Senior Housing and Assisted Living

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.

Another style of window more common in tropical climates is the louvered window. Many small lengths of glass panes are mounted in an overlapping horizontal pattern and are swiveled open for air circulation.

In order to purchase new windows it is important to understand the different styles. A double hung window is what is meant when people say sash window. Simply explained, double hung means two sashes hung in a frame, where either one or both can vertically slide open.

When the upper window of a double hung is fixed, it is sometimes referred to as a single hung. This term is technically incorrect, and is simply descriptive of how many windows are moveable, not how many windows are hung within the frame.

When two window sashes are hung to slide horizontally rather than vertically, the window is called a slider rather than a double hung. They run on a track, and like double hungs, one sash slides past another.

When people mention sash windows they are talking about double hung windows. The original ones windows were made with a system of pulleys, weights and cords. This weight system was called a sash balance and balanced the open sash so it would stay in place. Without this balance, things like wood slats and wooden spoons were sometimes used to prop the window open. Double hung windows today are made with a spring loaded method.

More than just a nice view, new windows add to the function of the home. When an old double hung window is removed, there is an empty space within the wall. This space can be filled with foam insulation before putting the new window in place. This provides the home with a noise barrier and a much more energy efficient wall and window area. Another helpful option with sash windows is a tilt out style in which the sash can be washed or painted on both sides by tilting or removing the individual sash.

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