Tilt-and-turn windows: what are the best solutions to open tilt-and-turn windows? What exactly does "wasistas" mean? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this opening mechanism? Read the complete Windowo guide and you will have the answers you are looking for.
Electric actuators , also called simply "
motors ", are very useful for automatically opening and closing the windows of the houses in which we live. In this guide we will go to see what are the characteristics of the window motors that open "
tilt " or "
wasistas " (we will also clarify the origin of this particular term). We will also try to understand which are the
best models with vasistas opening to move your doors and windows quickly and easily.
If you are already an expert and want to find the best window motors,
click here and go immediately to the dedicated category . If, on the other hand, you are looking for information on
bottom hung windows ... you are in the right place! Read on for our guide to find out more.
Tilt and turn, vasistas and protruding: many ways to open the window
When you happen to open a window "by hand" you usually do it by making a movement called "
wing ". The door movement consists of a lateral opening and closing of the frame. On the other hand, when the movement of the window is generated
electronically, it occurs mainly in two ways:
vasistas or projecting . This is because these two types use the force of gravity to our advantage. This allows automatic opening and closing thanks to the aid of chains or pistons operated remotely via push-button panel or radio control. These mechanisms are driven by the actuators, that is the window motors we were talking about a little further back.
In this guide we will focus in particular on the vasistas type opening. The first thing we must ask ourselves is therefore: "
What is meant by transom windows? "
Bottom hinged windows, that is an opening from the top towards the inside
From a purely technical point of view, the vasistas opening mode is very similar to the hinged one, but with the difference that it is hinged at the bottom rather than at the sides. In fact, the profiles, hinges, gaskets and assembly accessories used to perform a vasistas are the same as those of a normal hinged window that can be opened inside.
A vasistas window, also written
wasistas , can be opened
towards the inside of the building where the hinges are positioned on the lower
crosspiece and the closure, called ratchet , on the upper one. The system allows the door to rotate downwards and the opening is delimited by special stops, called opening
limiting arms. There are many different types of arms on the market including the detachable one, which allows you to open the door completely easily when you want to clean the external glass from the inside. Other types of arms mounted on the vertical profiles of the door and frame, in addition to limiting the opening, allow the rotation of the door and replace the hinges.
Curiosity: the curious origins of the term "vasistas"
Before seeing together the strengths and weaknesses of this type of opening, we asked ourselves what originated such a particular term as "vasistas". Looking around, we discovered that the term “vasistas” was used for the first time in France, but derives from the German expression “
Was ist das? ”Which literally means“ what is this? ”. It seems that this was the question that was asked at the time by visitors of German origin to the French before having the door opened through a sort of flap-hinged door. This is because they wondered what these strange windows were, with an opening so different from those considered "normal" in Germany. So the term vasistas is linked to the amazement and wonder of seeing this special system of moving the windows in action for the first time.
Pros and cons of tilt-and-turn windows
The transom windows are created with the same materials and components as the normal casement windows, which open like a book towards the interior of the building. For this reason, the quality of the window will not depend on the opening mechanism but on the materials used and, above all, on the quality of the installation. If you are interested in how to evaluate the quality of the installation that is proposed to you, you can ask whoever carries out the work for you if they are qualified to do it. In this regard, we advise you to read our article on the subject: "
Certification for installation of doors and windows: courses for installers ".
Returning to the problem of choosing the opening system for your window, you can make this important decision based on your specific practical needs.
The advantages of the vasistas opening:
When will it be convenient for you to opt for a vasistas type opening? Among the main advantages of the vasistas system there is certainly:
- the possibility of giving a more controlled ventilation of the building compared to the hinged type windows;
- possibility to keep the windows open even in case of rain and wind;
- this type of opening mechanism is particularly recommended where space is limited (since it is not very bulky).
The defects of the vasistas opening:
There are situations in which the vasistas opening may not be the most convenient. Here are the drawbacks:
- the impossibility of facing the outside of the building if this opening system is used;
- the difficulty in cleaning the outside , possible only with special accessories, especially if the window is in a very high position;
- the impossibility of quickly ventilating the room in case of need (particularly important problem in the case of kitchens and bathrooms);
- the lack of a system to free the window compartment , and this in domestic use could be annoying.
Fortunately, all these shortcomings can be solved by using hinged windows that also have a vasistas opening together. Read on to learn more!
To whom do we recommend tilt-and-turn windows?
As for the choice of materials, even for the opening systems everything depends on the context and what you are looking for. If you are doubtful about what type of material to request for the construction of your doors and windows, we advise you to read our article dedicated to the topic: "
PVC or aluminum frames? Selection guide ".
Returning to the choice of the opening mechanism, if the
lack of space is your main problem, windows with a vasistas type opening can really be the right solution. This is because they will allow you to have good lighting and to ventilate the room you are in without creating clutter. The windows with vasistas opening are therefore perfect for a closet, for a warehouse, or for small bathrooms.
However, remember that if you choose to have a window, it opens only to the bottom, you will not be able to look outside and it will not be easy to clean the external window of the window. You will also need to consider whether the limited but continuous air exchange is the most suitable for the room and for the use you intend to make of it.
So we advise you, especially for domestic use, to evaluate the use of
casement windows that also have a vasistas opening together : in this way, depending on your needs, you can evaluate how to open your window and take advantage of both. opening systems. However, the price of the frame could go up, and a lot, compared to windows that have only a vasistas type opening (the latter normally have much lower costs).
The windows with a tilt and turn mechanism use the
DK Vasistas window handles that you can find by clicking here .
To whom do we fully advise against the purchase of a hinged or transom-hinged window? If you cannot use the hinged opening because the window is positioned too high or if you do not have enough space to open it completely, then perhaps the bottom hinged system alone is certainly the most suitable solution for your needs.
ATTENTION: remember to
evaluate the type of room in which you want to place the window. Take stock of what your
practical needs are , and not just the simple aesthetic taste. If you turn to professionals you will surely find the most suitable solution. This last point is particularly important since the quality of the pose will deeply influence the effectiveness of whatever mechanism you are going to insert.
What are the best models of window motors for transom-hinged movement?
So far we have understood that there is a vasistas opening when the window opens from the top towards the inside of the house. The opening uses gravity, while the electric movement is used to close the window and to make it return to the starting position. This system is widely used in those rooms that require constant and moderate ventilation of the rooms.
Where can I buy the motors that move the tilt-and-turn windows? On Windowo you can find a surprising variety of actuators for the bottom hinged opening of your windows. The simplest models we recommend you see are the models that work in chain. The electric chain actuators allow the automatic opening and closing of the window by moving one or two chains.
Click here to see all the models of chain motors for sale on Windowo.
If you have any doubts in choosing which specific model of chain actuator to buy, even after reading the technical data sheets that describe each feature, you can contact our
customer service . We are happy to help you!
Did you like this article? You can also see the
dedicated video on Youtube (click on the image).
