Do Tilt and Turn Windows Open Outward? How They Really Work
If you grew up with double-hung or sliding windows, the first tilt and turn window you touch can be a little confusing. There's one handle, it has three positions, and the sash either leans into the room at the top or swings open like a door. We hear the same few questions on almost every call, so here they are, answered in one place.
Do tilt and turn windows open outward?
No. A tilt and turn window opens into the room in both of its modes. That is the whole idea behind the design. The sash is hinged along one side and along the bottom, and the hardware decides which set of hinges does the work.
If you have seen a European-looking window that swings out, it was almost certainly a casement or an awning window. Those are good windows, but they use different hardware and they can't tilt in for ventilation.
Opening inward has some real advantages:
You can clean both sides of the glass from inside the house, even on the second or third floor.
An insect screen can stay on the outside all season, because the sash never has to pass through it.
Wind can't catch an open sash and slam it the way it can with an outswing casement.
Exterior blinds run on the outside without getting in the way of the sash.
How the handle works
Most tilt and turn windows have a single handle with three positions:
Handle down: the window is closed and locked. Locking points around the sash pull it tight against the gaskets.
Handle sideways: the sash turns in on its side hinges and opens all the way, like a door.
Handle up: the top of the sash tilts in a few inches. This is the everyday ventilation position.
One good habit: close the sash completely before you switch between tilt and turn. Most current hardware has a lock that prevents mistakes, but switching with the sash half open is a common reason a window ends up needing a quick readjustment.
Why the tilt position matters
Ask anyone in Germany or Austria and they'll tell you the tilt is the best part. Fresh air comes in at the top of the room, light rain stays outside, and the gap is far too narrow for anyone to climb through. Plenty of people leave a bedroom window tilted all night.
It also helps families with small children. A tilted window lets air in without a wide opening, and you can add lockable handles or opening limiters if you want an extra layer of protection. We go into more detail on our child safety page.
Security is the other side of it. With locking points all around the sash, a closed tilt and turn window is much harder to pry open than a window held shut by a single latch. You can read more about the hardware on our security page.
What are turn-only windows?
A turn-only window looks the same from the outside, but its hardware skips the tilt. The sash only swings inward. You'll see turn-only sashes most often in a double window with no center post: one sash is tilt and turn, and the other is turn-only so the two can close against each other.
Fixed glass is the third option. It doesn't open at all, and it's often combined with tilt and turn sashes in the same frame to build a larger window wall. When you plan a project, it's worth deciding for every opening which of the three you actually need.
Is a tilt and turn window the same as a dual action window?
Yes. Tilt and turn, dual action, two-way and multifunctional windows all describe the same thing: one sash that opens two different ways. It's also where our company name comes from.
Tilt and turn vs. the windows you're used to
Double-hung: the sashes slide up and down. Only half the window opens, and sliding weatherstripping doesn't seal as tightly as a compression gasket.
Sliding windows: the sash moves sideways on a track. Easy to use, but the same sealing trade-off applies and again only half the glass opens.
Casement: hinged on the side and usually opening outward. It seals well, but cleaning the outside of the glass from inside is awkward and there's no secure ventilation position.
Tilt and turn: opens inward two ways, seals with compression gaskets on all sides and can be cleaned completely from inside.
For a longer comparison, see our article on European style windows.
Materials, glass and energy performance
We supply tilt and turn windows in uPVC, aluminum and wood, made in Austria, Germany and Poland. The best profile and glass combinations reach U-values as low as 0.13, which is lower than ENERGY STAR requires in any U.S. climate zone.
Lead times are typically 3 to 16 weeks, depending on the material and whether the order ships by air or by sea.
Ready to see them in your home?
Tell us about your project and we'll send you a quote within 48 hours. You can browse the full range of European tilt and turn windows first, or go straight to our contact page and request a free consultation.
Comments