5 Key Benefits of Casement Windows

What is a “Casement” window?


If you are not familiar with the term casement window it simply refers to a window style where the entire window (particularly the sash) opens out like a door. There are also awning windows where they open out from the bottom. Casement windows can often be ordered in two different forms of operation. The 1st being a crank out style where you need to unlock the window first and then using the hand crank located at the bottom (see photo), crank the window open. The 2nd style is manual push out casement. This is where you have to physically push out the window (or sash), there is no cranking involved. This is how casement windows originally started and some companies still offer this style. There are pros and cons to both styles but today I’m simply sharing 5 key benefits casement windows (crank out and manual openers) offer over other style of operable windows.


Manual Push Out Hardware


Crank Out Casement


Cohesive Aesthetics 

There is no doubt that windows are an integral piece when considering design aesthetics for your house. They can either make a house look like another tract house or they can give a house the custom feel that blends so perfectly with the siding, roof pitches, gables and elevations. 

One benefit a casement window provides is the easy integration into the overall design of the house. Since they look like stationary windows, you can place them directly next to stationary windows for a nice clean symmetrical line but have the benefit of breeze if so desired.




Performance & Energy Ratings 

One not so well known benefit of casement windows are their superior ratings in regard to energy ratings and performance ratings. Second to picture (stationary) windows, casement windows produce the highest design pressure ratings. Design pressure ratings (or pressure grade rating) test wind and water loads to see how much pressure a window can handle before it leaks air or water. Casement windows also provide a better U-Factor (how well it insulates... see my post on NFRC ratings for more information on energy ratings) than any other type of operable window due to its nature. Sliding windows, whether single hung, double hung or horizontal gliding windows all have inferior U-Factors as well as DP ratings due to their weak point. That being the "meeting rail" (the spot where the operable sash closes and meets the stationary rail/section). For these reasons, it makes casement's very desirable for high exposure locations.

Ventilation 

Since you can open up the entire window, ventilation is an obvious benefit that comes with casement windows. Most people love the option to open up their windows for fresh air on those hot summer days (if you don't have AC) and what better then to crank out (or manually push open) the entire window to get maximum ventilation? A door would be better obviously but we are discussing windows alone right now.


Egress

Egress simply means "the action of going out of or leaving a place." In the world of fenestration, every architect/builder knows that every bedroom in a house needs one window that meets egress code. This code relates to an emergency fire escape through a window. The code specifies that the clear opening of the window must meet or exceed 5.7 square feet. Because casement windows crank out in full, they are ideal candidates for an egress escape window. A lot of times in older houses I run across bedrooms with smaller sized windows where a sliding window or single hung window will not meet egress. These openings turn into casement windows as that is the only option in order to meet the minimum clear opening square footage. A little pro tip on this is you can also include what they call 90 degree hinges on the window which gains you another inch or two in width. See the picture below for a casement egress escape in a daylight basement application. 


Unobstructed Views 

Finally, the 5th key benefit of a casement window is its ability to not only bring in fresh air but to provide unobstructed views. This detail is what sells casement windows to many homeowners, but especially one with a beautiful view to look out at. It blends in with its adjacent picture windows (like the first photo in this post) and it gives provides full ventilation at the hands of your fingertips.


For these five reasons, casement windows are a popular choice among many builders, architects, and homeowners. You get the perfect blend of high performance, cohesive aesthetics and full ventilation all in one style window. 

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