Hello,
For our single-family home currently under construction, we chose anthracite-colored windows on the outside. The inside of these windows is white. We also decided on the opening directions of the windows. However, we did not specify or approve any further details with our site manager regarding the windows.
The windows have been delivered and installed. They look great until we noticed the position of the handles. They are not centered vertically but rather located in the lower third of the windows. Here are a few pictures:
Of course, we expected the handles to be centered vertically on the windows. Our site manager says this is standard practice and has “always been done this way” by the company, so it is not considered a construction defect.
However, when we look at the handle positions in our current rental apartment and consult other homebuilders, construction companies, and window manufacturers, we come to a different conclusion. In those cases, the handles are centrally positioned, or if no other information is provided, a centered position is assumed.
Our site manager and the contracted window manufacturer explain this positioning with a specific grid system, where the handle height depends on the window height. Here is the document they sent us after installation and upon request:
This explanation makes sense and is understandable. It reduces costs by limiting the number of standard gear mechanisms that need to be produced.
However, we were not informed about this beforehand and are very dissatisfied with the result. After all, we will be seeing these windows multiple times a day for many years.
Does this issue constitute a defect that must be corrected?
Thank you in advance.
Benjamin
For our single-family home currently under construction, we chose anthracite-colored windows on the outside. The inside of these windows is white. We also decided on the opening directions of the windows. However, we did not specify or approve any further details with our site manager regarding the windows.
The windows have been delivered and installed. They look great until we noticed the position of the handles. They are not centered vertically but rather located in the lower third of the windows. Here are a few pictures:
Of course, we expected the handles to be centered vertically on the windows. Our site manager says this is standard practice and has “always been done this way” by the company, so it is not considered a construction defect.
However, when we look at the handle positions in our current rental apartment and consult other homebuilders, construction companies, and window manufacturers, we come to a different conclusion. In those cases, the handles are centrally positioned, or if no other information is provided, a centered position is assumed.
Our site manager and the contracted window manufacturer explain this positioning with a specific grid system, where the handle height depends on the window height. Here is the document they sent us after installation and upon request:
This explanation makes sense and is understandable. It reduces costs by limiting the number of standard gear mechanisms that need to be produced.
However, we were not informed about this beforehand and are very dissatisfied with the result. After all, we will be seeing these windows multiple times a day for many years.
Does this issue constitute a defect that must be corrected?
Thank you in advance.
Benjamin
H
hampshire12 May 2021 11:48nordanney schrieb:
But on many windows in most houses, the window handles are just decorative or only used to open the window for cleaning. That completely passed me by. I know people living in new builds, but none who refuse to open their windows.
M
Myrna_Loy12 May 2021 11:49hampshire schrieb:
This completely slipped past me. I know people who live in new builds, but I don't know anyone who refuses to open their windows."We now have a ventilation system, and it is finally being USED!"Myrna_Loy schrieb:
"We now have a ventilation system, and it is finally being USED!"Does that also apply to the stove? I was actually planning to pick up some food today.Myrna_Loy schrieb:
Don’t you have any written confirmation about the handles? With manufacturer specifications?Unfortunately, this is all we have received.
tomtom79 schrieb:
If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even noticed that ours are also off-center.
But we also have a higher window sill; by the couch it is at 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in).
Even the patio door handle is at about 1 meter (3 ft 3 in).
What ceiling height do you have? And what height are the windows? Maybe there is a standard, for example considering wheelchair users. Ceiling height is 2.58 m (8 ft 6 in) on the ground floor and 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in) on the upper floor.
The window sill height is 1.00 m (3 ft 3 in) and the window height at the affected windows is 1.26 m (4 ft 1 in).
hanghaus2000 schrieb:
Visually, I don’t see this as a defect. Once you live there, you won’t notice it anymore.
You also get used to operating the handles very quickly if you open or close the windows several times daily. vonBYnachSH schrieb:
Ours are not centered either, if that helps. I wouldn’t have noticed at all... hampshire schrieb:
I know that frustrating feeling—you don’t accept what is unfamiliar, and then you wish you had been made aware of the options. But I can’t really remember how it felt during construction. I must have forgotten. We moved in 2 years ago. I hope you will feel the same over time. That’s what I hoped too, but somehow it keeps catching my eye.
nordanney schrieb:
I wouldn’t worry about window handles. In a new build with a ventilation system, I wouldn’t see much reason to open windows anyway. Patio doors yes, normal windows—almost never.
I had several fixed-pane windows installed in my house: narrow frames, no central bar, so lots of glass and a clear view outside. We don’t have a ventilation system installed.
hanghaus2000 schrieb:
Then take a look at the tables. Of course, the OP’s windows have a handle position lower than those in the “handle seat” table.
Even standard windows rarely have centered handles.
In my opinion, the manufacturer should have informed you that the windows would be supplied with a low handle position. That’s not standard. Yes, no information was provided.
tomtom79 schrieb:
“As part of barrier-free building, DIN 18040-2 Barrier-Free Construction – Planning Principles: Dwellings, under section 5.3.2, specifies that window handles must be installed at a gripping height between 850 mm and 1,050 mm (33 to 41 inches) above the finished floor level (FFL).”
Presumably barrier-free building was intended somewhere, and a level-access shower was likely requested as well. We did not explicitly specify barrier-free building, although we do have two level-access showers.
H
hanghaus200012 May 2021 12:43BennyBvB schrieb:
Is there no obligation for the site manager/window manufacturer to provide information?
We have not received a quote/order confirmation that specifies the position of the handles. I agree with that, as deep handles are not standard.
But what good does it do, other than briefly getting upset?
M
Myrna_Loy12 May 2021 12:48If you haven’t addressed the topic of handles, the manufacturer has simply applied their standard. But soon, you won’t even notice that anymore. Every new item arriving at the construction site stands out at first.
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