Starting your journey to new or replacement windows? Our A-Z guide to window styles is here to help! From awning to vertical sliders, we break down all the key terms and features to make your decisions easier. Whether you’re after sleek, modern designs or something more traditional, you’ll find everything you need to know right here.
When you start your journey to new or replacement windows, you’ll come across lots of glazing terminology – some familiar, and some less so!
To help you make sense of it all, we’ve put together an alphabetical guide to window styles which hopefully tells you all you need to know…
Awning
This is a window which opens outwards from the top – and it is wider than it is high.
Bay/Bow
A bay window is typically rectangular with three glazed sections and protrudes from the house, supported by brickwork. By contrast, a bow window is generally wider with no brickwork support and more glazed sections to give a curved appearance.
Casement
This is the traditional and still most popular side hung window style which opens like a door. Our 58BW system is the perfect example of a casement, and is also available in top hung, bottom hung, fixed light and French windows configurations.
Dormer
A vertical window that protrudes from a sloping roof – often in a loft conversion.
Egress
These windows open outwards – and are generally used to provide a means of escape in the event of a fire. Our 77IWE system is an excellent example.
Fanlight
Traditionally, this was the small, semi-circular window above a door, but the term ‘fanlight’ now covers all small top opening windows regardless of shape. They are usually fitted above fixed lights for ventilation.
Fixed light
As the name suggests, a non-opening window with a fixed frame.
French
These are similar to standard casement windows in that they are side hung, but they don’t have a central post (or mullion) so they create a single large opening.
Fully reversible
Opening from the top with a hinge mechanism at the side, fully reversible windows like our 58BW open outwards and can be rotated 180 degrees for easy cleaning. They come with safety restrictors and are generally fitted in tower blocks and commercial buildings where cleaning from the outside isn’t an option
Gable
Usually triangular, gable end windows follow the pitch of the roof, and are often a combination of fixed lights designed to maximise light and views.
Hopper
These used to be a familiar site in barns and stables – where they were used to bring fresh air in. They are hinged at the bottom and open inwards.
I, J, K
Lantern
Not strictly a window, but a glazed roof made up from angled glass panels.
Mullion
A mullion window is one with a vertical beam dividing the glazed panels – this can be for structural or aesthetic reasons.
N
Oriel
Related to bay and bow windows, oriel windows project outwards from the wall. In modern properties, they can almost look like they are floating, but in older properties they usually feature visible supports.
Pivot
Similar to a fully reversible window giving you the option to reverse the glass and clean the outside but these are hinged at the side.
Picture
An oversized fixed light – situated to make the most of a view.
Q
Radius
This is an all embracing term which refers to curved or shaped windows
Skylight
Unlike a dormer window, a skylight is fitted in line with the sloping roof
Transom
Closely related to a mullion, the transom is the horizontal beam dividing the glazing panels
Tilt and Turn
These are probably the most versatile window option because they are hinged so that they can either be ‘tilted’ to open inwards at the top or ‘turned’ to open inwards from the side. Available in our 58BW system, they make it easy to clean your windows from the inside.
U
Vertical slider
Just another name for a sash window – where one or more sashes slides up and down within the frame.
W, X, Y, Z
AluK’s 58BW, C70S and 77IE window systems can be configured to suit virtually any window shape, size and style. Get in touch with our team if you need any help or advice, arrange a visit or take a tour of our Design Studios, or we can put you in touch with one of our network of regional manufacturing partners if you want to visit a showroom near you.