Residential Windows
Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) casement windows are the most popular window style for residential properties.
- Versatile Opening: Can be configured as single sashes, double "French" casements (no central bar), or multi-light units with fixed panes.
- Wide Colour Range: Beyond the classic "shiny white," modern uPVC comes in "foils" that mimic woodgrain (Oak, Rosewood) or trendy architectural colours like Anthracite Grey and Chartwell Green.
Performance
- U-Value Typically 1.2 W/m²K to 1.4 W/m²K (easily hits 'A' ratings)
- Window Energy Rating Often A or A+ as standard
- Glazing Usually 28mm double glazed or 36mm–44mm triple glazed
- Security Multi-point locking and internal glazing beads (prevents glass removal from outside)
- Maintenance Zero painting; just an occasional wipe with soapy water
Why Choose uPVC Casements?
- Superior Insulation: uPVC is a natural insulator (a "warm" material), whereas aluminium requires a thermal break to perform at the same level.
- Affordability: Generally 30% to 50% cheaper than aluminium systems.
- Longevity: Modern uPVC is UV-stabilised, meaning it won't turn yellow or become brittle in the sun, with a typical lifespan of 20–30 years.
- Weatherproof: Multi-chambered frames and high-quality "bubble" gaskets provide excellent protection against draughts and heavy rain
Casement
A casement window is a window attached to its frame by one or more hinges at the side, top, or bottom. It opens outward like a door.
It is the most common window style in the UK and Europe because of its versatility and excellent weather sealing.
- Side-Hung: The hinges are on the left or right side, allowing the window to swing open horizontally. This is the classic "door-style" opening.
- Top-Hung: Often called an awning window, the hinges are at the top, and the window pushes out from the bottom. These are great for ventilation during light rain, as the glass acts as a small roof.
- Fixed Light: A "dummy" casement that looks like the others but does not open. These are used to create large "picture" windows.
- Maximum Ventilation: Unlike sliding sash windows (which only open halfway), a casement can open fully, allowing 100% of the air into the room.
- Energy Efficiency: When closed, the sash presses firmly against the frame seal. The wind actually pushes the sash tighter against the seal, making it one of the most airtight designs available.
- High Security: Because the locking mechanisms (multi-point locks) are embedded within the frame and the sash, they are very difficult to pry open from the outside.
- Unobstructed Views: Because they don't require the thick horizontal bars seen in sliding windows, they offer a clearer view of the outdoors.
Tilt Turn
A Tilt and Turn window is a sophisticated, European-style window known for its unique "dual-action" opening mechanism. Unlike a standard casement window that only swings outward, a tilt and turn window opens inward and offers two distinct functions controlled by a single handle.
It is widely considered the most versatile window design for high-rise apartments, modern homes, and locations where external maintenance is difficult.
The function depends entirely on the position of the handle (usually a sturdy, lever-style handle):
- The Tilt (Ventilation): Turn the handle 90° upwards, and the top of the window tilts inwards into the room. It stays open at a fixed angle (usually about 10–15cm), allowing for secure, "weather-protected" ventilation.
- The Turn (Cleaning & Exit): Turn the handle 90° horizontally, and the entire sash swings inward like a door. This allows for maximum airflow and—crucially—allows you to clean the outside of the glass from inside the room.
- Easy Maintenance: Because the window opens fully into the room, you never need a ladder or a professional window cleaner for upper floors.
- Superior Airflow: The "turn" function allows for 100% of the aperture to be open, making it excellent for rapidly cooling a room.
- Enhanced Security: When in the "tilt" position, the window is extremely difficult to forced open from the outside, providing fresh air without compromising safety.
- Dual Purpose (Fire Escape): Because they open so wide, they are frequently used as designated fire escape (Egress) windows in bedrooms and habitable basements.
- Airtight Performance: The locking mechanism usually pulls the sash tight against a continuous weather seal on all four sides, offering better draught-proofing than many sliding or standard casement windows.
