Casement windows have been a popular choice for homeowners for centuries, thanks to their versatility, ease of use, and timeless appeal. One crucial aspect of these windows that often goes unnoticed is the hinges that make them functional and contribute to their classic charm. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of antique casement window hinges, exploring their history, the different styles available, and how to care for and maintain them to ensure they continue to add value and beauty to your home.
Casement windows have been around since the medieval period, with the earliest examples dating back to the 14th century. These windows were typically made of wood and featured leaded glass panes held together by metal strips called "cames." The hinges used in these early casement windows were made of iron, with a simple pivot design that allowed the window to swing open and closed.
Over time, as architectural styles evolved, so too did the design of casement window hinges. By the 17th and 18th centuries, decorative brass and bronze hinges had become popular, adding an element of sophistication and elegance to the windows. These antique hinges often featured intricate designs and patterns, making them not only functional but also a beautiful addition to the overall aesthetic of the home.
There are several different styles of antique casement window hinges to choose from, each with its unique characteristics and appeal. Some of the most popular styles include:
1. Butt Hinges:These are the simplest and most common type of hinge used in casement windows. They consist of two rectangular plates, or "leaves," that are connected by a pin. The window sash is attached to one leaf, while the other is secured to the window frame. Butt hinges are often made of brass or iron and may feature decorative elements such as scrollwork or engraved patterns.
2. Pivot Hinges:As the name suggests, these hinges allow the window to pivot on a central point, rather than swinging open like a door. Pivot hinges can be either side-mounted or top and bottom-mounted, depending on the desired effect and the window's size. These hinges were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and are often found on larger casement windows.
3. Friction Hinges:These hinges use friction to hold the window open at various angles, allowing for greater control over ventilation. Friction hinges were developed in the late 19th century and are commonly found on Victorian-era casement windows. They are typically made of brass or bronze and may feature ornate designs and detailing.
4. French Casement Hinges:These hinges are specifically designed for use on French casement windows, which feature two sashes that open outward from the center. French casement hinges are typically made of brass or bronze and may include decorative elements such as finials or scrollwork.
Proper care and maintenance are essential to ensure that your antique casement window hinges continue to function smoothly and add charm to your home. Here are some tips to help you keep your hinges in top condition:
1. Cleaning:Periodically clean your hinges using a soft cloth and a gentle cleaning solution, such as mild soap and water. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or materials that could scratch or damage the hinge's surface.
2. Lubrication:To keep your hinges operating smoothly, apply a small amount of lubricant, such as silicone spray or petroleum jelly, to the hinge's pivot point. This will help reduce friction and prevent wear and tear.
3. Inspection:Regularly inspect your hinges for signs of damage or wear, such as loose screws, bent plates, or rust. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage and ensure the continued functionality of your casement windows.
4. Restoration:If your antique hinges have become damaged or are showing significant signs of wear, consider having them professionally restored. An experienced restorer can repair or replace damaged parts, refinish the surface, and bring your hinges back to their original beauty.
Antique casement window hinges can be a beautiful and functional addition to modern homes, adding a touch of historical charm and character. When selecting hinges for your casement windows, consider the architectural style of your home and choose hinges that complement the overall design. Don't be afraid to mix and match different styles and materials to create a unique and personalized look.
In summary, antique casement window hinges are an often-overlooked aspect of these classic windows, but they play a crucial role in their functionality and aesthetic appeal. By understanding the history and different styles of these hinges, as well as how to care for and maintain them, you can ensure that your casement windows continue to be a beautiful and valuable feature of your home for years to come.
Casement windows are the most common style of window. They feature hinged panels that swing open and closed. Casement windows are available in single panels or multiple panels. The direction a door swings, either to the right or the left, is called the handing. In addition to handing, window are identified as either inswing or outswing depending on whether they open into the house or towards the outside.
Our team of experts will work with you to develop a bespoke plan that fits your needs. We take a holistic approach to the planning process, combining our technical expertise with our knowledge of customer requirements and project constraints.
This newly built private house is in Sydney, Australia. The area occupied by the fenestration system in our scheduled design drawings was up to more than 110 square meters. A wide range of design details made the perfect mix of modern aesthetics and traditional sophistication, the simulated vertical hung windows with tilt & turn opening systems in this home are absolutely breathtaking. SDLS (Simulated Divided Lites with Spacer Bar) brings some historical vintage feeling to the whole building without losing any energy saving performance. Long narrow fixed windows creating larger-than-life expenses, coupled with German high-end systems made this project stand out from the rest.
The client's idea was to maintain a certain vintage feel, and our aim was to meet the energy efficiency needs and standards of modern houses as much as possible while maintaining a retro design. Doorwin’s 61S simulated hung windows with tilt & turn openings is a respectful modernization of a classic architectural masterwork.
