Casement Windows: Accessible, Airy, and Affordable

Picture and bay windows are great for letting natural light into your house, but they also require a lot of room. You have to plan for an entire wall of glass, which can make a room hotter or colder than desired. But if you want natural light, but don't have the money or space for it, then a casement window may be your best option. For one, they are constructed on a side hinge which opens to the outside, creating the space-efficiency of a double-hang. But since crank windows are able to open all the way, they allow for maximum ventilation as well.

Anywhere in the Home
The best thing about casement windows is their ability to adapt. Unlike pictures or bays, they don't take up too much space on the wall and they are easy to install yourself. Or, if you choose to hire a professional for a flawless installation, the job takes less than a day. Plus, unlike a double-hang where you have to be right next to it in order to have leverage for lifting the sash, casement windows have a turn-around handle to do the work for you. Therefore, they're perfect for hard to reach areas, such as above kitchen sinks, bathroom toilets, or wide countertops. Also, since they're natural ventilators, they are perfect for hot, humid areas of the house: kitchens, bathrooms, converted attics, or other upper-story spaces.

Other Benefits
Energy efficient: Since casement windows open from the side with a manual handle, they leak less air and actually create a tighter seal between the sash and frame. Plus they use less glass, all of which makes your home more energy efficient.
Locks: As with opening and closing, crank windows also have easy-to-reach interior locks—once again, great for hard-to-reach areas of the house.
Easy escape: Casement windows are often used in basements bedrooms to fulfill fire codes. Because they are tall and can open up so wide, they are ideal for easy egress in case of emergencies.
Easy access: Not only are they easy to reach, they are also easy to maintain. If you open it all the way, you can distend and then disengage the arm-hinge in order to gain full access to the glass, hinges, tracks and frames for easy cleaning (this is also the same process used when used as an egress window).
Options: Of course since they can open up so wide for ventilation, they all come with screens to protect you from pesky pests. Also, just because they are perfect for hard-to-reach areas, doesn't mean they have to be used there. They can be found in any part of the home, and they come in both single and double pane varieties. In fact, if you don't want to pay for a picture or bay installation, simply create a row of crank windows along any wall to achieve the same affect for less money.


Maintenance and Warnings
Like any part of the house, crank windows need to be properly maintained: regularly clean the glass and lubricate the hinges. However, if you move into an older home, you may need to invest in some casement replacement windows. Since they are used so much and the arm-hinge and crank receive so much stress over time, you may need to buy a sturdier model. You don't want any window to be worn out and flimsy, so if the handle falls off too easy, or the hinges have become rusty, or the arm-hinge won't extend all the way due to bearing the weight of the frame all these years, don't hesitate to purchase casement replacement windows. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can add quite a bit to your home's re-sell value.

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Choosing House Windows: From Casement to Energy Efficient Windows

You probably already know that if you are building a new home or remodeling your current one, the windows that you choose will significantly affect the overall look.  What you may not know is that they will also affect how energy-efficient your home is.  However, it can be difficult to know what the difference is between the R-value and the U-factor.  And what about all of those windows that claim to be low-E?  It's time to clear up all of the confusion! Here's how to choose replacement windows (or new windows) for your house.

