Before the material, it’s the opening mode that makes a window a success. Tilt-and-turn, side-hung casement, fixed pane, top-hung or sliding: each type has its room and its use. This guide helps you compose each opening, then choose the material that suits it best.
A window is defined first by the way it opens. Here are the five main modes, their strengths and the room where each one stands out. Concrete benchmarks, no jargon.
Two openings in one: turn mode to air out wide and clean, tilt mode (open at the top) to ventilate without a draught or intrusion risk. The Belgian standard, ideal everywhere — living room, bedrooms, kitchen.
The window pivots on the side and opens inwards, with one or two sashes. Maximum airing and easy cleaning. Perfect where opening inwards doesn’t obstruct passage.
No opening sash: the glazing sits directly in the frame. Slimmer profiles, maximum glass area and better insulation. Ideal for bringing in light where opening isn’t needed.
The window tips at the top by a few centimetres. Discreet, secure ventilation, perfect for cellars, basements, WCs and bathrooms, or as a fanlight above a door.
The sash glides sideways without encroaching on the room. Ideal for large glazed surfaces and terrace access, where a standard casement would lack space.
Glazing accounts for ~70% of performance, whatever the type of opening. Double glazing as standard, triple glazing on cold exposures: it sets the comfort and the heating bill.
* Indicative benchmarks valid across all materials. The right type of opening depends on the room, the direction of passage and the exposure — we settle it together at the site survey.
No type of opening is perfect for every room. Here, honestly, is what guides a good choice — and the pitfalls to avoid before locking in a format.
The right opening mode is chosen room by room, according to use, available space and exposure. A few typical cases in the home:
The tilt-and-turn reigns: air out wide whenever you want, tilt position at night to ventilate safely. The default choice for living spaces.
The top-hung (hopper) ventilates humidity without a draught or intrusion risk, even when small. Ideal for wet rooms and high or narrow openings.
Fixed panes in a stairwell, a fanlight above a door, a landing window: where opening isn’t useful, the fixed pane maximises light and insulation.
Beyond the window, to open a wall onto the garden, look at the French door (step-free access) or the sliding door for very large glazed surfaces.
The owners were replacing single-glazed windows that condensed in winter. Rather than a like-for-like replacement, we reviewed each opening: tilt-and-turns in the living room and bedrooms, top-hung in the bathroom, a fixed pane in the stairwell. The result: more light, healthy ventilation and a lighter bill.
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« Nous avons fait appel à la société Wendows pour le renouvellement de nos châssis et nous sommes vraiment ravis du résultat ! Les travaux ont été réalisés dans les délais annoncés et la finition est impeccable. De plus, M. Aprile qui s'est occupé du devis, s'est toujours montré disponible pour répondre à toutes nos questions. Nous vous recommandons donc de faire appel à eux pour vos travaux ! »
« Nous avons fait appel à Wendows pour le remplacement de nos châssis et nous sommes très satisfait de notre choix. Qualité et suivi de chantier au top ! »
« Ik heb via WEndows een raam aangekocht van 2m x 2m. Mijn algemene ervaring is goed. Zeer goeie communicatie, altijs zeer snelle reactie bij een vraag of opmerking. Het installatie team werkte ook zeer efficient. Tevreden van het eindresultaat! Bedankt WEndows »
A window lights and ventilates; as soon as you want to pass through or open a whole wall, you move to other formats. Compare the three point by point, then open the one that matches your project.
| Critère | WindowVous êtes ici | French doorVoir la gamme → | Sliding doorVoir la gamme → |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indicative price | The most affordable | €€ — mid-range | €€€€ — the highest |
| Glazed surface | Small to medium | Medium to large | Very large |
| Passage / access | No (sill below the cill) | Yes, step-free | Yes, wide bay |
| Fine ventilation | Yes (top-hung) | Yes (tilt) | Limited |
| Floor space | No constraint | Swing to allow for | None (slides) |
| Light intake | Good | Very good | Maximum |
| Ideal for | Every room | Garden / balcony access | Opening up the living room |
The best insulation/price ratio for everyday-sized windows. The most widespread choice in renovation.
See the PVC window →Slim profiles and large sashes for maximum glass area. The contemporary look par excellence.
See the alu window →The warmth and natural insulation of wood, for character and older or listed buildings.
See the wooden window →To step out step-free onto a terrace or balcony, where the window stops below the cill.
Discover the French door →Glazing accounts for ~70% of performance, whatever the type of opening. Understand the Ug values.
Choose your glazing →An overview of our windows & joinery in Belgium: materials, glazing, opening types, fitting and grants.
Back to the window guide →The price of a window depends on the opening type, the dimensions, the glazing, the material and the fitting. Here are some benchmarks for a window fitted in Belgium, before grants.
Compare prices by material →* Indicative ranges per fitted window, excluding specific configurations. Costed estimate provided with your free quote.
It’s a window that offers two openings with a single handle: turn mode (wide side opening) to air out and clean, and tilt mode (opening at the top) to ventilate without a draught or intrusion risk. It’s the most widespread type of opening in Belgium because it suits almost every room.
The tilt-and-turn is ideal in the living room and bedrooms. The top-hung (hopper) suits wet rooms (kitchen, bathroom, WC) and cellars, as it ventilates safely. The fixed pane maximises light where you don’t need to open (stairwell, fanlight). You always choose according to use, space and exposure.
A window is fitted at height, with a sill (a wall) below the cill: it lights and ventilates but you don’t pass through. A French door goes down to the floor and lets you step out step-free onto a terrace or balcony. Beyond that, the sliding door opens a very large glazed surface with no swing.
Not always. High-performance double glazing is enough for most windows in renovation. Triple glazing is justified mainly on north exposures, very cold-exposed facades or in a low-energy approach. It improves comfort but costs more and weighs down the sash: we settle it exposure by exposure.
The opening type is decided first; the material next. PVC offers the best insulation/price ratio on everyday formats, aluminium slim profiles for large openings and a contemporary style, wood warmth and character (ideal in older buildings). We offer all three and guide you according to the project and the budget.
Grants depend on the performance achieved (Uw coefficient) and not on the type of opening. High-performance windows qualify, depending on your region and income, for a renovation grant and the reduced 6% VAT for homes over ten years old. We put together the grants file for you.
Free home survey, opening type advised room by room, grants calculated. Describe your project in under a minute.