Why choose the tilt and turn opening method?
Because it generally has better air seals than sliding, single hung, or double hung window frames. Tilt and turn windows form a complete seal when fully closed, this means they are less prone to water leakage, and cold draughts and you’ll keep more of your heating indoors where it belongs. They can be opened in the upper tilt way to ventilate at a minimum opening status and are easy to clean outside of the glass; when there’s a good day, they can be opened as normal inward casement windows.
Our well-crafted bespoke systems enhance the functionality and panoramic view of this modern house.
Huge, fixed glass walls up to seven meters long and two meters high bring great lighting and open views, making it really refreshing to the mind. Five meters high long narrow windows give the whole building a contemporary aesthetic.
Every window’s placement and shape not only add to the uniqueness of this home but also provide a more energy-saving ability for the owners.
Doorwin energy-efficient integrated glazing units feature double-pane glass, warm-edge spacers, argon gas fill, Low-E coatings, and fully tempered glass, they can not only create a comfortable and natural indoor environment but also save electricity bills and heating bills of more than 100 USD for the owner, it’s a real bargain compared to choosing a regular glazing set.
Aluminum Door offered an air of uniqueness and elegance to a home. With their luxurious patterns and beautiful finishes, it provides this house with a bounty of aesthetics and security. Aluminum entry doors allow you to resist any weather extremes, corrosion, and pests. So aluminum is one of the most resilient and durable materials you can select for front doors considering the price/performance ratio.
With pieces of double panes, and Low-E tempered glass. The door provides a good insulation performance.
Divided lite windows and doors offer unique architectural solutions for buildings without compromising energy efficiency or aesthetics. Doorwin provides multiple muntin and glass options to customize your divided lite windows and doors. Further customization is available with a variety of colors and materials, creating an infinite number of design combinations to best suit your style.
In this project, we use SDLS (simulated divided lites with spacer bars), these bars permanently adhere to both sides of the glass, and spacer bars are installed between the glass, this is the most energy-efficient way to create the look of classical décor grilles. The windows in the bathroom bedroom and study have an Arch Transom Design, making these rooms, which are often used by the owner, have some traditional aesthetics.
BTW, Doorwin offers free design assistance, so if you need a custom design like this one, contact us right away and we will provide you with the most aesthetically and functionally pleasing design solution.
For windows and doors, hardware is as important as the engine is to the car. The continuous technological innovation of the European hardware industry has strongly promoted the performance improvement and functional innovation of windows and doors. In this project, Doorwin uses Hoppe™ multi-point locks, hinges, and handles from Germany.
Multi-point lock systems provide not only the burglar-resistance but also a tighter compression seam, making the window keeps good energy-efficient performance. Together with Technoform Bautec’s insulation edge bond and sealant strips, these make up our products' top insulation and energy-saving performance.
We have several international patents to reduce clients’ labor costs, such as our unique flanges and assembly type tubular design, which is different from the other products on the market. What sets us apart among Chinese counterpart is that all our products are equipped with nail fin structures for quick and easy installation. Labor costs during installation may exceed of the window and door price, therefore, our exclusive patent allows users to not only get a significant increase in installation efficiency, but also greatly reduce the labor cost of window and door installation. A cost that may bring you unexpected savings that far exceed the price difference you may care about now.
With our own expertise, we provided the no-cost design development and contract documentation with CAD & BIM drawings, including elevation, details about the project, and installation help.
Before production, we will provide accurate sample drawings, which will clearly show the cross-sectional pattern, size, opening method and direction, pattern of the warm spacer, and the installation nodes. We will not go into production until you have signed off on the drawing to ensure that you receive a final product that meets the exact requirements of your project.
Doorwin's professional packing system guarantees all products are delivered safely and without any damage. We apply a four-point packing system. Firstly, adhesive plastic film is applied on interior wood frames and exterior aluminum frames to avoid scratches on the surface. Then, a paper board is applied after we apply air bubble film surrounding the whole windows/ doors to avoid any destruction or clash. Lastly, we place them into a durable non-fumigation plywood crate to avoid any possible damage during transportation.
With years of experience shipping our products worldwide, we could guarantee to ship our products to their final destinations intact and without any damage.
Doorwin is one of the most professional window & door manufacturers are known for its great customized products. In Doorwin, a variety of colors, styles, and sizes of products are available to meet the client’s unique requirements. We own three ISO9000-certified modern factories in China. With a factory area of 20,000 m2 and a production capacity of 100,000 m2 per year. Doorwin Group has the scale to ensure timely delivery and the flexibility to reduce manufacturing lead times to as short as 18 days.