Hopper Replacement Windows for Basements and Below-Grade Openings
Hinged at the bottom, opens inward. The right answer for basements, foundation-line openings, and secondary ventilation where standard styles don't fit.
Signs Your Hopper Has Aged Out
The patterns that tell you it's time. None subtle once you're looking for them.
Spot one or two? Time to call. We'll come measure and tell you straight whether it's a fix or a full replacement — no pressure.
- Symptom
Water seeping at the bottom track
Bottom-hinged windows below grade are exposed to water at the most vulnerable point — the hinge line. Water seepage means the seal has failed.
- Symptom
Sash won't latch closed at the top
Hopper latches at the top of the sash. When the latch won't engage, the seal can't pull tight.
- Symptom
Visible frame rot in basement openings
Below-grade openings are humid year-round. Original wood-frame hoppers in unfinished basements often have rot at the sill and lower jambs.
- Symptom
Foam insulation cracked at the foundation line
Basement hoppers sit at the foundation transition where settling cracks open up over decades. The original foam packed around the unit no longer seals — air and moisture infiltrate.
How We Install Hopper Windows
Basement hoppers sit at the foundation transition — waterproofing matters as much as the window itself. We verify drainage, flash the rough opening, and seal the foundation interface before the unit goes in.
- 0LAYERS · MUST AGREEMeasure, material, installStat 1
- 0SQ FT · EGRESSTypical residential code minimumStat 2
- 0SUBS · OUR CREWWe don't subcontractStat 3
MEASURE
Below-Grade + Drainage Verification
Hopper installation in a below-grade opening is as much about waterproofing as the window. We verify the well drainage clears, the sill flashing is intact, and the rough opening is sealed against capillary moisture before the unit goes in.
- Below-grade well drainage verified
- Sill flashing inspected
- Capillary moisture sealed
- Custom-fit every opening
MATERIAL
Vinyl for Humidity Resistance
Basements stay humid year-round. Vinyl is the right material for finished basement hoppers — no rot risk and the cost-to-value is strong on a window that's mostly utility.
- Vinyl — basement standard
- Aluminum — utility-grade option
- Humidity-resistant frames
- ENERGY STAR® on premium lines
INSTALL
Waterproofing + Egress Code
Below-grade installs need waterproofing detail that flat-wall installs don't. We flash the rough opening, seal the foundation interface, and verify egress code if the basement is finished as habitable space.
- Flashed against water entry
- Foundation interface sealed
- Egress code verified
- Installation workmanship guaranteed
Manufacturers We Install
The names that show up when you ask any custom shop what they install. No house brands, no rebranded import lines.
Frame Choice for Hopper Windows
Basement hoppers see humidity year-round. Vinyl is the right answer for finished basements; aluminum-clad and wood show up only on specific architectural restorations.
- 0MATERIALS · COMMONFor hopper window unitsStat 1
- 0YR · LIFETIMERange across these fourStat 2
- ALLENERGY · STAR® AVAILABLEAcross every line we carryStat 3
- Best ForMOST NC HOMES
Vinyl
Low maintenance, strong insulation, the most popular choice in this region.
MAINTENANCELOWINSULATIONHIGHLIFETIME25–30 YR - Best ForLONG-TERM DURABILITY
Fiberglass
Stronger than vinyl, holds paint, dimensionally stable in temperature swings.
MAINTENANCELOWINSULATIONVERY HIGHLIFETIME40–50 YR - Best ForHISTORIC HOMES
Wood
For historic homes or specific architectural styles where the look matters.
MAINTENANCEHIGHINSULATIONHIGHLIFETIME50+ YR - Best ForTRADITIONAL WARMTH
Aluminum-clad
Wood interior, aluminum exterior — durability with traditional warmth.
MAINTENANCELOWINSULATIONHIGHLIFETIME30–40 YR
Hopper Window Installation Across Eastern NC
Same crew across all six service areas. Click through to see how we work in your town.
- HQ · 0 mi
Nash CountyHopper Windows in Castalia, NCSee full Castalia page - 10 mi
Nash CountyHopper Windows in Spring Hope, NCSee Spring Hope service - 15 mi
Franklin CountyHopper Windows in Bunn, NCSee Bunn service - 20 mi
Franklin CountyHopper Windows in Louisburg, NCSee Louisburg service - 12 mi
Nash CountyHopper Windows in Nashville, NCSee Nashville service - 28 mi
Franklin CountyHopper Windows in Franklinton, NCSee Franklinton service
Franklin and Nash County.
We're based in Castalia and serve the towns and back roads between Raleigh and Rocky Mount. Six target towns, plus everywhere the back roads run.
Where are hopper windows installed in NC homes?
Hopper windows are bottom-hinged and tilt inward at the top, which makes them the standard pick for basements and below-grade openings where the wall is short and the sash needs to clear without projecting outside the foundation line. Common in finished basements, split-foyers, and secondary egress points in eastern NC.
Common Questions
The questions homeowners ask most. Tap to expand. If your situation isn’t covered here, the answer is almost always “yes — call us.”
- 0COMMON · Q&ACovered below — tap any to expandStat 1
- 0HR · REPLYTypical response timeStat 2
- 0ESTIMATEFree in-homeStat 3
Ready for a Hopper Window Estimate?
Free, in-home, written and itemized. We'll show up when we say we will.
- 1 hrAvg. reply time
- FreeWritten estimate
- 0Pressure tactics
- Mon–Sat · 9 AM – 6 PMReal humans answer
Start your free estimate.
Fill in name, phone, and service. We’ll be in touch within the business day.
No phone tree. A live person picks up immediately during business hours.
- HoursMonday – Saturday, 9 AM – 6 PM. Closed Sunday.
- ShopCastalia, NC 27816
- Service AreaFranklin + Nash County
“They came when they said they would, did the work in two days, and the final bill came in below the written estimate.”