Upgrading the window (mushroom head) is allegedly not worth it - opinions?

Dear forum community, we would like to rely on your experience once again. We have an offer or rather a recommendation, but we are not sure what to make of it. I am afraid of burglars and the windows in the house, which are 23 years old, are all unsecured. We were thinking of having mushroom head locks installed on the 11 casements on the ground floor and also on 2 casements on the upper floor, which can be accessed via the garage roof. We had already obtained some informal information, where it was said that retrofitting such mushroom head locks would cost us about 300 euros per window. Now we have obtained a second offer. The windows have a profile depth of 58 mm, according to measurements, and are double-glazed. We were told that retrofitting the fittings to security standard would no longer be financially worthwhile. The cost for a patio door to retrofit the fittings would be about 400 euros net. In addition, according to the supplier, it is unclear whether all fittings for these old profiles are still available. Therefore, they would rather advise us to replace the windows or at least individual windows. Well, I had already pondered myself whether it makes sense to invest an amount approaching 4000 euros in windows that are almost 25 years old. The offer today would actually be even more expensive. But I assume that replacing 11 or 13 casements would incur costs of around 10,000 euros, right? If not significantly more? On the other hand, those would be new windows. I once thought that completely new windows with a U-value of 0.6 might also make sense because of heating oil costs. But last week someone told me that this might not be a good idea, aside from the costs, because we would then have mold in the house very quickly. There is no central ventilation installed. Well... My feeling of security is very important to me and I understand that this costs money. But 400 euros net per window...?

There are also additional window locks. They cost less and are supposed to be very secure.

But the best thing is always to first contact the police and get advice from them. If desired, they even come out and offer on-site consultation.

So my advice is to inform yourself there first before doing anything.

I see it similarly. There are locks for 35€/pcs if I remember correctly. Furthermore, with old windows with a good frame, glass replacement is possible. Whether it makes sense cannot be known without data.

The question seems familiar to me, from your threads and – what haven’t we discussed there yet?

Well, for us it was new that a) it is supposed to become even more expensive now (400 net per sash), that it seemed as if that had something to do with the profile depth (as I said, total laymen) and the advice was still, it's no longer worth it, better invest in new windows. I think we will still get an offer, but whether it will be significantly cheaper when now 300, then 400 net per sash are on the table?

Or rather, this locking bolt, in research you keep coming across this EM3 bolt. You are not allowed to link anything here, but on the corresponding page it is said that the police recommend the installation of elements that correspond to resistance class 2, but nowhere does it say that this bolt is also certified accordingly as RC2? That irritates me a bit.

In order for it to also "work," 2 bolts are supposed to be installed per running meter of window. That would put us (60 euro bolt + 12 euro additional security) at 72 euro per running meter, so you would probably have to install 2 per sash on most windows... Okay, 150 euro is less than 300 or 400, but I still don’t understand whether I am actually buying security with such a bolt that is really comparable to mushroom head.

The window manufacturer earns more on new windows than on retrofits. Price quotes for retrofits are deliberately set high so that the customer wants "new." "No longer worthwhile (in relation)" as an "argument" for new windows. That's all there is to it.

But you don't need those. Your plastic windows are still good, and you can trust a former aluminum window manufacturer on that—just as much as that the mushroom heads don't have to cost a small fortune.

The RC-classification does not translate the old WK-classification exactly 1:1, but that's not a problem. For doors (which only swing), other types of burglary resistance technology are suitable than for windows, which are generally also meant to tilt.

Mushroom heads are parts that engage with counterparts on the window frame, or behind them, more precisely: a form of them which, due to the shape of their head cross-section, is more difficult to push out of their guides. They belong to the locking mechanism of the windows.

Profile depths correspond with pane thicknesses. That's a different matter altogether.

The provider after next will probably try to fool you by claiming that the parts for white windows are more expensive than for anthracite-colored ones.

1) Your windows are still good.
2) Mushroom heads are enough.
3) They are effective too, screw all the blah blah.
4) Fear prices are supposed to be "selling points."
5) I won't say that again.
6) A fourth thread about this wouldn't change that either.