Double-Hung Replacement Windows in Houston, Pearland and Galveston
Master Remodelers replaces old, drafty and hard-to-open windows with new double-hung windows in Houston, Pearland, Friendswood, League City, Clear Lake, Galveston and nearby communities. We primarily install Simonton and MI windows, both built in U.S. factories, and we can order and install double-hung windows from any other major brand, in any frame material, with standard or impact-rated glass.
On a double-hung window, both the top and bottom sashes slide up and down, and both tilt in so you can clean the outside glass from inside your home. Every job starts with a free in-home estimate and a written quote that names the exact window for each opening.
Table of Contents
Double-Hung or Single-Hung: Which Fits Your Home?
Most Houston-area builder homes came with single-hung windows, where only the bottom sash moves. They look almost the same from the street, so the choice comes down to how you use each room and your budget.
Double-hung | Single-hung | |
|---|---|---|
Sashes that move | Top and bottom | Bottom only |
Cleaning the outside glass | Both sashes tilt in, so you can clean from inside | Top sash is cleaned from outside |
Airflow | Open the top to let hot air out and the bottom to pull cooler air in | Bottom opening only |
Price | Costs more per window | Lower cost |
Best for | Second floors, rooms you air out, older and traditional homes | Ground-floor and secondary rooms on a tighter budget |
Many homeowners mix the two: double-hung upstairs, where cleaning from a ladder isn’t safe, and single-hung in downstairs bedrooms. We’ll price both at your estimate so you can decide room by room.
Why Houston Homeowners Choose Double-Hung Windows
- Safer cleaning on second floors. Tilt-in sashes mean no ladders against the house to wash upstairs windows.
- Better airflow on mild days. Lowering the top sash lets warm air near the ceiling escape. Spring and fall evenings in Houston are worth opening up for.
- A classic look. Double-hung windows suit the older homes in the Heights, Bellaire and Galveston’s historic neighborhoods, and they can take grid patterns that match the original windows.
- An easy swap. A double-hung window fits the same opening as the single-hung or old aluminum window it replaces, so there’s usually no siding or drywall work.
Double-Hung Window Brands We Install
We primarily install double-hung windows from Simonton and MI, both built in U.S. factories. Both offer vinyl double-hung windows with Low-E glass packages made for hot climates, and both come in several colors and grid styles.
We can also order and install double-hung windows from any other major brand, including Pella, Andersen and Marvin. Wood and wood-clad double-hung windows from those brands are a good fit for historic and high-end homes. See all your options on our home window replacement page.
Frame Materials for Double-Hung Windows
- Vinyl: the most popular choice. Affordable, energy efficient and low maintenance.
- Composite and fiberglass: stronger and more stable in the heat, with slimmer frames and darker colors available.
- Wood and wood-clad: real wood inside for historic homes. A clad exterior stands up better to Gulf Coast humidity.
- Aluminum: thin frames for a modern look. Choose a thermally broken frame so it doesn’t conduct heat.
For a side-by-side look at the two most common choices, read vinyl vs. composite windows.
Glass and Energy Ratings for Gulf Coast Heat
Because a double-hung window has two moving sashes, it has more places where air can sneak through than a fixed window. That makes the air leakage rating worth checking, along with the glass numbers.
- SHGC (solar heat gain): lower keeps more of the sun’s heat out. ENERGY STAR’s Southern zone requires 0.23 or lower.
- U-factor: lower insulates better. The Southern zone requires 0.32 or lower.
- Air leakage: ENERGY STAR requires 0.3 or lower (cubic feet per minute per square foot). Lower is tighter.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label for the Southern zone. Your written quote lists the U-factor and SHGC for every window.
Impact-Rated Double-Hung Windows
Impact double-hung windows use laminated glass and reinforced frames and sashes, so the glass cracks but stays in place when it’s hit by wind-blown debris. They’re a common choice in Galveston, Clear Lake, League City and other coastal areas where windstorm rules apply, and inland owners choose them for security and less outside noise.
Not every double-hung line comes in an impact version, and impact double-hung windows cost more than single-hung impact windows. We’ll show you which impact-rated double-hung options fit your openings and price them side by side with standard glass. Learn more on our hurricane and impact windows page.
Locks, Grids and Safety Features
- Sash locks: most double-hung windows use one or two cam-style sash locks where the two sashes meet. Wider windows get two.
- Window opening control devices: these stops keep the bottom sash from opening more than 4 inches until an adult releases them. Building code requires them on upper-story windows with low sills (IRC R312.2), and they’re a smart choice in any child’s room.
- Grids: grids between the glass match a traditional look and stay clean, since they’re sealed inside the panes. Simulated divided lites give a more authentic look on historic homes.
- Screens: most double-hung windows come with a half screen for the bottom sash. Ask for a full screen if you plan to open the top sash.
How We Install Double-Hung Windows
- Free in-home estimate. We measure each opening, check the frame for rot and water damage, and help you choose double-hung or single-hung room by room. Schedule a free window estimate.
- Written, itemized quote. Each window is listed with its brand, product line, U-factor, SHGC and, for impact windows, its rating.
- Insert or full-frame installation. If the old frame is solid and square, an insert is faster and costs less. If it’s rotted or leaking, we take it down to the studs. Read more about full-frame vs. insert replacement.
- Seal, trim and test. We seal and flash each window to the manufacturer’s instructions, check that both sashes slide, tilt and lock smoothly, and haul away the old windows.
Every installation is backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty, on top of the manufacturer’s product warranty.
Double-Hung Window Replacement in Galveston and the Coast
Salt air, humidity and storm season are hard on windows, so coastal homes need tight seals, corrosion-resistant hardware and, in many cases, impact-rated glass. We replace windows across Galveston Island, Texas City, La Marque, Dickinson, League City, Kemah and Clear Lake, and many Galveston homes with original wood double-hung windows can keep the same look with new vinyl, composite or wood-clad units. Planning a bigger project on the island? See our Galveston remodeling page.
Why Choose Master Remodelers?t
- Family owned since 1998, led by founder and President Donald “Don” Borden.
- Honest advice. If single-hung is the better value for a room, we’ll tell you.
- Licensed and insured, with an A+ BBB rating and a lifetime workmanship warranty.
- HOA and permits handled. We take care of HOA approval and any permits your project needs.
What Our Customers Say
Areas We Serve
We install double-hung replacement windows in Houston, Pearland, Friendswood, Sugar Land, Bellaire, Pasadena, Deer Park, League City, Clear Lake, Kemah, Dickinson, Texas City, La Marque, Santa Fe, Alvin and Galveston, and throughout Harris, Brazoria, Galveston and Fort Bend counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A double-hung window fits the same rough opening as a single-hung window, so you can switch any window, or only the upstairs ones, without changing the size of the opening.
It can, but only if it's large enough. Because only half of a double-hung window opens, the opening has to meet the code minimums on its own: at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening (5.0 on the ground floor), 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor. For a smaller opening, a casement window usually works better. We check egress for every bedroom window at the estimate.
Usually, yes. Building code calls for safety glass in most windows within 60 inches of a tub or shower when the bottom of the glass is less than 60 inches above the standing surface. We order tempered or laminated glass for those windows, and obscure glass if you want privacy.
Yes. A standard window unit sits in the bottom opening of a double-hung window the same way it does in a single-hung. Check the window manufacturer's guidelines, since some don't allow mounting brackets to be screwed into vinyl frames.
Yes. Both sashes stay inside the frame when they open, so inside-mount blinds, shades and plantation shutters don't get in the way. If you're adding shutters, tell us at the estimate so we can confirm the window depth leaves room for an inside mount.