You have a lot of options to choose from when selecting replacement windows for your home. Different materials, different builds and different levels of functionality all play a part and sometimes it can get confusing. Two breeds of window that are often conflated are the awning window and the casement window.
Awning and casement windows are both a type of cranking window. This means that instead of sliding along a tray, these windows are opened and closed via a fold-down cranking handle. If you hear or see mention of “crank windows”, odds are it’s an awning or casement window.
So that’s where awning and casement windows converge, but how are they different?
Width versus height
The main difference between casement and awning windows is their configuration. Casement windows are tall, whereas awning windows are wide. Casement windows open from left to right while awning windows open vertically.
This means you’re generally restricted on which kind of window you can choose depending on the dimensions of the window you’re replacing. While a casement window is available in one, two, three, four or five-lite configuration, the hinges at the top of awning windows limit their options to one, two, or three-lite configurations.
Benefits of crank windows
Both awning and casement windows offer complete ventilation and great natural light. It’s not uncommon to see a crank window in a bathroom, kitchen or any other room where great ventilation is required. These windows offer unobstructed views, as well, which makes them popular in living rooms.
Why choose awning windows?
Rain protection
Awning windows can also function as an awning, hence their name. Of course an awning window won’t protect you from a tsunami, but if a few light raindrops begin to fall, the window will catch them and keep your house from getting wet. So if you’re someone who likes letting in the smell of summer rain without risking damaging your new floors, then an awning window might be a good choice.
Smaller windows
Both casement and awning windows are limited in how large they can realistically be, but awning windows are usually the smaller of the two. This is because of the top hinges we mentioned before. After a certain point, the window simply becomes too heavy for the top hinge to handle.
Why choose casement windows?
Great light and ventilation
Awning windows also let in great light and provide excellent ventilation, but casement windows can help create a steady breeze into your home even by opening them just slightly. Cranking open your casement window as little as five or six inches allows the window to act much like the sail on a boat, catching the breeze and redirecting it into your home.
Beware of the wind
A light breeze now and then isn’t going to damage your windows. However, casement windows may be at risk in very windy areas. If you want a window that you can leave open while huge gusts of wind rattle your house, you may be better off not choosing casement windows, as the mechanisms can warp under the heavy pressure from the wind.
Easy cleaning
Both casement and awning windows are easier to clean than sliding windows. However, with awning windows, you cannot easily clean the outside of the window from the inside of your house, and so it is recommended that you limit awning windows to the first floor of your home. This is not a problem with casement windows, which can be easily cleaned on both sides from inside the home.
Exterior clearance
Both awning and casement windows need some extra consideration before you install them into your home. Both of these windows open outwards, and therefore need a clear and unobstructed path. Trees, obstacles and shrubbery should be carefully considered. Also think about the kinds of activities likely to be going on directly outside your awning or casement window. Getting rammed into from the side can easily damage a crank window that’s open.
Energy efficiency
You might be thinking that crank-operated windows would be inefficient and costly, but they’re actually one of the easier windows to make energy efficient! These windows seal tightly, much in the way a refrigerator does, thus keeping your air conditioning and heating from escaping and taking your utilities budget with it.
Ready to bring awning or casement windows to your home? Vinyl-lite’s awning windows are made using high-end UPVC window systems, designed to last and outperform the competition.Our casement windows are built with the same systems for great weatherability and long-lasting functionality.