Custom Order Wood Double Hung Windows: What to Know

Everything to specify when you order wood double hung windows built to your openings.

Custom Order Wood Double Hung Windows: What to Know

Double hung windows are a classic for good reason. Two operable sashes that slide vertically give controlled ventilation, easy cleaning, and a proportion that suits both traditional and transitional homes. When stock sizes do not match your openings, a custom order lets you keep the historic look while building the window to modern performance standards. Here is what to specify and why each choice matters.

Why Custom Over Stock

Older homes rarely have openings that match catalog dimensions, and many designs call for proportions that stock units cannot deliver. A custom order matches the exact rough opening, sets the sight lines you want, and lets you choose the wood and profile rather than accepting a default. The result fits the wall as if it had always been there, which is the entire point of custom millwork.

Key Specifications to Decide

Several decisions shape the final window. Choose the species based on exposure and finish, since denser woods hold paint and resist movement differently. Decide on the glazing, whether single insulated panes or true divided lites with muntins, which changes both appearance and energy performance. Select the balance system, traditional weights and pulleys or modern spring balances, and confirm the hardware finish. Each choice affects how the window looks, operates, and performs over the years.

Glazing and Energy Performance

Modern custom double hung windows can carry insulated glass while preserving a period appearance. If divided lites are part of the design, ask whether they are true muntins, simulated, or a grille between panes, since each option differs in authenticity, cost, and cleaning. Weatherstripping at the meeting rail and jambs is what stops drafts, so confirm it is part of the build rather than an afterthought.

Sizing and Measurement

Accurate measurement is the foundation of a custom order. The manufacturer should measure the actual openings, account for walls that are not perfectly square, and confirm how the window will be set and trimmed. A small error in sizing becomes a visible gap or a binding sash, so this step deserves care and, ideally, an in-person visit.

Finish and Longevity

The finish protects the wood and defines the look. A factory-applied, fully cured finish generally outlasts a field-applied one, and priming all six sides of each sash before assembly guards against moisture. Discuss whether you want a painted, stained, or clear finish, and how it will be maintained, since wood windows reward periodic care with a very long service life.

Ordering With Confidence

Custom wood double hung windows are an investment that pays back in fit, character, and durability. Work with a shop, such as Vertical Custom Supply, that treats each opening individually and documents the species, glazing, balance, and finish in writing. When the specification is complete and the measurement is exact, the window arrives ready to perform and to look as though it belongs.