When most Main Line homeowners think about window replacement, the first question is which are the best window types Main Line homes should have. The right window type determines how it operates, impacts ventilation, enhances natural light, and complements the architectural style of your home. Hynes Construction shares this guide to walk homeowners through the top window types for Main Line homes, helping you make informed decisions for every room.
On the Main Line, this question has added complexity because the housing stock spans nearly 150 years of residential construction. A craftsman bungalow in Haverford, a 1960s colonial in Wayne, a 1990s transitional home in Devon, and a 2010 contemporary in Ardmore all have different appropriate window styles based on their architecture, their original window configurations, and the functional requirements of each room. Installing the wrong window style for a home’s architectural character is a mistake that affects curb appeal, historical integrity, and resale value.
This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of every major residential window style, which homes and rooms each style suits best, and how to make the right selection for your specific Main Line home. Hynes Construction installs all major window styles throughout the Main Line. Our replacement window styles service page and complete windows service page cover our full capabilities. For a free in-home consultation and style recommendation specific to your home, call 610-880-3890 or visit our contact page.
Why Window Style Matters Beyond Appearance
Window style affects several performance dimensions that go beyond aesthetics:
- Air sealing and weathertightness: Casement and awning windows, which seal by compressing a gasket against the frame when cranked closed, provide better air sealing than double-hung windows where the sashes slide past each other on weatherstripped channels. For rooms where air infiltration reduction is a priority, this is a meaningful functional difference.
- Ventilation pattern: Different window styles capture different natural air movement patterns. Casement windows open outward and can act as scoops that direct moving outdoor air into a room. Awning windows open at the bottom and direct air upward into the room. Double-hung windows allow simultaneous opening at both the top and bottom, creating stack-effect ventilation where warm air exits from the top while cooler air enters at the bottom.
- Natural light area: Fixed picture windows provide the maximum glass area for a given rough opening size because there is no hardware, sash rails, or operating mechanism consuming space within the opening. Double-hung windows with a wide center rail have less glass area than an equivalent picture window. For rooms where maximum light is the objective, this affects the effective result.
- Cleaning accessibility: Some window styles are significantly easier to clean than others. Tilt-in double-hung windows can be cleaned from inside the home. Fixed picture windows require exterior access for outside glass cleaning. Casement windows hinge open fully, making both interior and exterior glass surfaces accessible from inside.
For the detailed material comparison that goes with this style selection guide, see our fiberglass vs vinyl vs wood window comparison for Main Line homes and our window replacement cost guide for 2026.
Double-Hung Windows: The Main Line Standard
Double-hung windows have two sashes that both move vertically within the frame. Both the top and bottom sashes slide up or down, allowing ventilation from either or both positions. The classic divided light double-hung window is the defining window of Main Line residential architecture across colonial, federal, craftsman, and transitional home styles.
How Double-Hung Windows Work
In a traditional double-hung window, both sashes are held in position by balancers or springs and can be raised or lowered independently. Modern double-hung windows add a tilt-in feature for both sashes, allowing the sash to be angled into the interior space for cleaning without requiring exterior access. This tilt-in capability has made double-hung windows the most practical choice for multi-story Main Line homes where upper-story windows would otherwise require a ladder for exterior cleaning.
When Double-Hung Is the Right Choice
Double-hung windows suit virtually every architectural style found on the Main Line and are appropriate in almost every room of the house. They are the right default choice when there is no specific functional reason to choose a different style. Their bidirectional operation provides flexible ventilation patterns; their divided-light configuration in colonial homes (with grilles between the glass layers rather than true individual panes) maintains period appearance; and their tilt-in cleaning capability makes them practical for homeowners without regular exterior window access.
Casement Windows: Superior Air Sealing and Ventilation
Casement windows are hinged on one side and swing outward on a crank mechanism. The sash extends fully outside the wall plane when open. They are commonly used in craftsman bungalows, contemporary homes, and in specific locations within traditional homes where enhanced ventilation and air sealing are priorities.
