Top-hinged windows
Awning windows: small openings that do a lot of work
An awning window is hinged along its top edge and cranks outward from the bottom, so the open sash sheds rain. In Markham homes it usually sits under a family-room picture window, high on a bathroom wall or near the basement ceiling. When one stops working, the operator is often the only worn part. We connect you with an independent local window professional who repairs and replaces awnings and checks the small fix first.
- The operator before the window
- Matched to the glass above
- Straight talk on egress
Where they sit
Why awnings sit under picture windows and in bathrooms
Opened partway, the sash forms a small roof, so air comes in during a light rain.
Under a picture window
Many houses built here since the 1980s pair a large fixed pane with a row of awnings below. A pro looks at both, including the picture window above if it has fogged.
On the bathroom wall
Set high, it lets steam out while obscure glass keeps the room private.
Near the basement ceiling
Small awnings bring in air and daylight, but they are rarely big enough to climb through.
Fix the part
Operator, hinge and seal repairs
Most awning complaints trace back to one of four pieces, and each can usually be replaced on its own as ordinary window repair.
The operator
A crank that spins without moving the sash has stripped gears or a loose arm. A matching operator can often be found.
Hinges and arms
A sash that drags, rattles or won't close square usually needs new hinges, not a new frame.
Weatherstripping
A flattened gasket shows up as a draft or water on the sill after a storm. It's a small job.
The glass
A fogged sealed unit can be replaced in the sash; see our foggy window page for telling fog from condensation.
When it's time
Replacing an awning window
Replace it when the frame is failing or parts can't be matched; it's usually a same-size swap.
Photos first
The whole window, a frame corner and a rough size tell the pro whether a repair is realistic.
Match its neighbour
Under a fixed pane, the new sash has to line up with the frame colour, sightlines and grilles above it.
Measure, quote, install
The pro measures, quotes in writing, then sets and trims the new unit.
Basements
Basement awnings aren't egress windows
A basement bedroom needs a window someone can climb out of, with a clear opening the Ontario Building Code sets. A small awning near the ceiling usually falls short: the open sash and arms stay in the way.
The usual answer is a larger casement or slider, sometimes in a bigger opening. Markham needs no building permit for a window in a same-size rough opening, per its permit page; cutting the wall does. Our egress window page explains both.
What affects the quote
What shapes an awning quote
A pro will ask about:
- Repairing the operator, hinges or glass, or replacing the unit
- Size, and whether it shares a frame with a fixed pane
- Glass: clear, obscure, low-E or tinted
- Frame colour and any grilles to match
- Access, such as a window well or an upstairs bathroom
A photo, a close-up of the crank and a rough size are enough to start.
Screens
Screens for awning windows
The sash opens outward, so the screen clips inside the frame, where blinds knock it. New mesh or a frame made to size is a small job; see our window screen page.
Questions
Awning window questions
Explore your options
Related window work
Local pros work on awning windows across Markham, including Milliken Mills, Berczy Village, Box Grove and Thornhill.
Send a photo of the awning and its size
Tell us where the window is and what it's doing. We pass it to a local pro who works on awnings and gets back to you in writing. If a new operator will do, that's the quote.