How to choose the perfect window style for your home
- 13 May, 2025|
- News
In summary:
- Vertical sliders are a popular choice for period homes needing traditional charm with modern benefits.
- Flush windows offer sleek aesthetics, making them ideal for contemporary homes.
- Casement windows are the UK’s most popular style thanks to their versatility.
- Tilt and turn windows provide excellent ventilation and easy cleaning, perfect for busy homeowners.
- Heritage windows replicate traditional timber or steel frames, maintaining a period property’s character.
Choosing the best window style for your home is dependant on a number of factors, all of which are important to consider.
Whether you’re prioritising looks, thermal efficiency, security, or maintenance requirements, the variety on offer in the modern market means that selecting the right type of window can be overwhelming.
We’ve put this guide together in the hope of making the process a simpler one, focusing intently on some of the most popular choices available today: vertical sliders, flush windows, casement windows, tilt and turn windows, and heritage windows.
Energy efficient windows work effectively to reduce heat transfer
Vertical Sliding Sash: Smooth Sliding Action with Traditional Charm
Vertical sliding sash windows operate by moving one or both sashes up and down inside the frame.
Modern versions are often fitted with spring balances or spiral balances, replacing the old cord-and-weight system. This makes the sashes easier to lift and hold in place without the need for manual props.
- How they work: The sash glides vertically along concealed tracks.
- What makes them unique: Vertical movement keeps the open window within the frame’s footprint, ideal for tight external spaces. They offer classic aesthetics with modern ease of use.
Perfect for properties where you want ventilation control without the need for an outward-opening window.
Sliding windows are brilliant for increasing ventilation
Flush Windows: Sleek Profiles with Hidden Functionality
Flush sash windows are famed for their exterior appearance — the opening sash sits perfectly flush with the outer frame when closed.
However, behind the minimalistic look, flush windows operate similarly to traditional casement windows.
- How they work: Most flush windows hinge at the side (side-hung) or at the top (top-hung) and swing outward when opened.
- What makes them unique: It’s the closed position that defines flush windows — there’s no stepped or lipped sash profile. This creates ultra-slim sightlines and a flat finish, ideal for contemporary and conservation settings.
Flush designs give you all the practicality of casement-style openings but with a cleaner, more architectural finish.
Flush casement windows are renowned for the frame sitting perfectly level with the glass.
Casement Windows: Reliable, Hinged Openings for Everyday Use
Casement windows are the most common window style in the UK, thanks to their straightforward and highly effective operation.
- How they work: The window sash is attached to the frame by side or top hinges, swinging outward like a door when opened. Some designs use friction stays that hold the window in an open position without needing a mechanical stay arm.
- What makes them unique: Casements offer maximum ventilation because the full sash can open wide. Top-hung versions can be left open slightly even during light rain, allowing fresh air without water ingress.
Casement windows are easy to use, secure, and very energy-efficient due to tight compression seals around the opening sash.
Casement windows are the most popular style in the UK.
Tilt and Turn Windows: Dual-Function Operation for Flexible Living
Tilt and turn windows are incredibly clever because they offer two opening options in a single frame.
- How they work:
- Tilt: Turn the handle 90 degrees to tilt the top of the sash inward for gentle, secure ventilation (ideal for safety and airflow without fully opening the window).
- Turn: Turn the handle 180 degrees to swing the sash fully inward on side hinges, giving maximum opening for ventilation or easy cleaning from inside.
- What makes them unique: The dual-opening mechanism gives you flexible control over ventilation and access. It’s especially useful for upper floors, modern apartments, and homes that prioritise safety, easy maintenance, and versatile airflow.
Tilt and turn designs seal exceptionally tightly when closed, making them highly energy-efficient and excellent at reducing outside noise.
Heritage Windows: Traditional Designs, Modern Performance
Heritage windows are designed to replicate the appearance of early 20th-century steel or timber windows, often found in listed buildings and conservation areas.
- How they work: Most modern heritage window designs operate similarly to casement windows, with side-hung or top-hung outward openings. Some also replicate the appearance of fixed panes alongside opening sections to maintain the correct sightlines.
- What makes them unique: Heritage windows typically feature ultra-slim profiles, multi-pane grids (known as muntins or astragals), and period hardware like monkey-tail handles or butt hinges. They allow for modern performance — including double glazing or triple glazing — without compromising the historic character of a property.
Ideal when you need to balance planning requirements with the desire for better insulation, security, and long-term durability.
Black heritage windows
Who are Warwick Development?
At Warwick Development, we have over 30 years’ experience helping homeowners and the trade find the perfect window styles for homes.
From our Sheffield headquarters, we manufacture, supply, and install uPVC and aluminium windows and doors. We also:
- Work with homeowners within a 45-mile radius of Sheffield, offering a full design and installation service.
- Offer free nationwide delivery to trade customers.
- Specialise in vertical sliders, flush windows, casement windows, tilt and turn windows, heritage windows, and more.
Our product range includes:
- Windows: casement, flush sash, vertical sliders, tilt & turn, reversible.
- Doors: aluminium bifolds, French doors, composite doors.
- Roofs: conservatory roofs, tiled Equinox roofs, Skypod roof lanterns, Aliver rooflights.
Visit our showroom Monday to Friday or call us on 0114 257 1200 for a free quote.
FAQs
What are the best new window styles for period properties?
Vertical sliders and heritage windows are ideal for preserving the character of a period property while improving energy performance.
Which window style is easiest to clean?
Tilt and turn windows are excellent for easy indoor cleaning thanks to their inward opening functionality.
What are the benefits of aluminium windows?
Aluminium window frames are lightweight, extremely durable, and available in a wide variety of colours. They’re perfect for modern homes and provide excellent energy efficiency, making them an excellent choice if you’re looking to reduce heat loss.
What accreditations does Warwick Development have?
At Warwick Development, we’re proud to hold a range of industry-leading accreditations that demonstrate our commitment to quality, security, and compliance:
- FENSA Approved Installer – ensuring all window and door installations meet UK building regulations.
- CMS Quality Mark – recognising our consistent manufacturing and installation quality.
- UKAS Accredited – ensuring independent, internationally recognised verification of our products and processes.
- PAS 24 Certification – confirming our windows and doors meet enhanced security performance standards.
- BSI (British Standards Institution) Certified – showing compliance with rigorous quality and safety benchmarks.