Free in-home measure and quote - PGT, CGI and CWS impact lines compared on your actual openings, style by style
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterDouble Hung Windows in Los Angeles, CA | Meridian Windows & Doors
Double hung windows give you the classic vertical look homeowners have wanted for generations, but with hurricane-rated engineering behind the glass. Both the top and bottom sashes glide vertically and tilt inward for easy cleaning, while laminated impact glass protects your Los Angeles home from windborne debris without the need for shutters or plywood. Meridian Windows & Doors supplies and installs these impact-rated double hungs across PGT, CGI, CWS, ES Windows, ECO, and Mr-Glass lines, and we’ve been fitting them into Los Angeles homes of every architectural style since we opened our doors. Call (817) 686-2228 to talk through your project or schedule a free on-site measurement.
Product Overview – Double Hung Windows
A double hung window operates on two moving sashes instead of one. The bottom sash slides up to let air in, and the top sash slides down to let warm air out. That top-to-bottom ventilation is a real advantage in Los Angeles, where afternoon heat builds up near ceilings and cross-breezes make a noticeable difference. Both sashes tilt in toward you, so you can clean the exterior glass from inside the house, no ladder required.
What separates these double hungs from a standard window is the laminated impact glass. It’s built with a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer sandwiched between two panes, which holds the glass together even when it takes a direct hit. That’s the same principle used in automotive windshields. If debris strikes the window during a storm, the glass may crack but it stays in the frame, keeping wind, rain, and pressure out of your home.
Architecturally, double hungs read as traditional. They suit Florida ranch homes, coastal cottages, Mediterranean styles, and older Los Angeles neighborhoods where a vertical profile fits the original design intent. We build them in aluminum or vinyl, so you can match the look of your existing home or start fresh with a cleaner, low-maintenance profile. Meridian Windows & Doors installs every unit level, plumb, and square, following the same HVHZ-conscious discipline we use on all our impact products in Los Angeles.
Technical Specifications
- Frame materials: Aluminum or vinyl, selected for the exposure and structural demands of your specific opening.
- Glass options: Laminated impact glass (PVB interlayer), Low-E insulated glass, tinted glass, or clear glass, depending on the opening and your energy goals.
- Finish options: White, almond, bronze, black, and tan, available across most configurations.
- Screen options: Half screen or full screen, held in a clean frame profile that doesn’t fight the look of the window.
- Operation: Both sashes slide vertically and tilt inward for cleaning and ventilation control.
- Design pressure: Matched to your Los Angeles wind zone, up to +/-100 PSF, never higher than what your structure actually requires.
- Compliance: Miami-Dade NOA and Florida Product Approval numbers available per configuration; engineered to FBC High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements.
Every window is built to order. There is no warehouse stock of generic sizes here. We measure each opening, confirm the design pressure your specific wind zone requires, and submit the configuration for fabrication. That’s how we avoid the “close enough” installations that haunt coastal homes in Los Angeles.
Hurricane & Compliance Performance
Laminated Impact Glass
The core of this window’s protection is a PVB interlayer bonded between two panes of glass. Under impact, the glass fractures but stays adhered to that interlayer, keeping the building envelope sealed. You won’t need shutters or temporary plywood covers with this glass installed.
Miami-Dade NOA / Florida Product Approval
Each configuration carries a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance and Florida Product Approval number where applicable. These numbers are issued per specific size and glass package, which is why we verify them on your exact quote rather than quoting a single number that may not apply to your opening.
FBC / HVHZ Compliance
The frames and glass packages are engineered to Florida Building Code High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements. The HVHZ designation applies to coastal regions of Los Angeles where wind loads and impact resistance standards are stricter than inland areas.
TAS 201 / 202 / 203 Testing Context
HVHZ-rated products are tested under the TAS protocol family: TAS 201 for large-missile impact, TAS 202 for cyclic wind-pressure loading, and TAS 203 for forced-entry resistance. These tests simulate the real-world forces a window faces during a storm event, not just a static load.
