What are casement and awning windows?
A casement window hinges on one side and swings out like a door. An awning window hinges at the top and pushes out from the bottom. Both close by pressing the sash into the frame, which gives a tight seal and a clear view of the glass. See the casement window and awning window definitions.
Honey Rock works with three makers for these windows: Jada, Bertrand and Sun. Each uses a different frame material. The right pick depends on the look you want, the sightline you want and where the sash will open.
How does each type open, and where does it fit?
Casements give the biggest opening. Sun describes its casement as a “full-view sash” with crank-out operation that gives “a broad view when closed and maximum ventilation when fully opened.”
Awnings give less airflow but more flexibility. Jada says an awning “will only project out approximately 18”” so airflow is good but limited. Jada lists three smart uses:
- High on a wall as a transom or clerestory window.
- Low to the floor, below a larger fixed window, so the screen stays out of the view.
- Wider than a casement, so a large view window can also ventilate.
Jada also warns that awnings “do not typically meet egress codes for fire escape” in bedrooms. Egress means a window big enough to exit through in an emergency. Plan bedrooms with a casement or another egress-sized unit, and check local code.
Which Jada steel windows come in this category?
Jada makes steel windows in Grass Valley, California. Its swing line comes in outswing, inswing, awning, hopper and fixed forms, on narrow-sightline Secco OS2 thermally broken steel profiles. Jada publishes no sightline numbers, so ask for drawings.
- Outswing: the sash opens outside, so it needs clear space outdoors but none inside the room.
- Inswing: Jada says it suits spots where an outswing sash would hit an exterior deck or stairs. Screens then mount outside, and Jada notes the sash is easier to reach for cleaning.
- Awning: hinged at the top. Jada offers a motorized version with a chain-drive operator. Windows over 48 inches wide use two synced motors.
- Hopper: a window hinged at the bottom that opens inward for ventilation. Jada says it typically opens about 8 inches into the building.
Read more on the Jada partner page and in the steel windows and doors guide.
What does Bertrand offer in aluminum casements?
Bertrand, a manufacturer in Luzino, Poland, builds aluminum casement systems. The MB-79N Casement is an outward-opening system with a thermal break. The MB-79N CSF is its slim version.
Bertrand’s published numbers for the CSF:
| Spec | Published value |
|---|---|
| Fixed frame, visible width | 1.39 in (35.2 mm) |
| Operable sash, visible width | 2.38 in (60.5 mm) |
| Maximum sash weight | 176 lb (80 kg) |
| Maximum glazing thickness | 2.48 in (63 mm) |
Bertrand lists the MB-79N Casement at a Uw “from 0.74 W/(m²K).” It also lists air tightness Class 4 and watertightness Class E 1800 for that system. Numbers are in the units Bertrand prints. Compare them against an NFRC label when your project needs a rated U-factor.
What does Sun offer?
Sun builds in Owensboro, Kentucky. It offers casements in three lines: USA / Clad Wood, Patriot / Clad Vinyl and Series 2020 All-Vinyl. The USA line also has an Arch Top Casement, which adds an arched head to a standard casement and comes left hinged, right hinged or fixed. Sun’s USA line pairs an aluminum exterior with a pine interior.
Sun publishes no U-factors or maximum sizes on the pages we read. Ask Honey Rock for the Sun size chart and energy data for the line you choose. See the Sun Windows partner page.
How do the three makers compare?
| Jada | Bertrand | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Thermally broken steel | Thermally broken aluminum | Aluminum-clad wood, clad vinyl, vinyl |
| Casement forms | Outswing, inswing | Outward-opening (MB-79N) | Casement, arch top casement |
| Awning | Yes, motorized option | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Published sightline | None (narrow, no number) | 1.39 in fixed, 2.38 in sash (CSF) | None |
| Published sash weight | None | 176 lb (CSF) | None |
| Product warranty | None found | 5 years, Synergic only | By product line |
What should you ask before ordering?
- Swing direction: does an outswing sash clear decks, stairs and planting? Does an inswing sash clear furniture?
