Double Hung Windows

Double Hung Windows in Fort Myers, FL | TruePane Windows & Doors

Double hung windows are the workhorse of Florida architecture, and for good reason. Both sashes move, which means you get breezes through the top and bottom of the opening. That cross-ventilation matters in Fort Myers, where afternoons linger in the low 90s and air conditioning bills climb with every degree. The impact-rated version gives you that traditional vertical-glide profile without the plywood-and-shutter scramble when a named storm enters the Gulf. TruePane Windows & Doors installs impact double hungs across Fort Myers, from McGregor Boulevard colonials to new builds in Gateway. If you’re pricing a replacement, call (239) 323-5522 and we’ll walk you through what fits your openings.

Call (239) 323-5522

Product Overview - Double Hung Windows

A double hung window looks like the windows you grew up with: two sashes stacked vertically, each sliding independently in its own track. The lower sash lifts, the upper sash drops, and both tilt inward for cleaning. What makes the impact version different is what you can’t see from the curb. Instead of a single pane of float glass waiting to shatter, each sash carries laminated impact glass with a PVB interlayer engineered to hold the glass in the frame under impact. That’s the core of the storm protection story, and it’s the same technology behind the PGT, CGI, CWS, ES Windows, ECO, and Mr-Glass lines we carry.

Architecturally, double hungs suit the older Fort Myers housing stock: the River District bungalows, the Sears catalog cottages off Palm Beach Boulevard, the 1950s ranches in Edison Park. They also belong on new construction when the elevation calls for traditional proportions. The frame is available in aluminum or vinyl. Aluminum gives you the slimmest sightlines and the longest service life in salt-air exposure. Vinyl gives you thermal performance and a lower price point. We’ve installed both, and we’ll tell you honestly which one makes sense for your house and your wind zone.

Technical Specifications

Every double hung we sell is configured to the opening, the elevation, and the wind zone. Here’s what the spec sheet looks like.

• Frame materials: Aluminum or vinyl, selected by exposure and budget
• Glass options: Laminated impact glass (PVB interlayer), Low-E insulated glass, tinted glass, clear glass
• Finish options: White, almond, bronze, black, and tan
• Screen options: Half screen or full screen, custom-fit to the opening
• Design pressure: Matched to your wind zone, up to +/-100, never higher
• Compliance: Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) and Florida Product Approval numbers available per configuration; engineered to Florida Building Code (FBC) High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements
• Sash operation: Both sashes glide vertically; both tilt inward for cleaning

Hurricane & Compliance Performance

Laminated Impact Glass - The heart of the system. Two panes of glass are bonded to a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer. Under a large-missile hit, the glass may crack, but the interlayer holds the fragments in place. The opening stays sealed. Water and wind stay outside. That’s the entire point of impact protection in Fort Myers.

Miami-Dade NOA / FL Product Approval - Each double hung configuration carries a Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval number issued per configuration. These numbers are what your local building department looks for during permit review. We verify the right numbers on your specific quote, not a generic brochure.

FBC/HVHZ Compliance - These windows are engineered to Florida Building Code High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements. HVHZ applies to Miami-Dade and Broward counties by statute, but Lee County and the city of Fort Myers have adopted many of the same standards for coastal construction. We build to the stricter standard because it’s the right way to do Fort Myers work.

TAS 201/202/203 Testing Context - The protocol family HVHZ-rated products are tested under. TAS 201 is the large-missile impact test: a length of lumber fired at the glass at speed. TAS 202 is cyclic wind-pressure loading: the assembly gets pushed and pulled thousands of times. TAS 203 is forced-entry resistance. When a double hung passes this sequence, the NOA number is issued. That’s the paper trail.

Design Pressure for Your Wind Zone - Design pressure is a PSF rating, not a wind-speed claim. Our double hungs are matched to your wind zone, up to +/-100, never higher. That means we don’t oversell you a rating you don’t need, and we don’t under-spec an opening that sits broadside to the Gulf. The spec follows the elevation drawings and the wind-load calculation.

