As a house owner, you’re constantly thinking about ways to make your home more secure. One way you might be considering is installing casement windows.
But Are Casement Windows Secure? Is it worth the shot? Read on to find out!
Are Casement Windows Secure?
To precisely say about this thing would be, a casement window is one of the most secured types of windows for home renovation currently in the market. Opening casement windows from the outside in their closed or latched state is entirely out of the question.
Undeniably casement window is the safest option for your home for many reasons. There are so many safety benefits of casement windows that will make you consider installing them. Suppose you need to babyproof your house, so you must remove the crank from the windows.
That means removing the crank from the windows so that the children can not open them. Surprisingly, this works as a deterrent to burglars. Then, the invasion option narrows down to only crawl through the frame. But that’s troublesome to the burglars due to broken glass shards.
Casement windows usually don’t come with locks. Still, you can easily add them to enhance your security system and peace of mind. For the highest security, you can join bars and grates both inside and outside as well.
Additionally, casement windows also offer a better sight vision than many other types of windows. Casements never obstruct the view. They have excellent air ventilation. Furthermore, it is one of the easiest types of windows to manage. And who doesn’t want a safe window at low maintenance? That’s what makes casements lucrative.
Casement windows can only be unlatched via a crank. So there is no way an alleged invader could unlock the window from outside. The sash is pressed tight into the frame of closed casement windows. This alleviates the strength of the seal.
You might need an additional lock on a double-hung or slider window so that nobody can push open the window from outside. But casements require no such lock, in this regard.
There are specific casement windows that flush with the frame when closed, instead of having a lip. Flush casement windows are the safest casement windows possible since no part of the window can be controlled from outside.
Casement windows have these brilliant techniques to ensure the highest security.
Why Casement Windows Are Difficult to Break Into
Casement windows are harder to break into because of three key factors-
- The casement window frame is firmly locked when it’s closed and latched
- Casement windows can only be unlatched from the inside
- A casement window can never be opened from the outside, not even with a crowbar
Suppose burglars try to get into your home through a window. In that case, they obviously have to either shatter the glass silently or open the window lock from the outside skillfully. The casement window makes the latter option impossible. Hence, leaving no choice to embrace the glass-breaking sound. But will burglars ever risk that?
Why Is Casement Window A Safer Option?
Casement windows are not just for great security. They bestow your house with other advantages as well. Let’s take a look at how casement windows deliver benefits to your home-
Excellent opening and closing capabilities
Casement windows offer an unmatched ventilation system. No other window type can be this flexible. Casement windows open and close the farthest radial distance as possible. In a scorching heat atmosphere, casement windows act as a channel to pass cool air from outside into your home. Tropical areas are gradually getting into using casements.
The difference lies here: double-hung, sliding, and other regular fixed windows don’t have this much opening range like casements, which is essential for good ventilation.
2. Least visible obstacle: Less external hardware and framework
Casement windows undeniably serve the best visual experience. There is no partition to separate the glass from obstructing your sight. The casement window keeps all its hardware material within the frame line so that you can enjoy the lovely view of the landscape.
3. Best safeguard window
Casement windows are hard to break into. One needs to break the glass to open it. Its one latched system makes it unique from the other window types. Casement hardware is concealed within the frame so no interference can easily be done from the anterior. Furthermore, casements allow the Yale lock system- a reliable security option- to add extra safety.
4. Greatly energy efficient
Casement window users often say how energy bills are reduced impressively after the installation of casement windows. It’s because, unlike other types, casements have the widest opening. Thus, avoid overheating the house. During winter, the excellent locked capability of casements hinders the gusty wind from freezing the house.
5. Multiple glazing options
You can incorporate almost any glass design into your casement window frames, e.g., bevelled designs and stained glass. Adding double or triple-layered glazing to your windows will protect you on cold days.
6. Long-lasting & low maintenance
Most of the casement windows come with a 10-year guarantee. Unlike wooden or metal frames, casement frames would never rot, rust, warp or need re-paining. They don’t even require too much work. Your only job is to lubricate the hinges once in a while to keep them in a healthy shape.
7. Customizability
Casement windows are customizable. Hinge options, color choices, frame material, glass types, and glass designs can be altered according to the user’s demand. Besides safety, beautification comes like a bonus.
8. Recyclable
With a little repairing and replacing here and there, you can reuse old casement windows with ease. Because they’re lead-free. They’re both cheap and environmentally friendly.
How to Make Casement Windows Even Safer
You may take certain steps to boost up the security level of already highly secured casement windows. If there’s no end to good then why not?
Safety glazing/ reinforced glazing:
Safety glazing is basically several layered thick glasses which are covered up with a laminate coating.
This glazing prevents window glasses from shattering during hurricanes, stormy weather, and robbery. The impact resisting glass prevents breaking at first several tries. Even if it breaks at some point, it will turn into a spider web pattern and avoid shattering into pieces. Because these glass fragments could pierce someone inside the house and cause accidents, unfortunately.
Secondary Locks:
Secondary locks aren’t mandatory when it’s practically impossible to break in from outside.
Yet, you can set up a secondary lock for inner peace. In that case, Cam locks work fine with casement windows.
Sheet Metal Screws:
For the old casement frames, sheet metal screws hold down the frame at the right place, working as another safety barrier. However, replacing the old, rusty, and outdated frame with the latest one is always suggested.
Are Casement Windows Safer Than Double Hung?
Casement windows are arguably the safest option for your home security. Because closed and latched windows are not openable from the outside. In this case, casement windows are definitely safer than double-hung.
There are some aspects on which you’ll know why casement windows are better than double-hung. Let’s take a look at it-
- Breakability: Casement windows are tough to break into. The seal is very tight when it is in a closed and latched state. The only option to open it from the outside is to shatter the glass. On the contrary, burglars find double-hungs easier to break into. The latch of double-hung windows only acts as a piece of closing equipment, not as a safety guard.
- The thickness of Glass: Even though both windows have at least ¾ inches of thickness, casement windows provide more security.
- Durability: Durability mainly depends on the frame material: aluminum endures more time than wood. Closed casement windows shield stormy weather exposure.
- Overall Safety: Casement windows are impeccable if judged overall. It’s impeccable to open them from the outside unless anyone breaks the glass. Whereas you can open double-hung windows with a crowbar or any other piece of flat bar that fits under the latch. Forevermore, older double-hung windows are not reliable and safe at all.
Are casement windows more secure than sliders?
Casement windows can spread out sideways up to 90 degrees. A casement window is comparatively more captivating, safer, and has better energy efficiency than a slider window. Slider windows are made of standard glass and gas fills.
So, they don’t work well enough as secure functioning windows. With the incorporated multi-locking mechanism controlled by one latch, casement windows’ screens are easily opened from inside of the home.
That’s why these windows are preferably installed at the front of a home. Now you see why people choose casements over sliders.
How long do casement windows last?
Correctly installed casement windows last approximately for 20-25 years with proper maintenance. However, longevity can depend on the material. For example, a wood-frame casement window stays for 20-30+ years, a fibreglass-frame casement window lasts for 20-25 years.
Do casement windows break easily?
This situation is very unlikely to occur unless you purchase the casement windows from a reputed brand. The renowned brands will provide warranty cards. Even if the glasses do break, they won’t shatter into pieces rather will form a spider web pattern.
Conclusion
In the end, you finally got to know are casement windows secure enough for your house. Casement windows are known to be one of the most preferred and versatile window types recently. They’re not just your security tool but also, attractive, eco-friendly, reusable, and user-friendly. All these key features can not help make you choose casement windows as your ultimate safety solution.
