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Casement Window Friction Stays Explained

What is a friction stay and why does it matter? Here's a plain explanation.

What a friction stay does

A friction stay is the hinge arm that lets a casement window swing open and — crucially — holds it at whatever angle you leave it, rather than swinging free in the wind. The friction in the mechanism is what does that.

What to know

Look for this

  • Hinges the sash and holds its position
  • Stops the window swinging in wind
  • Sized to the sash's weight
  • Quality stays hold position for years
  • A common failure point on cheap windows

The practical takeaway

Friction stays are a quiet quality marker. A cheap stay under-sized for the sash sags within a couple of years, and then the window drops and won't seal. We size them to the sash weight.

Questions

Frequently asked

What is a friction stay?

The hinge arm on a casement window that lets it swing open and holds it at whatever angle you leave it, rather than swinging free in the wind.

Why do friction stays fail?

Usually because they were under-sized for the sash's weight — the stay sags, the window drops, and it stops sealing properly.

Does the stay affect sealing?

Indirectly but importantly — a sagging stay drops the sash out of alignment, and then multi-point locking can't pull it tight against the gaskets.

From our range

What we make

uPVC Sliding Windows

Multi-track windows that need no swing space.

uPVC Casement Windows

Side-hung sashes for full airflow and the tightest seal.

uPVC Performance Systems

Double-glazed acoustic and thermal windows.

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