Casement Windows
A casement is hinged at the side and swings outward, driven by a crank. That single mechanical difference gives it the best air sealing of any operating window, because when you crank it shut the sash is pulled tight against a compression gasket on all four sides. A double hung or a slider seals by sliding past brush weatherstripping, which can never be as tight.
A casement window is hinged on the side and swings outward like a door, operated by a crank. It seals by compression, which makes it the tightest operating window style available and the best choice for exposed or windy sites. Installed cost runs $600 to $1,200.
For a Capital Region home on an exposed site, that matters. Air infiltration scales with the pressure difference across the wall, and a house on an open hilltop in Brunswick or below the Helderberg escarpment in Altamont sees pressures that a sheltered subdivision never does. Casements are the answer on those windward elevations.
The second advantage is ventilation quality. Because the sash swings out into the airstream, a casement acts as a scoop and catches breezes running parallel to the wall, which a double hung cannot do at all. On a summer evening a casement moves noticeably more air than a double hung of the same size.
Casement strengths and trade-offs
Nothing is free. Here is the honest accounting.
| Factor | Casement | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Air sealing | Best of any operating style | Compression gasket on all four sides |
| Ventilation | Excellent, scoops side breezes | Sash projects into the airstream |
| Glass area | Better than double hung | No meeting rail across the middle |
| Operation over a counter | Easy, crank reach | No need to lean and lift |
| Exterior obstruction | Projects outward | Conflicts with decks, walkways, AC units |
| Screen location | Interior side | Some people dislike the look |
| Hardware | Operator and hinges can wear | More moving parts than a double hung |
| Storm windows | Not practical | Sash swings into where a storm would be |
Where casements belong in a Capital Region home
- Over a kitchen sink or behind a counter, where reaching a double hung sash means leaning across.
- On the windward elevation of an exposed rural or hilltop property, where air leakage is the dominant problem.
- Flanking a picture window, which is the most efficient way to combine maximum view with real ventilation.
- As an egress window in a basement, because a casement gives the largest net clear opening for its size.
- In a bathroom or a tight space where a crank is easier to reach than a lift.
- On a mid-century or contemporary elevation where the horizontal proportion suits the architecture.
The clearance issue nobody checks
A casement swings outward, typically projecting the full width of the sash. That is fine on an open wall and a real problem where it is not. Check for a deck or patio immediately outside, a walkway where a projecting sash is a head hazard, an air conditioning condenser, a downspout, or a neighboring structure on a tight city lot. This is the single most common reason a casement turns out to be the wrong choice after installation, and it takes thirty seconds to check before ordering. On a narrow Troy or Cohoes lot where the neighboring house is a few feet away, casements on the side elevation are usually off the table.
Ranges reflect typical Capital Region projects and are for planning only. Every Sundog quote is written, itemized, and free.
Frequently asked questions
Are casement windows more energy efficient?
On air leakage, yes, clearly. A casement seals by compression against a gasket on all four sides when you crank it closed, which is fundamentally tighter than a double hung sliding past brush weatherstripping. The glass package and U-factor are what they are regardless of style, but on the air leakage number a casement will beat a double hung of the same quality.
How much do casement windows cost?
Typically $600 to $1,200 per window installed in the Capital Region, which is a bit more than a comparable double hung because of the operator hardware and heavier hinges. Large casements and fiberglass frames run higher.
Do casement windows break in high wind?
They can if they are left open in a gust, which is the main practical vulnerability. The operator arm and hinges take the load and a strong gust can bend them. The fix is behavioral more than mechanical: close casements before a storm. Modern operators with a locking worm gear resist being blown open, but they are not designed to hold a fully open sash against a forty mile an hour gust.
Where do the screens go on a casement window?
On the interior side, because the sash swings outward through where an exterior screen would be. Some people find this changes the look from inside since the screen is between you and the glass. It also means the screen is protected from weather and lasts longer than an exterior screen.
Can I use a casement as an egress window?
Yes, and it is usually the best style for it. Because the entire sash swings clear of the opening, a casement provides the largest net clear opening for a given window size, which is exactly what the 5.7 square foot egress requirement is measuring. A slider or a hopper of the same overall size often will not qualify.
Do casement windows work with storm windows?
Not practically. The sash swings out into the space an exterior storm would occupy. On a historic home where storms are required by the review process, that usually means the original style was a double hung and the replacement should be too. Casements and storms do not coexist.
Related reading
Not sure which is right for your house?
We will walk the house, measure every opening, and tell you which option actually fits your budget and your architecture.