What window to use - double hung or casement?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Our house is a 1925 Dutch Colonial Revival, and we're working with an architect to design a master bath /closet addition where the sleeping porch was (over the sunroom). The sunroom windows will be replaced with the original design (2 x 5 divided light casement / french casement windows) and the newly added upstairs dormers on the front and back will each get a french casement the same width as the downstairs (36").

The window I'm NOT sure about is on the side. We have space for a singular window, centered on the roof hip. I BELIEVE, due to the addition's set-back that the roof hip will NOT be centered on the casement windows below.

Wall placements prevent another 36"W french casement, so we can do either 18" W or 27" W, casement or double hung. Would it be inappropriate to have a singular double hung on the part of the house that is otherwise all casement windows? The main part of the house is all double hung windows. Any historical/architectural thoughts on which would be most appropriate? We're trying really hard to make this look as original as possible to the house while still allowing us the badly needed space.

Here's a picture of the front of the house from a few years ago (right after we had the shutters installed):

and here's a side/back shot of the sunroom, showing the south side of the house, pre-shutters and landscaping.Everything to the right of the existing door will be bathroom. Everything to the left closet. The window in question will be in the bathroom over the toilet.

and here are the photos of the rough 3-D model our architect did, showing the front and side angle:

The upper french casement will be centered over the lower casement (like i said - rough model)

The 3-D model shows 3 18" W casements on the south wall, but due to interior layout changes, we need to limit it to one centered window, which can't exceed 27" W.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Featured Answer

Gargamel

7 years ago

Thanks for the info. When we were thinking of doing an addition I looked at new inward opening casements. I wanted wood, reproducing exactly the same windows as we currently have. I live in Ontario, Canada, where the prices of everything seem almost double the prices in the U.S.. I had a quote from Anderson and it was $6,000 per window, Jeldwin wasn't much different (both double paned). I also found a company specializing in historical windows, but they were also about $4,500 per window (single paned). In the end I found someone who would make single paned for $2,000 (excluding the storm window). I would have gone with them, but the addition is on "hold".

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Comments (12)

roarah
7 years ago
Oh I know your pain... We just finished a master bath above our sunroom a few months ago. I tried so hard to keep perfect fitting windows for the exterior but it limited the functionality of the bathroom. The sunroom below has windows on all three walls like yours.

Our home had all double hung so that would have been the best choice curb wise but I wanted privacy so we went with a 40 by 24 window in the front placed five feet above the window for privacy in the front of the house, a 36 round window place with the center at 10 ft in the gable so I could place a vanity mirror under it and a double hung single that is most fitting to my orginal 20s home in the back but due to shower stall it is slightly off center.

I do not notice the back window is of centered from outside at all. Inside I do a bit but it is ok...I went with a trim cut out by the shower so that outside was not as far off center. It is all a comprimise. I will admit that I go back and forth a lot. Sometimes I think I love the small addition from the curb and other times I think I ruined the house. When I am in the bathroom I am so glad we did it! I am in the bath more than looking at it from the street so I think the sacrifices to orginal vibe and curb appeal were worth the function I gained inside.

Could you place a large half gable window, mimicking your eyebrow orginal half windows, on the side placed at five ft maybe? It is a balance of functionality and curb appeal. We chose function over some form and I think most of the time I am happy with our outcome. I do not think it is the end of the world to lose a little side appeal I think it will be ok and it is a necessary change. Your home is lovely!
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you so much! It's good to know we're not the only ones struggling with how to pull this off. I think it would be easier if the whole thing was bathroom, but since we need more closet space as well, there is a wall that runs right down the middle of the space to separate them. The center of the roof is just inside the bathroom, so that's what is limiting the width of the window space. We originally had 3 narrow 18" W (one in the closet and 2 in the bathroom), but I decided I just couldn't deal with a window in the tub/shower. I like the idea of mimicking the eyebrow, but again, I don't think we'll have enough width to get the right proportions.

Would you mind sharing any photos of your house - especially if it's a dutch colonial revival? It's so hard to find photos of 2nd floor additions on the sunrooms...understandably!
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roarah
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
My house is a storybook style but I wish I could have incorporated a gamble roof on my addition for my greatest dislike from the street is the vast amount of siding between the two floors with only three windows on the addition. Your old and new blend much more seamlessly than mine.

we initially were going to split the space, 2/3 bath 1/3 closet but changed it to one large bath with wardrobes to incorporate clothes storage. With great ventilation and closet organizers it works great for us But is very unconventional.

