Awning windows are very similar to casement windows. The one big difference is that rather than opening to the side, awning windows open out from the bottom. The hinges are mounted on the top instead of the sides.
Deciding to install awning windows rather than the more traditional casement windows has its advantages and disadvantages. First, you want to make sure they match the style you want for your home. They look different than casement windows when they are open and can be harder to clean.
The costs for awning windows vary depending on material, size, and manufacturer. Because costs vary based on these and other factors, a top-of-the-line awning window may cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars on the low end up to over a thousand or more on the high end. Steel and wood are the most expensive materials for awning windows, while aluminum, cellular PVC, composite, fiberglass, and vinyl are the least expensive.
Here are some of the pros of using awning windows:
They offer exceptional ventilation because they can be installed higher than many other types of windows. When placed high, awning windows can provide natural light and ventilation without compromising privacy. High placement also allows for maximum wall space for design aspects such as art and furniture placement.
They are excellent choices for damp climates because they offer weather-tight construction. Awning windows can protect your home against moisture, even when they’re open during a rainstorm. Because of the way they are constructed, they allow for nearly 100% of the viable ventilation in a given area without the threat of water seeping into your home. Awning windows also offer a superior seal to prevent drafts.
While casement windows offer a traditional look, since the awning style opens out from the bottom, this will give your home a more contemporary look. For certain style homes this adds immense value to curb appeal.
As with anything, the good comes with the bad. Here are some cons to installing this type of window:
You don’t want them installed near areas of high foot traffic outside your home. Awning windows have open projecting sashes. If the window sits overlooking sidewalks, decks, porches, or terraces, someone can easily collide with the windows’ jutting sashes, which could cause a bad injury, especially if they hit their head.
They need to be cleaned more frequently than casement windows. Open sashes on awning windows are exposed. The open slashes slant as well, so they can become dirty faster than other types of windows and require regular washing.
They can impede quick egress if it is needed. Screens and storm windows are mounted on the inside of awning windows. This could make a fast escape difficult in case of a fire or other dangerous situation. However, the construction of awning windows makes entry quite difficult as well.
