How Much Does a Single Hung Window Cost
Given how much they enhance the appearance of a new home, windows are essential for decorating it. The most traditional window designs are most likely single-hung ones. Open up any movie with a small town, and you’ll see either single or double-hung windows on the houses.
Single-hung windows can cost anywhere from $300 to $600, depending on the brand, size, and material type. But you don’t necessarily need to buy the most expensive window out there. Even a mid-range window can serve you well if you get a good installer.
But how much does a single hung window cost? What should you look for when buying a single hung window? These are some of the most commonly asked questions from new homeowners looking to purchase windows. Whether you are a new homeowner or looking to upgrade, you’ll find plenty of information here regarding window selection.
What Are Single Hung Windows?
Single-hung windows have two glass panels, but you can only open the bottom part. These windows have great insulation but lack ventilation. You may find these in vinyl or even metal frames like aluminum.
These windows come with two very distinct options. The two options are single-hung tilt and single-hung without the tilt feature. There are pros and cons to both models; an in-depth explanation is in order:
1. Single Hung Tilt
You can pull the single-hung tilt windows inward and splay them horizontally. This feature may seem like a very small point to make a separate point about but bear with me here.
The sales pitch for the tilted windows goes something like this: you can bring the glass out of the frame and clean it with greater ease. You will no longer need to clean the glass on the other side of the window.
Unsuspecting buyers will feel massively tempted since easier maintenance is always good. It’s not as good a feature as they make you believe, especially considering the drawbacks. For the tilt feature to operate, the sash they place on these windows is thinner. Your panel will not fit inside the track. What that does is make it less resistant to wind pressure.
But the good side of the tilt is that it is easier to install. If you live in an apartment that’s pretty high up, then getting the tilt feature can help.
2. Single Hung Without Tilt
The single-hung windows without the tilt have much better insulation and are much sturdier. They offer better performance in windy areas. You won’t be able to do much else with these windows, though, since the panel sits firmly inside the track.
It isn’t an overstatement to say that these perform better in stronger winds. You’ll see a noticeable insulation boost in bad weather. You see, the weather stripping on the panel sits against the sash of the track. When wind hits from outside, the stripping pushes against the sash, which makes it seal better.
Purely in terms of performance, windows without the tilt are better. But the tilt feature can offer a lot of utilities too.
Single Hung Vs Double Hung Windows
The existence of single hung windows implies the existence of double-hung or even triple-hung windows. In this case, the implications are true. While not common, you can still see many triple-panel windows these days, but let’s leave that for another time.
Let’s look at the differences between single-hung and double-hung windows.
1. Single Hung Windows
Single-hung and double-hung only apply to windows that open vertically. The single-hung window has two separate panels, and only one moves, usually the bottom partition. While the difference between a single and double hung seems quite simple, it is not.
Single-hung windows only need the sash for one panel. That means you can have a more compact frame without sacrificing sturdiness. As a result, this compactness directly increases your effective window area. The sash sits inside the track, so you get more insulation.
The stronger frame and sash position give these windows better resistance against air leakage, storms, and water. On the flip side, single-hung windows offer much less ventilation than double-hung windows.
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Pros |
Cons |
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● Good insulation ● More glass less frame ● Modern look ● More durable
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● Not much ventilation ● Hard to replace
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2. Double Hung Windows
Double-hung windows have two moving glass panels. Both of them can travel along the length of the window vertically. This feature has multiple benefits.
You can open the top portion of the window to get just as much ventilation as the bottom portion. This feature will help if you have a cat or little kids, as they are far less likely to cause accidents with the top.
But the biggest benefit of the double-hung window is probably its ventilation. Now getting air circulation with a single window can seem like a stretch. But it is certainly possible with a double-hung window.
You need to slide the top glass down and the bottom glass up. Do so in such a way that they both meet in the middle. Keep both the bottom and top portions open. Cold air will enter through the bottom, and your room’s hot air will flow out from the top because hot air is lighter, as you all know.
You won’t find wooden single-hung windows. So, you have to choose double-hung if you want wooden windows.
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Pros |
Cons |
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● Better air circulation ● Flexibility ● Pet-friendly
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● Less insulation ● Less glass than single hung of a similar size
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Installation For Single Hung Windows
Installation is often more important than your window itself. Suppose you get the absolute best hung window that money can buy. But then hire a very shady installer, or worse, try DIY without prior experience. The result will perform significantly worse than a very average quality window installed by a true professional.
So you must always keep that in mind while window shopping (pun intended). Factor in the cost of a professional installer while you go out on the market.
Conclusion
Now that we are at the end of this article, hopefully you've learned something useful about hung windows. So, how much does a single hung window cost? To sum it up, it all depends on the window you need, your home's location and desired utility.
