Casement vs. double-hung windows is a choice a lot of homeowners don’t know they get to make. A casement swings out on a hinge, while a double-hung slides up and down. Neither is right for every opening, so the decision usually comes down to the look you want, the view you want to keep, and the sizes your openings need.
When people start shopping for windows, they usually ask about color first. Can I get black windows? Black on the outside and white on the inside?
Fewer people ask how the window should open. Jonathan Harvey, one of HarLand’s two owners, says many homeowners don’t know they have options there. People in the window business assume casement, slider, and double-hung are common knowledge. For a lot of homeowners, they aren’t.
This post explains the main ways a window can open and what to weigh when you’re deciding between casement and double-hung windows.
The main ways a window opens
Here’s a plain-language rundown of the operating styles homeowners ask about most.
Double-hung
A double-hung window has two sashes, the framed panels of glass, and both slide up and down. It’s the style many people picture when they think of a traditional window.
Single-hung
A single-hung window looks a lot like a double-hung, but only the bottom sash moves. The top sash stays put.
Casement
A casement window is hinged on one side and swings outward, a bit like a door.
Slider
A slider has sashes that move side to side instead of up and down.
Some openings also use fixed windows that don’t open at all, often next to or above operating windows. Which styles are available depends on the manufacturer and product line.
Why casements have caught on in Atlanta
Jonathan has watched casements become much more common in Atlanta custom homes over the past ten years.
A common worry is that casements only suit modern houses. They don’t have to. A casement can carry a traditional colonial look.
That said, casements aren’t perfect. Jonathan points out that anything with moving parts has a weak point, so the quality of the window matters as much as the style.
What to weigh before you choose
There’s no single right answer in the casement vs. double-hung windows decision. These are the things that usually settle it.
The look of the house
Think about the style of the house and how the windows will look from the street. A simulated divided lite, or SDL, grid gives the look of separate small panes on a single piece of glass.
The view
Grids change what you see from the inside. Some homeowners use grids on the front of the house for curb appeal and skip them on the back, where the view matters more.
The size of each opening
Every product line has minimum and maximum sizes. A style that works in one opening may not be made for the one next to it, so sizes should be checked before a style is settled. This matters most in replacement work, where the openings already exist.
One family’s switch to casements
On one of HarLand’s first jobs, a husband and wife knew they needed new windows. She was excited about it. He saw it as a chore.
Working with HarLand, they changed every double-hung in the house to a casement, 52 windows in all, while the fixed windows stayed fixed. Some openings ran into minimum and maximum size limits, and the team worked through each one. The windows came from ProVia.
They kept white on white, with SDL grids on the front of the house. On the back, which looks out on a pool and a golf course, they chose no grids so nothing would get in the way of the view.
When the job was done, the husband told Jonathan he’d thought new windows would be a thankless maintenance task, like changing the oil. Instead, he said it felt like living in a treehouse, and it changed their day-to-day life in the house.
Seeing the options in person
Operating styles are easier to understand when you can open and close them yourself. That’s one reason Jonathan prefers bringing people into the showroom, where they can see what’s available with their own measurements in mind.
At HarLand, we work with about a dozen window and door manufacturers, including ProVia, Windsor, and YKK AP. We measure, order, and install under one contract, and our own crews do the work.
Your next step
If you’re replacing windows or building a custom home in North Atlanta, start by walking through the house and noting how you’d like each window to open. Then bring that list to a consult.
You can book an in-home consult, or visit our Roswell showroom at 602 Macy Drive by appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between casement and double-hung windows?
A casement window is hinged on one side and swings outward, a bit like a door. A double-hung window has two sashes that both slide up and down. The right choice depends on the look you want, the view, and the size of each opening.
What’s the difference between single-hung and double-hung windows?
Both slide up and down, but on a single-hung window only the bottom sash moves. On a double-hung window, both the top and bottom sashes move.
Can casement windows look traditional?
Yes. A casement can carry a traditional colonial look, and they’ve become much more common in Atlanta custom homes over the past ten years.
Can I replace double-hung windows with casements?
Often, yes. On one HarLand project, the homeowners changed 52 double-hung windows to casements. Every product line has minimum and maximum sizes, though, so each opening needs to be checked before you settle on a style.