Half the quote requests we take start with the same sentence: we want new windows, but we do not know which kind. Sliding and awning windows are the two most common aluminium options in Penrith homes, and each one solves a different problem. Here is how we help clients decide, room by room.
The one-sentence summary
Sliding windows glide sideways on a track and cost less per opening. Awning windows hinge from the top and open outward on a friction stay, giving better weather protection and better security. Both come in single or double glazed, with optional flyscreens and Low-E coatings. You can browse our full standard sliding window configurations and standard awning window configurations with PG codes, sizes and diagrams.
Where sliding windows win
Sliding is the right call in three scenarios. First, wide horizontal openings above about 1500 mm where a single awning sash would be too heavy on the stays. Second, over kitchen benches or laundry troughs where reaching a top-hinged handle is awkward. Third, budget-driven builds where you need to fit out a whole house cost effectively without sacrificing the aluminium look.
The downside is weather. In heavy rain a slider must be closed completely to keep water out. There is no rain-cracked position. And the meeting stile in the middle of a two-panel slider is a permanent vertical bar in your view.
Where awning windows win
Awnings excel in bedrooms, bathrooms, and any wall where you want cross ventilation with the rain on. Because the sash tilts outward from the top, water runs off the top edge and away from the opening. You can leave an awning cracked 40 to 60 mm through a Sydney storm without a puddle on the sill.
Security is the second win. A closed awning with a keyed lock is very hard to lever open from outside because the sash pulls into the frame under load. Insurers know this and often accept awnings on ground-floor rooms without secondary bars.
The tradeoff is opening size. Above about 900 mm wide by 1200 mm tall, awning sashes get heavy enough that the friction stays wear faster and the hardware needs upsizing. Beyond that, a fixed head with awnings under it (an FWA config) or a stacked layout usually reads better than one giant awning.
Room by room, our default recommendation
- Bedrooms: awning. Ventilation with rain on, secure at night. Add a fixed pane above for daylight if the wall is tall.
- Kitchen over the sink: slider, because the handle sits at the front where you can reach it, and a benchtop makes reaching to lift an awning sash awkward.
- Bathroom: awning, obscure glass. Small opening, plenty of privacy, ventilation without a security gap.
- Living or dining picture wall: a fixed pane with one or two awnings underneath, or a large slider with a fly screen if the view is horizontal.
- Laundry: slider, low cost, easy to squeegee.
- Study or media room: awning, better acoustic seal against street noise, secure when the room is unattended.
Cost tradeoffs, honest numbers
Sliding is typically 15 to 25 percent cheaper than the same-size awning in aluminium, mostly because the hardware is simpler. On a full house replacement of ten windows, mixing awnings for bedrooms and sliders for wet areas and the kitchen usually beats going all-awning on price without losing much livability.
What about acoustic performance
Awning windows generally seal tighter than sliders when closed, which gives them a modest edge on noise reduction. If you are near a flight path or busy road and need real acoustic performance, both types benefit from acoustic laminated glass in an IGU, not from choosing one type over the other. The glass spec matters more than the window style. Contact our team for a same-day acoustic quote if noise is your primary concern.
What the standard configurations look like
Both window types come in a fixed set of standard opening sizes we hold or can order fast. Our full range is on the Windows and Doors overview, with 39 sliding window configurations and 76 awning window configurations documented with dimensions and diagrams. Every row has a PG code so when you get in touch you can just quote the code and we can price on the spot.
If your opening does not match a standard configuration, custom sizes are always available. See the way we handled bespoke curtain wall units on the Joan Sutherland Centre refurbishment, which mixed fixed, awning and slider sections across a two-storey facade.
What to send us for a quote
Height and width of the existing opening from brick face to brick face, a photo of the room from inside showing the current window, and whether you want single or double glazed. That gets us to a firm number within one working day. Any questions before you send that through, get in touch through the contact form or call 02 4722 2787.
