Casement windows are one of the most versatile operating window styles in Andersen’s lineup. Instead of sliding vertically or horizontally, a casement is hinged along one side and opens outward like a door. Most are operated with a crank, creating a tall, unobstructed opening that can bring substantial ventilation and natural light into a room.
That combination of easy operation, strong ventilation, and a clean vertical profile makes casement windows popular in both traditional and contemporary homes. They are especially familiar above kitchen sinks, but they can also work well in bedrooms, living areas, home offices, narrow wall openings, and larger combinations with picture or transom windows.
Andersen currently offers standard casement windows in 100 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series, plus an E-Series French casement option. For Hampton Roads homeowners, the right choice depends on more than the operating style: material, glass, size, design, exposure, maintenance preferences, and budget all matter. This guide focuses on the casement style itself. For a broader overview of the brand, visit our Ultimate Guide to Andersen Windows in Hampton Roads.
What Is a Casement Window?
A casement window is a vertically oriented window with hinges on one side. Turning the operating handle moves the sash outward, much like opening a door. Because the sash opens from top to bottom rather than exposing only part of the opening, casements can provide generous ventilation.
The entire sash also presses against the frame when closed. Andersen identifies this single-sash, compression-style design as one reason casement windows can provide strong energy performance: the locking hardware pulls the sash tightly into the frame, limiting opportunities for air leakage.
Unlike double-hung and gliding windows, casements project beyond the exterior wall when open. That distinction matters when deciding where to use them.
Why Choose Casement Windows?
Excellent Ventilation
A casement opens across nearly the full height of the sash, creating a large area for fresh air. The open sash can also catch passing breezes depending on the window’s orientation and wind direction, helping direct air into the room.
Easy Operation
Casements are commonly operated with a crank rather than requiring the homeowner to lift or slide a sash. This can make them convenient in locations where the window is harder to reach directly, which is one reason they are frequently installed above kitchen counters and sinks.
Strong Energy-Efficiency Potential
Casement windows use a single operating sash that closes tightly against the frame. Andersen describes casements as one of its most energy-efficient window types because the design creates fewer potential paths for air leakage and the hardware pulls the sash securely into the frame.
More Glass in Tall, Narrow Openings
The vertical proportions of a casement can fit narrow wall areas while still providing significant glass. Andersen casements can also be configured in larger combinations, allowing homeowners to create broader window walls without making every section fixed.
Flexible Architectural Styling
Casements are not limited to modern homes. Frame profiles, grille patterns, colors, wood interiors, hardware, and window combinations can make them appropriate for traditional, transitional, or contemporary architecture.
Where Do Casement Windows Work Best?
- Above kitchen sinks and counters: The crank operation can be easier to use when furniture, cabinetry, or a countertop prevents you from standing directly in front of the window.
- Bedrooms and living spaces: The large operating sash can provide substantial ventilation while preserving a relatively open view.
- Tall, narrow wall openings: Their vertical proportions can bring light and airflow into spaces where a wider window may not fit.
- Window combinations: Casements can flank picture windows or be joined with other units to combine large views with operable ventilation.
- Traditional or contemporary designs: Andersen’s range of materials, grille patterns, colors, and interior finishes allows casements to take on very different architectural appearances.
Where Might a Casement Window Not Be the Best Choice?
Because casements open outward, homeowners should consider what is immediately outside the window. A casement may be less practical where the open sash would extend into a busy walkway, narrow side yard, deck traffic area, or another location where people regularly pass close to the exterior wall.
In those situations, a double-hung or gliding window may provide ventilation without projecting beyond the wall. The goal is not to choose one window style for the entire home, but to match each opening with the way the surrounding space is actually used.
Andersen Casement Window Series
Andersen’s current casement lineup spans four major residential series. Each provides the same basic side-hinged operation but uses different materials and offers different levels of customization.
| Series | Construction | High-Level Position |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Series | Fibrex® composite interior and exterior | Low-maintenance, value-oriented composite option |
| 400 Series | Wood interior / vinyl exterior | Andersen’s best-selling casement with broad design choices |
| A-Series | Wood interior / fiberglass & Fibrex® composite exterior | Performance-focused Architectural Collection option |
| E-Series | Wood interior / aluminum exterior | Highest level of color and design customization |
Andersen also offers an E-Series French casement. This specialized configuration uses two side-hinged sashes without a center meeting stile, creating a clear opening when both sides are open.
