Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
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AfterSingle & Double Hung Windows in Palm Beach, FL
Single and double hung windows are the most common window style in Palm Beach homes, and replacing or upgrading them is one of the highest-return projects a homeowner can make – both for energy savings and storm protection. At Winslow Windows & Doors, we’ve been installing and replacing hung windows across Palm Beach since 2011, and Ed Winslow personally oversees every project that goes out under our name. Call us at (561) 831-7863 – a live person answers every time, day or night.
If you’re still figuring out the full scope of your project, our Window Installation in Palm Beach page walks through the broader range of styles and options we offer. But if single or double hung is what you’re after, read on – this page covers everything specific to those window types: how they work, what they cost in this market, and how we handle the job from first visit to final inspection.
The short answer: Single hung windows have one operable sash (the bottom moves, the top is fixed). Double hung windows have two operable sashes, so both top and bottom can open independently. In Palm Beach’s humid, salt-air climate, both styles perform best when they’re impact-rated and properly sealed – and that’s exactly how we install them.
When You Need Single & Double Hung Windows
Not every window situation is an emergency, but some signs are worth acting on quickly – especially in Palm Beach, where hurricane season runs six months of the year and the combination of coastal humidity and UV exposure is harder on window frames than almost anywhere else in Florida.
- Your windows are single-pane or pre-impact glass. If your home was built before 2002 and hasn’t had window work since, there’s a good chance your hung windows aren’t rated for the wind loads Palm Beach County now requires. Older single-pane units offer almost no protection and very little insulating value against the summer heat.
- The sash balance is failing or the window won’t stay open. In older double hung windows, the spring balances or weight-and-pulley systems wear out. When a sash drops on its own or won’t stay raised, it’s usually a sign that repair isn’t economical – a full window replacement gives you 20+ more years of smooth operation.
- You’re seeing fogging between the panes. Condensation trapped between the glass layers means the insulating seal has failed. This is common in Palm Beach homes near the Intracoastal, where temperature swings and humidity accelerate seal breakdown. Once the seal goes, the glass unit needs to be replaced.
- Your cooling bills are higher than they should be. Single and double hung windows with degraded weatherstripping or aluminum frames without thermal breaks are major sources of heat gain. Replacing them with modern vinyl or impact-rated units from CGI or PGT can measurably cut cooling loads – something that matters in a city where air conditioning runs nine months a year.
- You’re preparing for a renovation or re-roof. Window replacement coordinates naturally with other exterior work. If you’re already having the roof done, replacing aged hung windows at the same time avoids a second round of interior disruption and often simplifies the permitting process.
- Your current windows are painted or nailed shut. This is more common than people expect in older Palm Beach homes – particularly in historic neighborhoods near South Ocean Boulevard or the El Cid-style residences on the north end of the island. Painted-shut windows are a code violation and a fire egress problem. We see it regularly and can assess whether re-glazing or full replacement makes more sense.
Our Single & Double Hung Windows Process
We don’t drop windows in and disappear. Every Window Installation follows a structured sequence that accounts for Palm Beach’s specific permitting requirements, the salt-air exposure that affects flashing and sealing choices, and the finish quality that homeowners in this market expect.
- Free in-home measurement and assessment. Ed Winslow or one of our uniformed, background-checked technicians visits your home to measure each rough opening, check the existing frame condition, and assess whether the surrounding stucco or wood is sound. We won’t give you a quote over the phone based on guesswork – Palm Beach homes vary enormously in construction, from concrete block to wood frame to CBS with stucco finish, and each affects how the installation goes. There’s no trip charge for this visit within our home county.
- Upfront written proposal with product specs. You receive a line-item written proposal before any commitment is made. We specify the exact window model – whether that’s a PGT WinGuard series unit or a CGI impact hung window – the glass package, frame color, and any trim or stucco work included. No vague language, no “allowances” that balloon later. Our pricing is upfront, and what you approve is what appears on your invoice.
- Permit filing with Palm Beach County. We pull all required permits for residential window replacement in Palm Beach. This is non-negotiable for us – unpermitted window work can void your homeowner’s insurance, complicate a future sale, and leave you personally liable if a storm causes damage to an unpermitted opening. We handle the filing, the inspections, and the closeout.