Casement Window Performance
The key performance advantage of casement windows is their compression seal: when the crank pulls the sash closed, the gasket compresses uniformly around the full perimeter of the sash, creating a more consistent air seal than the sliding weatherstrip contact of a double-hung window. This compression seal produces lower air infiltration rates and better thermal performance around the sash perimeter.
Casement windows also provide the best ventilation efficiency per opening area of any operable window style. Because the sash swings fully outside, the entire glass area becomes an open aperture for air exchange. And because casement sashes can be positioned to scoop prevailing breezes into a room, they are particularly effective for cross-ventilation in rooms where the window faces into the prevailing summer air movement.
When Casement Is the Right Choice
Casement windows are the right choice for rooms where air sealing and ventilation are the primary functional objectives: kitchens above countertops where a crank-operated window does not require reaching over obstacles; bathrooms where ventilation is important; rooms with cross-ventilation potential where capturing prevailing breezes matters; and contemporary homes where the clean, minimal look of a single sash with no center rail suits the architectural character. Casement windows are not appropriate in locations where screens on the exterior would be blocked by the outswing, or in any location with limited exterior clearance for the sash to open.
Picture Windows: Maximum Light, No Operation
Picture windows are fixed units that do not open. They are typically large, designed to frame a specific view or maximize light admission into a room. They are found in living rooms, dining rooms, and great rooms across the full range of Main Line home styles from traditional to contemporary.
Picture Window Performance
Because picture windows have no moving parts and no sash that must seal against weatherstripping, they provide the best air sealing of any window type. They are also the most thermally efficient configuration relative to window area because there are no sash rails creating thermal bridges across the insulated glass unit. For rooms where the objective is maximum light and the room has other operable windows providing ventilation, picture windows are the most effective choice.
When Picture Windows Are the Right Choice
Picture windows are the right choice for living rooms and dining rooms where a large, unobstructed view is the priority and where other windows in the room provide necessary ventilation; for stairwell windows where the sill height makes operable windows impractical; for specialty window positions like triangular gable windows or arch-top transoms that do not require operation; and anywhere that maximum glass area within a given rough opening is the functional objective.
Bay and Bow Windows: Architectural Feature and Interior Space
Bay and bow windows project outward from the wall plane, creating an interior recess that adds floor area and visual depth to the room while providing a multifaceted window composition that admits light from multiple directions.
Bay Windows
Bay windows consist of three window units: a larger central picture or double-hung window flanked by two angled side windows at 30 or 45 degrees to the wall. The three-unit composition creates a projecting bay that typically adds two to four square feet of floor area and creates a natural seating or display alcove within the room. Bay windows are historically associated with Victorian and craftsman architecture, both of which are well represented across the Main Line, and are commonly installed in dining rooms and bedrooms where the projecting composition adds character and space.
Bay window replacement cost on the Main Line in 2026: $2,500 to $6,000 installed depending on size, material, and whether the roof structure above the bay requires any attention.
Bow Windows
Bow windows use four, five, or six equal-sized window units arranged in a gently curved arc, creating a softer, more rounded projection than the angular three-unit bay. Bow windows are associated with mid-century colonial and contemporary homes and provide a gentle architectural feature that is less assertive than a traditional bay. The curved composition also provides slightly better light distribution across the room because the window faces multiple directions simultaneously.
Bow window replacement cost on the Main Line in 2026: $3,500 to $8,000 installed, depending on the number of units and overall width.
Awning and Hopper Windows: Specialty Applications
Awning Windows
Awning windows are hinged at the top and open outward from the bottom on a crank mechanism. This configuration allows the window to remain partially open during light rain without admitting water, making awning windows practical for humid summer conditions where ventilation is needed even during brief showers. They are commonly used in combination with fixed picture windows or as standalone units in bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. A picture window flanked or topped by an awning window is a common combination that provides both maximum light and operational ventilation capability.
Hopper Windows
Hopper windows are the inverse of awning windows: hinged at the bottom and opening inward from the top. They are the standard configuration for below-grade basement windows on Main Line homes because the inward swing direction keeps the window clear of exterior grade and obstruction and because the top-hinged opening position limits the size of the opening for security purposes while still providing ventilation. Basement hopper windows are typically small, often 24 to 36 inches wide by 12 to 18 inches tall, and are most commonly installed in vinyl egress-compliant configurations in habitable basement spaces.
