Double-hung and single-hung windows are two of the most recognizable residential window styles. Both use two vertically stacked sashes and maintain a traditional appearance that works with a wide range of home designs. The biggest difference is simple: a double-hung window allows both the upper and lower sash to move, while a single-hung window has a fixed upper sash and an operable lower sash.
Andersen offers both styles, but the available product choices are different. Double-hung windows are available across Andersen’s major product lines, giving homeowners a broad range of materials, finishes, performance levels, and customization. Andersen’s current single-hung offering is part of the 100 Series and is made with Fibrex® composite material.
For Hampton Roads homeowners planning a window replacement project, understanding the functional difference between these two styles is a useful first step. This guide explains how each operates, where each can make sense, and what to consider before choosing. For a broader look at Andersen’s full window lineup, start with our Ultimate Guide to Andersen Windows in Hampton Roads.
What Is a Double-Hung Window?
A double-hung window has two operable sashes. The lower sash slides upward and the upper sash slides downward, allowing the window to open from the bottom, the top, or both.
That two-sash operation gives homeowners more control over ventilation. Opening both sashes can allow warmer indoor air to exit through the upper opening while cooler air enters through the lower opening. Andersen also incorporates tilt-wash functionality across its double-hung product lines, allowing the glass to be cleaned from inside the home rather than requiring exterior access.
Because the sashes move vertically and remain within the window opening, double-hung windows do not project outward. This makes them practical near porches, decks, walkways, landscaping, and other areas where an outward-opening casement or awning window could interfere with surrounding space.
What Is a Single-Hung Window?
A single-hung window looks very similar to a double-hung window, but only the lower sash operates. The bottom sash slides upward for ventilation while the upper sash remains fixed.
The simpler operation means there are fewer moving components. Andersen notes that single-hung windows generally begin at a lower price than comparable double-hung windows, and the fixed upper sash can also reduce potential areas for air leakage.
Andersen currently offers single-hung windows through its 100 Series. These windows are made with Fibrex composite material and provide the traditional appearance of a hung window in a lower-maintenance composite construction.
Double-Hung vs. Single-Hung Windows: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Double-Hung | Single-Hung |
|---|---|---|
| Upper sash | Operable | Fixed |
| Lower sash | Operable | Operable |
| Ventilation | Can open from top, bottom, or both | Opens from the bottom |
| Cleaning | Andersen double-hung lines include tilt-wash functionality | Simpler design with fewer operable components |
| Space outside window | No outward projection | No outward projection |
| Andersen availability | Available across Andersen’s major series | Currently available in 100 Series |
| Typical starting price | Generally higher because both sashes operate | Generally lower because of simpler operation |
Neither style is automatically better for every home. The right choice depends on where the window is located, how often you expect to open it, your ventilation preferences, maintenance priorities, desired materials, and budget.
Benefits of Andersen Double-Hung Windows
More Flexible Ventilation
The ability to operate both sashes is the defining advantage of a double-hung window. You can open the lower sash for conventional airflow, lower the upper sash, or use both openings at the same time. This can be especially useful in bedrooms, living spaces, and rooms where a single window provides much of the available natural ventilation.
Easy Interior Cleaning
Andersen’s double-hung windows include tilt-wash functionality, allowing the sashes to tilt inward so the exterior glass can be cleaned from inside the home. That convenience becomes particularly valuable for windows on upper floors where exterior access would otherwise be more difficult.
A Classic, Versatile Appearance
Double-hung windows complement many traditional and transitional home styles. Grille patterns, sash proportions, colors, hardware, and interior finishes can further change the appearance depending on the Andersen series selected.
Broad Andersen Product Selection
Double-hung windows are offered across Andersen’s major series, including 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series, along with the 400 Series Woodwright® double-hung option. This gives homeowners substantially more material and design flexibility than the current Andersen single-hung lineup.
We cover those products individually in our Andersen Double-Hung Window Series & Product Options guide, where the focus shifts from window style to the differences between Andersen’s specific double-hung products.
Benefits of Andersen Single-Hung Windows
A Simpler Operating Design
If you rarely expect to open the upper sash, a single-hung window provides the familiar appearance of a hung window without adding an operating feature you may not use. The lower sash still provides everyday ventilation.
