...vinyl windows.

Any opinions as to which you prefer? Energy rating is the same, the only difference is cost. I like the convenience of double hung, but really...are they worth the additional cost, particularly if you're building a new house?

Would especially appreciate those who've either built a home and had to make this decision, or those of you who build homes as a profession.

Thanks!

It really is more of a preference than anything. With double hung windows you have more moving parts and thus more items that can possibly need adjusting in the future.

Six of one and half dozen of the other.

If you have a single story ranch, I see no reason for double hung. If you have a 2+ story home, I can see a need for double hung.

The holly bushes in front of some of our windows make me glad that they're double hung. It's a 1 story, but they aren't exactly easy to get at.

I wouldn get anything but a double hung window. We have cats and we can raise the top half without having cats claw at the screen for bugs and what not. Ours are wood Pella double pane windows and I really like them.

Are you installing shutters? They eliminate some of the benefits of the double hung when they install the trim.

What's the advantage of double hung?

Most of the windows in my house are double hung and they're tougher to clean than the few single hung.

quote:

---

If you have a 2+ story home, I can see a need for double hung.

---

Great point. The majority of the double hung windows will be on the first floor, on the back of the house. However, the lot slopes (from front to back), and we've designed a walk out basement...which means that first floor will seem like the second floor.

quote:

---

We have cats

---

So do we (three). Two seem to be fine around screens. One can (and does) go a little crazy at times and has used the screen window as a pin cushion.

quote:

---

Are you installing shutters?

---

We are not.

I would do double hung ONLY on hard to reach 2nd floor windows that you are REALLY going to be cleaning on a regular basis. If your windows are under an 18" soffit, they will stay significantly cleaner than a gable front with no overhang to protect from the rain.

The other challenge with double hung windows is they can be a real challenge to close (we have Pella) - especially for non-adults. Often the top window will slide down just a little bit when you open the bottom window. Then you have to push the top window UP before you push the bottom window down to lock it. And of course the area you need to push up is right behind the blinds. For this reason, I wish I had NOT put in double hung windows. For cleaning 2nd floor windows a power hose works just fine!

whats ballpark price for quality wood windows - 30" x 48"ish? ive heard everything from 800 to 2k per... anyone do these recently?

I don't know whether it is true or not but, I was told the applying low-E films during the modern day glass extrusion process makes a much smoother glass than the flow process did. Meaning there isn't much texture on modern low-E glass for stuff to stick to and blasting it with a garden hose twice a year should be all that is needed.

[This message has been edited by yakman (edited 6/14/2012 9:16a).]