Slider Windows: Horizontal Operation
Slider windows operate by sliding one sash horizontally past the other, rather than vertically as in a double-hung. They are less common on Main Line homes than double-hung windows and have a limited architectural range where they are appropriate. Contemporary and mid-century modern homes where horizontal lines are an aesthetic objective are the most natural fit for slider windows. Traditional colonial and craftsman homes on the Main Line are better served by double-hung configurations that maintain the vertical emphasis of their architectural character.
Slider windows provide the full width of the operating sash as the ventilation opening when one panel is fully open, which is equivalent to casement windows in that regard. Their air sealing performance is similar to double-hung windows since both rely on weatherstripped sliding contact rather than compression seals.
Specialty Windows: Arches, Circles, and Architectural Shapes
Many Main Line homes, particularly those built between 1910 and 1940, feature specialty window shapes, including arch-top windows, circular or semi-circular windows in gable ends, eyebrow windows in dormers, and transom windows above doors. These architectural features are important to the character of these homes and must be addressed carefully when replacement is considered.
Specialty window shapes are available in most frame materials, including fiberglass and premium vinyl. The challenge is that non-standard shapes require custom fabrication with longer lead times and at premium cost. For historic homes where original divided-light arched windows are a key character feature, fiberglass windows painted to match the original configuration provide the best combination of authentic appearance and reduced maintenance.
Our fiberglass windows page covers the custom-shape capability of the fiberglass products we carry. Our about us page covers our history of working with Main Line homes across the full range of architectural styles.
Matching Window Style to Home Architecture: A Quick Reference
- Colonial and Federal homes: Double-hung with divided lights (true divided or grille-between-glass), six-over-six or eight-over-eight pane patterns, white or historically appropriate painted frame colors
- Craftsman bungalows: Double-hung or casement, often with simple divided lights in the upper sash only, warm painted or stained wood or fiberglass frames in brown, green, or dark earth tones
- Victorians and Queen Annes: Double-hung, bay and bow windows; specialty arched or circular windows in gable ends; painted wood or fiberglass
- Mid-century colonials (1950-1970): Double-hung or picture, sometimes with horizontal slider bands in living areas, aluminum-clad wood or fiberglass
- Transitional homes (1990-2010): Double-hung, casement, or combinations; clean profiles with minimal divided lights; premium vinyl or fiberglass
- Contemporary homes: Casement, picture, sliders, or combinations; no divided lights; minimal profile frames; fiberglass or aluminum-clad wood for slim sightlines
How to Get the Right Window Style Recommendation for Your Home
The best window style recommendation for your specific Main Line home comes from an experienced contractor who has worked extensively with the architectural range of the Main Line housing stock. Generic advice from manufacturer websites or national home improvement chains does not account for the specific historical character, neighborhood context, and room-by-room functional requirements of your home.
Hynes Construction has installed replacement windows across the full range of Main Line architectural styles for more than 50 years. Our team provides free in-home consultations that include specific style recommendations by room, material recommendations appropriate for your home and budget, and written estimates across the options we discuss. Our certifications and affiliations page reflects our professional standing, and our financing page covers available financing for projects of any scope. All work is backed by our warranties page.
Browse completed window replacement projects in our project gallery and follow recent projects across the Main Line on Facebook and Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common window style for colonial homes on the Main Line?
Double-hung windows with divided lights, in a six-over-six or eight-over-eight pane pattern, are the most architecturally appropriate and most common window style for colonial homes on the Main Line. Modern replacement versions use grilles between the glass layers to replicate this pattern without the maintenance requirements of true divided light construction. White or historically appropriate painted frames in fiberglass or premium vinyl maintain the colonial aesthetic while delivering contemporary performance.
What is the difference between a double-hung and a single-hung window?
