Making the Case for Casement Windows

By Gates Dearen

Courtesy of
/homeritejacksonville.com/casement-windows/

If you’ve been shopping for replacement windows, you quickly realize there are many different styles from which to choose.  While some homeowners simply want to swap out their existing windows with traditional single or double-hung windows, before you make that decision, I wanted to take the time to tell you about another style of window you may wish to consider called casement windows.  These windows have a vertical hinge on the side that cranks open either inward or outward like a door, as opposed to sliding open vertically. 

Casing the Joint

Before I get to the many benefits of casement windows, let me point out where they are, or are not appropriate.  Like many other styles of replacement windows, casements have their place, which can best be understood by “casing” your dwelling.  Casement windows are a cost-effective way to improve your view, since they don’t have a center rail as standard windows do.  Many homeowners like to include casements out back so they can better view their gardens, swimming pool, or other scenery that traditional windows tend to obscure to some degree. They are also terrific to use in hard to reach areas, such as over kitchen sinks and counters, where it would otherwise be difficult to open a window.

Homeowners have several options when selecting the right casement window for their home. 

Courtesy of
Homerite Jacksonville

• Single Casement Windows are designed to hinge from either the right or left side.
• Double Casement Windows, otherwise known as French casements, are set side by side, so they open together like French doors.
• Awning Casements work just like single casement windows with the exception that they hinge at the top to open like an awning.
• Transom Casements can be used to augment a picture window with an inset awning-style casement window at either the top or bottom of the picture window.
• Flush-mounted casements have a flat appearance when closed since the window is flush with the frame. 
• Conventional casements have a lip that juts out slightly when the window is cranked closed. 

Where casement windows do not work is in any window where you have a window air-conditioner, since there is no top sash to hold the unit down. 

In what other cases are casements appropriate?

One of the biggest benefits to consider adding casement windows, is the added ventilation these windows provide.  Their hinged design acts like a wind scoop, particularly when opened outward.  Since there are no vertical or horizontal obstructions to impede airflow once they’ve been opened, the entire sash can be used to maximize airflow or closed partially to allow you to precisely control the amount of breeze.  Casements do particularly well in places like the kitchen or the bathroom where fresh air is sometimes at a premium.

Courtesy of
HomeriteJacksonville.com

Keeping casements clean is a breeze too, since they can be cranked open as much as ninety degrees.  They are also simple to operate, since all it takes to adjust them is to employ a little elbow grease.

Casement Windows are Ultra-Secure.

Unlike traditional single and double-hung windows which are secured at the top and bottom, casements are designed so all four sides of the window seals into the sash.  Once you crank casement windows closed and engage the lock, there is no way for a burglar to open them with a prybar.  This feature also makes casements extremely weathertight as well.  Once closed, you’ll never have to worry about air seeping through the window adding to the cost of your utility bill.

When Space is at a Premium, Casements are Great Space Savers

Courtesy of  HomeriteJacksonville.com

Any place in your home where space is at a premium, casement windows could be just the thing.  Instead of having to awkwardly lean way out over a counter to open a single or double-hung window, all it takes to open a casement window is to turn a crank.

 

If you’re ready to consider replacing your windows and/or doors, contact us at HomeRite Windows and Doors by calling (904) 296-2515 or visit our showroom at 4801 Executive Park Court, Building 200, Suite 207, Jacksonville; FL 32216. 

Gates Dearen is the co-owner of HomeRite Windows and Doors in Jacksonville, Florida. He and Richard Walden have been serving the building products industry in Florida for over 25 years. They strive to match homeowners with the right windows and doors for their homes and budgets. They make the home improvement process pleasant with first-rate, energy-efficient products, affordable pricing, and award-winning installers who employ the best practices and who always treat customers and their property with the utmost respect.