Window security grilles

Fixed and openable window security grilles: which option to choose

The first important decision is the type of opening. Fixed window security grilles are installed permanently and are suitable for openings where you do not need outside access. They work especially well on ground floors, basements, windows facing patios, second homes or facades that are accessible from the street.

Their main advantage is simplicity: fewer moving parts, less maintenance and a very straightforward structure. If the window only needs protection and does not require external handling, a fixed grille is usually the most logical option.

Openable window security grilles, on the other hand, allow you to open the leaf when needed. They make sense on windows that are cleaned from the outside, access points to inner patios, areas where you need more convenient ventilation or openings you do not want to block completely.

With an openable grille, more details need to be checked: opening direction, free space, possible interference with shutters, external shutters, railings, window sills or exterior joinery. You also need to pay attention to the locking system, the lock side and the rigidity of the frame.

• Fixed grille: simpler, stable and more economical. Suitable for permanent protection.
• Openable grille: more practical if you need to open, clean, ventilate or access the outside.
• Small windows: they usually allow simple fixed solutions, provided there is no need for opening.
• Large windows or wide openings: the structure, weight and fixing system need to be assessed more carefully.
• Exposed facades: the anti-corrosion finish can be just as important as the model.

Security grilles for windows: materials, anchoring and RC2 assessment

A security grille for a window depends on three main factors: structure, fixing and finish. The visible design matters, but real strength is also found in the thickness of the flat bar, the type of tube, the bar, the welding, the anchoring and the protection of the metal against weather exposure.

Our models use configurations such as 40×8 solid flat bar, an outer frame made from 40×20 tube in openable versions, a lock-side member in 40×40 tube and alternating solid turned bars of Ø16. These elements allow us to manufacture metal window security grilles with a firm structure adapted to each opening.

A selection of fixed models has undergone a technical assessment carried out by Applus Laboratories in relation to resistance to burglary. The tested sample achieved RC2 classification according to the UNE-EN 1627:2021 standard, after passing static load, dynamic load and manual burglary tests in accordance with UNE-EN 1628:2021, UNE-EN 1629:2021 and UNE-EN 1630:2021.

This assessment should not be understood as a certification applicable to the entire catalogue. It refers to a specific sample and to a defined selection of fixed grilles, not to openable models or to every possible configuration.

You can view the document here: simplified technical assessment report by Applus Laboratories.

The reference applies to the following fixed models: Alba, Águeda, Basic, Begoña, Carmen, Isabel, Juana, Julia, Lucía, Mar, Mathilde and Miriam.

Types of anchoring

The anchoring system must be chosen according to the support and the type of installation. Fixing a grille onto a finished wall is not the same as integrating it during building work or placing it in an opening with very little side clearance.

• Screw-on legs: a practical option for installations on already prepared surfaces.
• Screw-on tabs: useful when a front or side fixing better adapted to the opening is required.
• Perforated sides: a direct solution when the grille is fixed through the sides of the structure.
• Build-in legs: recommended when the piece is integrated during masonry work or renovation.

The type of anchoring does not change the final price, but it does affect the installation. A well-made grille loses effectiveness if it is fixed to an unsuitable surface or with a solution that does not match the opening.

Finishes for exterior window grilles

The finish protects the metal and defines the final appearance of the piece. For exterior window security grilles, especially on exposed facades, it is worth considering the level of humidity, rain, direct sunlight and expected maintenance.

• Bare metal: intended for those who want to apply their own treatment afterwards.
• Anti-rust primer: initial protection against oxidation and a base for later painting.
• Galvanised: improves the metal’s resistance in outdoor environments.
• Oven-baked powder coating in RAL colour: allows the grille to match the facade, shutters, windows or railings.
• Galvanised + RAL powder coating: the most complete option when both protection and a decorative finish are required.

Designs: modern, simple, rustic and wrought iron

Not every facade calls for the same type of grille. In a contemporary home, a clean and discreet composition may work best; in a stone house, a piece that is too minimalist can feel cold; and on a small window, a heavily decorated design can look visually heavier than the opening itself. That is why the design of a window security grille should be chosen with the proportion of the opening, the style of the facade, the colour of the exterior joinery and the visual role you want the piece to have all in mind.