We’ll compare the individual products, materials, sizes, colors, finishes, glass, and customization much more closely in our Andersen Casement Window Series & Product Options guide.
100 Series Casement Windows
The 100 Series is Andersen’s Fibrex composite casement option. The material is used on both the interior and exterior, creating a lower-maintenance alternative for homeowners who do not need a natural wood interior.
Andersen offers 100 Series casements as individual windows and in twin or triple combinations, and the product is available as a replacement insert window. For homeowners primarily interested in composite construction, clean profiles, and value, the 100 Series is an important starting point.
400 Series Casement Windows
The 400 Series is Andersen’s best-selling casement window. It combines a natural wood interior with a low-maintenance vinyl exterior designed to protect the window from weather.
Compared with 100 Series, the move into 400 Series introduces a different interior character and broader design possibilities. It can work particularly well for homeowners who want the warmth of wood inside while maintaining a protected exterior.
A-Series Casement Windows
A-Series is part of Andersen’s Architectural Collection and is identified by Andersen as its best-performing casement. It uses a wood interior with fiberglass and Fibrex composite exterior protection and offers extensive factory-finished interior and architectural options.
A-Series casements can reach up to approximately 4 feet wide and 8 feet high, making them particularly relevant when homeowners want taller openings, architectural detailing, or performance-oriented configurations. Andersen also offers triple-pane glass options within A-Series.
E-Series Casement & French Casement Windows
E-Series combines a wood interior with an aluminum exterior and provides Andersen’s broadest casement customization. The standard E-Series casement can be made in a wide range of colors, wood species, interior finishes, shapes, and sizes.
The E-Series French casement adds a different operating experience. Two casement sashes are hinged at the outer sides and meet without a fixed center stile. When both are opened, the result is a wide, unobstructed opening. This can provide an old-world architectural character while maintaining the ventilation benefits of casement operation.
How Large Can Andersen Casement Windows Be?
One advantage of the casement format is its ability to create relatively tall expanses of operable glass. Current Andersen comparison information lists standard casement sizes up to approximately 3 feet wide by 6 feet high for 100 Series and 400 Series, up to 4 feet wide by 8 feet high for A-Series, and up to 6 feet wide by 6 feet high for standard E-Series casements.
Maximum dimensions do not mean every combination is available at those sizes, and custom sizing varies by product. The actual opening, structural conditions, glass selection, performance requirements, and manufacturer specifications all need to be considered before choosing a size.
Casement Windows vs. Double-Hung Windows
Casement and double-hung windows can both provide excellent everyday ventilation, but they operate very differently. A double-hung window slides vertically within the frame, while a casement swings outward.
- Choose casement when: you value a large top-to-bottom opening, crank operation, strong sealing potential, or a tall, narrow window profile.
- Consider double-hung when: you prefer a traditional vertically sliding window, want the sash to remain within the wall plane when open, or need ventilation near exterior walkways and other areas where an outward-opening sash could interfere.
For homeowners comparing traditional hung windows with casements, our Andersen Double-Hung Window Series comparison provides a closer look at Andersen’s vertically sliding options.
Casement Windows vs. Awning Windows
Casement and awning windows share several characteristics: both commonly use crank operation, both open outward, and both can provide strong ventilation and compression-style sealing. The primary difference is hinge location.
A casement is hinged at the side and typically has a tall vertical orientation. An awning window is hinged at the top and opens outward from the bottom, making it better suited to shorter, wider openings or locations higher on a wall.
For a closer comparison of the alternative style, see our Guide to Andersen Awning Windows.
Are Andersen Casement Windows Energy Efficient?
Casement windows can provide strong energy-efficiency potential because of the way the sash closes against the frame. Andersen notes that the single-sash design creates fewer opportunities for air leakage, while the locking hardware pulls the sash tightly into the frame.
Actual energy performance still depends on the complete product configuration. Series, frame material, glass package, size, grille choices, installation, orientation, and climate all affect performance. Andersen offers Low-E glass options throughout its casement lineup, while A-Series and E-Series can also be configured with triple-pane glass.