Potential Cost Savings
Because the upper sash is fixed, single-hung windows use a simpler operating design. Andersen states that this generally gives single-hung windows a lower starting price than double-hung windows.
Fewer Operable Components
A fixed upper sash means fewer moving parts to operate and maintain. For homeowners who prioritize simplicity, that can be an advantage.
100 Series Fibrex® Construction
Andersen’s single-hung window is currently offered through the 100 Series and is constructed from Fibrex composite material. This provides an alternative to traditional vinyl while keeping the window focused on straightforward operation and lower-maintenance construction.
Where Do Double-Hung & Single-Hung Windows Work Best?
Both styles can work throughout a home, and their nearly identical exterior appearance makes it possible to use a combination of single-hung and double-hung windows without creating an inconsistent look.
- Bedrooms: Double-hung windows can be useful when homeowners want the option to ventilate from the upper sash, while single-hung windows can work well where lower-sash ventilation is sufficient.
- Second-story rooms: The inward-cleaning capability of Andersen double-hung windows can make routine glass cleaning more convenient on upper levels.
- Living and dining spaces: Either style can provide a traditional appearance while keeping the sash within the wall opening.
- Near decks, patios, and walkways: Because hung windows open vertically rather than outward, they avoid projecting into adjacent exterior space.
- Traditional architecture: Colonial, Craftsman, farmhouse, Cape Cod, and other traditional designs often pair naturally with the proportions of hung windows.
The best choice should still be made opening by opening. There is no requirement that every hung window in the house operate the same way.
Andersen Double-Hung Window Options
One reason Andersen double-hung windows deserve their own product comparison is the range of available series. At a high level, homeowners can choose among the following:
- 100 Series Double-Hung: Fibrex composite construction with a clean, low-maintenance design.
- 200 Series Double-Hung: An entry-level wood double-hung with a vinyl-protected exterior and relatively narrow profiles.
- 400 Series Double-Hung: A wood-interior option with a weather-resistant exterior and a broad selection of colors, grilles, glass, and sizes.
- 400 Series Woodwright® Double-Hung: A traditional-looking wood-interior option designed with historic and classic renovation aesthetics in mind.
- A-Series Double-Hung: An Architectural Collection option focused on performance and architectural authenticity, with wood interiors protected by fiberglass and Fibrex composite materials.
- E-Series Double-Hung: A highly customizable wood-interior window with an aluminum exterior and extensive color, wood species, stain, and design choices.
Those differences are significant enough that choosing “an Andersen double-hung window” is only the beginning of the decision. Our Andersen Double-Hung Window Series & Product Options guide compares these products in greater depth without repeating the basic single-hung versus double-hung information covered here.
Andersen Single-Hung Window Options
Andersen’s current single-hung offering is much simpler: the style is available through the 100 Series. The window is made from Fibrex composite material, with the lower sash operating vertically and the upper sash remaining fixed.
This narrower product selection can actually make the decision easier for homeowners who specifically want a single-hung Andersen window. The more important comparison becomes whether the 100 Series material, available colors, sizes, glass choices, and overall design fit the project.
What Materials Are Andersen Hung Windows Made From?
Material depends on the product line. Andersen’s double-hung selection spans composite and wood-interior construction, while its current single-hung window is a Fibrex composite product.
- 100 Series: Fibrex composite material on the interior and exterior.
- 200 Series: Wood construction protected by vinyl on the exterior.
- 400 Series: Wood construction with a low-maintenance protective exterior.
- A-Series: Wood interiors protected by fiberglass and Fibrex composite material on the exterior.
- E-Series: Wood interiors protected by an aluminum exterior.
These material differences affect more than appearance. They also influence available finishes, maintenance preferences, customization, and price, which is why series selection should follow the broader decision about window style.
Are Double-Hung or Single-Hung Windows Better for Hampton Roads?
Both styles can be appropriate for Hampton Roads homes. The local climate does not make one operating style universally better than the other. Instead, homeowners should consider the complete window configuration, including frame material, glass package, product performance, installation, and the home’s individual exposure.
