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Different Types of Windows

There’s never been more options available to homeowners on the types of windows they can select for their brand new double glazing. And these choices aren’t restricted to whether you choose uPVC frames, wooden frames, or aluminium frames – there is a wide range of different types of window and window style which are listed below.

• casement windows
• French casement windows
• sash windows
• tilt and turn windows
• bay windows
• bow windows
• fixed windows
• what to ask a potential installer

When calculating quotes for potential customers, installers can show you pictures of the different types of window they have on offer – many of them will have samples in their vans so you can see for yourself whether an idea you have in mind is exactly what you want.

You can save up to 40% on the price of double glazing by getting quotes in from reputable and experienced installers with CompareCompanies. We’ll put you in touch with 3 or 4 local tradesmen who’ll compete on price to win your business without forsaking quality of product or installation. To book your quotes, please fill in the form on this page – our service is free and there’s no obligation on you to buy.

Casement windows – ideal for big kitchens and bedrooms not on the ground floor

By far the most popular choice of windows in the UK, casement windows really benefit homeowners by letting lots of light in to rooms all over their properties. When you open or close them, the hinged handle moves the pane in a similar way to the way when you open or close a door. They’re very easy to use and, when opened, they let a lot of air in – great for ventilation on very warm days.

You can select casement windows to open inwards or outwards – inwards is particularly useful if there is an obstruction like a box garden on one or more of your window sills.

There are a number of different types of casements windows you can choose from which we list below – please bear in mind that more complex the design and larger the size of the casement windows you choose will be reflected by a premium in the price you pay for your new double glazing.

Pivoted or centre hinge casement window

Centre-hinged or pivoted casement windows are ideal for very restricted spaces as they don’t swing wide open. The hinge is placed vertically in the centre of the frame. When opened, half of the pane opens inwards and the other half opens outwards.

Hopper or bottom hung casement window

Like the pivoted or centre-hinged casement windows, the hopper or bottom hung casement window uses hinges placed on just one of the frames within the window. This time however, the hinge is placed at the bottom with the window itself opening from the top.

Hopper windows open inwards and are most commonly seen in cellars or basement flats. Because they open internally, the surface of the moving part of the window stays protected from rain or dirt splashes from outside and it allows fresh air into the room at the same time.

Awning or top hung casement window

Top hung casement windows, or awning windows, have their hinges placed at the top of the frame so that, when the handle is turned, the window opens to the outside. Awning windows let in a great deal of natural light and ventilation to the rooms onto which they’re installed – homeowners choose them for their kitchens and their bathrooms in particular.

Sliding folding casement window

Sliding folding casement windows, sometimes referred to as continental folding windows, are the window equivalents to sliding and folding doors.

They are particularly well-suited to wide opening windows, they offer up to 90% visibility of the outside when folded, and they can open to the inside or outside of your home, depending on the choice you specify to your installer. These windows can slide either to the left or the right and they have between two and six different panels which concertina with various different opening options.

Top light casement window

The top light casement window features a fixed glass pane which is separated from a narrower pane at the top of the frame. The narrower pane is the pane which opens – it uses a handle normally placed at the bottom centre on your window.

It allows a limited amount of ventilation into your home and it also offers protection against intruders because the narrower pane is so small that no adult can fit through it. However, if you need to get out of your property quickly, top light casement windows won’t allow for your escape.

Side hung casement window

The side hung casement window is the most popular type of casement windows in the UK. They open using a handle hinged to the side of the frame panel. You can choose side hung casement windows which open either to the outside or to the inside like a door.

French casement windows

French casement windows look great and, because of the way they’re constructed, the offer a much greater and unobstructed view of the outside.

Unlike with some two-paned casement windows, there is no bar in the middle – rather, both parts of the frame are hinged in such a way that it allows you to fully open each side of the window either internally or externally. On particularly warm days, the ventilation offered by French casement windows is superb – homeowners report that opening their French casement windows really cools a room down.

Sash windows – ideal for rooms with tight space and for bedrooms

Sash windows are the quintessential and traditional British style of window – you’re very likely to see them on older and listed residential buildings.

Sash windows slide across their frame, either horizontally or vertically, when they’re opened. The most commonly seen type of sash windows are “single sash windows” – the bottom pane slides upwards allowing air to entre the room through the window frame’s lower half. When opened, they let a lot of air from the outside in and they can turn a stuffy room into a clear air room within seconds.

Double hung sash windows

Double hung sash windows are considerably more expensive than single sash windows. Their greater flexibility allows air to come in from either the top part of the window, the bottom part of the window, or through both halves of each window depending on your personal preference.

