Side hung windows are hinged on a vertical edge and swing outward like a door. That gives you the fullest airflow of any opening window, which is the single reason most people choose them.
How side hung windows work
A friction stay runs along the top and bottom of the sash on the hinge side, carrying the weight and controlling the swing.
Release the handle and the sash swings out. Friction holds it at whatever angle you leave it.
Because the whole sash swings clear of the frame, the opening is unobstructed. Nothing sits in the gap the way a sliding panel does.
Where side hung windows are the right choice
Living areas, where you want to move as much air as possible on a hot day.
Rooms that need a large clear opening for escape purposes, subject to the dimensions your building regulations require.
Elevations that are sheltered, or that face away from the prevailing wind and rain.
They are less suited to bathrooms and exposed elevations, where an open sash catches driving rain rather than shedding it.
The hardware
Three parts do the work, and all three can be replaced without touching the frame.
The friction stay carries the sash and sets how freely it swings.
The handle and lock pull the sash closed onto its seal and hold it there. If the handle turns but the sash stays proud, the keep is out of line.
The compression seal is the gasket the closed sash pulls against. It is what stops draughts, and it is the part that perishes first.
Restrictors, and why they matter
A restrictor limits how far the sash can travel.
On upper floors it stops a sash swinging into a position where it could be caught by wind and strained at the stay.
It is worth deciding on restrictors at order stage rather than adding them later.
What to check before you order
Check the clearance outside first. A side hung sash sweeps a wide arc, and anything in that arc, a downpipe, a wall, a burglar guard, will stop the window opening fully.
Then the hinge side and the sizes
Then decide which vertical edge carries the hinge, because that is fixed when the window is made.
Then measure the structural opening in millimetres, brick to brick. See aluminium window sizes for how to write the sizes down, and how to measure for the method.
If the elevation is exposed, consider top hung windows instead, which shed rain rather than catching it.
Browse the range under aluminium windows or request a quote. Coetz supplies nationwide across South Africa and does not install. For glazing standards, SAGGA, the South African Glass and Glazing Association publishes the industry guidance.
Maintaining side hung windows
Clean the stay channels and lubricate them once a year. A stay that binds part-way is almost always dirty rather than broken.
Check the fixings on both stays. A sash that has dropped usually has fixings that have worked loose, not a failed hinge.
Wash the frames with clean water and mild detergent. Avoid abrasives on a powder coated finish.
Replace the compression seal when it hardens, because that is what stops the draught round a closed sash.
Security on side hung windows
Multi-point locking is available, and it is worth specifying on ground floor openings.
A single central catch holds the sash at one point. A multi-point lock pulls it in along the full closing edge, which both improves security and seals better.
If you are fitting burglar guards, check they clear the swing arc before the windows are made, not afterwards.
Combining side hung windows with fixed lights
Few frames are a single sash. Most combine one or two side hung windows with fixed panes in the same frame.
Fixed lights carry no hardware, so they cost less and never need adjusting.
Put the opening sashes where you will actually reach them, and leave the rest fixed. It is the simplest way to control the price of a large opening.
Side hung windows and exposure
The one real limitation is weather. On an exposed elevation an open sash acts like a sail and catches driving rain.
Where that is a concern, mix the two: side hung windows in sheltered rooms, top hung on the weather side.
Frequently asked questions
Do side hung windows open further than top hung?
They open the full sash clear of the frame, so yes, they move more air.
Can side hung windows be left open in the rain?
Not advisable on an exposed elevation. The open sash catches driving rain instead of shedding it.
Which side should the hinge go on?
Whichever side lets the sash swing clear of obstructions, and suits how you reach the handle.
Can a restrictor be added afterwards?
It is far easier to specify it with the window than to retrofit one.
What glass comes as standard?
6.38mm clear laminated safety glass.
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