A top guided window is guided at the top of the frame, so the sash swings outward at the bottom as it opens. In the UK it is also called a top hung or top opening window. Because it opens away from you at the bottom, it suits bathrooms, windows above worktops, and any opening that is hard to reach.
Top guided window 1 light
Top guided window 2 light 2x1
Top guided window 3 light 3x1
Top guided window 4 light 4x1
Top guided window 2 light horizontal bar
Top guided window 4 Light - Horizontal
Top guided window 6 light 3x2 horizontal glazing bars
Top guided window 8 light 4x2 horizontal glazing bars
Top guided window 2 light vertical bar
Top guided window 4 Light
Top guided window 6 light 3x2 vertical glazing bars
Top guided window 8 light 4x2 vertical glazing bars
Top guided window 4 light
Top guided window 8 light
Top guided window 12 Light 3X4
Top guided window 16 light 4x4
Top guided window 6 light
Top guided window 12 Light 2X6
Top guided window 18 Light
Top guided window 24 light 4x6
Top guided window 3 light horizontal bar
Top guided window 2 panels 6 light
Top guided window 9 light 3x3
Top guided window 12 light
Top guided window 3 light
Top guided window 6 light (3x2)
Top guided window 9 light
Top guided window 18 light
Top guided window 2 light with glazing bars on top
Top guided window 4 light with glazing bars on top
Top guided window 6 light with glazing bars on top
The sash pivots at the top of the frame and pushes outward at the bottom. You control the whole opening from inside, with no low handle to bend down to and no sash swinging back into the room.
That sets it apart from a side hung casement, which opens like a door on side hinges, and from a tilt and turn, which tilts inward at the top. A top guided window sends the opening up and out, so fresh air comes in over the top of the glass. You can even leave it ajar in light rain without water running straight onto the sill.
A top guided window earns its place wherever a side opening window would be awkward to use. You open it from the bottom and it swings away from you, so you never have to lean across anything to reach the handle or clean the glass.
That makes it a natural fit above a kitchen worktop or sink, in a bathroom, on a landing or stairwell, and for any window set high on the wall or behind furniture. Air enters from the top and moves through the room quickly, without a cold draught at floor level.
For a bathroom, a top guided window solves two problems at once: privacy and damp. It opens outward at the bottom rather than at eye level, so you get real airflow without leaving a clear gap for anyone to see through.
Order it with obscure glass and the view in is blocked while daylight still comes through. That is ideal for a bathroom, an en-suite, or any window overlooked by neighbours.
Ventilation matters more in a bathroom than almost anywhere else in the house. Air moving out over the top of the sash helps carry away the moisture that leads to condensation, black mould and peeling paint, so leaving the window on the vent after a shower makes a real difference.
Bathrooms sometimes need safety glass to meet Building Regulations, depending on how low the window sits and what is nearby. You choose the right glass when you configure your window. If you like the idea but want a different action, compare it with our reversible windows, which rotate for easy cleaning from inside.
These are different names for the same window. Top guided is the term Scandinavian window makers use, while top hung and top opening are the everyday UK names, and you may also see top swing.
They all describe a window that is guided or hinged at the top and opens outward at the bottom. An awning window works in a very similar way, so if you are weighing up the two, that page explains where each one fits best.
You can order every top guided window in uPVC, pine, meranti, alu-clad pine or alu-clad meranti. The right choice comes down to how much upkeep you want and the look you are after.
uPVC is the low-maintenance, hard-wearing option that never needs painting. Pine gives you a painted timber window with a natural feel, and you can repaint it over the years to keep it fresh. Meranti is a dense hardwood chosen for its durability. Alu-clad pine and alu-clad meranti put timber on the inside and an aluminium shell on the outside, so the weather hits the aluminium and upkeep drops to the occasional wash.
Alu-clad timber windows carry a 12-year warranty. uPVC and timber windows carry 10 years. White is the standard finish and is built into the material. Other colours are available at a surcharge, applied as a hard-wearing foil, and the inside and outside do not have to match.
Both double and triple glazing are available on every model. Double glazing suits most rooms and keeps the cost down. Triple glazing adds a third pane and holds more heat inside, which is worth considering for bedrooms, north-facing rooms and anywhere that feels cold or noisy.
You pick the glazing as you build the window, so you can weigh it up against your budget and the room it is going in.
Every top guided window is made to your measurements, so you are not tied to a standard size. Choose anything from a single light up to a large multi-light frame, with optional glazing bars in horizontal or vertical layouts to suit the style of your home.
If you are matching windows you already have, count the panes and note whether the bars run across or up and down, then pick the closest layout and enter your exact sizes.
It is guided at the top of the frame and swings outward at the bottom, pivoting from the top. You control it from inside without reaching over the sill, and air enters over the top of the glass. That top opening also lets you keep the window ajar in light rain without water pouring in.
Yes, they are one of the best choices. Opening outward at the bottom gives you ventilation without a gap at eye level, and with obscure glass no one can see in. The airflow over the top of the sash also helps clear the moisture that causes condensation and mould, which is exactly what a bathroom needs.
There is none. Top guided is the Scandinavian name and top hung is the common UK name for the same window: one that is hinged at the top and opens outward at the bottom. You may also see it called top opening or top swing. An awning window uses a very similar action.
Yes. You can add obscure glass for privacy and choose safety glass where Building Regulations require it, both when you configure your window. Obscure glass suits bathrooms and overlooked rooms, while safety glass may be needed for windows set low to the floor or close to a door.
Alu-clad timber windows come with a 12-year warranty. uPVC and timber windows, including pine and meranti, come with a 10-year warranty. Every window is made to measure, UK-CA marked, and backed by SparWindows, which has sold windows online since 2016.
