VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window

VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window in San Francisco, CA | Lightwell Windows San Francisco

The VLX 500 single and double hung window is a vertical-glide aluminum window built for San Francisco’s specific mix of fog, wind, and century-old architecture. It opens by sliding the sash up and down, and both sashes tilt inward so you can clean the exterior glass from inside your apartment or home, no ladder, no window-washing service. We’re Lightwell Windows San Francisco, an authorized ViewLux installation partner serving every neighborhood from the Richmond to Bernal Heights. We stock this series, install it to AAMA standards, and back our work with a real warranty. Call (831) 480-4124 to talk specs, lead times, or get a free measurement on the books.

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Product Overview – VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window

The VLX 500 is the window people pick when they want the clean sightlines of aluminum without the drafty, rattling reputation of older aluminum frames. ViewLux engineers this series with a polyamide thermal break separating the interior and exterior metal, which is what lets it hold an NFRC energy rating that actually means something in a city where the thermostat rarely moves but the fog rolls in nightly. The frame profile measures 2.36 inches wide, slim enough to keep glass area generous, thick enough to resist racking in a four-story Victorian or a mid-century box on Potrero Hill.

What really sells this window, though, is the way it lives day to day. Both sashes on the double hung version tilt in with a simple release, so cleaning the outside face is a matter of standing at the sill, not leaning out a third-story window over the sidewalk. For single hung units, the bottom sash tilts while the top stays fixed. The wall thickness runs 0.079 inches, which gives the extrusion real torsional stiffness. That matters in San Francisco, where uneven settling and decades of foundation movement mean a flimsy frame will bind or leak within a few seasons.

Architecturally, the VLX 500 fits homes from the Mission to Sea Cliff. It reads modern but not industrial, and the hardware is recessed enough that it doesn’t fight with period trim or contemporary stucco alike. Homeowners replacing wood double hungs in Noe Valley or the Castro tend to like that they keep the classic vertical proportions while losing the rot, the stuck sashes, and the annual repainting.

Technical Specifications

Here’s what the VLX 500 brings on paper, in plain terms. These are the numbers our installers work from, and the ones you’ll want when comparing bids across San Francisco window companies.

• Frame wall thickness: 0.079 inches (2.0 mm) extruded aluminum, thermally broken.
• Visible profile width: 2.36 inches, measured across the frame face.
• Glazing options: Clear, Frosted, Low-E, Tempered, and Laminated glass, with dual-pane configurations available.
• Frame finishes: Premium Black, Pure White, Anodized Silver, Bronze, Champagne, and Teak Wood grain.
• Screen choices: Half-screen or full screen, both with aluminum frame and fiberglass mesh.
• Operation: Single hung (bottom sash operable) or double hung (both sashes operable).
• Performance basis: NFRC-rated thermal performance, AAMA 2400/2410 installation standard, AAMA 812 perimeter sealing.
• Wind load: Rated to meet San Francisco’s exposure requirements, including higher wind zones near the coast and on exposed hillsides.

Performance Features

Thermal Efficiency. The polyamide thermal break separates interior and exterior frame halves, cutting the conductive path that makes old aluminum windows sweat and radiate cold. In a Richmond District flat with no central heat, that translates to a warmer window seat and noticeably lower gas bills in July and August, when the fog is thickest. NFRC-rated performance figures are available on request for your specific glass package.

Acoustic Performance. Living on a busy San Francisco corridor means bus noise, garbage trucks at 6 a.m., and the occasional street sermon. Dual-pane glazing with laminated glass drops that to background chatter. For homes on Guerrero, Oak, Geary, or any Muni line, we regularly specify laminated glass specifically for the sound control. Frosted and clear configurations also perform well, but laminated is the pick for noise.

Airtightness & Weather Seal. The VLX 500 uses a compression weatherstrip system along the meeting rail and jambs, not the fuzzy weatherstrip that flattens out in three years. When we install, we seal every perimeter joint with AAMA 812-compliant low-expansion foam, then cap the exterior with a compatible sealant. The result is a house that no longer breathes through the window gaps when the wind clocks 30 mph off the Pacific.

Waterproofing. San Francisco gets sideways rain. The VLX 500’s sill design includes a sloped drainage path and weep system that channels water out instead of trapping it against the interior. Combined with our AAMA 2400/2410 installation method, which includes sloping the rough opening sill pan and flashing at the head, you get a window that shrugs at a Pine Lake Park downpour rather than leaking onto the window seat.

Wind Resistance. Homes on Twin Peaks, Diamond Heights, and the outer avenues sit in some of the windiest residential zones in the Bay Area. The VLX 500’s extruded wall thickness and structural corners are rated for those exposures. We verify the wind-load requirement for your specific address during the estimate, so you’re not guessing whether the frame will flex when the afternoon gusts hit 40 mph.

Security & Hardware. The sash locks on the VLX 500 engage with a solid metal strike, not a plastic clip. Laminated glass is an option for ground-floor or street-facing windows where forced entry or impact is a real concern. It holds together on impact instead of shattering into a sheet of glass on the sidewalk, which matters on any San Francisco block with regular foot traffic.

