Quick definitions:
- Double hung windows are the ones with two pieces that slide up and down.
- Casement windows are the ones with the cranks, and that swing outwards like a door.
Traditional house styles in America can be (very) roughly divided into a couple of broad categories that reflect their origins. A quick look should tell you which style category your traditional house falls into, and which type of window is appropriate for it.
Houses with English Colonial roots typically have double-hung windows. Homes with this lineage are easy to identify, as they vastly outnumber any other house style in America.
If you’ve been to Williamsburg, VA you’ve seen double-hung windows on early English Colonial home.
In a new home, choosing the right window style is one of the most important decisions you and your architect will make.Casement windows are common to homes with European Medieval heritage. Tudor is the most common medieval style. They’re also found in some early 20th-Century American styles such as Craftsman and Prairie, and some newer “styles” like French Country.
In an existing home, maintaining the character of the original home can be just as critical.
Get the right windows and your house will look proper and complete…get them wrong, and well – it’s like tennis shoes with a tux!