In a double-hung window, both the upper and lower sashes move vertically. In a single-hung window, only the lower sash moves while the upper sash is fixed. Double-hung windows provide more ventilation flexibility because either or both sashes can be opened, and modern tilt-in double-hung windows allow cleaning of both interior and exterior glass surfaces from inside the home. Single-hung windows are slightly less expensive but are a less capable product than most Main Line replacement window projects do not specify.
Are casement windows better than double-hung for energy efficiency?
Yes, modestly. Casement windows seal by compressing a perimeter gasket when the sash is cranked closed, producing a more consistent air seal than the sliding weatherstrip contact of double-hung windows. This compression seal results in lower air infiltration rates around the sash perimeter. The practical energy difference between a quality casement and a quality double-hung in the same material and glass package is small but measurable, particularly in older homes where air infiltration is a significant energy loss component.
Can I replace double-hung windows with casement windows on the Main Line?
Yes, provided the new windows fit the existing rough openings. Casement windows are available in widths that fit typical double-hung rough openings. The exterior appearance changes from the traditional double-hung profile to a single hinged sash, which may or may not suit the home’s architectural character. On colonial and federal-style Main Line homes, replacing double-hung windows with casement units changes the architectural character of the exterior in a way that most homeowners find undesirable. In craftsman and contemporary homes, the substitution is often architecturally appropriate.
What is the best window for a kitchen above the sink on the Main Line?
A double-hung with tilt-in sashes or a casement window is both a practical choice for kitchen sink locations. The tilt-in double-hung allows cleaning of the exterior glass without going outside, which is particularly valuable for second-story kitchens or kitchens where exterior access is difficult. A casement window with a crank operator can be opened without reaching across the counter and directs airflow into the kitchen effectively. Picture windows at kitchen sink locations are also popular when a garden view is the priority and ventilation is handled by another means.
Do bay windows add value to Main Line homes?
Yes. Bay windows are a recognized architectural feature that adds visual depth to a room, increases natural light from multiple directions, and creates an interior focal point that buyers respond to positively. In dining rooms and bedrooms of older Main Line homes where bay windows were part of the original character, replacing a failed bay with a quality new unit maintains the property’s architectural integrity. On homes without existing bay windows, adding one in the right location can improve both the living experience and the resale perception.
How many windows can be replaced in a day on the Main Line?
A professional installation crew typically installs 8 to 12 standard double-hung windows per day. A complete replacement of 15 to 18 windows on an average Main Line home is usually accomplished in one to two days of installation work. Specialty windows, including bays, bows, and architectural shapes, take longer per unit. The manufacturing lead time for windows after measurements are taken is typically two to six weeks depending on material, style, and any custom specifications.
Should windows be replaced before or after exterior painting?
Windows should be replaced before exterior painting if possible. New window installation requires some exterior finish work around each opening, and completing this work before painting allows the painter to finish all trim and around all windows simultaneously. Replacing windows after fresh paint has been applied requires disrupting the new finish at each opening and matching the new trim work to the existing paint. For coordinated projects, Hynes Construction can advise on the optimal sequencing of window replacement and painting work.
What window style is best for a finished basement on the Main Line?
Finished basement windows on Main Line homes are most commonly hopper windows (hinged at the bottom, opening inward from the top) in vinyl or fiberglass. Egress windows in habitable basement rooms must meet minimum opening dimensions specified by the Pennsylvania building code: minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, minimum clear height of 24 inches, and minimum clear width of 20 inches. Casement windows are the most common egress-compliant window style for finished basement applications.
How do I choose between picture windows and double-hung windows for my living room?
If the living room has other operable windows providing ventilation and the objective for the primary window is maximum light and an unobstructed view, a picture window is the right choice. If the living room’s primary window is the main source of ventilation for the room and the ability to open the window is functionally important, a double-hung or casement window is more appropriate. On colonial and traditional Main Line homes where the exterior appearance of operable windows is an architectural expectation, double-hung windows maintain character that a fixed picture window of the same size would not.
We serve homeowners in Ardmore, Wayne, Bryn Mawr, Havertown, Villanova, Haverford, Devon, and communities throughout Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. To schedule your free window style consultation, call 610-880-3890 or visit our contact page.
