Double Hung Window Replacement — Measured, Ordered and Trimmed
Sash cords snapped, sashes painted shut, or tilt-ins that will not stay up. We replace the double hungs and finish them inside and out.
JMB Builders handles double hung window replacement across the Twin Cities metro from start to finish. We quote from your photos, measure each opening in your home, order the windows, remove the old sashes or whole frames, set the new double hungs level and square, insulate and seal them, and trim out the inside and outside. Priced per window, with a written quote within one business day.
- Priced per window, windows supplied
- In-home measure before anything is ordered
- Quote from photos in 1 business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
Double hungs are the most common window in older Twin Cities houses, and the most common one to give out. Original wood units have sash cords, weights and pulleys that break or get painted over. Newer vinyl units have balances that wear out so the sash will not stay up, and tilt latches that crack. When the sash is rotted, the glass is fogged, or the frame lets air through at the meeting rail, repairing it stops making sense.
A new double hung is only as good as the opening. We check that the sill slopes out, that the frame is sound, and whether the old weight pockets are empty cavities that need insulation. Then we decide with you: an insert that keeps your interior trim, or a full-frame unit with new trim inside and out.
What you supply
- Your choice of brand, color, glass package and grille pattern (we walk through options at the measure)
- Clear access to each window: furniture pulled back about three feet, blinds and curtains down
- Paint or stain color for new trim — Painting is quoted as a separate line — or leave it primed and caulked and paint it yourself.
What JMB supplies
- In-home measure of every opening before the order goes in
- The double hung windows, ordered to those measurements
- Removal and haul-away of the old sashes, frames, balances and weights
- Insulation in empty weight pockets, low-expansion foam and backer rod
- Sill pan and flashing tape on full-frame installs
- Interior stops or casing, and exterior capping or trim, matched to the job
- Photos of the finished windows in your job folder
How it is priced: per window
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Insert into the existing frame vs. full-frame tear-out to the rough opening
- Window size, brand, frame material and glass package
- Rot in the sill, jambs or framing found at the measure
- Second-story windows that need ladder or staging work
- Exterior finish: aluminum capping, new wood or PVC trim, or siding patch
- How many windows in the same job — per-window cost drops with more
Send one photo of each window from inside and outside, plus a close-up of a sill. Note which ones stick, fog or will not stay up.
How long it takes
Inserts: three to five in a day. Full-frame double hungs with new exterior trim: one to three a day depending on size, floor and siding.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Insert (pocket) double hung
The old sashes, stops and balances come out and a new double hung sets inside the existing frame. Interior casing stays. Best when the frame and sill are sound and square.
Full-frame double hung
Everything out to the studs, the rough opening checked and repaired, a new flanged unit set in a sill pan and flashed into the wall, then new trim inside and out.
Single hung instead
Only the bottom sash moves; the top is fixed. Fewer moving parts and a tighter top rail. A fit for windows you never open from the top.
Double Hung Window Replacement — Measured, Ordered and Trimmed: questions, answered
Is it worth repairing old double hung windows or replacing them?
If the sash wood is sound and the only problem is a broken cord or a sticky sash, repair is cheaper. Once the sash is rotted, the glass is fogged, or the whole frame leaks air, replacement costs less over time than chasing repairs. We look at both during the measure and tell you which windows are worth saving.
What happens to the old sash weights when you replace a double hung window?
The weights and pulleys come out and the empty weight pockets are filled with insulation before the new window goes in. Those pockets are open cavities that leak cold air in an old house. Leaving them empty is one of the most common shortcuts in insert installs.
Do new double hung windows tilt in for cleaning?
Most replacement double hungs sold today have tilt-in sashes, so you can wash the outside glass from inside the house. Tilt latches are on the top rail of each sash. We show you how they work before we leave.
Can you keep my original interior trim when you replace a double hung?
Yes, with an insert install. The new window sets inside the old frame and only the stops are replaced, so the casing, stool and apron stay. If the trim is damaged or the frame is rotted, a full-frame install with new trim is the better call.
Should I switch from double hung to casement windows?
Casements open with a crank and seal by pressing against the weatherstrip, so they tend to be tighter in wind. Double hungs keep a traditional look and do not swing into a deck or walkway. On a replacement you can change styles in the same opening; we price both when you ask.
How long does double hung window replacement take?
Insert installs run three to five windows a day. Full-frame units with new exterior trim run one to three a day. A typical house is done in a few days, and each window is closed up the same day it is opened.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
Related jobs we do
Insert Replacement Windows — Pocket Install in the Old Frame
The frames are sound, the trim is worth keeping, and you want new windows without tearing into the walls. An insert slides into the old frame.
Read moreFull Frame Window Replacement — Old Window Out to the Rough Opening
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Read moreWindow Company Didn't Do Trim? We Finish Replacement Windows
The new windows are in and they look great from outside. Inside there is foam, a gap and no trim, and the window company says that was not part of the job. It is part of ours.
Read more1.5 Story Dormer Window Replacement — Upstairs Knee Wall Bedrooms
The upstairs windows in the dormers are drafty and hard to reach, and the bedrooms up there are the coldest rooms in the house.
Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All windows pages
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Based in Zimmerman, scheduling across the Twin Cities metro. Closest first: