Casement vs Double-Hung Windows for Pacific Northwest Homes
Casement or double-hung? How each one seals, ventilates, cleans and looks, and which rooms in a Pacific Northwest home suit each style.
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Window styles
Window Styles: Casement, Picture, Bay and Double-Hung
How each style opens, where it belongs in a Snohomish County home, and what it costs relative to the others. Cory helps you choose on the visit.
Since 19954.9 stars on Google
4.9 on Google97 reviews, family owned since 1995
In short
Replacement windows come in seven common styles: double-hung and single-hung, horizontal sliders, casement, awning, picture, bay and bow, and garden. Breeze Free installs double-hung, single-hung, sliding, casement, awning and picture windows in vinyl or fiberglass across Snohomish and King Counties. The right one depends on the room, the era of the house and how you want it to open.
Style guide
Double-hung and single-hung
The classic look. Both sashes move on a double-hung, only the bottom sash on a single-hung, and tilt-in sashes make cleaning easy. The standard on Craftsman, Tudor and colonial homes across Everett, Snohomish and Seattle.
Horizontal sliding windows
One sash slides past the other. The most common style in 1960s to 1990s ramblers and split-levels, often in aluminum frames that are ready to go. Wide openings, simple operation, lower cost.
Casement window replacement
Hinged on the side and cranked open like a door. The tightest seal of any operable window, because the sash presses into the frame when closed. Strong for efficiency, windy sites, and over counters where a sash is hard to reach.
Awning windows
Hinged at the top and cranked out from the bottom. Can stay open in the rain, which matters here. Used under a large picture window for ventilation, or high on a bathroom wall for privacy.
Picture window replacement
Fixed glass, no moving parts. The most glass and the best insulation per square foot, because nothing opens. Used where the view is the point, usually paired with casements or awnings for airflow.
Bay and bow windows
The biggest job on this page. A bay is three windows projecting at angles; a bow is four or more in a curve. They add light and a seat or shelf, and they need structural support, so Cory checks the header first.
Garden windows
A small box window that projects out, with glass on three sides and a shelf, typically over a kitchen sink for herbs and light. Old ones leak and fog at the corners. Ask Cory what the opening will take.
Which styles suit which Pacific Northwest homes
The old window in the opening is usually a good guide. Changing style is possible, and Cory will tell you what the opening and the header allow.
| Home era and type | Styles that fit |
|---|---|
| Pre-1940 Craftsman and bungalow (Everett Riverside, Snohomish historic district, north Seattle) | Double-hung, picture with awnings, bay |
| 1950s to 1960s rambler | Horizontal sliders, picture, casement |
| 1970s to 1980s split-level and two-story (Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Marysville) | Sliders, casement, picture, garden over the sink |
| 1990s onward two-story (Bothell, Lake Stevens, Redmond) | Double-hung or slider, casement in baths, bay in the living room |
| Modern and mid-century (Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle) | Casement, awning, large picture in fiberglass |
Every style, in vinyl or fiberglass, with rebate-ready glass
The styles we install come in vinyl for value and in fiberglass for large openings and slimmer frames. Double or triple pane, low-e, argon fill and tempered glass apply to all of them, and the U-factor on the quote tells you which windows meet the PUD and PSE rebate rules.
Reviews
What homeowners say
4.9 on Google, 97 reviewsSee them on Google
We've had 12 windows replaced by Breeze Free and have been very happy with the consultation on types of windows, quality of the Milgard windows, scheduling process and timing, installation process and crew, and price.
My experience with Breeze Free is excellent. From start to finish they communicated thoroughly and promptly. But the best part was the finished product. I had multiple windows and one French door installed. I am so pleased with the results. The workmen were all polite and amiable. I highly recommend Breeze Free.
We desperately needed new windows. 40 years old. Breeze Free did an excellent job. Very kind, professional and careful. Windows are a BIG investment and I'm grateful they did a wonderful job
From the blog
All posts and guides Read before you decide
Window Replacement in Older Seattle Homes Without Losing the Look
How to replace windows in a Craftsman or 1940s Seattle home and keep the proportions, grids and trim, plus which rebate applies…
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Vinyl vs. Fiberglass Windows: Which Is Right for PNW Homes?
You’ve made the big decision: it’s time for a window replacement. Now you face one of the most important choices in the…
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Questions homeowners ask
Straight answers. Anything else, call (425) 337-6357.
What is the most energy-efficient window style?
Picture windows, because nothing opens. Among operable windows, casements and awnings seal tightest because the sash compresses into the frame when locked. Double-hungs and sliders seal well with modern weatherstripping but have more meeting edges. The glass package matters more than the style.
Can I change my window style when I replace it?
Often. A slider can become a casement or a picture window of the same size without structural work. Going bigger, or adding a bay, means checking the header and framing, which Cory does on the visit. Egress rules apply to bedroom windows and we plan for them.
What is the difference between a bay and a bow window?
A bay is usually three windows set at angles, with a larger center unit. A bow is four or more narrower windows in a gentle curve. Bays project further and give you a seat; bows give a softer line and more light.
Which window style is best for a bathroom?
A casement or awning set high on the wall. Both crank open for ventilation without a sash to reach over, and awnings can stay open in the rain. Obscure or tempered glass is used as code requires.
How much do different window styles cost?
Picture windows cost the least per square foot, sliders and single-hungs next, then double-hungs, then casements and awnings with their crank hardware, and bays and bows the most because of the framing and roof work. Cory measures for free and the written quote lists every opening by style, frame and U-factor inside 48 hours.
Free estimate
Not sure which style? Cory will show you
A free visit, samples in hand, and a written quote that lists every window by style, frame and U-factor.