Double hung sash windows are better for security than single sash windows because the space created, especially when both panes are centrally situated, is too small for a burglar to break in. Likewise, depending on positioning, you can prevent pets or children from falling out the window.

Tilt and turn windows – ideal for bedrooms and other rooms with limited space

Tilt and turn windows are a much more modern style of window offering greater ventilation to homeowners without sacrificing security. They’re also easy to operate and easy to clean – not that they require much maintenance anyway because of the high manufacturing standards used to produce modern double-glazing frames.

Tilt and turn windows have handles to the side and at the bottom. If the side handle is used to open the window, it opens like a side hung casement window whereas if the bottom handle is used to open the window, it opens like a bottom hung casement window.

Tilt only

A cheaper option than either tilt and turn or dual tilt and turn windows, the tilt only also only opens inwards. From a health and safety point of view, it’s positive that there’s no chance of any child climbing out of the window but there is a very real negative in that you won’t be able to use the window as a means of escape in case of emergency.

When you open them, it’s very easy to clean the opening panel of the window from the inside although cleaning the outside from indoors might require a bit of a stretch.

Bay windows – ideal for living rooms and master bedrooms

A stylistic evolution from the traditional Oriel style in Victorian Britain, bay windows protrude out from the wall on which they’re installed, often forming extra space within the room to which they’re attached and offers a panoramic view not possible with standard flat-laid windows.

They look amazing and they have been a constant feature on style-driven home designs since the Georgian and Edwardian eras.

They’re constructed of usually three different panes at cants of between 33^O and 90^O. Three-pane bay windows with the two side panels angled at 90^O are often called box windows because of the shape of the final installation. There is traditionally one much larger pane in a bay window installation connected to two equally-sized smaller frames which connect to the wall.

Bow windows – also ideal for living rooms and master bedrooms

Just like bay windows, bow windows, sometimes called compass windows, create extra space by protruding from the outside of the property and they also provide homeowners with a more complete view of the outside. The protrusion on bow windows is much less pronounced that with bay windows – this effect is achieved by the use of up to 8 conjoined panes, the two most extreme of which are connected to the exterior of the property.

Although unusual, bow windows can wrap around the side of a building in the form of a turret shape. You should expect to pay up to three and a half times what you’d pay for a bay window for a bow window – this premium is dependent on the framing material used, the number of panes, and the complexity of the building work involved for successful installation.

Fixed windows – ideal for hard-to-reach windows

Fixed windows are windows that are generally used in places which would benefit from some or more natural light – more often than not, they’re added to properties after construction because a homeowner finds themselves unsatisfied with the illumination and ambience of a given room. There are no openings in fixed windows.

Getting the best deal on your new double glazing

There are thousands of reputable double glazing companies in the UK but it’s always really important to do your due diligence on any company before you decide to go ahead with their quote. That’s because things do go wrong and, in 2016, nearly 4,000 homeowners had problems with new windows or doors they had fitted to their properties. Those 4,000 homeowners did not get satisfaction from their installers and they ended up complaining to Citizens Advice (source: GGF).

CompareCompanies works with thousands of homeowners every month, connecting them to reputable and established double glazing firms so that they get the best deal and enjoy peace of mind at the same time. We spoke to our team who wanted us to pass on three golden rules about purchasing double glazing and new windows from any company. They are:

Make sure you use a professional

Always use a specialist for any double glazing installations on your home. Make sure that they have the qualification and experience necessary to do the work you want and to do the work well.

Read online reviews

Online reviews are not just for restaurants and takeaways – customers rate double-glazing companies on the internet as well. Online reviews are like the modern day “word of mouth” marketing – in most cases, you’re reading the first-hand and real-life experiences of the company you’re considering using.

Please do remember that no company gets it right every time and that you can tell a lot about a company and their approach to customer service and customer satisfaction by what they do when things have gone wrong.

Get a quote before you agree to anything

Never settle for an estimate – always insist on a quote with a fixed price. Before you make the decision, have three or four fixed price quotes in front of you. For each installer you meet, ask that the quote they provide you with meets your exact specifications and that there will be no surprise final bills.

Many installers will work in partnership with finance companies to offer you your double glazing on extended payment terms. Finance companies compete ferociously with each other to help installers so always ask your installer about interest-free deals and deferred first payment options. They may not be available when you’re getting your quotes in but it’s always worth asking.

Get up to 40% off the perfect windows for your home

CompareCompanies can put you in touch with 3 or 4 who work in your local area – we help thousands of homeowners every week looking for the best price and the highest quality. Each company we put you in contact with is a member of either FENSA or CERTASS for extra piece of mind.

Speak with representatives from each company about what you want for your home – get all the information you need to make an informed decision that’s right for you. Our service is free and you’re under no obligation at any time.

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