Are Casement Windows out of style?

16 years ago

We are doing double hung windows on the front and side of the house. On the back which overlooks a lovely wooden area we are adding more windows and enlarging some others. I would like to get the best view possible. Casement windows will give me a better view since they have no horizontal center line as you would get with double hung. One area we will have 11 linear feet of windows.

Any opinions or alternatives?

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theporchguy

16 years ago

All the advise so far in this thread is great. I just thought I'd mention "Why not put in a Picture Window flanked by casements?" Just a thought.

Good Luck

All the Best,

The PorchGuy

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Comments (7)

skydawggy
16 years ago
Casements are definitely not out of style. They rate higher energy efficiency numbers than a comparable double hung due to their lower rate of air infiltration. Living in an urban area with HOA's restricts many homeowners to replacing new windows with like style. If you don't have that restriction, I'd recommend installing casements or perhaps a Bay/Bow window.
tru_blue
16 years ago
I agree with the dawg - casements are not out of style. In fact most high-end contemporary homes I see have casements instead of double hungs.

You are correct that casements afford a less cluttered view since there is not a horizontal line ("checkrail") in the middle of the unit. One thing that you may wish to consider that offers even a better view is one of the casement screen alternatives that is out there. More and more manufacturers offer a retractable screen on their casements. Others offer an optional high-transparency screen (almost invisible with very thin but strong strands of screening). With a standard screen in place the typical daylight transmission is only about 60%. By using a retractable screen or high transparency screen you get a much better view. Of course, you could always take the screens out for the Winter like many do.
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All granted, and well said. The way I saw it though, the OP here had made his or her decision of windows and installer, and was only looking to increase the chance that it would go well. One thing I will add, though, is that sometimes in an industry, the "better companies" are their own worst enemies. We hear about this over on the LD forum often too, and it actually just came up again there. They don't call back, they won't take the time to do small jobs, and they communicate badly - can only talk jargon. Less true of landscaping but more of the building trades, they have impenetrable websites if any, no advertising in the yellow pages to help a customer understand who offers what services, and no sales staff with the time to help a customer make sure they're getting what they want. No displays to help a customer educate themselves and make decisions. Open M-F 8-4, closed weekends. Offices in the industrial park. So these companies have evolved into only being able to talk to other contractors and GCs, because that is more money for less sales/communication work. For the customer who wants to go about doing that homework and research you suggest, those companies are inaccessible, intimidating and often simply won't take the time - no interest. They figure they're in the trade, not in sales. That leaves a huge vacuum in the market at the bottom end, and it is really no surprise that other companies like HD have evolved to fill it. Put up displays, be located conveniently, open long hours, with friendly staff who can talk at your level about the details of your piddling insignificant little project, and offer some element of confidence... all that, and not the actual installation, is the competitive product. Through our nearly 20-year ongoing renovation (often stalled for years at a time), I - as a now middle-aged woman, previously as a younger mom with kids in tow - have been in innumerable of these specialty outfits, because as I said, I'm not a big box fan. I go out of my way to find the "better companies," and have been treated astonishingly badly in a lot of them, written off as stupid, had my needs and wishes swept aside and otherwise discounted because "that's not the way it's done" or "you can't get that," not been given crucial information, and been outright ignored as if they think I must have come in by accident. If it's windows, for instance, they're too busy building windows to sit down and talk to me about the window I want. I've had good experiences too, but this is why people go to HD, and I don't blame them. Funny, isn't it, that it takes a company as big as HD to pay attention to the small jobs? Anyway, when you disparage people who go to HD, you might want to make sure there is a viable alternative. The OP here didn't seem to have found one. Karin L
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calbay03
16 years ago
We also have banks of mulled-together Casements for better views. They can be specified to open in specific manner in order to redirect seasonal breezes into the house. This further reduces cooling cost. It is something worth considering.
chefbecky
16 years ago
We had a window wall in a great room overlooking water that was 9 double hung windows which we replaced with three large picture windows with 2 small casement windows for air. Normally windows are closed with air conditioning or heat. People who come into the room immediately comment on the windows. If you want a great view the large picture windows have NO dividers or frame to bloci the view.
ksd51
15 years ago
I will be installing a bay window over my kitchen sink with casement windows on either side. I love the idea of retractable screens (though I don't know how I will ever which them, without climbing on the counter!), but regardless, I think retractable screens are a good idea. My windows do not come with them. Any links to sources online?
Thanks for your help.
swampwiz
15 years ago
I am window opening kind of guy, and the best type of window for opening is an *inswing* casement - it's just like opening a door. The drawback is that, like a door, it can cause an obstruction that must be accommodated.

OTOH, I don't care for the outswing casements at all. The dinky little knob to crank it out is a pain to operate, but a push-out outswing would not have this problem (but would also be a problem for anyone with short arms.) And there is the hokey way that screens are implemented, unlike the inswing, which is on the outside like for a sash. If egress is an issue, the outswing casements are not as good as an inswing, and a rather wide window would be needed for the 20" egress width.

The sash window, while plain is actually good in all respects, except that generally manufacturers make them difficult to open. And of course, the ventilation (and egress) profile is only one-half the size, unlike the casements.

Are Casement Windows out of style?

theporchguy

Comments (7)

skydawggy

tru_blue

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