- Old window removal and frame preparation. We remove the existing sash, stops, and frame components carefully – especially on older homes where surrounding plaster or wood trim is irreplaceable. If we find rot in the rough opening or compromised sill plates (common in Palm Beach homes that have taken on water over the years), we address that before the new window goes in, because no window installs well over a soft frame.
- Installation with proper sealing and flashing. The new hung window is set into the prepared opening, shimmed level and plumb, and secured per the manufacturer’s installation instructions and Florida Building Code requirements. We apply the correct flashing tape and sealant sequence – this matters enormously in a coastal environment where wind-driven rain tests every joint. The sealant choices we make in Palm Beach are different from what’s adequate in an inland market.
- Final inspection, cleanup, and walkthrough. After the county inspector signs off, we do our own walkthrough with you: both sashes operate correctly, locks engage cleanly, the seal at the interior trim is tight, and the exterior perimeter looks right. We leave the site cleaner than we found it. If anything isn’t right, that’s what the 36500-Day Done Right Promise exists for – we come back and make it right, no argument.
Single & Double Hung Windows Pricing in Palm Beach
Single and double hung window replacement in Palm Beach typically runs $600 to $1,800 per window installed, depending on size, glass package, and frame material. That range reflects real Palm Beach market pricing – not a national average that gets adjusted at the quote stage. Impact-rated units, which are the right choice for any home on or near the island, sit in the upper half of that range because the laminated glass and reinforced frames cost more to manufacture.
| Window Type | Estimated Installed Cost (Palm Beach) |
|---|---|
| Standard single hung, non-impact, vinyl frame | $600 – $850 per window |
| Standard double hung, non-impact, vinyl frame | $700 – $950 per window |
| Impact single hung (PGT or CGI), standard size | $900 – $1,350 per window |
| Impact double hung (PGT or CGI), standard size | $1,000 – $1,500 per window |
| Oversized or custom impact hung window | $1,400 – $1,800+ per window |
Several factors move the final number up or down:
- Frame condition at the rough opening. If we find rot, water damage, or compromised stucco during removal, that repair work is priced separately. We’ll always tell you before we do it.
- Number of windows. Multi-window projects almost always come in at a lower per-unit cost than single-window replacements, because mobilization, permitting, and crew time spread across more units.
- Glass upgrades. Low-E coatings, laminated impact glass, and higher SHGC ratings all affect the unit price. For Palm Beach, we generally recommend impact-laminated low-E glass because the combination of storm protection and heat rejection pays for itself over time.
- Frame color and finish. Standard white or beige vinyl is the base price. Bronze, black, or custom colors cost more and are worth it on homes where the window profile is visible and part of the architectural look.
If you have a written estimate from another contractor, bring it to us – we offer free second opinions on written estimates and will tell you plainly whether the scope, product, and price are appropriate for your situation. Seniors and veterans receive a permanent 10% discount on all work, and any repair over $200 qualifies for $40 off. Call (561) 831-7863 for a free, no-obligation estimate – we’ll give you a real number, not a range designed to get you to sign and figure out the rest later.
FAQs – Single & Double Hung Windows
What is the difference between single hung and double hung windows, and which is better for a Palm Beach home?
A single hung window has a fixed upper sash and a movable lower sash – only the bottom opens. A double hung window lets both the upper and lower sashes move independently, which is useful for ventilation in Palm Beach’s humid months because you can open the top to let hot air out while the lower sash brings in cooler air from outside. Double hung windows also tilt inward for easier cleaning from inside the home, which matters when you’re three stories up on a Palm Beach estate and don’t want to work from a ladder. For most Palm Beach homeowners, the double hung is the more practical choice – the price difference is modest and the ventilation flexibility is real, though some situations call for Awning & Hopper Windows instead. That said, single hung units work fine on lower floors or in rooms where cleaning access isn’t a concern. We’ll help you decide at the estimate visit. Call (561) 831-7863 and we’ll walk through your specific situation.
Do I need impact-rated windows on my Palm Beach property?
Yes – if your home is in Palm Beach, impact-rated windows are the right choice, and in many cases they’re required under Florida Building Code for new installations in high-velocity hurricane zones. Palm Beach sits within the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), which sets strict wind-load requirements for any window product installed after a permit is pulled. Beyond code compliance, impact windows eliminate the need to install and store hurricane shutters, which is a practical benefit that Palm Beach homeowners appreciate. Brands like PGT and CGI build their hung window lines specifically for HVHZ compliance – they’re engineered, tested, and Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance certified for exactly this market. If a contractor quotes you a non-impact window for a permitted Palm Beach job without explaining the HVHZ implications, that’s a problem worth asking about. Call (561) 831-7863 and we’ll give you a straight answer about what your home actually needs.
