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You want to open your kitchen up to the backyard, feel the breeze while entertaining, and let cooking smells out — without propping open a door or settling for a small side window. That is the problem OpenUp® Gas Strut Pass-Through Windows solve. They open fully to 90 degrees, create a wide-open connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces, and flood the room with fresh air in a way that no standard window comes close to. If you are planning a kitchen renovation, a bar build-out, or an outdoor entertaining area, here is exactly what to expect from one of these windows.
OpenUp® windows are large-format, top-hinged gas strut awning windows built specifically for kitchen pass-throughs, bar counters, pool houses, and outdoor entertaining spaces. Unlike a standard awning window, these open to a full 90 degrees — creating a wide-open counter connection between your interior and exterior. They are built in the US from a combination of heavy-duty extruded aluminum and Accoya® wood, custom-sized to your opening, and ship in 4–6 weeks.
Standard sizes run from 36” wide up to 96”+ wide, with heights from 42” to 60”. Every window is custom-built to order, and pricing starts at $3,000.
When an OpenUp® window is fully open, the entire width of the opening is unobstructed. There is no screen frame, no divided sash, and no partial opening — just a wide, clear connection between inside and outside. Air moves freely across the full opening, which is significantly larger than any standard residential window.
Three things make OpenUp® pass-through windows stand out for ventilation:
Because the sash opens outward from the top, wind from most directions enters freely beneath the open panel. This is a key advantage over sliding windows, which only expose half the opening at any time.
No fan required. Natural pressure differences between inside and outside push fresh air through the full opening. In a kitchen, this means cooking heat, steam, and food odours move out without needing to run your range hood continuously.
Pair an OpenUp® window on one wall with another window or door on the opposite side, and you create a cross-ventilation path. Air enters from one side and exits from the other. This natural cooling effect can reduce indoor temperatures noticeably during warm months.
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Let’s break it down with real numbers.
Ventilation is measured by net free area (NFA) — the actual open space air can pass through. For an OpenUp® window, the NFA depends on:
An OpenUp® window at 48” x 48”, fully open at 90 degrees, provides close to 100% of the frame opening as usable ventilation space. At larger sizes — say 72” x 54” — you are moving significantly more air than a standard window could ever deliver. This is why kitchens with an OpenUp® window installed often feel dramatically fresher without any mechanical ventilation running.
This is an entirely new section. The original draft covered bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms — none of which are relevant to this product. The spaces below reflect actual OpenUp® use cases.
This is the core use case. An OpenUp® window installed above a kitchen counter opens your cooking space directly to a deck, patio, or backyard. When open, cooking heat and food smells escape naturally through the large opening. When guests are outside, food and drinks pass through without anyone needing to use a door. It functions as a ventilation opening and an entertainment feature at the same time.
A pass-through window above a bar counter lets air circulate freely through both spaces while keeping the bar surface accessible from outside. This is especially effective in warm weather, when cross-ventilation between an interior bar and an open outdoor area keeps both spaces comfortable.
An OpenUp® window installed in a living room wall that faces a deck creates a wide airflow opening that a standard window or sliding door cannot match. The full-width opening at counter height pulls air through at a level that actually affects the room temperature, rather than ventilating only at head height.
Converted garages and workshop spaces often lack adequate ventilation. A pass-through window on an exterior wall creates a large, controllable airflow opening that can be closed tightly when not needed. Several OpenUp® project installations have been in exactly this type of space.
This section was missing from the original draft. It is important for the product because the full-open/full-closed behaviour needs to be explained clearly.
This is the ideal condition for maximum airflow. Open the window fully and the entire opening ventilates freely. On a 72”-wide installation, that is six feet of open airflow at counter height — enough to feel the difference in any room.
Standard OpenUp® gas strut windows open either fully (90 degrees) or close completely — they cannot be stopped partway. In light rain, the fully open position does allow some weather in given the wide opening angle. For ventilation in variable weather, the Motorized Strut Upgrade ($2,500) allows you to stop the window at any position, giving you partial ventilation without full exposure.
When closed, OpenUp® windows seal tightly with triple seals, providing strong thermal performance. The Accoya® wood and extruded aluminum combination delivers better insulation than aluminum alone, so closing the window in winter does not create a cold spot in your wall.
