Real Estate

Understanding Windows When Shopping For Sash Windows

What are sash windows? In trying to understand windows, it is important to understand what the basic parts of the window are. An easy to picture comparison would be a door. A door has a casement, and a window has a casement. A door is set within the casement, and a window’s glass pane must also be set within its casement. The glass however, requires an additional frame for obvious reasons. This frame encasing the glass is called the sash. Whether the sash is made to slide or rotate on a hinge is what set s the different styles apart.

The basic styles of hinged window are casement, hopper, and awning styles. Casements crank outward on their hinged sides and are often called crank-outs. Hoppers are usually used in basements and are hinged on the bottom and open toward the inside. Awnings are hinged at the top and open toward the outside.

Louvered windows are a style not often seen in northern regions but more often in tropical climates. Many horizontally overlapping lengths of glass panes are mounted horizontally. The air circulation is good when they are swiveled open, but they cannot give the protection from harsh winter conditions needed in northern areas.

Double hung window is the proper term when discussing sash windows. The word “double” refers to the number of sashes in the window. Two sashes are mounted within the same window, where one or both vertically slide past one another. Understanding this can help a person shopping for windows.

Sometimes, people will mention a single hung window. This is supposed to be a double hung window in which the upper sash is fixed. Technically, this is not a true statement. It describes how many sashes move, not how many are actually within the casement. It is still a double hung window, but only one sash slides.

When a window has two sashes that slide vertically on a track, it is called a slider. The sashes overlap and slide past one another.

Double hung windows, the kind people are referring to when they say sash window, originally had a weight system, called a sash balance. It was a system of weights, cords and pulleys that helped balance and hold in place the window sashes when they were opened. Without the sash balance, one would have to insert something strong enough under the window to hold it open. New double hung windows use a spring loaded system rather than a sash balance.

When replacing old double hungs with new, the interior of the wall that once held the weight system can be filled with foam insulation, insuring a more energy efficient home and cutting down on noise transference. They buyer also has the option of a tilt out design where the whole sash tilts or lifts out for ease of cleaning or painting both sides. New windows add more than just a pretty view.

Find out what the advantages to new sash windows are now. All you need to know on sash windows and simply the best sash window company in our comprehensive sash window restoration London review.

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