How long does single or double hung window installation take in Palm Beach?
Most single and double hung window replacement projects in Palm Beach take one to two days on-site, plus the permitting and inspection timeline. Permitting through Palm Beach County typically runs one to three weeks depending on current workload – we submit the permit application as soon as you approve the proposal so that clock starts early. The installation itself for a standard home – say, six to twelve hung windows – is usually a single full day of work. Larger projects or homes with more complex framing conditions may run two days. The county inspection generally happens within a week of completion. From signed proposal to final permit closeout, most projects close in three to five weeks. We’ll give you a specific schedule at the time of your estimate. Call (561) 831-7863 to get the process started.
Is it worth replacing single hung windows with double hung, or should I keep the same style?
Switching from single to double hung is worth it in most cases, especially if the rough opening size is staying the same and the price difference is modest. The added ventilation control and the ability to clean both sashes from inside the home are practical advantages in Palm Beach, where homes are used year-round and exterior cleaning from ladders is inconvenient. If your current windows are single hung and working fine in terms of operation, but you’re replacing due to impact requirements or seal failure, upgrading to double hung at the same time makes sense – you’re already paying for the labor and the permit. Where single hung remains a reasonable choice is in smaller openings like bathrooms or utility rooms, where the ventilation advantage of a second operable sash isn’t meaningful; larger openings may benefit from 3-Panel Sliding (3-Lite Roller) Windows instead. We’ll tell you honestly at the estimate which makes sense where. Call (561) 831-7863 and we’ll sort it out on-site.
Why Palm Beach Homeowners Call Winslow
Ed Winslow’s name is on the door – and on every job we do. That’s not a figure of speech. When something isn’t right with a window we installed, Ed hears about it directly, and we come back to fix it. The 36500-Day Done Right Promise means exactly that: if the work isn’t right, we make it right. No pointing at the manufacturer, no “that’s outside our warranty,” no voicemail loop when you call to follow up.
We’ve been doing Window Installation Near Me in Palm Beach, FL since 2011, and the island’s specific conditions – salt air, high humidity, hurricane exposure, and homes that range from 1920s Mediterranean Revival to new construction – have shaped how we approach every job. We know the Palm Beach County permitting office. We know what the HVHZ requires. And we know that homeowners here expect a level of finish and accountability that goes beyond what a national chain is set up to deliver.
Every technician who comes to your home is background-checked and arrives in uniform. You know who’s showing up before the truck pulls in the driveway. Pricing is upfront and in writing before any work begins. And if you call at 2 a.m. with a question about a window that’s behaving strangely after a storm, someone will actually pick up.
Seniors and veterans receive 10% off every job, permanently. Any repair over $200 comes with $40 off. Second opinions on written estimates from other contractors are always free. And there’s no trip charge for initial visits within our home county.
For everything we do under the window installation umbrella, visit our home page to see the full picture. But for single and double hung windows in Palm Beach specifically – measurements, product selection, permits, installation, and the promise behind it all – we’re the one down the road.
Get a Free Estimate on Single & Double Hung Windows in Palm Beach
Call (561) 831-7863 to schedule your free in-home estimate. We’ll measure your openings, assess your current frames, walk you through the right product options for your home and budget, and give you a clear written number before anything happens. No pressure, no vague ranges, no callbacks from a call center. A real person answers, and Ed Winslow stands behind every window we put in.
Written by Ed Winslow, Owner at Winslow Windows & Doors, serving Palm Beach since 2011.
Six Reasons Homeowners Choose Winslow Windows & Doors
Impact systems engineered to design pressures up to +/-100, matched to your wind zone - your openings hold when the storm arrives.
Low-E insulated impact glass from our manufacturer lines commonly cuts monthly cooling bills 20-30%.
Laminated impact glass shuts out up to 40% of outside noise - traffic, neighbors, weather.
Monitoring services run $30-90 a month. Laminated impact glass resists forced entry around the clock, with no subscription.
Florida homeowners average around 25% savings on the windstorm portion of their policy after protecting every opening - some homes qualify for more.
A full impact package upgrades curb appeal, buyer confidence and appraised value in one project.