"Frazzled" wrote:
Hi Fred

One reason is that the shutters also act in lieu of curtains or blinds. This
means that you can have the shutters closed at night and also have the
windows open on the inside to allow ventilation on those warm summer nights.

S

But having witnessed a great many thunder storms with shutters closed
outside and windows open inside I do not see the point. If you wanted
to ventialte, surely it must be superior to have the shutters taking
the brunt (blunt?) of the weather rather than previous glass. Even if
you wanted to draft proof, protecting the glass from cooling down
ought to be superior to trying to use a few timber boards aka shutter
to insulate the windows from the inside. And security wise it's no
contest. A proper shutter is very hard to force open without loud
noise. In all fairness to UK traditions, it still leaves me utterly
unable to give you a reason for shutters on the inside.

Speaking about windows, all continental windows open to the inside.
The main difference it seems to me is the window board. In the UK,
many of my friends use the window board for small items, continentals
have to keep the boards free in order to open the windows. Also, with
shutters outside, keeping rain away whilst having the window open is
no worry as opposed to non-shutter windows here, hence the popularity
of push-out replacement windows here.

The tilt&turn windows are supposed to be offering better ventilation
(tilted) as the cold air creates the circulation, and they are easy to
clean, whilst providing emergency exit. Now I would say that would I
not but I think for anything but sash windows, continental windows are
usually superior made and offer wonderful ventilation. Also, when
there is sunshine you can make the window open all the way, hence
catching every glimpse of it. Proper sashes of course cannot be beaten
on character though.

I made the mistake of buying timber tilt&turn from an English window
manufacturer based on Fairmitre joint a few years ago. They managed to
combine the disadvantages of t&t and the poor make quality of cheap
softwood windows. So if I wanted to do t&t again, I would be sure to
go with French windows rather than English wannabees.

Forgive me for this rant about European windows, but the bloody cheap
push out windows where only the top 20% opens out just drive me crazy.
Their mechanism makes sure that I am the only moron in the household
to be able to open them without a step ladder...

Fred