Modern window security grilles: clean lines and integrated finishes

On contemporary facades, the usual aim is to find a grille that protects without making the appearance of the home feel too harsh. This is where modern window security grilles work well, especially when they use straight lines, ordered compositions and discreet finishes.

Colour matters more than it may seem. An oven-baked powder coating in RAL colour allows the grille to match existing windows, shutters, metal doors or railings. When the tone integrates well, the grille stops looking like an addition and becomes part of the overall facade.

It is also worth paying attention to visual weight. An overly ornate structure can disrupt a modern facade; one that is too light can look insubstantial. The balance lies in keeping a clean design without losing the feeling of strength.

Designer window grilles: when the piece also forms part of the facade

There are windows where the grille stays in the background and others where it becomes a visible element from the street. In this second case, it may make sense to choose designer window grilles, with more carefully worked patterns, geometric rhythms, alternating bars or less conventional compositions.

The mistake would be to choose them based only on appearance. A decorative window grille still needs to solve the essentials properly: a firm structure, correct measurements, a good anchoring system and a suitable exterior finish.

This type of model usually works best on main entrances, prominent facades, large windows or homes where the metalwork plays an important aesthetic role. If the grille is going to be highly visible, it is worth taking care over the design; if it is going in an inner patio or a secondary area, a simpler solution may be more appropriate.

Simple window security grilles: protection without overloading the facade

When the priority is to protect several windows with a uniform appearance and a reasonable budget, a simple solution is often the smartest choice. Simple window security grilles do not need ornamentation to work: they need good proportions, the right material, correct anchoring and a finish that can withstand outdoor use.

This type of design works especially well in inner patios, residential communities, rental properties, second homes, basements and secondary windows. It is also a good choice when you do not want the grille to compete visually with the facade.

Saving on ornamentation can make sense. Saving on structure, fixing or metal treatment does not. A simple grille can be an excellent purchase if it is well made and properly planned for the opening where it will be installed.

Rustic grilles and wrought-iron grilles for traditional windows

In rural houses, stone facades, old walls or timber joinery, a grille that is too straight and minimalist can look out of place. In these cases, rustic window grilles, wrought-iron grilles or models with a more classic presence usually fit better.

Turned bars, traditional compositions and certain ornamental details help preserve the character of the home. Even so, rustic should not be confused with overloaded. A small window can look saturated if the design carries too much visual weight.

Which design to choose according to the type of facade

• Modern facades: straight lines, few decorative details, clean proportions and RAL finishes integrated with the joinery.
• Rural or older houses: classic designs, turned bars and an appearance closer to traditional wrought iron.
• Small windows: simple models that do not visually reduce the opening or overload the facade.
• facades visible from the street: designer grilles if the piece forms part of the exterior image of the home.
• Patios, basements or secondary areas: functional, discreet solutions with a good anti-corrosion finish.

Price: factors that affect the quote

The price of window security grilles is calculated from several elements: measurements, model, opening type, finish, structure, metal treatment and final configuration. That is why two grilles with the same width and height can have different prices if one is fixed and the other openable, if one is bare metal and the other galvanised, or if the design requires more workshop time.

Fixed grilles are usually more economical because they have fewer components and a more straightforward manufacturing process. Openable grilles include a frame, leaf, hinges, lock and more workshop adjustments, so their cost is normally higher.

The finish also affects the quote. A bare metal piece does not cost the same as a grille with primer, galvanising, oven-baked powder coating or a double galvanised and powder-coated treatment. Outdoors, choosing only by price can be a mistake if the grille is going to remain exposed to rain or humidity for years.

When looking for cheap window security grilles, the sensible approach is to save on aesthetic complexity, not on structure or protection. A simple model can be a good purchase; a poorly sized, poorly fixed grille or one without the right finish can prove expensive in the medium term.

