Double Hung Windows

Double Hung Windows in Los Angeles, CA | Hale Windows & Doors

Double hung windows give you the classic vertical-glide look, with both the top and bottom sashes tilting in for easy cleaning. But when you’re buying them for a home in Los Angeles, CA, the conversation changes from looks to protection. Our impact-rated double hung line carries laminated glass that holds together under flying debris, which is exactly what coastal and wind-exposed neighborhoods around Los Angeles demand. Hale Windows & Doors installs these across our PGT, CGI, CWS, ES Windows, ECO, and Mr-Glass lines, so you’re getting a product matched to your opening rather than whatever happens to be on a shelf. Call (252) 675-6980 and we’ll talk through what makes sense for your house.

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Product Overview – Double Hung Windows

Double hung windows are the traditional American profile: two sashes stacked vertically, both of which move up and down independently. In a hurricane-impact version, that traditional look stays intact, but the glazing and frame engineering are rebuilt around one job: keeping the building envelope sealed when the wind loads spike. The sashes tilt inward on both top and bottom, so cleaning second-story glass from inside the house is straightforward, which matters more than people expect in Los Angeles, where many homes are two-story and ladder access on tight lots is awkward.

These windows fit the architectural language of Florida-inspired homes all over Los Angeles, from Spanish and Mediterranean styles to mid-century ranch and Key West cottages. The vertical proportions read as familiar and timeless, while the impact glazing does the quiet work of protecting the interior from wind-borne debris and pressure cycling. We’ve installed double hungs in Los Angeles neighborhoods where the coastal breeze is constant and the hurricane season is taken seriously. The frame options, aluminum and vinyl, each have a role: aluminum for narrow sightlines and a crisp contemporary edge, vinyl for thermal performance and a softer, more residential profile. Both are engineered to accept laminated impact glass without the bulk you’d expect from a storm-rated product.

Technical Specifications

The configurable options for our impact-rated double hung windows break down like this:

• Frame materials: Aluminum or Vinyl, selected per opening size, exposure, and design intent.
• Glass options: Laminated Impact Glass with a PVB interlayer, Low-E Insulated Glass, Tinted Glass, and Clear Glass. These can be combined where the spec calls for it, like laminated impact glass with a Low-E coating for thermal performance.
• Finish options: White, Almond, Bronze, Black, and Tan. These are baked-on finishes, not painted after the fact.
• Screen options: Half Screen or Full Screen, depending on whether you want the upper sash screened or the full opening.
• Operation: Both sashes glide vertically and tilt inward for cleaning. Balanced hardware keeps the sashes from drifting.
• Design pressure: Matched to your wind zone, up to +/-100 psf, never higher. We don’t over-spec for the sake of a bigger number.

Every order is configured to the specific opening dimensions of your Los Angeles home. We don’t force stock sizes into custom rough openings.

Hurricane & Compliance Performance

Laminated Impact Glass
The impact protection comes from a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer sandwiched between glass lites. If a projectile strikes the window, the glass cracks but stays in the frame, held by that interlayer. The window remains in place as a barrier against wind, rain, and further debris. This is the core of what makes the product an impact window rather than a standard insulated unit.

Miami-Dade NOA / Florida Product Approval
Specific configurations of our double hung windows carry Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) and Florida Product Approval numbers. These are issued per configuration, not as a blanket certification, so the exact combination of frame, glass, and size on your quote is what we verify. We provide the approval documentation for your permit package in Los Angeles.

FBC / HVHZ Compliance
These double hungs are engineered to Florida Building Code (FBC) High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements. HVHZ is the stricter building code standard used in Florida’s most wind-exposed counties. A product engineered to that standard carries the structural assumptions Los Angeles coastal inspectors look for when reviewing impact window submittals.

TAS 201 / 202 / 203 Testing Context
HVHZ-rated products are tested under a protocol family: TAS 201 for large-missile impact, TAS 202 for cyclic wind-pressure loading, and TAS 203 for forced-entry resistance. These are the tests that simulate what a window endures during a storm event: a hit, then repeated pressure cycles, then an attempt to pry it open. The fact that the product passes these sequences is what gives the NOA meaning.