Bay
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building, forming a "bay" in a room. Unlike a flat window that sits flush with the wall, a bay window creates a structural extension, adding both internal floor space and a wider panoramic view.
In the UK, they are a quintessential feature of Victorian, Edwardian, and 1930s architecture, though they remain popular in modern home design for their ability to flood a room with light.
While people often use the term "bay" for any protruding window, there are actually three distinct styles:
- Canted Bay Window: The most classic shape. It has a flat front and two angled sides (usually at 30 degree or 45 degree angles). This is the standard "three-faceted" look.
- Bow Window: A curved version of a bay window. Instead of sharp angles, it uses a series of windows (usually 4 to 6) joined at slight angles to create a smooth, circular arc.
- Box Bay Window: These have a flat front and sides that come out at a 90 degree (perpendicular) angle, forming a rectangular box shape. These were traditionally used for "oriel" windows on upper floors.
- Increased Natural Light Because it has glass on three sides, it catches the sun from different angles throughout the day.
- Additional Floor Space It adds actual square footage to a room, often used for a "window seat," a desk, or a display area for plants.
- Panoramic Views Unlike a flat window, you can look "down the street" rather than just straight ahead.
- Ventilation Since you have multiple opening windows (casements), you can catch a breeze from multiple directions.
Because a bay window is a structural part of the house, replacing or installing one is more complex than a standard window:
- Load-Bearing: In many houses, the bay window supports the weight of the floor or roof above it. When replacing these, "bay poles" (steel or reinforced aluminium) are hidden inside the window joinery to carry the structural load.
- The Roof: A bay window needs its own small roof (usually made of lead, tile, or GRP) unless it sits directly beneath the eaves of the main house roof.
- Insulation: Older bay windows are notorious for being cold. Modern uPVC or Smart Alitherm Aluminium bays use high-performance thermal breaks and "A-rated" glass to prevent the "cold spot" common in period homes.
Bow Window
A bow window is a curved structural window that projects outward from the face of a building. While it is a "cousin" to the bay window, the key difference is the shape: whereas a bay window is typically made of three panes with sharp angles, a bow window consists of four to six window units joined at subtle angles to create a soft, elegant arc or "bow."
Bow windows were popularized in the Regency and Victorian eras to give homes a grander, more expensive appearance, often used on the front of a house to maximize the panoramic view of a garden or street.
- Curved Aesthetic: Instead of the rigid 45 degree or 90 degree angles of a bay, a bow window uses shallow angles (usually around 10dehree to 15 degree between each pane to create a rounded silhouette.
- Multi-Pane Layout: Most bow windows consist of 4, 5, or 6 "facets" (individual windows).
- Wider Profile: Because they involve more panes of glass, bow windows are typically wider than standard bay windows, often spanning the majority of a living room wall.
- Fixed and Opening Units: Usually, the outer panes are functional casement windows for ventilation, while the central panes remain fixed to provide an uninterrupted view.
- Panoramic View: Because the glass follows a curve, you get a much wider "fisheye" view of the outside than a flat window provides.
- Internal Shelving: Even if a bow window doesn't add as much floor space as a bay, it creates a very deep internal window sill—perfect for a "window garden" or displaying ornaments.
- Aesthetic "Kerb Appeal": A bow window is a significant architectural statement that can make a standard suburban house look much more premium.
- Natural Light: With up to six panes of glass catching the sun at different times of the day, it is one of the best ways to brighten a dark room.
- Structural Support: Like bay windows, bow windows are often load-bearing. Modern replacements use reinforced bay poles hidden between the window frames to support the weight of the wall or roof above.
- The "Roof" (Canopy): A bow window requires its own specialized roof. This is often a lead-topped canopy or a GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) tiled roof designed specifically to follow the curve of the window.
- The "Bow Conversion": It is actually possible to convert a standard flat window into a bow window by building a new projecting frame and roof, even if the house didn't originally have one.