Showing 0 products
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an espagnolette handle drive?
A rod running the height of the sash.
Turning the handle rotates a gearbox that moves the bar.
Cams or mushrooms along the bar engage keeps on the frame.
One handle movement locks the window at several points at once.
That is different from a casement handle driving a short gearbox.
The two are not interchangeable for that reason.
Why is multi-point locking better?
A window locked at one point can be levered at the corners.
Locking top, middle and bottom resists that far better.
It also pulls the sash evenly against its seals.
That improves weather performance as much as security.
Draughts and rain ingress both reduce noticeably.
It is why the arrangement is standard on modern windows.
What is backset and why does it matter?
The distance from the sash edge to the centre of the spindle.
It is specific to this type of gear.
It has to match the existing hardware.
It is easy to overlook when replacing a handle on appearance.
A handle with the wrong backset will not align with the gearbox.
Measuring it before ordering is part of specifying the replacement.
Why is the window stiff to lock?
Usually the gear rather than the handle.
A rod running the sash height has several points that can bind.
A dropped or swollen sash makes every keep work against the frame.
Adjusting the hinges or the keeps commonly resolves it.
Debris and corrosion in the gear contribute as well.
Forcing a stiff espagnolette breaks either the spindle or the gearbox.
Can I replace just the handle?
Yes, if spindle, backset and fixing centres all match.
The handle is separate from the gear it drives.
A matching handle operates the existing rod unchanged.
Where the gearbox itself has failed, that is a larger job.
Gear and keeps are a matched system.
Replacing those generally means matching the manufacturer rather than the dimensions.
Do the keeps need adjusting?
They frequently do, and it is the usual fix for stiffness or poor sealing.
Keeps set the compression of the seal.
Too tight and the handle is hard to operate.
Too loose and the window draughts despite being locked.
Most keeps offer adjustment for exactly this reason.
Adjusting them seasonally is normal on timber windows that move with humidity.
Should it lock with a key?
Frequently specified, particularly on accessible windows.
Insurers commonly require key-locking on ground floors.
A key-locked window is harder to escape through.
Where the window is an escape route, that is a serious consideration.
Local egress requirements take precedence over insurance preferences.
Keeping the key close to the window but not in it is the usual compromise.