Here’s a little bit of terminology that is often misunderstood. What are the differences between single hung vs double hung windows? Here we’ll take a look at the basic definition and we’ll look at some of the other advantages and disadvantages including the cost, the operation, the screens, how they function and the typical price.
First things first! The basic definition:
Both single hung and double hung windows open up and down. The difference is that in a single hung window the bottom sash opens up and down, but the top does not move.
In a double hung window the bottom sash slides up and down AND the top sash also opens and closes.
Perhaps this picture will help:
So there it is, the difference is in how the window operates. People often confuse double hung with double pane. For the difference between double pane and triple pane windows check this out.
Ok, so how important is this difference?
Well, that’s really up to you. One important thing to keep in mind is that a single hung window does not allow the top sash to tilt in for easy cleaning. That means the bottom will tilt in, but the top will not. Is that a big deal? Only you can decide.
Beyond that many people don’t open the top very often so the difference is not important to them. We open the top quite a bit in my house as the window dog is a redbone coonhound from the hills of West Virginia and he would go straight through a screen if he saw a varmint in the yard. For us it is very important that the top opens, but you may have different priorities.
What is the price difference between single hung vs double hung windows?
This is a question we get asked a lot. The difference typically isn’t huge, but it can add up. The two windows are essentially the same with the single hung having less hardware. The cost difference between the two will depend on the manufacturer, but it wouldn’t be uncommon to see a price difference of $20-$40 per window.
If you have 20 windows in your house that amount can add up. We’ll often suggest switching to single hung windows as a way to save a few bucks, but it really just depends on how you plan on using them.
We hope that helps, for more detailed info on the greatest replacement windows check out these reviews. If there is anything you’re looking for that you can’t find just post a comment or send us an email. We read every single one and we do our best to respond!