1. Style.  Some styles of windows are more energy-efficient than others.  The most energy efficient windows are casement windows.  Casement windows open from a hinge, either at the top or one side of the window, by means of a crank that you turn.  Because the sash is designed to fit tightly against the weather seal when closed, they let very little air through.  In fact, when the wind blows against the glass of a casement-type window, it pushes it against the sash, which simply makes it seal even more tightly.  Casement windows usually fit in best with a contemporary design.  The second type of window is the double hung window.  This is the more traditional style with which you may be familiar.  They consist of a lower pane and an upper pane.  When you wish to open the window, you slide the lower pane upward.  The weather seal that is used on double hung windows becomes damaged over time, which means it lets in more air than an undamaged seal.  However, double hung windows can usually be tilted inward for cleaning, which makes them more convenient in this aspect.  The third type of window is a sliding window.  This is basically a double hung window, but it slides from left to right, instead of up and down.  It is subject to the same sort of abuse as a double hung window, which makes it just as inefficient.
2. R-value.  This is the biggest factor in the energy efficiency of your windows.  But the real question is - what in the world is R-value and how does it affect your windows?  To put it simply, R-value is the measure of how much heat loss your windows are capable of preventing.  Therefore, you want windows with the highest R-value possible.  The lowest R-value that is acceptable if you are trying to build an efficient home is R-3.  Of course, the higher the rating, the more efficient the window.  The corollary to that is the higher the R-value, the more expensive the window will be.  A good rule of thumb is to choose a window with the highest R-value that you can reasonably afford, in relation to the energy savings that you expect to receive.  This is especially true if you live in a cold climate.  Keep in mind that R-value is rated according to the window's efficiency in the center of the glass.  The edges will be less energy-efficient than the R-value reflects.
3. U-factor.  This is the second big factor to consider when choosing your house windows.  U-factor is the measure of how well your window prevents air leaks between the sash and the frame.  U-factors less than 0.35 are considered energy efficient.  If you live in a climate that is cold and windy, you'll want to give just as much weight to the U-factor of your windows as the R-value.  You may also want to consider relocating to somewhere that's warm and sunny all year-round!
4. Low-E windows.  This type of window is the gold standard when it comes to energy-efficient windows.  Low-E (also known as low emissivity) windows consist of an inner and outer pane of glass.  The area between the two panes is filled with an inert (non-active) gas such as argon, which provides the ultimate in window insulation without compromising the clarity of the glass.  A step down from low-E windows are single-glazed and double-glazed windows, which are coated with a transparent metallic oxide finish that prevents some heat loss.  These are much less efficient than low-E windows, which is reflected in their lower R-values.  Single glazed windows are glazed on only one side, double glazed are glazed on both the inside and outside.  The least desirable windows, in terms of heat loss, are unglazed windows.  An unglazed window is a simple sheet of glass with no coating or insulation.  They are more efficient than an open window, but that's about it!  Glazing can be combined with low-E windows for an even more energy-efficient solution.
5. Condensation prevention.  Condensation happens when there is a great difference in air temperature between the inside of a window and the outside.  If the temperature and the humidity inside your home are high, and the temperature outside is low, you will probably see condensation forming on your windows.  Conversely, the same is true if the temperature outside is quite high and the indoor temperature is cool.  Condensation is a problem for windows because when moisture frequently collects around the edges of your windows, over time it will cause damage to the frame and weather seal.  It's also a problem because it indicates that your windows are not insulating your home very well.  To prevent condensation, look for windows with warm-air technology and high-quality metal spacers along the edges of the panes.  The warm air keeps the temperature of the window closer to the air temperature of your home, which won't give condensation a chance to form.
6. Solar (UV) penetration.  This is an important consideration for anyone living in an especially warm climate.  When the sun is constantly shining through your windows, you'll notice that your carpet, furniture and anything else in the sun's path starts to look faded and worn prematurely.  To keep this from happening, look for types of house windows with an ultraviolet-blocking coating.  This will allow the harmless rays of the sun to shine right through, while blocking the UV rays, which do the most damage.
7. Window placement.  When you are deciding where to place the windows in your home, consider the fact that south-facing windows let in heat without an undue amount of UV rays.  Therefore, they can help warm your home during the colder months.  North-facing windows, on the other hand, provide very little warmth and can actually be a hindrance to keeping your home warm.  To illustrate this fact, just look at the driveways on your street after a snowstorm.  Most likely, the driveways that face south will be melted and clear long before the ones that face north.  Therefore, if you are set on floor-to-ceiling windows in your great room, put them on the south side of the house if at all possible. 
8. Building code requirements.  Many states have adopted building code standards which regulate the type of windows which you are allowed to install in a new or remodeled home.  Always check your local building code before purchasing or installing new windows.  This is especially important if you are buying windows from an out-of-state source.  The windows sold at a local store will most likely meet your state's building codes, but those from an out-of-state source may not.
9. Rebates.  Some utility companies now offer rebates if you install energy-efficient windows.  In some cases, the rebate is significant enough that you will end up paying nearly the same for energy-efficient windows as you would for ordinary windows.  Check the website for your local utility company to see if they offer these types of rebates.

There you have it - the world of windows reduced to seven simple steps!  Naturally, a well-insulated window is only as good as its installation, so always have windows installed by a professional and make sure all of the seams are caulked and sealed well.