Windows are one of the most important components of any home, not just for practical reasons like letting air and light in, but also for decorative and aesthetic reasons too.
Windows are one of the most important components of any home, not just for practical reasons like letting air and light in, but also for decorative and aesthetic reasons too.
Windows are one of the most important components of any home, not just for practical reasons like letting air and light in, but also for decorative and aesthetic reasons too. A home’s windows can contribute greatly to the overall look and feel thereof, making or breaking that place’s desirability as a worthy permanent residence.
There are many designs of windows, no shortage in fact, but basically two types of windows that you invariably will have to decide on when choosing windows for your home; single-hung and double-hung windows.
What are they and what’s the difference?
Single-Hung WindowsA single-hung window is one that has a fixed top pane – or ‘sash – that cannot be either opened or closed. There is a bottom sash that can, however, be opened to let in air and ventilate the home.
A double-hung window is, as the name suggests, one with both sashes – top and bottom – able to be opened, providing increased fresh air and ventilation.
It is an entirely subjective question, and one to be determined by individual householders based on taste, aesthetic, specific requirements and considerations, and, of course, budget.
There are both pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, to each one. Ultimately, it comes down to what you need or want from your window. To further your final choice along, this article will list some pros and cons for both window types to help you choose windows that are right for you.
Single-hung windows are generally less expensive than their double-hung competitor, averaging a cost of around $100-$400 each.
As the top sash is fixed and cannot be opened, it keeps heat in better and more efficiently, plus with the added benefit of less chance of a broken seal.
If you live in, are purchasing, or renovating an older, historic home (one that may or may not have restrictions on the extent of renovations permitted), then single-hung windows are probably best. Single-hung windows have been around since the mid 17th century, so are a more natural fit for residences of an older architectural type.
With two sashes able to be opened, a double-hung window can increase the ventilation of fresh air to your home, allowing cool air to enter and warm air to escape.
With no fixed sash in place, a double-hung window can therefore be extensively upgraded and customized to specific aesthetic desires.
Because both sashes of a double-hung window can be opened towards the home interior, they are therefore easier to clean and especially for windows on upper floors, this means no ladder is required, giving an additional layer of convenience.
The nature of having a fixed sash means cleaning a single-hung window is decidedly less convenient than a double-hung window. What this means, in practicality, is that you must be outside to clean at least one side of the window, and if that window is on an upper floor, cleaning it requires the likely use of a ladder.
The very nature and design of a single-hung window means one sash is permanently fixed and cannot be opened for ventilation purposes. This decreased the amount of fresh air that can be circulated into the home in comparison to a double-hung window.
Double-hung windows tend to cost more than their single-hung equivalents, averaging around a per-window cost of anywhere between $100 to $650.
As double-hung windows have two operable sashes, the chances of repairs or maintenance being more frequent than a single-hung window are likelier though not inevitable. Additionally, with two sashes, there’s a greater chance that the seal will degrade over time and break, meaning air will leak through, and during winter this could not only cool the home but will mean warm air escaping and making heating that home less efficient but more costly.
Both single-hung and double-hung windows are fine in their own right, the criteria for choosing which one is based on a number of factors, which hopefully this article has shed some light on. For further information and a free quotation, it is recommended you contact these expert professionals before making a final decision.