

When we did our garage conversion, we had an enormous one fitted, to make it easier to move big stuff in and out of the new workroom.

Indeed. I don’t think here in the UK folk are familiar with the way they’re used in warmer climes.

Tim

If the windows are recessed a little or the shutters have some stand-off, you can still have them open to the "locked just open" ventilation position.

Although, I'd have thought that in the UK, rather than further South, shutters would be of use to keep heat in in the colder months.

I've long wondered why sash windows have not made more of a comeback given they accommodate shutters - internal or external (or both!).

That doesn't offer a lot of ventilation - just a trickle really. It doesn't allow you to catch a breeze, as you might want on a hot day.

Shutters with louvres designed for ventilation are not good for keeping heat in. You'd want solid shutters on the inside for that, as found on some

Another feature of louvre shutters is that you can get some light through so you can have dim daylight inside when the sun is harsh outside.

These are 'French-style' 4 part wooden louvre shutters:

More modern sliding and folding aluminium versions (often only 2 part) are standard in Greece, but hard to find here.

Theo

Difficulty in sealing, mainly. You can get double glazed sash windows with airtight seals but its a heck of a sight harder and more expensive than casements

Good question. Possibly harder to make in cheap uPVC?

(also horizontal sliding windows - plenty of sliding doors, no sliding windows. Vendors wouldn't sell me a 600mm high 'door')

Theo

And those hinged in the middle that tipped water onto anyone attempting to close them of course. Brian

I thought all windows used in France open inwards, so that on the outside you can have external shutters that can be closed easily on the upper floors.