Casement windows
Side-hung and top-hung windows that open outwards. Simple, weather-tight and the most familiar window on Irish houses.
What is a casement window?
A casement window has one or more sashes hinged at the side or the top that open outwards from the frame. Side-hung sashes swing open like a door. Top-hung sashes (often called vents) tilt out from the top, so you can leave them open in light rain. Most houses in Ireland were built with casement windows, which is why they still suit most replacement jobs.
Casement windows at a glance
- Opening: Outward, side-hung or top-hung
- Frame: Thermally broken aluminium
- Glazing: Double or triple glazed, low-e with argon
- Hardware: Friction hinges, multi-point locks and lockable handles
- Safety options: Restrictors, and egress hinges for escape windows
- Finish: Any RAL colour, with dual colour available
Why casements remain so popular
They’re simple, and simple lasts. Wind pushes an outward-opening sash harder against its seals, which is good news in an Irish winter. They don’t take up any room inside, so blinds, curtains and deep window boards aren’t an issue. And because they’re the style most houses already have, a new casement window keeps the look of the house while fixing the draughts.
How we survey, supply and fit casement windows
- Survey. We measure each opening and decide with you which sashes open, which are fixed and which way they hinge.
- Escape and safety check. Upstairs, we make sure at least one window in each bedroom gives an escape opening. We also fit restrictors where children are in the house.
- Made to measure. Frames are built to your sizes and glazed before delivery.
- Fitting. We replace one opening at a time, fix and seal each frame, and finish the reveals inside and out.
- Handover. We show you how the restrictors release and how the locks work.
Choosing casement windows
Side-hung or top-hung? Side-hung sashes give the biggest clear opening and suit escape windows and rooms that need lots of air. Top-hung vents are better for trickle ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms, and they can be left open in light rain.
Escape hinges. On upstairs windows that double as fire escapes, egress hinges let the sash open a full 90 degrees, so there’s nothing in the way.
Restrictors. Child-safety restrictors stop a sash opening more than a few centimetres until an adult releases them. We recommend them on every upstairs window in a family home.
Glass. Use obscure glass in bathrooms, toughened glass wherever the Building Regulations call for safety glazing (low panes and glass near doors), and laminated glass where security or noise matters.
Casement window ideas
These are illustrations of design ideas, not photos of specific Brega Glazing jobs. See more in our ideas gallery.
Typical uses for casement windows
- Like-for-like replacement of older uPVC or timber casements
- Bedrooms that need escape-sized openings
- Bathrooms and utility rooms with top-hung vents
- Bungalows and two-storey houses where an outward opening is easiest to live with
Casement window FAQs
What’s the difference between a casement window and a tilt & turn window?
A casement opens outwards, hinged at the side or the top. A tilt & turn opens inwards: turn the handle one way and it swings in like a door, turn it the other way and the top tips in for ventilation. Casements are more traditional in Ireland. Tilt & turns are easier to clean from inside.
Can casement windows be used as fire escape windows?
Yes. A side-hung casement with egress hinges opens fully to 90 degrees and gives a clear escape route. We size escape openings to meet the Building Regulations when we survey.
Are top-hung windows safe to leave open in the rain?
In light rain, generally yes. The sash tilts out from the top and acts like a little canopy over the opening. In driving rain or high wind, close it.
Can I get child restrictors on new casement windows?
Yes. Restrictors can be built into the hinges or fitted as a separate catch. They limit how far the sash opens until an adult releases them.