European Style Windows: What They Are and Why They Open Two Ways

Walk down a street in Munich, Vienna or Prague and almost every window you see is the same type: a tilt and turn window. In the U.S., most homes still have double-hung or sliding windows. When Americans talk about "European style windows", this is usually what they mean, a window that opens two different ways from one handle. If you are new to them, start with the full range of European tilt and turn windows we supply in the U.S.

What makes a window "European style"?

Three things set a typical European window apart from what most American homes have:

• It opens two ways. Turn the handle up and the top of the sash tilts into the room for ventilation. Turn it sideways and the whole sash swings in like a door. That is why you will also hear them called dual action, dual opening or two-way windows.

• It opens inward. Both modes open into the room, never out, so you can clean the glass from inside and keep screens on the outside. More on that in Do Tilt and Turn Windows Open Outward?.

• It seals on all four sides. When you close the window, locking points around the sash press it against continuous rubber gaskets. There is no sliding weatherstripping to wear out.

European vs. American windows

Here is how the window types compare in everyday use:

• Double-hung: the classic American window. Two sashes slide up and down, so only half of the window can ever be open. The sliding seals let in more air over time.

• Sliding: the sash moves sideways on a track. Simple to use, but again only half the glass opens, and the track collects dirt and water.

• Casement: hinged on the side and cranked open, usually outward. It seals well, but you can't clean the outside of the glass from inside, and there is no secure ventilation position.

• Tilt and turn: opens fully or tilts for ventilation, seals tightly on all sides and can be cleaned completely from inside.

The tilt position is the everyday favorite

Ask people in Germany or Austria which feature they would miss most, and most will say the tilt. With the sash tilted, fresh air comes in at the top of the room, light rain stays outside and the gap is too narrow for anyone to get through. You can leave a bedroom window tilted all night or keep it tilted while you are at work.

Most of our windows also have a micro-ventilation setting, a very small tilt that keeps a slow, steady exchange of air going without cooling the room down.

Built for energy efficiency

European building codes have pushed window performance hard for decades, and it shows in the details: multi-chamber frames, steel reinforcement in uPVC profiles, warm-edge spacers and double or triple Low-E glass with argon. Our windows reach U-values as low as 0.13, which is better than ENERGY STAR requires in any U.S. climate zone. See energy efficiency for more.

Easy to live with

• Cleaning: turn the sash in and wash both sides of the glass from inside, even on the second floor.

• Screens: because the sash opens inward, an insect screen can stay on the outside all season.

• Repairs: if a pane breaks, the glazing beads come out and the glass can be replaced quickly without taking the window out of the wall.

• Maintenance: the frames need no painting, and the hardware only needs a little lubrication once a year.

What about "double windows" and windows that open top and bottom?

People sometimes use these phrases for European windows, but they usually mean something else:

• A double tilt and turn window is two sashes side by side in one frame, each with its own handle. It is one of the most common European layouts.

• Windows that open top and bottom are usually American double-hung windows, where both sashes slide. A tilt and turn window opens at the top when tilted and fully when turned, but it doesn't slide.

• Twin windows is a general term for two windows mounted next to each other.

Materials

European style windows are made in several materials, and each has its place:

• uPVC windows: the most popular and best value, with very good insulation.

• Aluminum windows: slim frames and large sizes for modern architecture.

• Wood windows: natural warmth for traditional and high-end homes.

Can you get European style windows in the U.S.?

Yes. We have supplied European windows to American homes since 2013. They are made in Austria, Germany and Poland, inspected at our fulfillment center and shipped to your project. You can read how the whole process works in Buying European Tilt and Turn Windows in the USA.

Browse our European tilt and turn windows or send us your project for a quote within 48 hours.