A window does not only serve as a mere opening for air and light to come into the house. It can also help provide a room certain shape, serve as emergency escape, and be seen as a room’s focal point. Homeowners also have different needs for windows which call for them to be made available in different size and types to render different functions in houses.

The two basic classifications of windows are operable and fixed windows. Operable window are those which can slide sideway, up or down. They can also hinge inward or outward. On the other hand, fixed windows are primarily used for accents but not ventilation. An example would be those large picture windows.

There are different types of operable windows though that are styled differently to make them appropriate for different houses.

1. Double-hung windows are windows with classic style. Ventilation can be adjusted easily if provided for by these windows. This is due to the two sashes of the window, with the upper outer sash sliding down and the lower inside sash sliding down. The sash can be tilted, removed, rotated to make cleaning easier. A window with only one sliding sash though is already considered as a single-hung window.

2. Casement windows are windows with side hinges and hung with single or paired sashes. They usually operate using cranks that can move the sash inward or outward. They provide excellent ventilation because they can be opened fully, allowing for cool breeze to come in.

3. Awning windows are like casement windows but they have their hinges on top instead, making them horizontal casements. They only offer partial ventilation, with only a tilted opening at the bottom but they still offer good security and view.

4. Horizontal slider windows have one or more panels sliding horizontally plus one or more fixed panels. To provide ventilation, only half of these windows can be opened.

5. Hopper windows are also like awning windows but they have bottom hinges instead. These are usually installed above another window or a door, with their eaves as protection.

6. Jalousie windows are easily identified by their glass slats that can be opened and closed together because they are all attached to metal clips. These are ideal for use in tropical or warmer places because they offer good ventilation.

7. Round top windows are those windows with different geometrical shapes. These are ideal for use as architectural accents in houses.

8. Tilt-turn windows are influenced with European styling. They are also characterised by their upward tilt and 180-degree turn that makes for easy cleaning. Due to the 180-degree opening capacity of these windows, they are also used as emergency exits. They can be secured by installing a multipoint locking system into them.

9. Bay windows are windows that protrude from the wall, with the centre window situated parallel to the wall while the two windows on the side are placed at an angle to the one in the centre. These are styled like the double-hung and casement windows.

10. Bow windows are like bay windows but they have more than three panes which are used to form a gentler curve projected out of the wall. These have side sashes too.

11. Glass block windows are good openings that allow a generous amount of light into the house. These have patterns that vary in consideration to the level of privacy that you would like to have in your room.

12. Seamless bent-glass corner windows are newly designed windows that allow for a full view of the surroundings at the corners of the house.

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Category: Home Management
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