I’m trying to figure out which type of vinyl window is actually easier (or less annoying) to put in—sliding or double-hung. I’ve watched a bunch of YouTube videos, but they all make it look like a breeze, which… yeah, not buying it. Last summer, I swapped out a single old wood window for a sliding vinyl one and it wasn’t too bad, except getting it level was a pain because my house is old and nothing’s square. Now I’m looking at replacing two more, but they’re double-hung style.
Is there really much difference in the install process? I hear double-hungs can be heavier and trickier to get plumb, but sliding ones seem fussier with the tracks lining up. For anyone who’s done both, did you find one way less frustrating than the other? Or is it just six of one, half dozen of the other? Curious what headaches (or surprises) folks have run into.
Yeah, I’ve found double-hungs to be a bit more of a pain, mostly because they’re heavier and awkward to handle solo. Getting them plumb in an old house is definitely trickier—my last one took way more shimming than the sliders. Sliders can be finicky with the tracks, but at least you’re not wrestling as much weight into place. Honestly, neither is “easy” if your frames aren’t square, but I’d take sliders over double-hungs for install any day.