6 Unknown Facts About Casement Windows

There are 18 most common window types on the market. Each comes with a set of advantages and disadvantages.

Many homeowners usually regard energy efficiency, security, safety, functionality and ease of maintenance as the main criteria when choosing windows.

In this article, we are highlighting 6 unknown facts about casement windows, and what makes them so special.

What is a casement window?

The architecture of a casement window resembles a typical picture window, except for having hinges or pivots at the upright side of the vertically hung sash.

This mechanism allows the casement sash to open outward or inward depending on the model.

However, there's only an outward opening version in North America.

Casement windows are one of the most widely installed window types today.

The reasons for such colossal popularity are obvious – affordable price tag, excellent energy-efficiency, exceptional performance, security and other range of features, like self-cleaning glass or triple-glazing.

Crash course into the history of casement windows

The first record of using a casement window in construction dated the 18th century, when the mullioned stone window was replaced by the first variation of a hinged window.

Back then, the small panes of glass separated by thin glazing bars admitted more light into the rooms, which made them ideal for using in rooms short of light.

The old casement windows were cumbersome due to iron and lead latticework used as an embellishment across the glass area.

Then two things happened: the cost of materials such as glass and timber and their availability became better.

This allowed architects to ditch heavy materials.

The fashion of using an ample amount of timber, with the oak being in favour, and large glass panels as required attributes of the casement windows had lasted until urbanization.

The mass movement of people relocating to cities stimulated the change in window design.

This forced the buildings to shrink in size and become more efficient and ergonomic.

The demand for smarter houses was the catalyst of redesigning the casement windows, making them sleeker, lighter and extremely energy-efficient.

Why should you consider installing casement windows?

Many homeowners are thrown by the question, what are the advantages of casement windows?

They have both pros and cons, but for the sake of this article, we're going to focus on six unknown advantages of the casement windows.

#1 Casement windows are very energy efficient

The first question that we hear from a client, How energy efficient are the casement windows?

Windows alone can cause losing around 18 to 35 percent of heat

The stats show that 57% of your energy goes to heat, cool or ventilation.

Highly energy-efficient casement windows can lower your energy bills by as much as 45% in the first year alone.

As consumers shift towards ethical consumption of resources and seek alternative ways to reduce their costs like utility bills, technologically advanced windows are getting in the front line of the race to create more energy-efficient buildings.

Problems like failure to close the sash properly, or the constant pressure from shifting foundation, or extreme weather events – may all affect the window's energy efficiency properties.

The casement windows are prominent for their robust performance. Their closing hardware prevents air leaks by shutting tight into the frame.

All these factors affect how energy efficient your window is, and that's where casement windows excel.

#2 Ventilation

As our houses become more energy-efficient, the problem of drafts and air leaks vanish, but the need to ventilate the house regularly becomes more acute.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, proper ventilation is critical to maintaining air quality pure and free from indoor air contaminants.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety states in their guidelines that indoor air contaminants originate from the following sources:

• Building occupants – carbon dioxide (CO2), tobacco smoke, perfume, other body odours

• Building materials – dust, fibreglass, asbestos, other gases

• Solvents, disinfectants, glues and home cleaning chemicals – toxic vapours, volatile organic compounds

• Damp areas, stagnant water or condensation accumulated on glass surfaces like windows – microbial contaminants, fungi, mould and mildew, other bacterias

• Carpets, fabric, other furnishing – dust mites

Health practitioners can't stress enough on the importance of ventilating indoor spaces regularly.

The casement window provides efficient indoor ventilation.

Reaching an aperture angle of 90 degrees – the largest one compared to other window types – the airflow is able to freely penetrate the room.

Another advantage of making the casement windows the best for ventilation is their ability to redirect the airflow into the home, thus allowing you to ventilate the house whenever you need.

#3 Incredibly secure

With 24% of burglars choosing windows as the second most preferred method of entry into a house, security properties become paramount and the most sought out feature among the homeowners.

Casement windows are extremely secure.

Thanks to various modifications and hardware upgrades, these windows feature a locking mechanism that makes burglars impuissant to break in.

The locking mechanism is located inside the window frame, thus making it hard to jemmy the window's frame when closed and locked into place.

A corner drive locking system has been designed to take window air/water performance and security to higher levels.

At Bespoke Windows, some models like Tilt & Turn windows are fitted with Roto NT's hardware aiming for the highest level of security.

For additional security, windows may be fitted with triple glazing and laminated glass.

A note about laminated glass, it's made of two or more piles of glass with a vinyl interlayer between, which enables it to hold up the integrity of glass if it's been broken or damaged.

Also, laminated glass blocks 99% of the harmful UV-light transmission and reduces noise pollution by up to 50%.

These extra features in the casement window will not only prevent possible break-ins, but also protect occupants against extreme weather events, such as hail or wind storms.

#4 Highly customizable

Many of us like things that help us to stand out. Be it a small, divine detail, or grandiose in its appearance – we want it to accommodate our taste and unique style.

Customization is another reason that homeowners opt for the casement windows because they fit their specific needs.

There are five primary ways to customize casement windows:

1. Exterior colour

2. Interior colour

3. Glass option

4. Grille pattern

5. Hardware finish

6. Dimensions

7. Profile option

Each option can be mixed with one another to create a genuinely unique casement window.

#5 Effortless care and maintenance

Depending on the quality of the components comprising the casement window, they are pretty easy to use and maintain.

How to use the casement windows?

Casement windows open and close on a hinge.

To open a window, you need to simply rotate a window handle anticlockwise and push it outward to your preferred aperture.

To close it, return the casement sash onto its original position, afterwards rotate the handle clockwise until the locking cam makes a snipping sound.

Casement Window Maintenance

When it comes to maintenance, the casement windows require a little clean-up once a year to allow the mechanism to smoothly work.

All you need to do is clean or lubricate an operator, hinge or lock hardware. Due to an excessive build-up of dirt or gunk, the operator, hinges, or locks may stop working smoothly.

You may experience trouble with opening or closing the window. That's why you need to periodically inspect the window on signs of dirt or gunk.

Thankfully, the casement windows are easy to maintain.

You shouldn't experience problems with cleaning the hinges, locks and operator off using a microfiber cloth and a spray bottle.

#6 Provide plenty of natural light

Because the casement windows have a large expanse of unobstructed glass, the more natural light can penetrate the room, eliminating the need to use artificial light.

You can enjoy reading your favourite books or boost your productivity to get those monthly reports out of your sight.

New research from Cornell University Professor Alan Hedge found the optimal amount of daylight reduces eye strain and headache of office workers by 84%, and several other studies also suggest that 80% of people are at risk of developing depression, agitation, sleep or seasonal affective disorder due to little exposure to natural light.

It's believed that 13-15 minutes of exposure to natural light are enough to trigger the release of endorphins or "happy hormones."

That's why windows play a critical role in overall health.

Variability of design options allows the casement windows to render them fit for rooms of different sizes and orientation in regard to the sun's position.

This factor alone adds a number of options to introduce more natural light into your house, thus making your life happier and more productive.