Windows
Window types, explained honestly
What each style costs, where it performs, and where it doesn't, plus the two efficiency numbers that decide whether any window is right for your climate.
Double-hung
Two vertically sliding sashes; both the top and bottom sash open.
- Traditional and historic home styles
- Rooms facing walkways, porches, or patios (no outward projection)
$700–$3,185 installed
Full guide →
Casement
Side-hinged sash that cranks outward like a door.
- Maximum ventilation — the whole opening opens
- Tightest air seal of the common operable styles (compression seal)
$560–$2,545 installed
Full guide →
Bay & bow
Multi-unit assemblies that project outward — bay (3 units, angled) or bow (4–6 units, curved).
- Adding interior space, light, and a seat or shelf
- Street-facing façade upgrades
$2,800–$8,955+ installed
Full guide →
Sliding (gliding)
Sashes move horizontally on tracks.
- Wide, short openings; mid-century and contemporary homes
- Places where an outward swing is impossible
$700–$3,185 installed
Picture (fixed)
Non-operable fixed glass; maximizes view and efficiency.
- Views and daylight where ventilation is handled elsewhere
- Best whole-unit efficiency (no operable joints)
$935–$4,245 installed
Awning
Top-hinged sash that opens outward from the bottom.
- Ventilation during rain
- High placements and pairing under picture windows
$375–$1,700 installed
Specialty shapes
Arches, circles, eyebrows, and custom geometric shapes — usually fixed.
- Architectural detail, transoms, gable ends
$670–$3,360+ installed
Deep-dive guides
windows
Bay & Bow Windows: Costs, Structural Considerations, and What to Expect
Real installed cost ranges for bay and bow windows, the structural work that drives the price, and how to keep the seat area comfortable year-round.
Read the guide →windows
Casement Windows: Costs, Performance, and Where They Beat Double-Hungs
Casement window costs by frame material, why compression seals make them the tightest operable window, and the tradeoffs brochures skip.
Read the guide →windows
Double-Hung Windows: Costs, Pros & Cons, and When They're the Right Choice
What double-hung replacement windows cost, where they genuinely excel, where casements beat them, and how to spec the glass for your climate.
Read the guide →windows
U-Factor and SHGC, Explained: The Two Numbers That Decide If a Window Is Right for Your Climate
What U-factor and SHGC actually measure, the exact ENERGY STAR v7.0 numbers for every U.S. climate zone, and how to read an NFRC label like an installer.
Read the guide →Free project quote
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