5 Window Styles to Consider for a Laundry Room
Natural light is a boon in any room. However, you might not think about how to gain more natural light in the most hardworking room in your house: the laundry room. Windows for the laundry room can be a tricky affair because of the moisture factor. Yet being able to vent out the room for that reason is ideal.
If you’re planning a remodel of your laundry room, consider one of the following window styles.
1. Casement Window
A casement window opens the farthest of any window styles. The operation of the window is based on the hinges of the frame on one side. You open the window by winding a crank. The crank arm pushes the window open. The window either swings in or out. You can get the casement to open to a full 90-degree angle, thus exposing the entirety of the window hole.
The obvious disadvantage to a casement window is the clearance needed for the pane to open. Laundry rooms are tight spaces, so you probably don’t want the window to open inside. So, you’ll have to have the clearance outside. That said, you won’t get better ventilation than with a casement window. What’s more, the big pane of glass will allow a lot of natural light inside.
2. Awning Window
An awning window is the casement window’s cousin. Like the casement, the awning window’s operation is based on being hinged to the frame. In this case, though, the sash is attached to the top of the window frame. Therefore, the window swings open from the bottom when you turn the crank.
Awning windows don’t offer quite as much opening as casement windows, but you still experience more than with single-hung windows. An advantage of awning over casement is the amount of clearance needed. Since the pane doesn’t swing out as far with an awning windows, you don’t need as much clearance. That said, you’ll probably still want it to swing outside from the laundry room.
3. Hopper Window
Hopper windows are another cousin to casement and awning windows. Still a hinged operation, this time the hinge is on the bottom. So, when you open the window, it tilts inward. Indeed, the inward tilt is the only option with the hopper. Some hoppers also utilize the crank mechanism, but some feature a latch, using gravity to tilt inside.
Hopper windows allow about as much fresh air as awning windows, making them ideal for the laundry room. What’s more, the window itself is usually oriented horizontally, so you don’t take up as much of the vertical area of the wall. Therefore, the fact that the hopper opens inward won’t be as big an issue for a small laundry room.
4. Two-Panel Slider
Slider windows consist of two or three panels. For the laundry room, the two-panel slider is probably the best bet. With this style of window, the panels slide within a track from side to side. One or both of the panels may be mobile, depending on the style you choose.
Two-panel sliders are ideal for the laundry room because they allow a lot of ventilation. However, they slide side to side, so they don’t take up any internal or external space. What’s more, because of that opening mechanism, you can incorporate screens into your laundry room window.
5. Single-Hung or Double-Hung
The most common styles of windows for American houses are single-hung and double-hung windows. Both windows feature two sashes with glass panes. The sashes move up and down within tracks affixed to the window frame. With a single-hung window, only the bottom sash moves. With double-hung windows, both sashes move.
As with the sliders, the main benefit of single-hung and double-hung windows for your laundry room is opening them takes up no space. What’s more, as with the sliders, you can utilize screens to protect your interior while airing out the laundry room.
Add a window to your laundry room for natural light and, especially, ventilation of the moisture-prone room. Contact Arch Design Window and Door for any home improvement project.