.png)
VELFAC Side-Guided Windows
Outward Opening to 90°
Limited Access Areas
Cleaning Gap
Controlled Ventilation
VELFAC side-guided windows are designed for homeowners who want the appearance of a slim outward-opening window with the added benefit of easier cleaning from inside the property. The sash slides outwards along guide rails and can open to a maximum of 90°, creating a side gap that improves ventilation and access to the external glass.
This makes them particularly useful on upper floors, restricted plots, narrow pathways or rooms where safe, practical cleaning access is an important consideration. As part of the VELFAC 200 ENERGY system, they retain the same clean external sightlines, 48mm triple glazing and composite wood/aluminium construction as the rest of the range.
Easy Ventilation and Safer Cleaning from Inside
A smart VELFAC opening style for upper floors and hard-to-reach elevations.
VELFAC side-guided windows are designed to solve a common problem: how to specify opening windows in locations where external cleaning is awkward or impractical.
The sash opens outwards and moves on guide rails mounted at the head and cill. When fully opened, it creates a minimum 150mm gap on VELFAC 200 ENERGY units, helping make external glass cleaning possible from inside the room. This makes them particularly helpful on first-floor and upper-floor windows, side returns, townhouses, narrow access plots and elevations above extensions or landscaping.
They can also be a good choice where you want effective ventilation but do not want the sash to project in the same way as a conventional side-hung casement. The product still carries the visual benefits of the VELFAC 200 ENERGY range.
The external aluminium frame is slim and consistent, allowing fixed, side-hung, top-guided and side-guided windows to sit together across the same façade.
Internally, the timber finish brings warmth and helps the windows feel more refined than a standard aluminium-only system.
Triple glazing, low-maintenance finishes and optional acoustic, security and ventilation upgrades make it a strong specification for premium residential projects.
Benefits
Side-guided windows are one of the most useful VELFAC opening styles for practical maintenance. When fully opened, the design creates a gap that allows the outside face of the glass to be cleaned from inside, making them a sensible option for upper floors, side elevations, restricted access areas and homes where external ladder access is undesirable.
They also offer good ventilation and one-handed everyday operation. Unlike a standard side-hung window, the guide rail movement controls how the sash moves away from the frame, giving a neat, considered opening action.
For projects where safety, maintenance and contemporary design all matter, side-guided windows can be a very effective choice.
Suitability
✅ First-floor and upper-floor bedrooms
✅ Side elevations where ladder access is difficult
✅ Townhouses, tight plots and homes with restricted access
✅ Contemporary extensions and whole-home VELFAC schemes
✅ Rooms needing ventilation plus practical external cleaning access
✅ Projects where long-term maintenance and safe cleaning are key considerations
_edited.png)
Popular external colours
Popular internal colours
Side-Guided Window Options and Accessories
Configure the window around access, airflow, colour, glass and safety requirements.
VELFAC side-guided windows can be specified as single units or French casement double-leaf arrangements.
As with other VELFAC 200 ENERGY products, they are made to measure, with minimum and maximum sizes determined by the selected configuration, glass weight and product database rules.
The exterior aluminium frame can be polyester powder coated in standard RAL colours, with special granite, metallic and anodised finishes available on selected specifications.
The internal timber can be clear lacquered or painted, allowing the inside and outside of the same window to have different appearances.
Current VELFAC 200 ENERGY side-guided windows use 48mm triple glazing as standard.
Optional specifications may include laminated security glass, solar control glass, acoustic glass, obscure/privacy glass, click vents, acoustic trickle vents, lockable restrictors and upgraded handle options.
Made-to-Measure Side-Guided Window Pricing
Pricing depends on size, configuration, access requirements and hardware specification.
Side-guided windows are usually specified where there is a practical reason for the extra function, such as upper-floor cleaning access or restricted external access. Because of this, pricing should be considered alongside the long-term benefit of easier maintenance and safer cleaning.
The final cost will depend on size, single or double-leaf configuration, glass specification, colour, handle type, restrictors, vents and installation requirements.
View Glazing can help compare side-guided windows against top-guided or side-hung alternatives so you only specify the more advanced opening function where it adds real value.
