What is a window? Windows explained simply!

A window is commonly defined as a light opening in a wall of a building. Most windows can be opened and are therefore simultaneously an air opening, but not all of them. The main purpose of the window is to illuminate the interior of a building with daylight. If a window can also be opened, providing fresh air is the second essential purpose of a window.

Windows vary greatly in size. There are tiny roof windows all the way to huge glass fronts, for example in a shopping mall or a school. Nowadays, the frame of a window is usually made of plastic; older houses also still have window frames made of wood. Most windows are rectangular, but there are – somewhat less frequently – other shapes as well, such as square or round windows.

The Most Important Components of a Window

Essentially, a window has two parts: a window frame and a window sash. In this setup, the window sash is fitted into the window frame. For the window frame, wall openings of the appropriate dimensions are required so that the window frame can be installed into the openings.

Then there are the areas between the wall opening and the window frame: at the top is the lintel (Sturz), at the bottom is the parapet/sill (Brüstung), and on the sides are the two reveals (Laibungen). The parapet/sill is the distance between the floor and the wall opening. It must not be too low, because otherwise the risk of falling out of the open window becomes too high. The transition between the masonry and the window is called the window joint.

Types of Windows

There are different types of windows, depending on whether and how a window can be opened. The standard window in a residential house is the tilt-and-turn window. It can be opened completely, but can also be put into the tilted position. However, there are also tilt-only windows, which can only be tilted but not opened fully. You sometimes see such windows in trains, for example, where it would be too dangerous to open a window completely. A turn-only window, on the other hand, is a window that cannot be tilted but only swung open, either to the left or to the right.

Fixed windows cannot be opened at all, which is frequently the case, for example, in glazed office buildings, shopping malls, schools, or also in winter gardens.

A top-hung or hopper window (Klappfenster) is not seen often, but it functions similarly to a tilt window. It folds or swings outwards. The opening of a hopper window is usually larger than that of a tilt window.

Quite modern and increasingly common is the sliding window. Here, a movable pane is pushed into a fixed one. This type of window has become so popular lately because it is particularly space-saving when open. The pane to be opened disappears behind the fixed pane and takes up no space inside or outside.

In attics or roof spaces, there are frequently center-pivoting windows (Schwingfenster). They are pushed upwards and then swing open. This results in an opening that is just as large as with a turn or a tilt-and-turn window.

Windows can also be differentiated by how many sashes they have. Most windows in private houses are single-sash, and double-sash windows also occur frequently. Rather rare are triple-sash and multi-sash windows.

Burglary Protection for Windows

Windows are the weak points of a house; they are much easier to open than doors – in a worst-case scenario, a burglar simply smashes a glass window, but unfortunately, there are plenty of less conspicuous methods too. An experienced burglar can quietly cut open an unsecured window or pry it open – and just like that, they have gained entry into the house, no matter how solid or well-secured the front door may be.

Therefore, it is important not to neglect windows when it comes to protection against break-ins, but on the contrary, to pay very special attention to them. There are many methods to make a window more secure: window pry-guards, lockable window handles, window films that hold the pane together even if it is smashed, alarm systems, or also additional window locks. All these devices naturally never protect 100% against a break-in, but they make things a whole lot harder, and most burglars, once they notice that a window is well protected, will quickly move on and try their luck where they have an easier time.

When it comes to burglary protection – whether for the window or the door – we are your trustworthy professional partner! We are a locksmith service from Munich, and burglary protection is one of our core competencies. We are happy to install various security devices on your windows or carry out a vulnerability analysis on your house, based on which we can create an entire burglary protection concept for you. Call us and let our experienced professionals advise you!

Fair and Transparent Fixed Prices

As a customer-oriented and transparent Munich locksmith service, we guarantee you fixed prices – whether it’s about opening your door or about making a window burglary-proof. We are happy to make you an offer directly on the phone. The price we quote on the phone is fixed and guaranteed. It will appear on the invoice exactly as communicated, you can rely on that, because that is precisely our fixed price guarantee, which makes us – alongside our competencies as a locksmith and specialized security business – so popular!