Tilt and Turn Windows in South London & Surrey
If you’ve ever leaned out of a first-floor window with a cloth in one hand and a tight grip on the frame with the other, you’ll see why people love tilt and turn windows. One handle, two ways to open, and every pane cleanable from inside your home.
At Glitz Windows, we’ve been fitting tilt and turn windows for homes and businesses across South London and Surrey for over 25 years. This page explains how they work, what affects the price, and how to choose between uPVC and aluminium, including the things other installers tend to skip.
What Are Tilt and Turn Windows?
A tilt and turn window opens in two ways using a single handle. It tilts inwards from the top for safe, draught-free airing, or swings inwards on side hinges like a door. You’ll also hear them called tilt and turn windows. The design comes from continental Europe, where it’s been standard for decades.
The handle does all the work:
- Handle down: closed and locked.
- Handle sideways: the whole sash turns inwards for full ventilation and cleaning.
- Handle up: the top tilts in, and the window stays firmly held at the bottom and sides.
Behind that simple handle, a run of locking points around the sash pulls the window tight into the frame. That’s what gives it its strength and its seal. They suit family houses, flats, extensions, lofts and offices, and they’re especially useful on upper floors.
If you’re weighing up aluminium windows for a home in South London or Surrey, you’re looking at the material most architects now recommend. We use FENSA-approved, A-rated profiles and tailor every job from one casement window to a full house of tilt and turn windows around your property, your budget, and what genuinely makes sense for your home.
That’s 50 words exactly. It keeps the brand’s honest, non-salesy tone and the key credibility markers (FENSA, A-rated), while trimming the Victorian-terrace/Sutton/Croydon examples and the closing “here’s what you’ll learn” line to hit the count. Let me know if you’d rather keep one of those in and cut something else instead.
Benefits of Tilt and Turn Windows
Ventilation You Can Control
Tilt the window and fresh air comes in at the top while stale, warm air drifts out. Rain runs down the glass instead of straight in, and the window won’t bang or rattle in the wind. It’s ideal for leaving open overnight or on a drizzly day. When you want a proper blast of air, turn the sash fully open. Regular airing is also one of the easiest ways to keep condensation down.
Multi-Point Security
Ordinary windows often lock at one or two points. A tilt and turn sash locks into the frame at several points around its edge, so it’s much harder to lever open. Even in the tilt position, the bottom and sides stay bolted. The hinges are on the inside, so there’s nothing for a burglar to attack from outside. For extra peace of mind, you can add key-locking handles. Ask us about security-tested options too.
Safe for Families
In tilt mode, the window opens just a few centimetres, so it’s a sensible choice for children’s bedrooms and upper floors. Where you want even more control, we can fit restrictors to limit how far the sash swings, and you can choose lockable handles to keep little hands away from the mechanism. Correctly sized, the same window can also serve as a fire escap.
Easy to Clean From Inside
Turn the sash inwards and both sides of the glass are within reach, with no ladder, no leaning out and no awkward stretching. It’s a game-changer for first-floor bedrooms, flats and Victorian terraces where reaching the outside of a window is a chore.
Energy Efficient and Draught-Proof
When you close a tilt and turn window, the sash presses firmly into compression seals all the way round, cutting down draughts and heat loss. Add double or triple glazing with warm-edge spacers, argon gas and low-E coatings, and you get a window that keeps your home warmer, quieter and less prone to condensation. Ask for the window energy rating on any quote so you can compare like with like.
Tilt and Turn Window Materials
uPVC Tilt and Turn Window
uPVC is the most popular choice for good reason. It insulates well, costs less than aluminium and asks very little of you: a wipe with warm soapy water now and then is usually enough. Frames come in classic white and woodgrain finishes, so they suit everything from 1930s semis to new builds. A quick tip: put a drop of light machine oil on the hinges and locking points once a year and the window will glide like new.
Aluminium is strong, which lets frames be slimmer, so you get more glass and more daylight. With a thermal break between the inner and outer sections, it also performs well on insulation. The powder-coated finish resists weathering and stays crisp for years. It costs more upfront than uPVC, but for contemporary homes, extensions and commercial buildings, the sleek look and long life make it a strong choice.
