Comparing Different Styles of Windows: Which Is Best?

So, you’re thinking about getting new windows for your home, but you aren’t sure which style of windows to get. You could just replace like with like, but what about the option of using different styles of windows for your home to refresh its curb appeal, improve energy efficiency, or improve ease of use for yourself.

What are the different styles of windows? More importantly, which ones are right for your home? Let’s go over each window type and discuss what makes each one great, where they might not be the best fit, and how to choose the right windows for your home:

The Different Styles of Windows: Hanging Windows

Hanging windows are one of the most common window types in Florida, frequently found in new construction in almost any window opening where the opening is tall and narrow. These windows consist of two sashes aligned vertically, with at least one of the sashes being able to move.

Hanging windows can be further divided into two subtypes based on the number of sashes that can move:

• Single-Hung Windows. These have a single movable sash on the bottom of the window and a fixed (i.e., non-movable) sash on the top. These are some of the most frequently-installed windows in the state. Why? Builders like their comparatively low cost, ease of installation, and suitability for a wide range of window openings.
• Double-Hung Windows. These hanging windows have two movable sashes rather than just a single moving sash. This allows users to open the window from the top or the bottom as they prefer. Visually identical to single-hungs from a distance, but tends to cost a little more due to having more moving parts.

More modern examples of hanging windows have a tilting mechanism that allows users to tilt the movable window sash inwards. The primary purpose of this is to make cleaning the windows faster and easier, especially for windows that are installed on higher floors.

Double-hungs make the most of this feature, allowing you to clean both the top and bottom sashes from inside your home.

The only real drawbacks to having a double-hung impact window over a single-hung version are the added cost and slighter higher complexity of use. 

Single hungs are great for ground floor installations and homeowners who may not be able to reach the top sash to pull it down. Double hungs are perfect for higher-floor installations and for taller homeowners who may find opening a window from the top easier and more convenient than reaching down to lift the bottom sash.

The Different Styles of Windows: Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are another common sight in modern homes, especially in kitchen spaces or other areas with large, wide window openings. 

Sliding windows sit on tracks in the window frame and have at least one movable sash and one fixed sash. The movable sash slides over the fixed sash to leave an opening for air to pass through when you want a breeze. 

Aside from their direction of opening, what separates sliding windows from hanging windows is the mechanisms used to move them. Sliding windows use rollers to ensure a smooth sliding action over the embedded track (as opposed to balance systems that hold up the weight of a hanging window).

Sliding windows are often used for larger, wider window openings since the rollers make them easy to move side to side. They may be preferable to hanging windows in especially large openings, in fact.

Why?

Because, with hanging windows, there’s only so much that a counterbalance can do to offset the weight of the sash. The larger the window, the heavier it gets. This can make big hanging windows difficult to lift or keep open (and handle when tilted open for cleaning). In these cases, sliding windows may be a better option, especially if you or another member of your household have mobility issues that make lifting larger windows difficult.

The Different Styles of Windows: Crank Windows

Cranking windows use armature mechanisms driven by cranks (or sometimes, slider handles) to open and close them. These windows typically have a single large pane of glass, providing a large viewing area when closed.

When open, cranking windows swing out to provide the maximum possible open space for your window openings. This makes them the best at maximizing air flow out of any window type.

How? It’s because when these windows crank open, the window sash is moved almost completely out of the way of the window opening. With hanging and sliding windows, there’s always at least one sash’s worth of glass obstructing the opening. With a cranking window, the sash is swung out of the way of the opening on an armature mechanism.

There are two types of cranking swing windows: Casement and awning windows.

• Casement Windows. These windows swing horizontally to open. Often used in tall, narrow openings. Provides a lot of viewing area for the window opening size, so this is a popular option. The crank can also make it easier for some homeowners who have some physical limitations to open and close larger windows.
• Awning Windows. These windows swing vertically to open, leaving the window sash suspended above the window opening. This can make awning windows great for enjoying gentle breezes on rainy days, as the sash acts like an umbrella over the window opening. Great for wide, short window openings (like windows over showers in bathrooms).

These are a great fit for any homeowner who wants to maximize viewing area in their window openings. Additionally, because they often use multi-point locking systems, casement windows and awning windows are extremely secure, being difficult to force open.

However, there are a few reasons why some homeowners might not prefer them.

First, the cranking mechanism itself can be ungainly for some users, especially those who have suffered a repetitive motion stress injury (such as carpal tunnel) which makes it difficult to perform a repeated circular motion with their arms/hands.

Second, the large number of moving parts can make cranking windows costlier than other windows in similar sizes. The added parts also complicate installation and maintenance, further driving up costs and difficulty of maintenance.

