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I like the design alot as well (EU resident, have had these windows for 15 years)
However, this statement from the article is misleading:
the tilt configuration locks into place against potential intrusions... In other words: you can leave the window open when you are away without worrying too much about security or the weather.
It is trivially easy to open, from the outside, a window left in the tilted open position. All that you need to do is to pull the window closed and then move the handle from vertical to roughly horizontal (the 'full open' position).
How do you move a handle on the inside of the window when you are on the outside? It is simple, you use a short length of PVC pipe (which fits over the handle) and some string. The details I leave to your imagination.
take-home message: tilted open is nice, but not at all secure against a semi-motivated intruder.
There are variants that come with a lock that fixes the handle into position though. Usually not high quality locks but good enough to prevent this attack.
While window researching recently I read an interesting comment, likely on a Green Building Advisor article - in many cases the inswing TNT better fits the European use of roll down shutters, whereas American casement windows better suit their more common use of drapes. Not sure if there’s data to back it up but it’s an plausible cultural/architectural reason for slower adoption in the US.
Not sure about the drapes. After all, there are lots of them in Europe.
They need to be slightly further away from the window so that it can open in the tilt position. In most European homes that's not an issue, as the walls are thick masonry, so the window is inset 20-30cm against the wall.
This design is wonderful. I like it a lot. It is a very different and more limited experience when you also have a screen to keep the hordes of mosquitoes out.
These windows work wonderfully with screens. Every window in my EU home has a screen. Why would they not?
There are even fancy versions with screens that can be rolled up if needed.
Edit: Here's an example [1]
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[1]
https://www.neher.de/insektenschutz/rollo-fuer-fenster/
Yeah, what gives? Are there no mosquitoes in Europe? For my house, windows without screens would be unthinkable. But when I've been to Europe, I rarely see screens.
I lived in Brussels for almost eight years. It is roughly 50 degrees north latitude. In North America, that puts it north of many well known Canadian cities.
Germany goes from about 48 degrees north latitude to over 54 degrees north latitude.
I never saw any mosquitoes or many bugs at all in Belgium, and my in-laws never reported any bugs when they were stationed in Germany.
When we had screens custom made to fit in our windows, the Belgian handyman who made them really didn’t understand what we wanted or why. He charged us a bunch of money and then I had to go down to the local Brico hardware store to buy the stuff I needed to fix them up to make them work the way we wanted. When he saw what I did, the next round of screens for other places in the house were much better made, and I didn’t have to fix them.
However, here in Texas, well boy howdy, you sure are going to want those bug screens on your windows. And there’s no practical way to make screens to fit into your silly casement Windows, so they better be properly made and affixed to the outside.
We didn’t have rolladen (rolling shades) in our house in Belgium. When we visited my in-laws in Germany, boy were we jealous. I’ve wanted something like proper German rolladen ever since. Oh, and their windows, too.
Erm, go to Google maps and zoom the heck out. Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece) is at the latitude of Virginia or Northern Cal. Yes, there are fewer mosquitos than say, Egypt or Florida...
Interesting. I live in Wisconsin. The upper Midwest is thick with mosquitos during the summer. I wouldn't think of not having window screens on my house.
I believe that window screens are required in the US, at least in some municipalities. It’s been a while but I seem to recall learning that when I first bought a house.
Cost may play a part, as these heavily-engineered windows do come with a higher price tag than some of their less-sophisticated counterparts.
This should be read as "a higher price tag in the US". In mainland Europe these are the standard windows, and are made by many manufacturers all over the continent, they are not a luxury item.
I'm building a house and a 1.2m (62") X 0.6m (24") window with this mechanism, the best frame available (from this manufacturer) and triple glazing was €180. I doubt you could even find a casement window at a US home improvement store for that.
https://www.koemmerling.com/en/products/window-residential-d...
It's one of these interesting little differences between America and - for example - Germany where tilt-and-turn is basically standard in every house I've ever been.
I had the chance to put these on a house I built. I ended up not doing it and using a more standard type. I slightly regret not having them in a few of my window use cases BUT, at least the ones I saw, felt very flimsy and rattled/slammed a lot.
Another challenge for this type of window: it's challenging to hook up a portable AC unit in an aesthetically. This is a factor if you don't have central air and need to retrofit cooling.
Windows, doors, and locks are some of the most glaring differences you notice when you move back to America after living in Germany. Finding an architect who knows how to source them and build with them in the US is not easy.
Are these tornado and/or hurricane rated?
Hate these kind of windows. They can't be screened. I guess technically you could have the screen on the outside but that's not great except on ground floor.
Tilt turn windows are very popular in Alaska where there are a lot of mosquitoes. The windows can be screened and the screen can be removed from inside the building. The screen is attached by spring clips or metal pins to the frame of the window. When the window is opened fully inward the screen can be removed. See
https://greatlandwindow.com/images/300/tiltturnCleaning.jpg
Awesome, never seen that product! It's still deficient to have the screen be in the weather though as the screen quickly becomes clogged and hard to clean. I've always been happier with "USA normal" casement windows or even double hung. I have sliders now, on the garage, and the screens are in the weather which isn't great.
