An awning window hinges at the top and cranks outward from the bottom. The open glass sheds rain like a small awning, which is where the name comes from. That’s also why you can leave one open during a light St. Louis rain without water getting in.
Here’s where awning windows work best and how the crank mechanism holds up. It also covers which ProVia line fits your budget and where to go for awning and casement window installation. If you have a ranch-style home specifically, our awning windows guide for ranch homes covers that layout in more depth.
This style isn’t the right fit for a bedroom’s only emergency exit. It’s also not the right fit if you want a window that opens fully wide for moving furniture through.
How an Awning Window Works
A hand crank does the work, the same mechanism as a casement window turned on its side. Three steps open it:
- Release the latches on both sides.
- Fold out the crank handle.
- Turn it. The window opens to whatever angle you want, up to 90 degrees on some models.
Closing reverses the same steps.
The top-hinge design opens outward rather than sliding. That’s why it can stay cracked open in the rain. The glass itself blocks the water while air still moves through underneath.
Where an Awning Window Pays Off
These are usually a supporting window, not the main one in a room. A few spots where that’s an advantage rather than a limit:
- Bathrooms, set high on the wall for privacy and ventilation that can run even in the rain.
- Above a kitchen sink or counter, where there’s no room to swing a window in or slide one open.
- Above a picture window, adding ventilation without breaking up the view.
- Basements and other below-grade rooms, where a smaller, higher window is also a security plus.
Advantages and Trade-Offs
An awning window’s outward crank seals tighter than most other styles, but that same swing-out design comes with real limits. Here’s both sides, side by side.
| Advantages | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|
| Tighter seal. The sash presses into the frame instead of riding in a track. That seals tighter than a slider or double hung window. | Walkway clearance. It swings outward, which rules out a spot right next to a porch or a tight side yard. It could catch someone walking by. |
| Lower energy bills. That tight seal is part of why ENERGY STAR-certified windows save energy. They average up to 13 percent lower heating and cooling bills nationwide, replacing single-pane windows. | More moving parts. The crank mechanism has more parts to eventually service than a fixed or sliding window. Units placed high on a wall are also harder to reach for cleaning. |
| Added security. Smaller, high-mounted units are harder to reach from outside, a plus in bathrooms and basements. | Not a bedroom exit. The sash only cranks open a few inches at the bottom. IRC Section R310.2.1 sets the minimum size for a bedroom’s emergency escape window. It needs a 5.7 square-foot net clear opening, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide. Most awning windows don’t clear that. Check your local code for amendments. |
Sizing an Awning Window
ProVia doesn’t build to a fixed stock-size chart the way some manufacturers do. Every ProVia window, including the awning style, is built to the exact rough opening you have. There’s no rounding up or down to the nearest stock size. And there’s no gap to shim and caulk around a window that’s smaller than the hole it’s going into.
That matters most on a replacement, where your existing opening is whatever it is. On the free in-home estimate visit anywhere in St. Louis or St. Charles County, our installer measures the actual rough opening with a tape measure. It’s not a guess from a photo. Then we quote the exact size, not the closest stock size a big-box store would sell you.
ProVia’s Three Lines
ProVia builds the awning style into three of its four window lines, each at a different price and performance level.
Wood Interior · Vinyl Exterior
Aeris
Real wood inside you can stain or paint, low-maintenance vinyl outside. Costs more than Endure.
Vinyl · Top Performer
Endure
ProVia’s top energy performer. Triple-pane glass options reach a U-factor as low as 0.13.
Vinyl · Mid-Range
Aspect
ENERGY STAR certified, in White, Beige or Sandstone. Below Endure’s top glass package.
Each carries ProVia’s Lifetime Limited Warranty, transferable once to a later owner. That’s 15 years on materials and workmanship. Moving parts are covered for as long as the original buyer owns and lives in the home.
STL Windows and Doors holds ProVia’s Platinum dealer recognition and is a certified installer of ProVia windows. See our full ProVia window lineup to compare the three lines side by side.
Get a Quote
STL Windows and Doors has served homeowners since 2014. Our service area covers St. Louis and St. Charles County, Missouri. Request a free in-home estimate or call (314) 277-5952. We’ll bring real samples so you can see the crank mechanism and glass options in person.
