uPVC Windows Grill Design: Inside vs Outside Fitting, Materials and Security Tips

Many Bangalore homeowners who like uPVC windows ask the same question before they sign off on an order: what about the grill? Getting the uPVC windows grill design right comes down to three things: where the grill sits, how it is fixed, and whether your family can still get out quickly in an emergency.

uPVC windows with grills are common and work well, as long as the window and the grill are planned together. This guide covers inside versus outside fitting, grill designs that suit each window type, materials that cope with the monsoon, and the window features that matter as much as the bars themselves.

Whoever makes your grill, agree on the points below before fabrication starts. If you plan to fit grills, tell our team at the free site visit, so we can take them into account when choosing window types and opening directions.

Can you have grills with uPVC windows?

Yes. A grill and a uPVC window are two separate items that share the same wall opening. The usual approach is to anchor the grill into the masonry around the window, at the sides, sill or lintel, rather than screwing it into the uPVC frame.

There is a good reason for this. V-Tech profiles are hollow, multi-chambered uPVC sections with galvanised steel reinforcement inside. Drilling through a frame like this to hang a grill can damage seals and drainage paths, and a window frame is not meant to carry a grill’s weight. A grill fixed into the wall stays rigid and leaves the window free to open, close and seal properly.

The second rule is clearance. The grill must leave room for the sash (the part of the window that opens) to open fully, for handles and locks to turn, and for any mesh shutter to slide. That is why the window type decides which side the grill goes on.

Inside or outside grills: pros and cons

Start with how your window opens:

• Inward-opening and tilt and turn windows swing into the room, so an inside grill would block them. The grill goes outside.
• Outward-opening casements swing out, so the grill normally goes inside, or outside with enough depth for the sash to open.
• Sliding windows move within their own frame, so the grill can go on either side.

If you are not sure which way your new windows will open, our pages on inward and outward opening casement windows and tilt and turn windows describe each type. Where both sides are possible, weigh these trade-offs:

If you live in an apartment, check your association’s rules before fixing anything to the outside wall, and ask whether the building has a standard grill design that keeps the facade uniform.

uPVC windows grill design ideas

Modern uPVC windows with grill protection look best when the grill is simple and its bars line up with the window’s own divisions, such as the meeting point of two sliding shutters. Matching colours helps too: a grill finished to match a classic white or wooden-finish frame looks like part of the window rather than an afterthought.

Plain vertical bars

Vertical bars are the cleanest grill design for uPVC windows. They keep the view open, collect less dust and are easy to wipe. They are also harder for a child to climb than horizontal bars, which work like a ladder. On lower floors and in children’s rooms, ask the fabricator for close spacing between bars.

Box grills

A box grill projects outward from the wall, which gives an outward-opening sash room to swing and leaves space for a few potted plants. The downsides: it changes the facade, collects dust and rainwater on its top unless it is sloped or covered, and without an openable panel it blocks escape. Planters can also drip onto the window below.

Decorative and laser-cut patterns

Laser-cut sheets and bent-bar patterns such as chevrons or geometric grids add privacy and character. Choose a pattern with plenty of open area, because dense designs cut light and airflow and hold Bangalore’s dust. Avoid shapes that give a foothold to someone climbing in or a child climbing up.

Openable grills for emergency exit

An openable grill has a hinged section, or a fully hinged frame, held shut by a lock. It turns a fixed barrier into an escape route and makes cleaning the glass much easier. Plan at least one in every bedroom; the safety section below explains why.

Grill materials: MS vs stainless steel, and finishes that survive the monsoon

• Mild steel (MS): strong, affordable and easy to weld into any design. It rusts once its coating fails, so it needs a rust-resistant primer plus paint or powder coating. Galvanised MS, which carries a protective zinc coating, holds up longer outdoors.
• Stainless steel: needs no painting and little upkeep, but costs more. The grade matters. Lower-nickel 200-series grades such as 202 are suited mainly to indoor, low-corrosion use, so for an outside grill ask for 304, and get the grade written on the quote.
• Aluminium: light, does not rust and comes in powder-coated colours, but it is softer than steel, so it needs heavier sections to match steel’s strength.

