Short answer: most Port St. Lucie homes use single-hung windows and horizontal sliders, with fixed picture windows in living areas. Any of these can be built as impact or standard windows, in aluminum or vinyl frames, with the glass coating that suits each side of the house.
Window styles we replace
The style is how the window opens. It changes the look of the room, how much air you get and how easy the window is to clean. Here is how the common styles compare in a Port St. Lucie house.
Single-hung
The bottom sash slides up and the top stays fixed. It is the standard window in most houses here and usually the lowest-cost style to replace. A good choice for bedrooms and most walls.
Horizontal slider
One sash slides sideways. Sliders are common on wide, short openings and behind kitchen sinks, where lifting a sash is awkward. They are easy to open and have few moving parts.
Picture window
A fixed pane that does not open. It gives the clearest view and the most light, and it often sits between two operable windows. Large picture windows face the most wind pressure, so they need a higher rating.
Casement
Hinged on the side and cranked open. Casements seal tightly when closed and catch the breeze when open. They usually cost more than single-hung or sliders.
Awning
Hinged at the top and opened outward from the bottom, so you can leave it cracked in a light rain. Often used high on a wall or above a picture window.
Specialty shapes
Arches, half-rounds, transoms and other custom shapes are measured and built for each opening. They take longer to make and cost more than standard sizes.
Frame materials: aluminum or vinyl
Aluminum is the most common frame on Florida impact windows. It is strong and slim, so you see more glass, and it is usually the lower-cost option. Bare aluminum moves heat easily, so look for a thermally improved frame on sunny walls.
Vinyl frames insulate better and don't need paint. They are a little bulkier, and impact-rated vinyl windows use reinforced frames. On a hot west wall, a vinyl frame with Low-E glass is one of the better ways to cut heat coming in.
Close to the water, salt air is hard on hardware. If you live near the river, the lagoon or the coast, ask for stainless or coated fasteners and hardware, and rinse the frames now and then.
Colors, grids and glass
- Frame color. White and bronze are the usual choices here, and some makers offer more. HOAs often set the allowed colors, so check before you order.
- Grids. Grids sit between the panes for a colonial or prairie look, or you can leave them out for a clean view. Inside the glass, they don't collect dust.
- Glass tint and coatings. Clear, gray and bronze tints are common, and a Low-E coating cuts solar heat without darkening the room much. See energy-efficient glass for the ratings to compare.
- Privacy glass. Obscure glass for bathrooms and front-door sidelights lets light in while blocking the view.
How to choose for each room
You don't need the same window everywhere. Many homeowners put picture windows with slider or single-hung flankers in the living room, single-hung in the bedrooms, a slider over the kitchen sink and obscure glass in the bathrooms. Bedrooms also need a window big enough to climb out of in an emergency, and the measure checks that each new bedroom window still meets the egress rules.
Style affects the price: casements, large picture windows and custom shapes cost more than single-hung and sliders of the same size. Impact or not is still the biggest price difference. See window replacement cost in Port St. Lucie for estimates, and impact windows for how the ratings work.
Window style questions
What is the most common replacement window in Port St. Lucie?
Single-hung windows are the most common, followed by horizontal sliders. Most houses here were built with one or both, and replacing like for like keeps the look of the house and the cost down.
Is aluminum or vinyl better in Florida?
Both are used in Port St. Lucie. Aluminum frames are strong, slim and usually cost less, and are very common on impact windows. Vinyl frames insulate better, so they can help on hot west-facing walls. Near salt water, ask about coastal-grade finishes and stainless hardware either way.
Can I change the style of a window when I replace it?
Usually, as long as the new window fits the existing opening. Swapping a single-hung for a slider or a picture window is common. Making an opening bigger or smaller is a larger job that involves the wall and the permit, so ask about it at the measure.
Do bathroom windows need special glass?
Many homeowners choose obscure (privacy) glass for bathrooms. It lets light in without a clear view. It is available in impact glass too.