Energy Performance - Impact glass alone doesn’t do much for your AC bill. Add Low-E insulated glass and it changes the heat transfer equation. Low-E coatings reflect solar gain, and the insulated air space slows conduction. In Fort Myers, that matters from April through October. We’ll quote the upgrade and you decide.

Color & Glass Options

The finish is the first thing your eye reads from the street, and the options cover most of what Fort Myers architecture asks for. White suits the crisp stucco and clapboard look across the older neighborhoods. Almond and tan warm up Mediterranean elevations and barrel-tile roofs. Bronze reads contemporary and hides salt haze well. Black frames are the current favorite on modern farmhouse and coastal-modern builds. Each finish is available on both aluminum and vinyl frames, so you’re not locked into one material for the color you want.

On the glass side, clear impact glass is the no-frills baseline. Tinted glass cuts glare and heat gain, which helps on western exposures. Low-E insulated glass is the energy play, pairing the impact resistance with meaningful solar control. The laminated PVB interlayer is present in every option. If you’re replacing windows in a Fort Myers home with afternoon sun beating on the back elevation, tinted or Low-E is worth the line item.

Installation by TruePane Windows & Doors in Fort Myers

An impact window is a system, and the system is only as good as the opening it sits in. The NOA rating assumes the window is installed per the manufacturer’s anchoring schedule and per code. When installation shortcuts happen, the performance claim goes with them. That’s the main reason we handle every TruePane install with our own crews rather than subcontracting it out.

The process starts with a pre-install inspection. We measure every opening, check the framing for rot or termite damage, and confirm the rough opening matches the approved product size. Then we set the frame level, plumb, and square, anchored to the FBC-HVHZ detail for the wall assembly. The perimeter gets an AAMA 812 low-expansion foam sealant, which air-seals without bowing the frame. Our installation practice follows AAMA 2400/2410 standards for field installation of windows. After the frame is sealed and the sashes are set, we run a water test on the opening and make sure everything operates clean before we pack up.

Fort Myers has its own particularities. Coastal exposure means salt air, which is why we check the anchoring hardware for corrosion resistance. Lee County permitting wants the product approval numbers on the submittal, and we help you get that right. HVAC and stucco details vary by house age. We’ve worked through enough Fort Myers openings to know where the surprises hide.

Frequently Asked Questions - Double Hung Windows

What design pressure is the Double Hung rated for? Design pressure is matched to your specific wind zone, up to +/-100, never higher. The right rating depends on the elevation, the opening size, and the building’s exposure, not a single number that covers all homes in Fort Myers. We calculate it, we don’t guess it.

What is the lead time for Double Hung Windows? Lead times vary by manufacturer, line, and finish. PGT, CGI, and CWS each run their own production schedules, and a custom color or non-standard size can add time. We quote lead times per order, not from a brochure. Call (239) 323-5522 for the current estimate on your configuration.

Does my Fort Myers permit require an NOA or Florida Product Approval submittal? Yes, in nearly every case. Lee County and the city of Fort Myers will ask for the product approval documentation when you pull the permit. We provide the NOA or Florida Product Approval numbers for your specific configuration as part of the submittal package.

Can I customize the size or configuration? Within the approved size range for each NOA-rated configuration, yes. Non-standard widths and heights are common on older Fort Myers homes where the rough openings were framed before modern standard sizes existed. We measure first, then we tell you what’s achievable.

How do I maintain the frame and glass? Wash the glass and track with mild soap and water. Rinse the track a few times a year, especially after dry-season dust settles. Salt-air homes near the Caloosahatchee or the Gulf benefit from a more frequent rinse. The tilt-in sashes make interior glass cleaning straightforward. No harsh solvents on the finish.

Get a Quote - Double Hung Windows in Fort Myers

If you’re replacing windows in Fort Myers, start with a measurement and a real quote, not a ballpark from a website. We’ll come out, measure the openings, and price the double hung that fits your house, your wind zone, and your budget. Call (239) 323-5522 to schedule a free on-site measurement.

Written by the team at TruePane Windows & Doors, serving Fort Myers, FL.