Design Pressure for Your Wind Zone
Design pressure is a structural rating in PSF, not a wind speed. We match the DP rating to your specific Los Angeles wind zone, up to +/-100 PSF, never higher. In areas like coastal Los Angeles, the required DP depends on your exact address, building height, and exposure category.
Energy Performance
Low-E and insulated glass options are available for energy performance. In Los Angeles, the Low-E coating reduces solar heat gain during the long cooling season while still letting in natural light. We’ll help you weigh the tradeoffs between tint, Low-E, and clear glass based on your orientation and exposure.
Color & Glass Options
The finish you choose should work with the rest of your home, not against it. White and almond read as classic Florida, especially on stucco exteriors common throughout Los Angeles neighborhoods. Bronze and black are increasingly popular on modern and transitional homes, giving the window a more defined presence against lighter wall surfaces. Tan sits between those two worlds, offering warmth without going full white.
On glass, think about what each room actually needs. Clear laminated impact glass is the most straightforward choice, offering full light transmission with hurricane protection. Tinted glass reduces glare and solar heat gain, which matters in west-facing Los Angeles rooms that get hammered by afternoon sun. Low-E insulated glass adds an invisible metallic coating and an insulating air space, improving thermal performance without noticeably darkening the room. We’ll walk you through the cost and performance differences for each opening when we quote your project.
Installation by Meridian Windows & Doors in Los Angeles
We’ve seen what happens when an impact-rated window gets installed like a standard window. The frame shifts, the seals break down, water finds its way in, and within a few years the NOA-rated system performs no better than a builder-grade unit. That’s why our Los Angeles installation crew treats every opening as a structural job, not a swap-out.
The process starts with a pre-install inspection of the rough opening. We check for rot, water damage, out-of-square framing, and any existing moisture intrusion, and we flag problems before the new window goes in. Then we set the frame level, plumb, and square, shimming as needed so the sashes operate smoothly and the weatherstripping seats correctly. We seal the perimeter with AAMA 812 low-expansion foam, which fills gaps without bowing the frame, and follow AAMA 2400/2410 installation practice from start to finish.
In Los Angeles, coastal exposure means salt air and wind-driven rain are part of the equation. We account for that in how we flash and seal each opening, and we perform a final water test before cleanup. When permits are required for HVHZ jurisdictions, we’re familiar with the submittal process and can provide the NOA or Florida Product Approval documentation your municipality needs. If your installer can’t produce that paperwork, you’re taking a risk with your building department and your insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions – Double Hung Windows
Design pressure is matched to your specific wind zone, up to +/-100 PSF, never higher. Your exact rating depends on your Los Angeles address, building height, and exposure category. We determine the required DP during measurement and confirm it on your quote.
Typical lead time runs between 4 and 8 weeks from final measurement to delivery, depending on the manufacturer line and current production schedules. We’ll give you a written timeline when you order. Call (817) 686-2228 to get a current estimate for your project.
Most Los Angeles municipalities in HVHZ zones require product approval documentation as part of the permit package. We provide the NOA or Florida Product Approval numbers specific to your window configuration, and we can walk you or your contractor through what the building department will ask for.
Yes. Double hung windows are built to order, not pulled from stock. That means we match the exact rough opening dimensions, glass package, frame material, finish color, and screen option to your specific openings. Standard sizes exist, but custom sizing is routine for replacement work in older Los Angeles homes.
Keep the tracks free of sand and debris with a soft brush or vacuum, and clean the frames with mild soap and water. Avoid abrasive cleaners on the finish. The tilt-in sashes let you clean both glass surfaces from inside, which is one of the main reasons homeowners in Los Angeles choose this style over fixed windows. If a sash ever sticks or a balance needs adjustment, call us rather than forcing it.
Get a Quote – Double Hung Windows in Los Angeles
If you’re replacing windows in Los Angeles, start with a real measurement and a written line-item quote. Meridian Windows & Doors handles the entire process, from wind zone calculation to NOA documentation to final installation. Call (817) 686-2228 to schedule your free on-site measurement, or tell us about your project and we’ll get the ball rolling.
Written by the team at Meridian Windows & Doors, serving Los Angeles, CA with hurricane-impact windows and doors.
Detailed Images