Third, while casement windows are designed to withstand strong winds, it’s recommended that you never keep these windows open fully when strong winds are expected. When opened wide, the sash acts like a sail, catching wind. This pulls on the sash and, consequently, the armature and window frame. Leaving these windows open during a windy day can lead to casements being brought out of alignment with their frame.

Different Styles of Windows: Picture Windows

Picture windows offer the best visibility out of any window type, period. They have no moving parts, so you get the largest possible viewing area from your windows. 

These windows are a great fit for windows facing the street or any picturesque views that happen to be in your neighborhood. If you want a clear, unobstructed view of everything on the other side of your wall, picture windows are a top-notch option.

Smaller picture windows tend to be less costly to install than other windows due to the lack of moving parts. However, as the size of the window opening increases, the cost of a picture window tends to rise exponentially.

This is because, as glass panes get larger, they become costlier to manufacture and handle. Sometimes, getting two (or more) smaller windows separated by a mullion is less costly than getting a single large window. Also, larger window glass is at higher risk of taking a direct impact (and breaking) from flying debris during a major storm than a smaller window. 

However, the biggest reason why people don’t get picture windows for every window is that they cannot be opened. The same thing that is one of their biggest selling points can also be the biggest problem for some installations.

For example, bedrooms and other living spaces are required to have at least one egress to the outside in case of a fire or other emergency where you might not be able to go through your bedroom door. Picture windows, being impossible to open, cannot be this emergency egress, so they are often not allowed to be installed in sleeping rooms that don’t have some other direct access point to the outdoors.

There’s no popping the window open to enjoy the breeze on the (seemingly ever rarer) nice, cool days in Florida. 

However, for pure enjoyment of a vista view from your living room and curb appeal from the outside, it’s hard to beat a picture window!

The Different Styles of Windows: Bay Windows

Bay windows are less a type of window and more of an architectural feature of a home. They’re  a composite of three (or more) windows in a single opening that protrudes from the side of the home to create a visually distinctive window.

Because of their reliance on existing architectural features of the home, installing a bay window is less of a choice than it is a mandate of your home’s design. These windows offer a huge amount of customization possibilities because they’re three windows joined together rather than a single large window.

While the most common arrangement is to have one picture window flanked by two casements, you could opt for three hanging windows, two casements and an awning, three picture windows, or any combination of different window types that you can imagine, so long as each one fits in the dimensions of your bay window.

It is important to note that bay window tear-out and replacement is a lot of work for any installer. Also, it’s literally three (or more) windows joined together. As such, they tend to cost a lot more to install than a typical flat window. 

But many homeowners appreciate having a perfect nook space and how bay windows let in more light throughout the day.

Of the Different Styles of Windows, Which Is the Best for My Home?

The answer is: “It really depends on your home and your preferences.” In each of the above sections, there have been pros and cons for every window type. When picking a window, it’s important to consider things like:

• Cost. Everybody wants their new windows to cost as little as possible. This factor alone drives many people to buy less-than-optimal windows in the hopes of saving money on a full-home window replacement. While important, this should not be a limiting factor for you when choosing the best windows for your home.
• Regulatory Compliance. The Florida Building Code (FBC) may put restrictions on the types of windows that can be installed in specific window openings. For example, FBC rules mandate that sleeping rooms with no door leading directly outside need to have an ‘egress window’ installed that you can escape from in case of an emergency.
• Your Preferences. This should be a huge priority for any homeowner. It’s no good to get new windows if they’re in a style that you hate. So, it’s important to learn about windows and how they work so you can know which ones are the best fit for your home and preferences.
• The Physical Dimensions of Your Window Openings. Some windows are going to be better suited for some window openings than others. For example, we would almost never recommend a sliding window for an opening that’s only two feet wide and four feet tall, as that would be an awkward type of window for that opening. Instead, a hanging or casement window might fit that opening better, and look better doing it.
• Location of the Window Opening. Is that window facing the front of your home, the side, or the backyard? Is it on the first floor or is it higher off the ground? Where your window openings are located can have a huge impact on what kind of window you want to put into them. As noted before, double hung windows are often ideal for installation in windows in rooms on the second floor because of how much easier they are to clean from the inside.

So, ultimately, there is no single ‘best’ style of window that will be perfect for every home and situation. While some are definitely better than others for a wider range of situations, there’s always some room for consideration. Every window opening needs to be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis.

Need Help Picking the Perfect Windows for Your Home?

Picking the right kind of window from all the different styles of windows on the market can be a huge challenge. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it all alone!

If you’d like some help picking out the perfect windows for your home, Karoly Windows & Doors is here to help! We can send out a window installation expert to do an in-person inspection and consultation to help you identify the absolute best windows for your needs, free of charge.

There’s no obligation to buy windows from us following the free consultation, though we’re confident that we’ll provide you with the best installation experience you can get in Tampa Bay! Reach out today to claim your free in-home appointment!