Design Pressure for Your Wind Zone
Design pressure is a psf rating that reflects the structural wind load the window is built to resist. Our double hungs are matched to your wind zone, up to +/-100 psf, and never higher. Over-specifying design pressure adds weight and cost without adding protection. We calculate the right number for your Los Angeles property’s exposure and opening size.

Energy Performance Options
When thermal performance matters, Low-E coatings and insulated glass options are available. A Low-E coating reduces heat transfer through the glass, which is useful on west-facing elevations in Los Angeles. Insulated glass adds an air space between lites for better thermal separation. These can be combined with the laminated impact layer.

Color & Glass Options

The finish palette includes White, Almond, Bronze, Black, and Tan. In Los Angeles, Almond and Tan tend to blend well with the stucco tones on Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes, while Bronze and Black give a more defined architectural edge. White is the safe choice for coastal cottages and traditional exteriors, and it tends to hold up well visually under direct sun.

On the glass side, Clear impact glass is the most neutral option and preserves the truest color rendition of your exterior. Tinted glass cuts glare and solar heat gain, which is a real consideration on south-facing elevations in Los Angeles. Low-E insulated glass gives you thermal performance all year. If you want both impact protection and energy performance, laminated impact glass with a Low-E coating is the configuration we most often recommend for Los Angeles homes where summer sun and storm season overlap.

Installation by Hale Windows & Doors in Los Angeles

An impact window is only as good as the opening it’s installed into. The NOA rating assumes a properly prepared rough opening and a correct perimeter seal. If the flashing is sloppy or the window isn’t set plumb and square, the performance you paid for doesn’t exist. That’s why we install per AAMA 2400/2410 practice, which governs the correct preparation, shimming, fastening, and flashing of window openings. We also use AAMA 812 low-expansion foam perimeter sealant around the frame, which seals the gap without bowing the frame.

Every installation in Los Angeles starts with a pre-install inspection of the existing opening. We check for rotted framing, measure the actual rough opening against the ordered size, and confirm the wind zone assumption before the window comes off the truck. On install day, we set the window level, plumb, and square, then anchor it per the manufacturer’s approved fastening schedule. After the perimeter seal and exterior flashing are complete, we run a water test to check for leaks at the sill and jambs. Cleanup includes removal of the old window and all installation debris. For Los Angeles properties in HVHZ-mapped jurisdictions, we also coordinate the permit submittal with your contractor or handle it directly, including the NOA and Florida Product Approval documentation.

Coastal exposure in Los Angeles means salt air and driven rain. The perimeter seal and flashing details matter more here than they would inland. We don’t shortcut any of it.

Frequently Asked Questions – Double Hung Windows

What wind zone or design pressure is the Double Hung Window rated for?
Our double hung windows are matched to your wind zone, with design pressures up to +/-100 psf, never higher. The exact rating for your Los Angeles home depends on the opening size, frame material, and glass configuration, and we list it on your quote.

What is the lead time on Double Hung Windows?
Since each unit is configured to the specific opening dimensions, glass type, and finish on your order, lead time runs longer than an off-the-shelf product. We’ll give you a current production window when we quote your project. Call (252) 675-6980 and we’ll check lead times for your configuration.

Does my Los Angeles permit require a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval submittal?
In most Los Angeles jurisdictions that enforce impact window requirements, yes. The permit package needs the approval documentation for the specific configuration you’re installing. We provide the NOA and Florida Product Approval numbers that apply to your quote, and we can submit them along with your plans. Call (252) 675-6980 if you want us to verify what your specific building department asks for.

Can I customize the size or configuration?
Yes. Double hungs are order-made to your rough opening, not picked from stock. You choose the frame material, glass package, finish color, and screen option. The design pressure rating is calculated for your specific combination, so the approval documentation reflects what’s actually going into your Los Angeles home.

How do I maintain the frame?
Wash the frame and tracks with mild soap and water a few times a year, and keep the sill track free of sand and debris. In coastal Los Angeles neighborhoods, salt residue builds up faster, so a rinse every couple of months helps. The tilt-in sashes let you clean glass from inside the house. No special lubricants or treatments are required on the frame finish.

Get a Quote – Double Hung Windows in Los Angeles

If you’re replacing windows in Los Angeles and want impact-rated double hungs sized and installed correctly, we’ll measure your openings, quote the right configuration, and handle the approval paperwork. Call (252) 675-6980 to schedule a free on-site measurement and get a written, line-item price for your project.