Why Choose Glitz Windows?
Professional, Tidy Installation
Our fitters are trained, punctual and respectful of your home or workplace. We protect floors and furnishings, keep dust to a minimum, and clear up properly before we go. You'll always know who's coming and when.
Fair, Transparent Pricing
You'll get a clear, itemised quote with no hidden extras and no pressure to sign on the spot. We explain what affects the price so you can compare like with like, and we're happy to quote for different materials side by side.
Local Reputation You Can Trust
We're based on Chipstead Valley Road in Coulsdon, and we've been fitting windows across South London and Surrey for over 25 years. Much of our work comes through recommendations from neighbours and previous customers.
Excellent Quality Finish
A good window is about the details: neat sealing, sashes that sit square, and handles that move smoothly. Every installation is checked and adjusted before we leave, so your windows open, close and lock exactly as they should.
What Our Customers Says About Us
Residential and Commercial Tilt and Turn Window Installation
For homeowners: Whether you’re replacing tired old frames, finishing an extension or converting a loft, we handle everything from start to finish. We visit to survey and measure, made-to-measure windows are manufactured for your openings, and our fitters remove the old windows, install the new ones and leave the place tidy. If your upper-floor windows need scaffolding or access equipment, we’ll tell you upfront so there are no surprises on the final bill.
For businesses: Offices, shops, schools, care homes and restaurants all benefit from windows that are secure overnight, easy to clean at height and simple to ventilate. We can work around your opening hours to keep disruption to a minimum, and we’ll advise on materials, restrictors and fire-escape requirements for your premises.
Tilt and Turn Windows FAQs
Are Tilt and Turn Windows Secure?
Yes. They lock into the frame at multiple points around the sash, which makes them harder to force than many single-point windows. The hinges are internal, and the tilt setting only opens the window a few centimetres. For added security, you can choose key-locking handles.
How Does a Tilt and Turn Window Work?
One handle controls everything. Handle down locks the window. Turn it sideways and the sash swings inwards like a door. Turn it upwards and the top tilts inwards for ventilation while the bottom stays locked in place.
Do Tilt and Turn Windows Open Inwards?
Yes, and that’s what makes them so easy to clean and to escape through. It does mean you need to leave room for the sash to swing, so think about curtains, blinds, shelves and plants on the sill. Roller and integral blinds or shorter curtains usually work best. If you’d rather keep long curtains in a particular room, tell us and we’ll suggest the best layout, or another style.
Are Tilt and Turn Windows Energy Efficient?
They can be very efficient. The sash closes tightly against the seals, and you can specify double or triple glazing with low-E coating and argon gas. Efficiency depends on the whole window, so ask for the BFRC rating and compare it across quotes.
How Much Do Tilt and Turn Windows Cost?
It depends on size, number of windows, frame material, glazing, colour and access. As a rule, a tilt and turn window costs a little more than a casement of the same size and material because the hardware is more complex, and aluminium costs more than uPVC. Upper-floor windows may need scaffolding. Prices online vary enormously, so the most reliable route is a survey-based quote, which we provide free.
Other Window Styles We Offer
Make Appointment
Get a free quote with no obligation - Contact us now
Have a unique idea or specific requirements? Our team specialises in tailored window and door solutions to suit your vision—built to exact specifications and installed with precision.
- 53 Chipstead Valley Rd, Coulsdon CR5 2RB
- info@glitzwindows.co.uk
- 020 3370 7955
- Mon-Fri 08:00 - 17:00
Make Appointment
Get a free quote with no obligation - Contact us now
Have a unique idea or specific requirements? Our team specialises in tailored window and door solutions to suit your vision—built to exact specifications and installed with precision.
- 53 Chipstead Valley Rd, Coulsdon CR5 2RB
- info@glitzwindows.co.uk
- 020 3370 7955
- Mon-Fri 08:00 - 17:00
Our Process
Four Steps to Order Window for Your Home
