Single-hung and double-hung windows are two of the most recognizable window styles in New England. They look similar, but a simple difference in how the sashes operate affects everything from ventilation and cleaning to cost.
If you’re replacing windows in your New Hampshire or Southern Maine home, understanding these differences can help you decide which style makes the most sense for your property.
What Are Single-Hung and Double-Hung Windows?
Both styles feature two vertically stacked sashes.
With a single-hung window, the upper sash remains fixed while the lower sash slides vertically to open and close. It’s a straightforward design that provides the traditional appearance of a hung window with fewer moving components.
With a double-hung window, both the upper and lower sashes can move. Homeowners can raise the lower sash, lower the upper sash, or open both simultaneously. Many modern double-hung windows also feature tilt-in sashes that make cleaning the exterior glass from inside the home easier.
Double Hung windows installed by Best Choice Windows & Doors
Single-Hung vs. Double-Hung Windows
Although their appearance is similar, there are some important practical differences to consider.
Energy Efficiency
Both single- and double-hung windows can be highly energy efficient when they’re properly manufactured and installed. Factors such as glazing, frame construction, weatherstripping, air leakage, and installation all play a role in the overall energy performance of a window.
Because single-hung windows have only one moving sash, they have fewer moving components and potential points for air leakage. However, a quality modern double-hung window with proper weatherstripping and professional installation can also provide excellent energy performance.
For New England homeowners, choosing windows designed for the local climate and having them properly installed is generally more important than choosing between single- or double-hung based on energy efficiency alone.
Cost
Single-hung windows are typically the more affordable option. Their simpler operating system requires fewer moving components, which can help reduce manufacturing costs.
Double-hung windows generally cost more, but they provide additional functionality. The ability to operate both sashes and, on many models, tilt them inward can make the additional investment worthwhile.
Actual replacement window costs will vary depending on the manufacturer, size, glass package, frame material, customization, and installation requirements.
Cleaning
Cleaning is one area where modern double-hung windows have a noticeable advantage.
On a single-hung window, the upper sash doesn’t move, which can make cleaning the exterior glass more difficult, particularly on a second story.
Many modern double-hung windows allow the sashes to tilt inward. This allows homeowners to access the exterior surfaces of the glass from inside the home, reducing the need to clean upper-story windows from a ladder.
Ventilation
Single-hung windows provide ventilation by opening the lower sash.
Double-hung windows provide greater flexibility because both sashes can be opened. Opening the lower and upper portions creates two openings for airflow rather than one, giving homeowners more control over how fresh air moves through a room.
This ability to provide ventilation while maintaining a traditional appearance is one reason double-hung sash windows have remained a common feature of American residential architecture for centuries.[1]
The History of Single- and Double-Hung Windows in New England
Sash windows have a particularly strong connection to New England architecture.
During the earliest period of European settlement, New England homes drew heavily from English building traditions. As architectural styles developed during the 18th century, vertically sliding sash windows became an increasingly important part of residential design.
By the Georgian period, roughly 1700 to 1780, double-hung sash windows were a defining architectural feature. Historic New England identifies double-hung windows with small panes, commonly nine or twelve panes per sash, as a typical feature of Georgian homes.[1]
These windows complemented the symmetry that defined Georgian architecture. Windows were commonly aligned horizontally and vertically across the front of the house, creating the balanced façades still associated with historic New England homes today.[1]
This history is especially relevant here in New Hampshire. Historic New England notes that surviving Georgian homes are particularly common in older Seacoast communities, specifically identifying Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as an area where examples remain.[1]
Double-hung windows continued to evolve during the Federal period from approximately 1780 to 1820. Federal homes commonly featured six-over-six double-hung sash windows with thinner wooden muntins. Examples of Federal architecture became prominent in communities throughout coastal New England, including Portsmouth, Salem, and Newburyport.[1]
During the Greek Revival period, six-over-six double-hung sash windows continued to be a common feature of New England homes.[1]
The design experienced another major period of popularity during the Colonial Revival movement beginning in the late 19th century. Architects looked back to Georgian and Federal architecture for inspiration, bringing symmetrical façades and multi-pane double-hung sash windows into a new generation of American homes.[1]
That long architectural history helps explain why hung windows still look so natural on New England homes. Modern single- and double-hung replacement windows can preserve that familiar appearance while incorporating modern insulated glass, weatherstripping, improved frame materials, and easier operation.
Which Window Is Right for Your Home?
Single-hung windows can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a simple, traditional window at a more affordable price. Double-hung windows provide greater flexibility, particularly for homeowners who value easier cleaning and additional ventilation.
Best Choice Windows & Doors installs and replaces double hung and single hung windows! Whether you’re replacing windows in an older New England home or upgrading a newer property, our team can help you compare window styles, glass packages, finishes, and configurations.
Contact Best Choice Windows & Doors today to schedule a consultation and find the right replacement windows for your home.
Sources
[1] Historic New England – Architectural Style Guide
Historic New England. Architectural Style Guide: How to Tell Greek Revival from Colonial Revival and More. Covers New England architectural styles from the seventeenth century through the Colonial Revival, including Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival window characteristics.
https://www.historicnewengland.org/preservation/for-homeowners-communities/your-old-or-historic-home/architectural-style-guide/
