Windows affect both the look and functionality of your home and is an important aspect of the overall design of your house. Windows are also a significant investment. As you plan a remodel or new build, consider adding casement windows for functionality and beauty.
Casement Windows Functioning
When closed, a casement window resembles a standard window. However, the glass pane is attached to the frame via hinges. The window can move outside or inside. This style of window opens farther than any other model.
Casement windows function in one of two ways. With one, a system of arms connects the window to a hand crank. When you rotate the crank, usually clockwise, the arms push the window open. With the other function, a latch keeps the window closed. To open this window, you turn the handle and push the pane. With this model, you don’t have the arms obstructing the view.
Styles of Casement Windows
The standard casement window consists of a single glass pane with the sides affixed to the frame. If the window is attached via the top of the frame, it’s an awning style. If it’s attached at the bottom, the window is a hopper style. Technically, both of these styles are still casement windows because they’re hinged.
Within the standard, side-mounted casement category, you have several options. French casement windows feature side-by-side panes, similar to French doors. The panes are typically narrower than with traditional casement windows. Some models omit the central stile between the panes for a more unobstructed view.
Tilt-and-turn windows are a European design. The pane is affixed to the frame in different ways. So, when you turn the handle one way, the frame opens at the top in the hopper style. If you turn the handle the other way, the window opens from the side like a standard casement model.
Within the above styles, you can also choose between multi- and single-paned glass. Likewise, casement windows come with either flat or arched tops.
Advantages of Casement Windows
Casement windows carry several benefits. The most obvious is a fully open window allows for more ventilation. What’s more, both the opened window and the single-paned closed window present less visible obstruction. An added benefit is that hook-shaped locks are embedded in the frame. This construction makes them harder to break, thus preventing break-ins.
Specific casement styles convey their own benefits. Awning windows take up less space when open than traditional casement. Likewise, because they open at the top, you can keep them open even during a light rain. Hopper models allow for ventilation without letting in dirt or debris. Tilt-and-turn windows afford you different opening choices.
Home Areas for Casement Windows
Any area of the home is appropriate for casement windows, keeping in mind they take up space when open. However, certain rooms lend themselves to the usage of this style.
The bathroom is a good area for hopper windows, especially smaller sizes. Contractors can install the windows high up the wall. You can pull them open any time you need to air out the bathroom. If the windows are installed high enough, you don’t have any privacy issues.
For airing out purposes, the kitchen is another ideal room for casement windows. In this case, you don’t have to worry about privacy. Rather, you may choose to have large windows installed near the stove or above the sink. You can also have contractors install casement windows in a breakfast nook to enjoy a breeze while dining.
Perhaps the best area for casement windows are sunrooms and enclosed porches. Both of these rooms serve as a transition between outdoor and indoor living. Wide-open casement windows help blur the transition between outside and inside.
Consider casement windows as part of your overall replacement or new-build plan. Pella Windows & Doors of Wisconsin offers a wide variety of casement windows to meet your needs.