In Bengaluru, September is usually the wettest month of the year, according to IMD figures reported by Deccan Herald, and an outside grill sits in that rain for weeks. A few habits keep it, and the window, in good shape:

• Touch up chips in paint or powder coating as soon as you see them.
• Seal the fixing holes in the wall so water cannot seep in around the anchors.
• Keep the grill’s bottom bar and fixings clear of the window’s drainage slots. If those slots are blocked, rainwater collects in the frame instead of draining out, and can leak into the room.
• Slope or cover the top of a box grill so water does not pool on it.

As for the cost of uPVC windows with grill, the grill price depends on the material, the weight of the bars, the design and the finish. Stainless steel and laser-cut designs cost more than plain MS bars. Get the grill quoted separately from the windows, so you can compare quotes like for like.

Security beyond grills: multi-point locks, steel-reinforced profiles, toughened or laminated glass

A grill is only one layer of uPVC windows security. The window itself matters, especially on upper floors where you may choose a lighter grill or none at all.

• Locks for uPVC windows: depending on the window, our hardware uses single-point push locks or multi-point locking. A multi-point lock holds the sash at several points along its edge, which makes it harder to prise open than a single catch.
• Steel-reinforced profiles: the galvanised steel reinforcement inside V-Tech profiles stiffens the frame, and a stiffer frame is harder to flex or force.
• Glass: toughened glass is much stronger than ordinary glass and breaks into small, blunt pieces. Laminated glass has a plastic layer between two panes that holds the pieces together if it breaks, so a cracked pane usually stays in place. BIS’s code of practice IS 16231 (Part 4):2019 covers glass safety related to human impact, and under the Safety Glass (Quality Control) Order, 2020, safety glass for buildings must conform to IS 2553 (Part 1) and carry the BIS Standard Mark. Ask our team about glass options for your windows.

Fitting matters as much as hardware. We make every window to measure in our Bengaluru factory and install it with our own team. If you are still comparing options, read our guide to the best uPVC windows for your home in Bangalore.

Safety first: fire escape and child safety on high floors

Grills that keep intruders out can also keep your family in. A Citizen Matters guide to apartment fire safety advises that if you fit full grills, you should include an openable section that serves as an escape route and gives firefighters access. In practice:

• Give every bedroom at least one grill section that opens from inside.
• Keep its key on a hook near the window, out of children’s reach but easy for adults to find in the dark.
• Make sure everyone at home knows which window to use, and keep furniture from blocking it.

On high floors, falls are the main risk for children. Choose vertical bars with close spacing, avoid patterns with footholds, and do not place beds or sofas under windows. Keep windows locked when children are alone in the room. A tilt and turn window can also ventilate in its tilt position, where only the top of the sash leans inward. Ask our team about lockable handles or restrictors that limit how far a sash opens.

The aim is balance: a grill that is hard to open from outside but quick to open from inside.

Frequently asked questions

Should grills go inside or outside uPVC windows?

It depends on the window. Inward-opening and tilt and turn windows need the grill outside. Outward-opening casements usually take it inside. Sliding windows can take it on either side, and an inside grill is easier to fit and keep rust-free.

Can a grill be fixed directly to the uPVC frame?

It is best avoided. The frame is a hollow profile, and drilling into it can damage seals, drainage paths or reinforcement. Anchor the grill into the surrounding wall, sill or lintel instead.

Does adding a grill affect the window warranty?

Check the warranty document that comes with your windows, and speak to our team before anyone drills into a frame. Fixing the grill only to the wall avoids the question, because the frame stays untouched.

Which grill design suits sliding windows?

Plain vertical bars or a simple grid suit sliding windows best, with a bar lined up with the meeting point of the shutters. On two-track sliding windows and three-track sliding windows alike, leave clearance for the handle and locks, and for a mesh shutter if you plan one.

Are uPVC windows secure without grills?

On upper floors that are hard to reach, multi-point locks, steel-reinforced frames and laminated glass add real protection, and some homeowners skip grills there. Ground-floor and easily reached windows still benefit from a grill.

Planning uPVC windows with grills for a new home or a renovation? Book a free site visit, and our team will measure your openings and help you plan windows that work with the grill you have in mind.