Heat, humidity, wind-driven rain, coastal conditions, and seasonal storms can all make window performance important in Virginia Beach and surrounding Hampton Roads communities. But those factors should be evaluated using the specifications of the actual Andersen product being considered rather than assuming that every double-hung or single-hung window performs the same way.
Better View Windows & More can help you compare the functional benefits of each style alongside the Andersen series, glass, materials, finishes, and other replacement window options appropriate for your project.
Which Should You Choose: Double-Hung or Single-Hung?
For many homeowners, the decision comes down to whether the additional operation of the upper sash provides enough value to justify choosing a double-hung window.
- Choose double-hung when: you want top-and-bottom ventilation, easier interior cleaning on upper stories, or access to Andersen’s broadest range of hung-window materials and design options.
- Consider single-hung when: you like the traditional hung-window appearance but do not expect to use the upper sash, prefer simpler operation, or want to explore a more value-focused 100 Series option.
- Consider using both when: different rooms have different functional needs. The similar appearance of the two styles can make a mixed approach practical.
A showroom comparison can be especially helpful. Operating both styles in person makes the functional difference immediately clear and gives you an opportunity to compare frame profiles, hardware, screens, colors, and materials at the same time.
Compare Andersen Windows at Better View Windows & More
Better View Windows & More helps homeowners throughout Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads compare replacement windows based on how they actually plan to use them. Instead of starting with a one-size-fits-all recommendation, we’ll help you compare window styles, materials, manufacturers, performance options, and price levels.
Visit our Virginia Beach showroom to see replacement window options in person and discuss whether Andersen double-hung, single-hung, or another window style makes the most sense for each area of your home.
Already know that you prefer double-hung windows? Continue to our Andersen Double-Hung Window Series & Product Options guide for a closer comparison of 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, 400 Series Woodwright, A-Series, and E-Series choices.
If you’re still comparing how different window styles operate, our Guide to Andersen Casement Windows explains the advantages and tradeoffs of side-hinged crank windows, while our Guide to Andersen Awning Windows covers top-hinged options for shorter or elevated openings. You can also compare Andersen gliding windows if horizontal operation is a better fit.
For fixed glass and larger architectural combinations, explore our Andersen Picture Window Series comparison, Andersen Bay & Bow Window Options comparison, and Andersen Specialty Window Series & Shapes comparison. For a broader view of the brand, return to our Ultimate Guide to Andersen Windows in Hampton Roads.
Andersen Double-Hung & Single-Hung Window FAQs
What is the main difference between Andersen double-hung and single-hung windows?
A double-hung window has two operable sashes, while a single-hung window has an operable lower sash and a fixed upper sash. Both styles open vertically and remain flush with the wall.
Does Andersen make both single-hung and double-hung windows?
Yes. Andersen currently offers double-hung windows across its major product lines and single-hung windows through the 100 Series.
Can Andersen double-hung windows be cleaned from inside?
Yes. Andersen states that tilt-wash functionality is standard across its double-hung product lines, allowing homeowners to clean exterior glass from inside the home.
Are single-hung windows less expensive than double-hung windows?
Andersen states that single-hung windows generally start at a lower price because their simpler design has only one operable sash. Final installed cost still depends on size, glass, options, installation requirements, and project scope.
Which Andersen series offers the most double-hung choices?
The question is less about one series having the most products and more about the type of customization you need. Andersen offers double-hung windows in 100, 200, 400, A-Series, and E-Series, plus the 400 Series Woodwright option. The appropriate series depends on material, appearance, performance, customization, and budget.
Can I use single-hung and double-hung windows in the same house?
Yes. Because the two styles have a very similar appearance when closed, homeowners can use different operating styles in different rooms based on ventilation, cleaning, and budget preferences.
Ready to Compare Andersen Hung Windows?
If you’re considering Andersen replacement windows for your Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads home, Better View Windows & More can help you compare double-hung, single-hung, and other window styles in person. Request an estimate or visit our Virginia Beach showroom to explore the options that best fit your home, priorities, and budget.
Call 757-689-6210 or request your estimate online to get started.