Retrofit night latch keep to old aluminium windows

Magc · 18 Sep 2020

I have aluminium windows that were installed in the 1990s. They have 9mm cockspur handles. The windows are still in good condition so I don't want to change them but I'd like to replace the handles and add a night vent keep.

The handles are easily replaced with the Securistyle W10 Virage which is a straight swap and I can use the existing screw holes: https://www.handlestore.com/w10-cockspur-window-locks#block-related

The night keep that goes with these handles is actually designed to be screwed into into upvc windows but it will fit my aluminium windows. It's installed as shown on this page: https://www.handlestore.com/night-vent-keep (see all 3 pictures)

The problem is that there aren't any pre-drilled screw holes for the night vent keep so I will need to drill new holes into the window frame for this and I'm worried that I may accidentally break the glazing. How far in can I drill?

Photos attached showing window from outside and inside with measurement.

JohnD · 18 Sep 2020

if you open the window and take pics of the exposed edges in the corners, you may be able to see the shape of the extrusions used, and the depth of the glazing recess.

Magc · 18 Sep 2020

I've attached a couple of pictures. the holes would go in the side of the frame (as circled in the pictures). It's between the open window and fixed window

crank39 · 18 Sep 2020

Those night vent keeps won't work, which surface are you intending on fitting them to?

Magc · 18 Sep 2020

Why won't they work? I'm intending to fit them to the surface that is circled in red on the photos, which is where they are designed to go.

crank39 · 18 Sep 2020

Well if they go there the little tongue on the handle that fits into the keep won't be long enough..........think about it! Theres also a chance that the keep will foul the opener depending on the gap you have, too bigger gap means the tongue isn't long enough, too smaller gap means the opener might catch it

Magc · 18 Sep 2020

According to the website, it fits in that location with any of their cockspur handles. "Fits all upvc cockspur handles shown on this website and all upvc windows." I will at least try it as it doesn't cost much.

The question is how deep can I safely fix a screw into the window?

crank39 · 18 Sep 2020

Magc said:
According to the website, it fits in that location with any of their cockspur handles. "Fits all upvc cockspur handles shown on this website and all upvc windows."

Only your windows are aluminium

In anycase the glass stops short of the bead line by about 5mm, the mullion you want to self tap into is a hollow box section anyway so you have plenty of room

Screenshot_20200918-215905_Samsung Internet.jpg

Magc · 18 Sep 2020

Thank you. That tells me what I need to know.

It will definitely fit, even though my windows are aluminium - I've already measured it.

Magc · 27 Sep 2020

To update on this for anyone with a similar installation, the cockspur keep product fitted into the little 10mm gap available on my windows and the cockspur tongue reaches across and catches inside it. As it's plastic, I'm going to upgrade to a steel version which a local ironmonger can make. I'm also going to try and open up the hollow mullion so that I place a nut on the back of the bolt.

The other solution I found was an off the shelf angled steel bracket, with 9mm wide angled section. This also fits and the cockspur tongue catches just behind it.

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Retrofit night latch keep to old aluminium windows

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