- Screens: inswing and awning screens mount differently. Ask how each one removes for cleaning.
- Egress: which bedroom openings must meet fire-escape size?
- Glass: ask for Low-E coating, U-factor and SHGC numbers on the final glass package.
- Lead time and shipping: Bertrand ships from Poland and Sun builds to order. Ask for a dated lead time in writing.
- Hardware: ask for the handle, lock and operator finish before approval.
How do locks, screens and cleaning work?
Hardware and screens decide how the window feels every day, so ask about them early.
- Locks: Jada says its steel swing windows lock with proprietary multi-point locking. The lock box “tucks into the glass stop and floats out over the glass,” and turning the handle drives a bolt into the sides of the frame. Sun’s Arch Top Casement uses a single lever that releases multi-point sash latches, plus a folding handle for the crank.
- Operator style: Sun lists two operator styles for its casements: a Standard/Contoured cover and a Contemporary cover, each with a folding handle.
- Screens: Jada makes a narrow steel screen frame for awnings, with an offset hinge. On a motorized awning the screen can sit on top of the motor cover. Screens on inswing windows mount outside the building. Sun’s arch top casement has an interior screen channel.
- Cleaning: an inswing sash opens into the room, which Jada says makes the glass easier to reach. For a casement that swings out, ask how you will reach the outside of the glass on upper floors.
How do casements compare with other window types?
Casements and awnings press the sash into the frame, so they are often the first choice when a tight seal and a clear view matter. Fixed glass has no sash at all, so the frame is slimmer, and many plans combine the two. See fixed and picture windows. If you want a sash that opens inward with two modes, see tilt and turn windows. For a classic sash-over-sash face, see double hung windows.
Next step
Tell us the openings, the swing space and the look you want. We will match them to Jada, Bertrand or Sun. See all windows or start your project. Call (214) 484-9982.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a casement and an awning window?
A casement hinges on the side and swings out like a door. An awning hinges at the top and pushes out from the bottom, like a canopy. Casements give a bigger opening. Jada also says awnings are very water tight, and they fit low on a wall or high as a transom.
Do steel awning windows meet bedroom egress rules?
Usually not. Jada says its awning windows do not typically meet egress codes for fire escape because the clear opening is smaller than a casement. Use a casement or another egress-sized window in bedrooms, and confirm the rule with your city.
Can awning windows be motorized?
Yes, from Jada. Its steel awning windows have a motorized option for remote operation. Jada says larger windows, usually over 48 inches wide, use two synced motors, and groups of motors can run through a home automation system.
Which casement works when the sash would hit a deck?
An inswing casement. Jada says inswing windows suit places where an outswing sash would hit an exterior deck or stairs. The trade-off: screens mount outside the building, and the sash needs room inside the house for its swing.
How heavy can a Bertrand casement sash be?
Bertrand lists a maximum sash weight of 176 lb (80 kg) for the MB-79N CSF. Heavy glazing counts toward that limit, so triple glass and large sizes need a check against the published figure before you order.
Do these windows come with a warranty?
It depends on the maker. Sun publishes warranty terms by product line. Bertrand publishes a 5 year warranty only for Synergic. Jada does not publish a product warranty on the pages we read. Ask for the written terms for the exact line you choose.
Terms on this page
Sources
- Jada Windows: Swing products
- Jada Windows: Swing products (profile)
- Jada Windows: Awning windows
- Jada Windows: Awning windows (egress)
- Jada Windows: Awning windows (use)
- Jada Windows: Inswing windows
- Bertrand: MB-79N Casement
- Bertrand: MB-79N CSF (fixed frame)
- Bertrand: MB-79N CSF (operable sash)
- Bertrand: MB-79N CSF (sash weight)
- Bertrand: Synergic (warranty)
- Sun Windows: Casement windows
- Sun Windows: Casement windows (operation)
- Sun Windows: Arch Top Casement
Product facts come from each maker’s own published pages, checked on November 5, 2026. Makers change their lines, so confirm details for your project with Honey Rock Window and Door.