Color & Glass Options

Six finishes, five glass types. That’s the VLX 500 palette, and it covers nearly every San Francisco architectural style without overwhelming you.

Premium Black is the default for modern remodels in Potrero and Dogpatch, where black frames against white stucco or brick read as intentional. Pure White suits painted Victorians and Edwardians where the goal is a bright, classic look that fades into the trim. Anodized Silver is the most natural aluminum look, and it’s the finish that best shrugs off salt air in the Sunset and Richmond. Bronze splits the difference for mid-century homes with wood-paneled interiors, and Champagne is popular in high-rise condos where a warmer metallic fits the building palette. Teak Wood is a wood-grain finish for homeowners who want the warmth of timber without the rot, repainting, and termite anxiety.

On glass, Clear is the economical default. Low-E adds a microscopic coating that knocks back radiant heat gain and UV fading. Frosted gives privacy for bathrooms and street-level windows without curtains. Tempered meets safety-glazing code for windows near doors, in wet areas, or close to the floor. And Laminated handles both sound and impact. Most San Francisco projects mix two or three glass types across the house, and we’ll spec each opening properly so you don’t overpay for glass you don’t need or under-spec an opening that needs tempered by code.

Installation by Lightwell Windows San Francisco in San Francisco

Window installation in San Francisco isn’t the same as window installation in a tract home in the Central Valley. The homes are older, the openings are rarely square, the stucco and shiplap and plaster all behave differently, and the building department wants things documented. That’s why the installation partner matters as much as the window itself.

Improper installation voids the manufacturer warranty. It’s the first thing we tell clients. A $900 window installed badly will leak in two years and ViewLux won’t cover it, because ViewLux didn’t install it wrong; the installer did. We’re an authorized installation partner, which means we’re trained on this exact product line and accountable for how it goes into the wall.

Our process starts with a pre-install inspection of the rough opening. We check for rot, measure the opening at three points per side, and verify the framing can carry the weight. Then we set the window level, plumb, and square, shimming at the corners and along the jambs so the sash travels true and the locks engage cleanly. The perimeter gets AAMA 812 low-expansion foam sealant on every joint, and we flash the head and the sill pan so water can’t migrate behind the frame.

All of it is done to the AAMA 2400/2410 installation standard, which is the one reference you want to see in a proposal. San Francisco’s exposure, with fog-driven moisture and marine air, punishes shortcuts. You’ll see the difference in a year, when the windows don’t whistle, the sashes don’t bind, and the paint around the frame is still dry to the touch after a storm. We leave the job site swept, haul the old windows, and walk the project with you before we call it done.

Frequently Asked Questions – VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window

What is the lead time for the VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window? Custom-sized VLX 500 units typically take 4 to 6 weeks from order to delivery at our San Francisco shop, depending on the glass and finish combination. Standard-size units with clear glass and common finishes may arrive sooner. Call (831) 480-4124 and we’ll check current ViewLux production schedules for your exact specifications.

Does the VLX 500 qualify for energy tax credits? In most cases, yes, when configured with Low-E glass and a qualifying dual-pane package, the VLX 500 meets current federal energy-efficiency requirements for window tax credits. The credit applies to the product cost and installation, subject to IRS limits, and we recommend confirming your specific eligibility with your tax professional.

What warranty comes with the Single & Double Hung Window? ViewLux provides a manufacturer warranty on the frame, glass, and hardware, and our San Francisco installation carries a separate workmanship warranty. The key is that the manufacturer warranty only holds if installation follows their specified methods, which is why we document every step of the AAMA 2400/2410 process. Call (831) 480-4124 for exact warranty terms on your configuration.

Can I customize the size? Yes, the VLX 500 is made to order, so you’re not limited to stock sizes. We measure every opening in your San Francisco home and order each unit to fit within an eighth of an inch, which is what keeps the thermal and weather performance honest. Odd-shaped and large openings are no problem within the system’s maximum size limits.

How do I maintain aluminum frames? Wipe the frames twice a year with mild soap and water, and keep the tracks free of debris with a vacuum or soft brush. San Francisco’s salt air can leave a haze on any metal window, but an annual rinse is usually all an anodized or powder-coated VLX 500 needs. The tilt-in sashes make cleaning the glass easy, and the hardware needs no lubrication beyond an occasional silicone spray on the balance tracks.

Get a Quote – VLX 500 Single & Double Hung Window in San Francisco

If you’re pricing the VLX 500 for a single window or a full San Francisco house, we’ll come measure, spec the glass and finishes, and give you a written line-item quote with no vague line called “installation.” We serve every San Francisco neighborhood, from the Outer Sunset to Noe Valley. Call (831) 480-4124 to schedule your free on-site measurement and get real numbers for your project.

Written by the team at Lightwell Windows San Francisco, an authorized ViewLux installation partner serving San Francisco, CA.