The gas strut mechanism holds the window firmly in the open position. In very high winds, close the window completely to engage the triple seal and protect the gas struts. Stopping the window partway in high wind risks damaging the strut mechanism; always open or close fully unless you have the motorized upgrade.
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Good ventilation does more than make a room feel fresher. Here is what you gain with proper OpenUp® window airflow:
Stale air, cooking fumes, cleaning product odours, and moisture all build up indoors without regular air exchange. An open window creates a steady fresh air exchange that dilutes these indoor pollutants.
Kitchens produce significant steam during cooking. Without proper airflow, that moisture settles on surfaces and eventually creates conditions for mould growth. A fully open OpenUp® window vents steam out at the source — right at counter and stove level — more effectively than a window placed higher on the wall.
Natural ventilation reduces the need to run air conditioning continuously. In mild weather, an open OpenUp® window pulls outdoor air through and cools the room without electricity. This directly lowers energy consumption.
Getting the most from your OpenUp® window comes down to placement, sizing, and pairing it correctly with other openings in the space.
A larger window opening means substantially more airflow. A 72” x 54” window moves far more air than a 36” x 42”. If your rough opening allows for a larger size, the ventilation improvement — and the entertainment value — is significant. Use OpenUp® instant pricing tool to compare sizes side by side.
OpenUp® windows are designed to sit at counter height — typically around 36” above the floor. This positions the opening directly where cooking heat and steam are generated, making ventilation more effective than a window placed higher on the wall. It also creates a usable pass-through surface for food and drinks.
One opening ventilates one direction. For maximum airflow, pair your OpenUp® window with a door or window on the opposite side of the room. Air enters through the pass-through opening and exits through the secondary opening, creating a cooling cross-ventilation path through the whole space.
If you want to stop the window at a partial position — for light ventilation on cooler days, or to stay open during light rain — the Motorized Strut Upgrade ($2,500) gives you full positional control. Without it, the window operates fully open or fully closed only.
OpenUp® windows close with triple seals, which means no uncontrolled air leakage when shut. This is important in climates with cold winters: you get maximum ventilation when open and a tight thermal seal when closed. The Accoya® wood frame adds a natural thermal break that aluminum-only frames can’t match.
An OpenUp® Gas Strut Pass-Through Window transforms a kitchen wall into a wide-open connection between your home and your outdoor space — and delivers more natural ventilation than any standard window can provide. Custom-built in the US, shipped in 4–6 weeks, and backed by a 10-year warranty.
Browse the OpenUp® window range and get instant pricing at openupwindows.com/pass-through-window-store. Enter your dimensions, choose your options, and receive a detailed quote immediately. Custom sizes are available — pricing starts at $3,000.
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1. Do OpenUp® windows provide good ventilation?
Yes. OpenUp® pass-through windows provide exceptional ventilation because they open to a full 90 degrees across a very wide opening — up to 96”+ wide. This is substantially more ventilation than a standard awning window, which typically opens to 30–45 degrees at a much smaller size.
2. Can OpenUp® windows stay open when it rains?
Partially. Standard gas strut windows open fully (90 degrees) or close completely — they cannot be stopped at a rain-blocking angle without the Motorized Strut Upgrade. With the motorized upgrade, you can stop the window at any position, which allows ventilation while reducing rain exposure.
3. Are OpenUp® windows energy efficient?
Yes. OpenUp® windows seal with triple seals when closed and use Accoya® wood combined with extruded aluminum for better thermal performance than aluminum-only frames. When open, natural airflow reduces the need for air conditioning during mild weather.
4. Do I need the motorized upgrade for partial ventilation?
Yes, if you want to stop the window at a partial position. Standard gas strut windows are engineered to open fully or close completely — stopping them midway can stress the strut mechanism. The Motorized Strut Upgrade ($2,500) allows full positional control and is covered under the 10-year warranty.
5. What sizes are available?
Standard sizes run from 36” x 42” up to 96”+ wide. All windows are custom-built to order. If your required size falls between standard sizes, you can enter exact dimensions through the instant pricing tool on the product page.
