Casement Windows in Burlington: Are They Right for Your Home?

If you’re replacing windows in a Burlington home, sooner or later the question comes up: casement, slider or hung? Each has its place, but casement windows are one of the most popular choices we install, and for good reasons. Here’s how casement windows work, where they shine, where another style might suit you better, and what to look at when you compare them.

How a casement window works

A casement window is hinged on one side and swings open like a door, usually with a crank or a push-out handle. Because the whole sash opens, you get the full window opening for fresh air, not just half of it the way you do with a slider or a hung window. When it closes, the sash presses firmly against the frame’s weather stripping, which is why casements are known for sealing tightly.

Why homeowners choose casement windows

• Ventilation. The sash opens wide, and you choose left or right hinging to catch the breeze from the direction it usually blows.
• A tight seal. The sash closes against the frame rather than sliding past it, which helps keep drafts and outside noise out.
• Clear views. A single large sash means fewer rails across the glass than many other styles.
• Easy cleaning. Open the sash and you can reach the outside of the glass from inside the house, a real plus on a second floor.
• Hard-to-reach spots. Over a kitchen sink or counter, a crank is much easier to operate than lifting or sliding a sash.

When another style might be the better fit

Casements aren’t the answer for every opening. A sash that swings outward needs clearance, so a window opening onto a deck, walkway or patio may be better as a slider or a hung window. Some heritage-style homes look more natural with double hung windows. And for very wide openings, many homeowners pair a large fixed picture window with operating casements on either side, getting the view and the ventilation in one unit.

If you like the look of European styling, tilt and turn windows are another option: they swing in like a door or tilt at the top for ventilation.

Vinyl or wood-clad? Comparing the casements we install

We install casement windows from two very different manufacturers, so there’s a fit for most homes and budgets.

• Strassburger vinyl casements. Frames made of 100% uPVC in two profile styles, a choice of four types of insulating glass, and multiple weather stripping for air tightness. They open smoothly to a full 90 degrees, left or right hinged, with white as standard and a range of colours, hardware and grille options. We’ve partnered with Strassburger for 25 years. See the full range on our Strassburger windows page.
• Marvin casements. A wide range including crank-out and push-out casements, inswing casements, narrow-frame options and French casements, available in large sizes for daylight and clean sightlines. Browse them on our Marvin windows page.

Why installation matters as much as the window

Even the best casement window won’t seal properly if it’s installed out of square. That’s why West Windows never subcontracts installation. Our installers are our own team, trained at our in-house training facility, so every window is fitted, sealed and finished the same way. We’re a second-generation family business that has served Halton for four decades and completed thousands of projects. Learn more on our window installation page.

Thinking about casement windows for your Burlington home?

We’ll look at your home, talk through where casements make sense and where another style would work better, and give you a clear quote. Call (905) 335-3751 or request a free estimate online.