Double Hung Windows
The double hung is the default window in upstate New York and it earns that position honestly. Two sashes slide vertically within the frame, both operate, and on any modern unit both tilt inward so you can clean the exterior glass from inside the room. On a second floor that feature alone is worth the style.
A double hung window has two sashes that both slide vertically, and both tilt in for cleaning. It is the most common window style in the Capital Region because it suits the traditional architecture here and fits the tall narrow openings found in most pre-1960 homes. Installed cost runs $450 to $900.
It is also the style that fits the region's architecture. Colonials, capes, Victorians, rowhouses and farmhouses were all designed around vertically proportioned openings, and a double hung preserves that proportion. Putting a horizontal slider in a Troy rowhouse opening looks wrong for reasons most people cannot articulate but everyone notices.
The functional advantage that matters in our climate is ventilation control. Open the top sash and warm air near the ceiling escapes. Open the bottom and cool air comes in. Open both halfway and you get a convection loop that moves air through a room without a fan, which is genuinely useful on the handful of humid August nights we get.
How a double hung compares to a single hung
They look identical from the street. The difference is whether the top sash moves.
| Double hung | Single hung | |
|---|---|---|
| Top sash | Operates and tilts | Fixed |
| Bottom sash | Operates and tilts | Operates, usually tilts |
| Cleaning upper glass | From inside | From outside, ladder required |
| Ventilation options | Top, bottom or both | Bottom only |
| Installed cost | $450 to $900 | $380 to $750 |
| Air leakage | Slightly higher, two moving sashes | Slightly lower |
Single hung saves roughly seventy to a hundred and fifty dollars per window. On a second floor, double hung usually earns that back the first time you do not get a ladder out.
What to check on a double hung spec
- Balance system type. Block-and-tackle balances last longer than spiral balances and are the main difference between a fifteen year window and a twenty-five year window.
- Fusion welded frame and sash corners rather than mechanically fastened, which matters in a climate with a hundred freeze-thaw cycles a winter.
- A reinforced meeting rail on wide units, since the rail where the two sashes meet is the structural weak point.
- Tilt latches that are metal rather than plastic. Plastic latches are the most common warranty call on budget units.
- Full perimeter weatherstripping including at the meeting rail, which is where most double hung air leakage happens.
- Warm-edge spacer and argon fill in the glass package, which matters more than the frame brand.
Where double hung is not the right answer
Two situations. First, a window over a kitchen sink or behind a counter, where you have to lean across to reach the sash. A casement with a crank is far easier to operate there. Second, a very wide opening, where a double hung would need a heavy wide sash that is awkward to lift and puts strain on the balances. Above roughly four feet wide, a slider, a casement pair, or a picture window with flanking operators is usually better. Everywhere else in a Capital Region home, double hung is the safe choice.
Ranges reflect typical Capital Region projects and are for planning only. Every Sundog quote is written, itemized, and free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between double hung and single hung windows?
On a double hung both sashes slide and both tilt inward for cleaning. On a single hung only the bottom sash moves and the top is fixed. They look the same from outside. Single hung costs about seventy to a hundred and fifty dollars less per window and is slightly tighter on air leakage because there is one less moving part.
How much do double hung windows cost installed?
In the Capital Region, $450 to $900 per window installed for a standard size in vinyl. Fiberglass runs $800 to $1,400. Oversized units, custom colors and grille patterns add to that. A whole-house project of twelve to eighteen double hungs typically lands between $8,000 and $20,000.
Do double hung windows leak more air?
Slightly, compared to a casement or a fixed unit, because a double hung seals by friction and brush weatherstripping rather than compression. A quality modern double hung with good weatherstripping at the meeting rail performs well, and the difference in practice is small. If absolute air tightness is the priority, casements seal better.
Why will my double hung sash not stay up?
The balance has failed. The balance is the mechanism in the jamb that counterweights the sash, and they wear out after roughly fifteen to twenty-five years. It is one of the most common and least expensive window repairs, typically $75 to $250 per window, and parts are often still available even for older units.
Can double hung windows be cleaned from inside?
Yes, on any modern unit. Both sashes tilt inward so you can reach the exterior glass surface from inside the room. This is one of the main practical reasons to choose double hung over single hung, particularly on a second floor.
Are double hung windows good for old houses?
They are usually the correct choice. Pre-1960 Capital Region homes were designed around vertically proportioned openings, and a double hung preserves that proportion and those sight lines. In historic districts, a double hung matching the original sash configuration is generally what review boards expect to see.
Related reading
Not sure which is right for your house?
We will walk the house, measure every opening, and tell you which option actually fits your budget and your architecture.