Yesterday we wrote about the three interior yet only one handle for the locking mechanism use on our casement style ENERGY STAR rated replacement windows.
Today we wanted to write about a very minor yet non-insignificant feature of newer windows, that being the window handle itself.
Now, if you have windows which are slider types to open and close, you of course have no need for such handles.
However if you have the type we wrote about yesterday which swing out from the window frame you do need a handle to open and close them.
In our prior homes, and even our current home before we replaced all of the upstairs windows last year with ENERGY STAR rated windows, with such swing type windows (also called I believe in the trade casement type windows) the handle would get in the way of certain types of window coverings.
This would especially be the case with interior window coverings that are knows as shutters, or California shutters.
We have this type of interior window coverings on the interior of the bay window in our living room (currently my home office) as well as for the slider widows in our laundry room.
The issue arises when the interior shutters are either closed and one needs to open them or vice verse. Typically the casement window’s handle would be sufficiently protruding away from the window and get in the way of the interior shutter from opening or closing.
The answer? Simply have the casement window’s handle to be of the type which will tuck back towards the window frame.
Here are two pictures. The first is for one of our casement windows showing the window handle in its typical position, i.e. protruding away from the window frame.
This next picture is meant to show the handle pushed back towards the window frame. It actually is about an inch to an inch and a half closer to the window frame.
In this position, with the window handle tucked in towards the window frame, our interior shutters have no problem opening and closing.
So, if you are in the market for replacement windows, insist that any casement windows you have installed include this nice feature for the handle … at no extra cost to you, of course. 
3 responses so far ↓
1 Onlinehandyman // Mar 21, 2009 at 1:57 am
Yes, that is a nice feature. Shutters are always a problem with casement windows. With older casement windows the only thing that you could do was to remove the handle whenever you wanted to close the shutters. Interior storm windows were also a problem.
2 bakeapples // Mar 21, 2009 at 6:36 pm
You can get aftermarket crank handles that fold down. Also T-handles have a low profile.
3 Dan // Mar 22, 2009 at 1:56 am
Hi Bakeapples,
I have seen those T-handles that sort of look like a propeller on an air plane.
I haven’t used them myself, but they don’t seem to allow as much leverage vs the type of window handle in our home (via the above pictures), meaning that they would require more pressure / effort to open / close the window.
Thoughts?
Dan
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