The friction stay — also called a hinge stay or egress hinge — is the arm-shaped component that controls how far a casement window opens and holds it in any intermediate position without swinging shut or falling fully open. When it fails, windows may not stay open, may be stuck open, or may drop suddenly. Here's what you need to know.
How Friction Stays Work
A friction stay consists of two arms — one fixed to the frame and one fixed to the sash — connected by a friction joint that holds the window in position at any angle. The friction is adjustable in some stays; too tight and the window is hard to open, too loose and it won't stay open. The stay also controls how far the window can open: standard stays limit opening to around 90 degrees; egress (escape) stays open to 90 degrees or beyond to allow emergency exit.
Signs Your Friction Stay Has Failed
Common signs of friction stay failure: the window swings open or closed on its own without any wind, the window refuses to stay open at a partially open position, the window falls open suddenly when unlatched, one side of the sash appears lower than the other when open, or the stay arm is visibly bent, cracked, or has broken away from the frame or sash.
Identifying the Right Replacement
Friction stays are not universal. They vary by opening angle (typically 90° or 90°+), arm length (measured in millimetres), the type of sash corner they're designed for, and whether they're left-handed or right-handed. Fitting the wrong stay can result in the window opening to the wrong angle, damage to the frame, or the stay working loose. A professional UPVC engineer will measure and identify the correct replacement before ordering.
Friction Stay Replacement Service
Replacing a friction stay requires removing the glazing beads to access the sash, detaching the sash from the stay arms, fitting the new stays, and re-hanging and testing the sash. For most casement windows the job takes under an hour. The Glass Guardian provides friction stay replacement across Birmingham and the Black Country, carrying a comprehensive range of stays for most UPVC window profiles.
Need a UPVC Repair in Birmingham or the Black Country?
The Glass Guardian provides fast, affordable UPVC window and door repairs across Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and the surrounding area. Call for a free quote.