When you see a window with a crank on it…see CHEAP.

The crank has a lot of tension/pressure, leverage on it… and it breaks, gets stripped.

It becomes so awkward to lock shut, you just stop using it, and the window becomes a non-opening window.

While a sash window opens & closes with slight pressure.

Why are there so many crank windows seen in so many houses?  Egress laws let them be smaller (aka cheaper).  A sash window has only 50% egress since it can open only halfway up to get out…. so, sash windows are larger. Small windows are cheaper than large windows, so crank windows win out when cutting corners, or saving $.

But, for the nest 20 years… you must put up with cranking them open, and lever sealing them up.

Plus… windows that open OUT like this, just looks shabby from the outside.  Your eye goes right to the cockeyed open windows, and you say, “what’s up” with that. A sash window can be opened, or even cracked open a few inches, and it is not “seen” from the street.

Finally… you do want a WINDOWSILL… but this only happens in 2×6 construction…You need thicker walls, to insert a window, and leave the extra couple inches for a windowsill.

These are some of the “invisible” things that make a house homier… flowers or keys on a window sill, sash windows that glide open discretely, thicker walls, that feel generous.  Crank windows on thin walls just screams hotel cheap.