Casement window locks.

[88v8]

When I designed the new casement windows, I gave a passing thought to window locks. Now, two of them are installed, and I still haven't found anything 'period' in the way of key ops.
Three of the five windows only have fanlights, and as the average burglar doesn't carry a small boy around with him I shan't bother with locking.
The other two windows however, could do with locks.

I've looked in the PPF shop, and in the excellent Period Ironmonger https://theperiodironmonger.co.uk/ and elsewhere including Lock Monster where they have this https://www.lockmonster.co.uk/item/era-locking-window-lock-1-key-828 which is fiddly and ugly,
this which looks modern https://www.lockmonster.co.uk/item/yale-window-lock-in-white-1-with-key-chubb-8k101,
this which looks fiddly to use https://www.lockmonster.co.uk/item/banham-w106-casement-window-lock,
and this which is perhaps the best option https://www.lockmonster.co.uk/item/era-security-snaplock-standard-key-brass-801-32 especially as I can paint it black to match the furniture.

When one looks at the Lockmonster site as a whole, it amazes me that the market can sustain so much security hardware.

Anyway, the opening stile is about an inch wide, window opens outwards.

Have we found anything better?

Ivor

 

[ChrisD]

I’ve used lockable stay pins in the past as a fairly unobtrusive but good visual deterrent against any opportunistic attempts to gain entry.

Chris.

 

[Andys]

We have the latter example on your list fitted to our windows Ivor, even the fanlights, and they're easy to operate at least. We do sometimes have to push the window shut from the outside to allow the latch to latch but that's more to do with the state of our windows. They are an ugly wart on the window frame but like you say, painting them helps.

 

[Cubist]

We used something similar to the first example in your list Ivor, seemed to be the least obtrusive, physically, at the time. However, I did paint them black in an effort to make them less obvious.

Like yourself I have yet to see something more in keeping and have on occasion considered having words with a local smithy to see what he might come up with - but that I dare say would be a very expensive option considering how many I would need.

 

[steveb]

These are meant for sashes but do you have somewhere that you could fudge these to work in?

https://www.lockmonster.co.uk/item/chubb-sliding-sash-window-locks-now-yale-brand-8013

 

[livias]

We have the one that you call modern. I call it 'simple' especially when painted black to match the window .... which most of ours are not yet but will be real soon now. Meanwhile we have the brown version

They have the advantage that once fine tuned they can be pivoted to lock and unlock without the key

 

[MikeG]

Just A quick reminder that designated escape windows (one per habitable room) shouldn't have a lock. You knew that, but others reading along later might not.

 

[noj]

We have pretty much all of the above on various windows - the only one I see any benefit from is the fiddly and ugly one - which, if painted, shouldn't look too bad and allows the window to be locked in a slightly open position if required. And it's visible from the outside too. All the other ones only work when the window is fully closed and secured with the regular latch and stay combination.

In my experience, when the bad people want to get in, something as minor as a window lock held with a couple of screws isn't a major deterrent. A garden fork is a pretty effective key for a softwood frame and the resulting damage is simply increased by having locks.

I'm gradually losing them here as I get round the decorating and our insurance stopped on insisting we have them since we paid a little bit extra to not have to fit a 5-lever mortice lock into a 1/2" plank door...

 

[88v8]

Just A quick reminder that designated escape windows (one per habitable room) shouldn't have a lock.

Ahh, what a burglar refers to as a means of getting in. I suppose someone of what I would regard as normal size might manage to clamber out of one of the three bedrooms and two of the seven downstairs rooms. It's just as well we have doors, otherwise egress would be tricky.
Our insurers require a lock on all accessible windows, not that I pay too much attention to what they want.

We don't have much worth stealing. Anyone peering through the windows will see no 'new technology', not even a tele as we haven't had one for seven years, but I don't like the thought of someone getting in and rummaging around.

Yes, it's a tossup between security and extra damage. Anyone determined enough and prepared to make some noise.... Logically, the garden shed and the garage, with the breaking in tools, should be the best protected.
I do think that window security needs to be visible from the outside, so those sash screws - I had exactly those in the sashes in our previous house - would be ineligible even if the windows were meaty enough to fit them.
At least visible security deters those who hope just to break the glass and open up.

Well, I suppose I'll buy a couple of options and have a look in-situ.

Ivor