How to measure a window before ordering a grille

Before buying a made-to-measure window grille, it is important to take accurate measurements and check the area around the opening. It is not enough to measure the glass or the window leaf: you need to check the available width, height, wall type, presence of shutters, sills, mouldings, old grilles, external shutters or any other element that could interfere.

It is advisable to measure at several points, because some openings are not perfectly square. It also helps to send photographs of the window and the installation area, especially if there are doubts about the anchoring system or the opening direction on an openable grille.

On older facades, irregular walls or partial renovations, made-to-measure manufacturing avoids improvised adaptations. The grille should arrive prepared for the real opening, not for an approximate measurement.

Online catalogue and workshop manufacturing

In our online catalogue of window security grilles, you can choose from fixed, openable, modern, simple, rustic and decorative models. Each piece is made to measure, with the finish and anchoring system selected during the order process.

We work directly from our workshop, with no middlemen, and have been manufacturing iron window security grilles since 1978 for private homes, ground-floor properties, detached houses, patios, exterior facades and renovation projects. We also offer delivery throughout Europe and installation in Barcelona and the surrounding area.

If you are unsure between several models, the most important thing is to put the decision in order: first the use of the window, then the opening type, then the anchoring, finish and design. Aesthetics matter, but a good grille starts with manufacturing that makes sense for the opening where it will be installed.

Window security grilles FAQs

Should the grille be fitted inside or outside the opening? What do you recommend in each case?

In most cases, we recommend fitting the grille inside the window opening, as this keeps the fixings better protected and usually provides a stronger installation.

We can also manufacture grilles to be fitted on the outside of the opening if you want to match the appearance of other existing grilles or, for example, if you want to keep the window sill free for plants.

Should I measure the structural opening or the window frame?

Measurements should always be taken from the structural opening, not from the window frame.

As additional information, you can also tell us the distance between the outer edge of the structural opening and the window frame. This may be useful if there are any limitations when fitting the grille with fixing lugs or tabs.

What installation clearance should be allowed?

We do not recommend deducting any clearance when taking measurements. To avoid duplicate allowances, you should provide the actual size of the structural opening. If any clearance needs to be applied, we will calculate it ourselves.

What type of fixing do you use and on which surfaces?

The type of fixing may vary depending on how the grille is going to be installed and the surface available.

If the installation is going to be carried out as part of building work, or if you have the right knowledge or a builder available, you can choose a masonry fixing with fixing lugs.

If the grille is going to be installed with screws and needs to be fixed close to the edge of the wall, we recommend choosing screw-on fixing lugs or screw-on fixing tabs. In the case of window grilles, screw-on fixing lugs help to leave a small gap between the grille and the wall, preventing the piece from sitting completely flush against the masonry.

The fixing screws we supply are tamper-resistant once installed and once the tightening area has been covered, helping to prevent later manipulation.

Can it be installed on exposed brickwork, monocouche render, EWI or a ventilated façade? What do you need to know?

In order to supply the right fixings, we need to know what type of material or surface the grille will be installed on: exposed brickwork, monocouche render, EWI, a ventilated façade or another construction system.

What happens if there is a shutter, shutter box or guides in the way?

If there is a shutter, shutter box, guides or any other element that may interfere, the grille must be manufactured and/or installed with the correct measurements or position to avoid problems with operation or fitting.

Can it be made hinged? When is a hinged grille better than a fixed one?

Yes, a grille can be made hinged when access through the window is considered necessary.

A fixed grille generally offers a cleaner appearance and a higher level of security. A hinged grille is useful when it needs to be opened occasionally for access, maintenance or use of the window.

What is the spacing between the bars, depending on design and security?

The spacing between bars is approximately 11 centimetres, although it may vary slightly depending on the distribution of the measurements, the clearances required and the decorative elements of the design.

Can I order one for windows with a special shape, such as an arch or corner?

Yes, we can assess grilles for windows with special shapes, such as arches, corners or other non-standard designs.

In these cases, you will need to contact our technical office, as complex shapes are not available for direct online purchase.