Single & double hung windows
Single and Double Hung Windows in Scarborough
Hung windows are the classic up-and-down sash window. On a single hung, only the bottom sash moves. On a double hung, both do. Fortress Windows & Doors installs both in Scarborough, including tilt models that make the outside glass easy to clean, built in Canada and installed by our own crew.
Reviewed by Steve McCue and Steve Mercer, owners, Fortress Windows & Doors Inc.
Since 1989
Owner-run, family business
Canadian-made
Built for Ontario winters
Our own install crew
No subcontractors
Lifetime warranty
Covers product and labour
Which one
Single hung or double hung?
A single hung window has a fixed top sash and a bottom sash that slides up. It costs less and has fewer moving parts. It suits most rooms where you just need the bottom to open.
A double hung window lets both sashes move. Lower the top sash a few inches and raise the bottom one, and warm air leaves at the top while cooler air comes in low. It is also the safer choice in a child’s room, because you can open the top sash for air and leave the bottom one closed.
The tilt feature
What the tilt feature does
On a tilt model, each moving sash tilts into the room so you can clean the outside of the glass from inside. For second-floor windows that saves a ladder, and it is the main reason most people choose tilt versions.
Good to know
What to know before you order
Keeping the traditional look
Hung windows are the right match for many older and traditional homes, where a crank-out casement would change the look of the front of the house. Grilles between the glass can recreate a divided-light pattern without the upkeep of real muntins.
The trade-off is sealing. A sliding sash cannot clamp against the frame like a casement, so a hung window leaks slightly more air. A new vinyl hung window with Low-E 272 and argon glass is still a big improvement over the old wood or aluminum ones it usually replaces.
Common problems with old hung windows
Old wood sash windows stick when the wood swells, rattle when it shrinks, and their counterbalances wear out so the sash will not stay up. Vinyl frames do not swell or rot, and new balances hold the sash where you leave it.
Sizing and grilles
Hung windows are taller than they are wide, and each sash carries a balance system in the frame that holds it where you leave it. In wide openings they are often installed in pairs or triples, joined by a mullion, which keeps the traditional proportions of an older front elevation.
Grilles can sit between the panes, so there is nothing to dust, and they can copy the pattern of the original windows on a heritage-style house.
Installation and warranty
Our crew takes out the old window and frame, checks the opening, and sets the new unit plumb. A hung window that is out of plumb will not slide smoothly or lock properly. The gap is insulated and sealed, and the trim goes back. Owner Steve McCue oversees installation, and each window is covered by the True Fortress Exclusive Lifetime Warranty, which covers the product and the labour.
For the full process see window installation. We also install hung windows in Pickering and Richmond Hill.
Our process
How the job runs
From first call to final walk-through.
Book
Call (416) 291-5795.
Measure
Every opening measured and checked.
Quote
One written price.
Install
Old window out, new one set plumb and sealed.
Check
Sash, balance and tilt tested with you.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between single hung and double hung windows?
On a single hung window only the bottom sash moves; the top is fixed. On a double hung window both sashes slide, which allows ventilation from the top and bottom and makes the top sash usable for airflow in children’s rooms.
What is a tilt hung window?
A tilt hung window has sashes that tilt into the room so the outside of the glass can be cleaned from indoors.
Are hung windows energy efficient?
New vinyl hung windows with Low-E and argon glass are much more efficient than old wood or aluminum hung windows. Because the sash slides, they seal slightly less tightly than casement or awning windows.
Do you install single and double hung windows in Scarborough?
Yes. Fortress Windows & Doors installs single and double hung windows in Scarborough and across the GTA. Call (416) 291-5795 for a free quote.
Get a free quote on single and double hung windows
One written price, measured by an owner. Call (416) 291-5795 or book online.