Window accessories

Two window handle designs: a hook handle and a latch handle

The hardware design determines what you get, so that's where your choice begins. A hook handle has a curved pin that engages a latch screwed to the frame and holds the sash in place, making it useful for windows that are left open for extended periods. A latch handle is smaller: you screw the handle itself onto the sash, the plate onto the frame side, and the whole thing serves to pull the sash closed, not to lock it. Window accessories from this section change the appearance and comfort of the handle, not the way the window works: there are no tilt-and-turn mechanisms, hinges, or locks here.

Window handles in brass, antique gold, and nickel

You match the finish to the joinery and the rest of the metal in the room, as two similar but different shades can be seen from across the room. Brass is available in natural and brushed versions, next to antique gold with a darker, muted tone, and polished nickel keeps the cool side. A brushed surface scatters light and shows fingerprints less, while a polished surface reflects them like a mirror, so it's easier to keep the former in the kitchen window. It's a good idea to choose window handles in the same tone as the furniture fittings in the room, because the difference between the two shades of metal is more visible than the difference in the shades of the walls; The same tone on furniture is shared by the brass furniture handles and nickel furniture handles sections.

style="font-weight:700">Where does a window handle come in handy?

The window handle in this section is primarily used for wooden joinery: renovated casement windows, balcony doors in tenement houses, and casements in houses with wooden frames. Brass and antique gold complement dark wood and warm white walls, polished nickel pairs with gray and cool woodwork. A catch handle makes sense where the sash rarely moves: in a pantry window, in an attic, or in a built-in door under a windowsill. As window accessories, you replace them without interfering with the perimeter fittings, so refreshing old joinery costs only an afternoon and a few screws. In retro style, the same proportions are making a comeback in furniture, so you can choose retro furniture handles.

How to match window accessories to the size of the sash

This section doesn't specify the hole spacing, because you attach the hardware with screws in a location you mark on the sash. Dimensions matter: height, or how much the element protrudes from the surface, ranges from 10 to 45 mm, length from 40 to 63 mm, and width from 10 to 77 mm, because the narrowest grip with the striker and the widest handle are two different sizes. Measure the section of the frame on which the fitting will stand, and leave room for your fingers so that your hand doesn't rub against the frame when the window is closed. For a window covered with a curtain, also check the height, as this determines whether the fabric will snag with each movement.

How to screw a window mount into a wooden frame

Wooden window mounts start with a pilot hole, thinner than a screw: without one, the edge trim can split along the grain. Choose a screw so that it doesn't penetrate the frame completely, as there may be glass or a seal behind the trim. One window mount supports one sash, so for a double-sash window, count the hardware in pairs, including the hooks. When replacing old hardware, place the new hardware on the marks left by the old one before drilling: if the holes don't line up, it's easier to move the whole thing a few centimeters than to cover the old marks in a visible place.

How to clean brass and nickel window hardware

For cleaning, use a damp cloth with a little dish soap, nothing stronger. Abrasives and steel wool remove the coating from brushed surfaces, and on polished surfaces, they leave a network of scratches that can't be removed. After washing, wipe the hardware dry, as drops that dry on the door leaf leave streaks, most noticeable on polished nickel. Antique gold has a muted tone by design, so don't try to polish it to a shine: polish will remove the finish, along with the darker recesses that underlie the effect.