For a Hampton Roads replacement project, compare the performance ratings for the actual window and glass package being considered rather than assuming that every Andersen casement performs identically.
What Should Hampton Roads Homeowners Consider?
Casement windows can be an excellent fit for Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads homes, but local conditions make product selection important. Heat, humidity, wind-driven rain, coastal air, seasonal storms, and individual home exposure should be considered alongside appearance and operation.
A-Series may deserve particular attention where enhanced performance specifications or coastal configurations are required, while 100 Series, 400 Series, and E-Series can each make sense for different material, design, and budget priorities.
The outward-opening sash should also be considered in relation to patios, decks, landscaping, walkways, and neighboring property lines. A casement that works beautifully above a kitchen sink may not be the best choice beside a narrow exterior passage.
Designing with Casement Windows
Casements can be used as individual windows, but some of their most interesting applications come from combining them with other units.
- Casement + picture window: Place operating casements beside a larger fixed picture window to preserve a broad view while adding ventilation.
- Twin or triple casements: Join multiple casements to create a wider area of operable glass.
- Casement + transom: Add fixed glass above the operating window for greater height and natural light. For more unusual fixed shapes, compare Andersen specialty windows.
- Casement bay configurations: Use casements within projecting bay-window designs to combine architectural dimension with ventilation.
- French casement: Use paired E-Series casements without a center stile when a wide clear opening and distinctive architectural appearance are priorities.
What We Recommend Comparing in Person
The differences between casement windows are easier to understand when you can operate and inspect the products rather than relying only on specifications.
- Crank and hardware operation: Open and close the sash to see how the mechanism feels in everyday use.
- Frame profile and visible glass: Compare how the frame and sash affect sightlines and the amount of glass.
- Interior materials: Look at Fibrex composite alongside the wood interiors available in 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series.
- Exterior materials and colors: Compare composite, vinyl, fiberglass/composite, and aluminum exterior protection along with the available color palettes.
- Screens: Consider how the interior screen looks and how easily it can be removed or maintained.
- Series-to-series value: Identify which additional colors, finishes, glass choices, sizes, and performance features you would actually use before moving into a higher-customization product.
Andersen Casement Window FAQs
How do Andersen casement windows open?
Casement windows are hinged at the side and open outward. They are typically operated with a crank, creating a top-to-bottom opening for ventilation.
Which Andersen series offer casement windows?
Andersen currently offers standard casement windows in 100 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series. E-Series also includes a French casement option.
Are casement windows good above a kitchen sink?
They can be. The crank operation can make a casement easier to open in locations where a counter or sink makes it difficult to reach and lift a traditional sash.
Are casement windows energy efficient?
Casements can provide strong energy performance because their single sash closes tightly against the frame. Actual performance depends on the series, glass, size, installation, and specific configuration.
What is an Andersen French casement window?
Andersen’s E-Series French casement uses two side-hinged sashes without a fixed center meeting stile. Opening both sashes creates a broad, unobstructed opening.
What is Andersen’s best-selling casement window?
Andersen identifies the 400 Series casement as its best-selling casement window.
What is Andersen’s best-performing casement window?
Andersen identifies A-Series as its best-performing casement. Whether it is the right choice for a particular home depends on the project’s performance, architectural, and budget requirements.
Can casement windows be used in traditional homes?
Yes. Although casements are common in modern designs, wood interiors, grille patterns, hardware, colors, and architectural configurations can give them a traditional appearance as well.
Compare Andersen Casement Windows at Better View Windows & More
Better View Windows & More helps homeowners throughout Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads compare replacement windows based on the way each room and opening is actually used. If you’re considering Andersen casements, we’ll help you compare operation, materials, frame profiles, glass, colors, performance options, and price levels rather than simply recommending one series.
Visit our Virginia Beach showroom to compare replacement window options in person or request an estimate for your home. If you’ve already decided that casement windows are the right style, continue to our Andersen Casement Window Series & Product Options guide for a deeper comparison of 100 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, E-Series, and French casement choices.
For related Andersen research, compare awning windows, double-hung windows, gliding windows, picture windows, specialty windows, and bay and bow window options. For the complete Andersen window lineup, return to our Ultimate Guide to Andersen Windows in Hampton Roads.
Call 757-689-6210 or request your estimate online to get started. Better Variety. Better Service. Better Prices.