Ahhh, fresh air! Who doesn’t want plenty of natural light and clean air inside the house?
Unfortunately, some spaces in and around a home make that difficult– basements, for example. For security and also because there may be hedges planted up against the house, people often install glass block windows in basement rooms. These do a fine job, but tend to create a dark and stale environment. The effect is definitely a “basement” feel which isn’t comfortable or aesthetically pleasing. It may even be a deterrent to spending time in a basement rec room or entertainment room.
The solution to a space with constraints like this could be hopper windows.
What are hopper windows?
You may be familiar with awning windows and you may even have some in your kitchen or bathroom. Hopper windows are similar to awning windows, but also different. They hinge at the bottom of the window and open from top while awning windows hinge at the top and open out, away from the interior. Because hopper windows include specialized hardware and they are not as common, they tend to be more expensive than awning windows. Click here if you’d like to learn more about awning window options.
But, the higher price is worth it if you are finally able to open up and ventilate a room with space constraints. Hopper windows are commonly installed in basements and other rooms where it is not possible or is awkward for a window to open to the outside. This could be because of shrubs or other foliage just outside the house in that area or for other reasons.
The basement isn’t the only place a hopper window provides flexible functionality when there are limitations. A three season porch room can be even more pleasant with hopper windows at the top (similar to transom windows) to let in a breeze when desired. Bathrooms are another area where a hopper window could be a perfect fit. Particularly in a smaller bathroom or one with poor ventilation, a hopper window could be the solution to stuffy, stinky or moldy bathroom problems.
Some hopper windows have a versatile feature and are what’s called “tilt and turn” windows. This type of hopper window has the option to hinge at the top and open into the room or, after adjusting a lever, to instead swing into the interior at the side. This allows you to choose which kind of opening you’d like. In either case, the window opens up into the room and you need to make sure that there are no house plants, lamps or furniture that would be bumped when the window is opened.
Window choice with many benefits.
One of the big pluses of a hopper window is increased air circulation and, when combined with carefully placed trees or shrubs outside the window, this can help keep the room nice and cool when temperatures get hot. As with replacement windows today, they are also energy efficient and many hopper windows are Energy Star rated. Some manufacturers glaze them with a heat shield coating and others produce a hopper window that are double paned with insulating argon gas in between the panes.
They are usually made with tempered safety glass with a frame and sash that are reinforced with metal for strength and durability. This makes hopper windows a secure choice for a basement (or any other room in your home).
Hopper windows are also easier to clean because they tilt inward rather than out of the house. All you have to do is wash one side while the window is closed and then wash the other side after you’ve opened it. You can practically stand right where you are for crystal clear windows! There’s no need to walk out of the room and outside of the house to wipe away dust and grime.
Hopper windows are made by companies like these below. Click the link if you’d like to know more. Do your research and choose which hopper window has the features, price and reputation that’s best for you.
