Louvre windows are windows that are horizontal and usually cover the entire area of the window. Usually made of 3mm plate glass, although in some cases frosted glass can be used for privacy, these glass panels can be adjusted through 180°. This will allow complete opening of the panel and give effective ventilation in areas where additional ventilation is required.
Louvre windows date back to the Middle Ages where they were used for the control of ventilation when internal smoke was to be exited. They were also used to keep out snow and rain and obviously to keep in the warmth. These louvre windows had a pivoting axle and were very crude in their construction: usually made of wood or pottery. Their functionality, however, was recognised and the principle is still the same today.
Modern-day louvre windows have come a long way from these very early beginnings and have applications that vary from vertical to horizontal use. Most louvre windows in Australia are used on verandas, bathrooms, laundries and any external areas that require more than 50% opening space of the windows. Most left-to-right sliding sash style windows will have a 50% glass fixed panel although this can vary up to 100% in some cases. This makes louvres a very practical implementation when high ventilation is required.
Queensland, Northern Territory and areas of Western Australia are in the tropics and their need for ventilation is far greater than their need for heat retention in the winters. Most of these areas experience high humidity and if proper ventilation is not encouraged then mould and unwanted airborne stagnating spores can remain inside the home to create somewhat of a health hazard.
Although over the years the security aspect of louvre windows has increased greatly as the earlier glass versions were simply not designed for any level of security they are still possibly one of the most vulnerable points on a home. One has to weigh the value of ventilation against the practicalities of securing the home in these modern times as the incidence of house break-ins is ever increasing with no sign of abating.
When it comes to securing louvre windows it can be somewhat of a challenge as the windows can open outwards to a completely flat horizontal position. To gain full and complete operational access of the louvre windows then any sort of security screen must be able to be installed so as to allow the louvre the full entire movement. In some cases it may be a situation where it is not possible to do any sort of a build out and therefore a decision must be made to perhaps compromise the level of security as against the need for ventilation.
Australian homes are built with many different construction materials. If your home is built with timber windows and there is an ability to perhaps do a timber build out so as to allow security screens to be fitted then this may be a good option; however, care must be taken to ensure that both the timber that is to be fitted and the security screens afterwards are fitted securely so as to not allow easy removal.
Louvre windows are very Australian looking in their nature and given our climate offer a great solution when ventilation of the entire window space is required. It is a sad indictment that we now have to evaluate the needs of this ventilation against the needs for securing our home and our loved ones. Seconline have security window screens as well as simple insect screens available online that can be ordered in practically any shape that is required. With 316 Marine grade stainless steel there is no pattern as there would be with 7mm diamond screens and therefore the width and height can be substituted if a wide window is encountered. If this type of window exceeds 1200 mm with a 7mm diamond then it would be necessary to have joining bars and this can be unsightly. An alternative would be to speak with our support staff to perhaps have a compromise of laying the 7mm diamond sideways so as to avoid the join bar. The 7mm diamond window screens can only ever be classified as barrier screens and will not offer the security of the woven steel mesh screens.
It is the advice of Seconline that you should have your security screens installed by a licensed installer.
