Around the House

#45 · Prop open a small window

Wedge a chopstick to hold a small window slightly ajar for ventilation. Low-budget, surprisingly high-function.

A window catch that has broken or was never fitted can be held open with a chopstick wedged between the frame and the opening sash. It is a summer-evening fix, not a repair.

It is worth knowing why the catch failed before you prop it. On a uPVC window the usual culprit is the friction stay - the metal arm in the hinge side - which seizes or bends, and it is a ten-minute replacement part costing a few pounds. A chopstick is the fix for tonight, not for the problem.

How to do it

Open the window to the position you want.
Wedge the chopstick between sash and frame at the corner furthest from the hinge, where the gap is widest.
Snap it to length rather than cutting - a clean break gives a flat face that seats better than a sawn end.
Push against the window to check it holds before you walk away.

Why it works

Bamboo is very strong in compression along the grain, which is why a short piece can hold a surprising load end-on. It is far weaker in bending, so the wedge has to sit square between two parallel faces - at an angle it will bow and skip out.

Tips & warnings

For a sliding sash, lay it horizontally in the runner instead.
Remove it before you close the window, unless you want to snap it in the frame.