Casement Window Buying Guide

Enhance Any Room With Functional and Secure Casement Windows

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Casement windows are a superb choice to add light, security and functionality to nearly any home. This window style features versatile design options and best of all, it’s energy-efficient. Next to our fixed picture window, they are the most efficient window we make at Thompson Creek.

In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about casement windows to ensure this style is the right choice for your home.

What Is a Casement Window?

Casement windows, also known as crank windows, are traditionally hinged at the side and open outward. However, casement windows are versatile and can be altered to suit a variety of needs and tastes. There are plenty of popular casement window styles that you can choose from when selecting this type of window for your home. This includes:

Colonial grill
Prairie grill
No grill

In addition to these designs, casement windows are also customizable when it comes to size and color.

Casement Windows vs. Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows are among the most popular window style; however, many homeowners find them less practical than casement windows. While a casement window’s entire pane can be opened outwards, a double-hung window requires that one pane of glass slides up or down over the other, which means that only half the window can actually be opened.

How Do Casement Windows Work?

Casement windows are typically hinged at the side. While styles can vary, most often they’re opened with a crank, which is normally located along the bottom of the window. This crank can be turned to fully extend the window outward to allow air to flow into the home. When the crank is tight and pushed inward, it creates a seal that keeps outdoor air from entering and contributes to the home’s energy efficiency.

Casement Window Parts

Because of the security and energy efficiency provided by casement windows, they’re typically more intricate and that means they include more parts than most other window types. Casement window parts include:

Locking handle to secure and seal the window when it’s shut
Hand crank for opening and closing the window
Window casing or decorative molding that surrounds the window
Weatherstripping that sits between the frame and sash to keep moisture and air from seeping through the frame

Types of Casement Windows

Because of the diversity of casement windows, they’ve become an ever-popular choice for homeowners in Maryland and across the United States. They’re available in various styles, with each offering different aesthetics and functionality. This means that regardless of the style of your home, there’s a casement window option that will match. Here are a few of the most popular casement window styles.

Single-Frame Casement Windows

A single-frame casement window consists of glass panes contained within one window frame. Because they don’t have rails or grills, this style offers unobstructed views of the outdoors and allows homeowners to let in plenty of natural light. A single-frame casement window can be installed to open from the inside or the outside and may be opened by pushing or with a crank.

Double-Frame Casement Windows (French)

Also known as French casement windows, double casement windows consist of two frames with panes of glass that open outward and meet each other in the middle when closed. Just as with single-frame casement windows, the double-frame variety is hinged at the side and typically opens with a hand crank.

Casement Bay Windows

Casement windows are a popular choice for bay and bow window arrangements. While the traditional alternative is to use a double-hung style for a bay window, opting for a casement window instead allows you to open the entire pane, letting in more fresh air and providing you with a better view of the outdoors.

Picture Window With Casement Flankers

A picture window features a large expanse of fixed-pane glass that lets in loads of natural light and provides beautiful outdoor views. Adding casement flankers to a picture window creates a unique, elegant look in your home and adds functionality to the window. They make a wonderful addition to a master bedroom or living room.

Where Are Casement Windows Commonly Used?

Casement windows can be installed in any room of a home to provide enhanced airflow and greater security. That being said, this style of window is more commonly chosen by homeowners for installation in certain rooms, which include kitchens, sunrooms, and bathrooms. Casement windows are often used for homes near the water because they have a strong seal to help keep the elements outside.

Kitchen Casement Windows

Casement windows are one of the more popular choices when it comes to adding windows in the kitchen. The crank makes it easy to open this style of window, which is perfect for hard-to-reach locations, such as over a kitchen sink. And because the pane is unobstructed by framing or pillars, it’s a great choice to let in natural light.

Sunroom Casement Windows

The wide, panoramic views that come with installing casement windows make them an ideal addition to sunrooms. By installing multiple casement windows in a sunroom, you can easily let in plenty of natural light. The windows can be shut to keep out cold air or opened to let warm air escape, depending on the season.

Bathroom Casement Windows

Many homeowners prefer to install casement windows in bathrooms because they allow ample light into what are typically the smallest rooms in a home. This window style is one of the best for providing maximum ventilation, which is an important feature in bathrooms to help clear out moisture-laden air.

Living Room: Casement Windows in Combination With Bay or Picture Windows

Having wide views of your outdoor space is important when you’re in your living room. Whether you’re gazing out to take in the surroundings or watching your kids as they play in the yard, having casement windows in combination with your bay or picture window in your living room can enhance the views from within your home.

Pros and Cons of Casement Windows

While casement windows are a popular and often practical choice, there are considerations to make before you select them for your home. The obvious pros of installing casement windows, such as better views, easier opening, and a higher level of airflow, make these windows a great choice. Casement windows crank out to give you 100% opening for ventilation and also have an open view when closed. Additionally, they are a very easy window style to clean, making maintenance a breeze.

However, if you need to add an air conditioner unit to the window, then it’s better to opt for a double-hung style. Additionally, because casement windows have more parts, that also means there’s more opportunity for them to need repairs. However, with a 50-year warranty from Thompson Creek, that is not a worry for the customer.

Casement Window Size

As with most window types, casement windows come in a variety of standard sizes. Of course, those standard sizes depend on what type of casement window you’re installing in your home. That being said, casement window sizes can be customized, so you’re able to better accommodate specific rooms of nearly any size.

Standard Casement Window Sizes

Standard widths for casement windows range from 1 foot, 2 inches to 2 feet, 11.5 inches, while standard heights range from 2 feet, 5.5 inches to 6 feet, 5.5 inches. While the smaller standard sizes are typically reserved for spaces such as bathrooms, larger standard casement windows make excellent additions to most other rooms in a home.

Custom Casement Window Sizes

Custom casement windows are often the best option for homes with spacious, oversized rooms or oddly sized walls. However, it’s important to keep in mind that typically, custom casement windows are more expensive than standard-size versions. If budget is a concern, it’s usually best to stick with standard window sizes.

How to Measure for Casement Windows

Getting window measurements correct is crucial to ensuring proper installation. According to the team of experts at Thompson Creek, this method is best when measuring for replacement casement windows:

Measure the height from the top of the sill to the bottom on each side of the window. Take measurements on the left side, in the middle, and on the right side of the window, and record the smallest number.
Measure the width from the interior of the trim across the window to the other side. Again, take three measurements (top, middle, and bottom) and record the smallest number.

When measuring your windows, be sure to use a good tape measure, and don’t round your measurements up or down.

Replacement Casement Windows

Whether you’re looking for replacement casement windows or want to install new windows throughout your home, Thompson Creek can provide professional installation services to suit your needs. Our team of experts can help you select from a variety of casement window styles to find a design that looks great in your home.

Our vinyl casement windows can be customized to suit your tastes and needs. With our variety of glass packages that feature options like triple panes, Sound Shield glass and obscured glass, we can help you find windows to suit any room in your home. Best of all, the design is fully customizable. You can select the color, grid type, trim, and screens that complement your home and its unique design.

While casement window prices can vary significantly depending on the specific sizes you require and the design elements you choose, you can trust us to provide you with the best value for your dollar. Get in touch with us at Thompson Creek to schedule an estimate.

Casement Window Pricing

If you’ve decided on a casement window for your home, you may be wondering just how much it will cost. Estimate the cost of casement windows for your home here.

Are Casement Windows Safe?

Are casement windows safe to have on your home? Learn all about casement window security in this guide from Thompson Creek.

What's the Difference Between Awning vs. Casement Windows?

What’s the difference between awning vs casement windows? Learn more about these two popular crank-open window styles in this article.

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