Here are our pics and it is almost impossible to find some online, it made me wonder is that was because it was nonpermitted or just frowned upon but now I realize it is because per sq. ft. It is so expensive....our landscaping, roof and a four foot window box under long thin window will be finished this spring.

This is the view I dislike outside with just the one round window and all the siding. Inside I love it! In the plans the window was lower but it did not work with the sink wall mirror placement so it got raised and now I dislike it from outside quite a bit...but Here is inside where it works very well.

This is the off set back window by shower
And here is long thin window placed high for privacy

Here are my clothes wardrobes which I find so efficient for their size.

from our bedroom the addition looks more like a walk in closet than a bathroom...

i do know I lost a bit of the home's orginal charm. It's small stature added to its cottage charm and now from the street it seems much bigger than the 103 sq ft that were actually only added. However, I am enjoying the addition none the less.
roarah
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I found some of the images I collected before meeting with our architect. I have one Dutch colonial's orginal plans with a two story side sunroom. It looks just like you are planning!

here is a two story not at all as original looking as you are doing. I think yours will be perfect comparably.

Here is another more awkward one.
Yours is the best plan I think...
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you so much!!!! This is amazing, and your bathroom looks fantastic! Too funny that you mention your original intent to have 2/3 bath and 1/3 closet - I just asked my husband this morning what he thought about removing the wall in between. I don't think our view from the bedroom (which is also visible at the top of the stairs) would be as pleasant though, since the toilet is right there.

And very good point about the lack of examples due to low ROI. We definitely thought about looking elsewhere rather than adding on, but given that we bought our place as a foreclosure in 2009 in the NYC metro area, we'd be paying a lot more on a mortgage for a place w/ an en suite than it will cost us to add one on.
roarah
7 years ago
I too looked for ages but the homes in our location which is sweet, Southern Ct within walking distance to train, shops, school, my marina and beach. Nothing ever came up as good as I had but I bet now there are tons...;)

here a a few pictures that gave me the inspiration to have the closets incorporated into the bath. All the closet units have doors so no need for walls in my case.
roarah
7 years ago
Are your plans set in stone... If not you can post them here or in the bathroom forum for a second set of eyes... What are the dimensions of the structure?
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
7 years ago
Roarah - sorry for the delayed response. I could have sworn I had answered a while ago! Bathroom plan is basically set now, and it looks like we were able to fit in a 36" W window after all! Now we just have to determine if our budget will allow us to finish the bathroom or if we'll have to only rough it in for now - depends on whether or not we have to tear down the existing sunroom and rebuild the foundation. Ugh.
Gargamel
7 years ago
Aliciaandbilly - I am really curious as to what french casements you will be using. I have old wooden ones in my house (1930) but can never find any examples of older houses which have them. I am also wondering about the hinges and "stays" you will be using. My windows only open up a little past 90 degrees, so they take up quite a bit of room when they're open.
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Gargamel - We
haven't totally decided on the windows yet, primarily for budgetary reasons. If
going w/ a standard window maker (rather than reproduction), I'd love to have
the Marvin Ultimate Push Out French Casement windows w/ the standard interior
wooden screens. I'm not sure that we'll be able to swing the cost though (pun
intended!). They come w/ their own hardware I believe.

I've
also been meaning to call some companies that do newly made double-pane
reproduction windows, although I realize they may be just as expensive as the
Marvin Ultimates. We live in NY, so I have to make sure that they all adhere to
the newly implemented state energy codes, but the websites I've found thus far
in the Northeast are:

http://www.woodwindowworkshop.com/casement_wood_windows.html

http://www.johnsonmillwork.com/product.html

http://www.illingworthmillwork.com/casement_awning%20.htm

I'd love to know if anyone has purchased windows from any of
these companies.

I had also read about Heirloom Windows
(http://www.heirloomwindows.com/) on the Old House Guys website, but don't feel
great about ordering the quantity of windows that we need completely sight unseen.

As for hardware compatible with the reproduction windows,
House of Antique Hardware has a great selection. We've bought a couple of
random hardware items from them and they've been of a good quality.

http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/casement-window-hardware-parts
aliciaandbilly
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow! That's definitely steep! The French (two windows w/out a divider) Push Out Casements that we've priced thus far with a local Marvin authorized installer were about $3,500 each. The single Push Out Casements about $1,500. And that's w/out the installation costs. Who knows...our addition may be put "on hold" as well...