Double hung windows suit most colonial and traditional homes around Pittsburgh, while casement windows seal tighter against wind and work best where you want maximum airflow or an unobstructed view, such as ranch homes, kitchens, and bathrooms. Installed, a quality vinyl double hung runs about $650 to $1,200 per window and a comparable casement about $800 to $1,500, with casements typically costing 15 to 25 percent more. Most homes in Irwin, North Huntingdon, and Murrysville end up with a mix, and the right choice depends on the room, the style of the house, and how hard the wind hits that wall.
Here is how the two compare where it matters in Western Pennsylvania.
How does a double hung window work?
A double hung has two sashes that slide vertically in the frame. The bottom sash raises, the top sash lowers, and both tilt inward for cleaning. It has been the standard on American homes for two centuries, which is why it looks right on the brick colonials in Norwin and the older frame houses in Greensburg.
Because the sashes slide, they seal with weatherstripping that brushes against the frame. That seal is far better than the wood double hungs from the 1960s, but it is a sliding seal, and sliding seals are never as tight as a compression seal.
How does a casement window work?
A casement is hinged on one side and swings outward like a door, driven by a crank at the bottom of the frame. When you close it and lock it, the sash pulls tight against the frame on all four sides. That is a compression seal, the same principle as a refrigerator door.
Casements open the full area of the frame, so a casement lets in almost twice the air of a double hung of the same size. They are ideal over a kitchen sink where you cannot easily reach up to lift a sash, and in bathrooms where you want a quick burst of ventilation.
Which seals better against Pittsburgh wind?
Casements win this one, and it is not close. When lake effect wind comes across Westmoreland County from the west and northwest, it pushes against the sash. On a casement, that pressure presses the sash harder into the seal. On a double hung, the same pressure works against a sliding seal that has some play in it.
Independent air leakage ratings bear this out. A good casement typically tests at 0.01 to 0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot. A good double hung tests closer to 0.1 to 0.3. Both are far better than the old windows they replace, but on the wind exposed side of a house on a hill in the South Hills, that gap is one you can feel in January.
In our Westmoreland County installs, homeowners who replace old double hungs on a west facing wall with casements often tell us that room stops being the cold room in the house.
Which is easier to clean?
Modern double hungs tilt in, so you can wash both sides of both sashes from inside the room. That is a real advantage on a second floor.
Casements swing out, and on most brands the sash swings far enough that you can reach the outside glass from inside by leaning through the opening. On larger casements, or where the hinge geometry is tight, you may need to clean the outside from a ladder. If you hate ladders, that matters.
Which meets egress for a bedroom?
Building code requires a bedroom window to open wide enough to escape through in a fire. In Pennsylvania that means a clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, with minimum height and width dimensions. A casement opens its full frame, so a fairly compact casement meets egress. A double hung only opens half its height, so it needs to be a larger window to qualify. When we replace small bedroom windows on a cape or a ranch, casements are often the way to make the room legal without enlarging the rough opening.
Which looks right on a colonial or a ranch?
Look at the house from the street. A two story colonial with symmetrical windows and shutters wants double hungs, ideally with grids that match the original pattern. Casements on a colonial can look modern in a way that fights the architecture, though many manufacturers now offer casements with a simulated check rail that mimics the double hung look.
A ranch or split level from the 1950s through the 1970s, which describes a huge share of the housing in Monroeville and North Huntingdon, is a different story. Wide low casements suit the horizontal lines of the house, and a big picture window flanked by casements is a classic ranch combination.
If you are also replacing siding, decide now, because the window trim and the siding are installed together. Our siding page covers how we sequence the two.
How do double hung and casement windows compare?
| Factor | Double hung | Casement |
|---|---|---|
| How it opens | Two sashes slide vertically | Sash swings out on a side hinge with a crank |
| Air sealing in wind | Good, sliding seal | Excellent, compression seal |
| Ventilation | About half the frame opens | Nearly the full frame opens |
| Egress in small openings | Needs a larger window to qualify | Meets code in a smaller size |
| Cleaning | Both sashes tilt in | Reach around from inside, sometimes a ladder |
| Screens | Outside the glass | Inside the glass |
| Window air conditioners | Yes | No |
| Best home styles | Colonial, cape, farmhouse, Victorian | Ranch, split level, contemporary, kitchens and baths |
| Typical installed cost, vinyl | $650 to $1,200 | $800 to $1,500 |
| Typical installed cost, fiberglass or composite | $1,100 to $1,900 | $1,300 to $2,300 |
| Hardware wear | Balances, decades of life | Crank and hinges, replaceable |
What do double hung and casement windows cost installed?
Last updated September 2026. The ranges above are for the greater Pittsburgh area and include removal of the old window, installation, insulation, and interior and exterior trim. Several things move the price. Size is the biggest one. Fiberglass and composite frames cost more than vinyl and last longer. Triple pane glass adds about 10 to 20 percent. Custom colors, grids, and hardware add up. Second floor and hard to reach windows cost more to install. Rotted framing under the old window is the one surprise we cannot always predict from the outside, and it adds material and labor when we find it.
A whole house of 12 to 15 windows typically runs $10,000 to $22,000 depending on those choices. Our financing page explains options that spread the cost over time.
Which is more energy efficient?
Frame and glass matter more than the operating style. Both types are available with Low E coatings, argon fill, and warm edge spacers that bring the U factor down to about 0.27 or lower. Where the two differ is air leakage, so for a window that will face the prevailing wind, a casement is the more efficient choice at the same glass package.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label and the NFRC sticker on any window you consider. Pennsylvania sits in the ENERGY STAR Northern climate zone, which calls for a U factor of 0.22 or lower for full certification. You can review the current criteria on the ENERGY STAR residential windows page.
Why is fall the time to replace windows?
Windows are a one day job for most homes, and each opening is exposed for under an hour, so we install through the fall without a problem. Heating bills in the Pittsburgh area begin in November, and old windows on a windy wall are often the biggest single leak in the house. Replace them in September or October and the savings start with the first cold snap. Our fall schedule fills by the middle of October, and lead times on custom sizes run three to six weeks, so ordering now is what gets you installed before the first hard freeze.
While we are at the house, many homeowners have us look at the entry and patio doors too. Our doors page explains what we do there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are casement windows better than double hung windows?
Casements seal tighter and ventilate better, so they are better for wind exposed walls, kitchens, and bathrooms. Double hungs cost less, tilt in for cleaning, fit traditional home styles, and accept window air conditioners. Most homes do best with a mix chosen room by room.
Do casement windows leak air in high wind?
Very little. Wind pushes the sash tighter into the compression seal, which is why casements post the lowest air leakage ratings of any operable window. A double hung, with its sliding seal, allows more air movement under the same pressure.
Can I put a casement window in a bedroom?
Yes, and it is often the easiest way to meet egress requirements in a small opening. A casement opens its full frame, so a relatively compact window provides the clear opening the code requires for escape.
How much do new windows cost in Pittsburgh?
A quality vinyl double hung installed runs about $650 to $1,200 and a casement about $800 to $1,500, with fiberglass and composite frames higher. A typical whole house replacement of 12 to 15 windows falls between $10,000 and $22,000 depending on size, material, and glass options.
If you are weighing double hung against casement for your home, the best next step is a free in home estimate where we can look at each opening, the wind exposure, and the style of the house together. Bella Construction has installed windows across Westmoreland and Allegheny County since 1995, and fall dates are going fast. Call (724) 515 5163 or visit our windows page to get on the schedule before the heating season.