Air Infiltration The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows, and doors. Aluminum Clad Sill Heavy extruded aluminum over wood that provides a long lasting, weatherproof sill for StrongArm II Entry Doors Angled Welding Shaped windows of angles greater or less than 90 degrees are all fusion welded for strength, weather seal, and durability Arctic Vinyl Threshold Provides the ultimate long lasting thermal break for both the inswing and outswing sills. Argon A colourless, odourless, non-flammable, non-reactive, inert gas which acts as an insulator between the panes of glass in a sealed unit. Astragal The center member of a double door, which is attached to the fixed or inactive door panel. Awning Window An operating style of window with a sash hinged on the top, and swings open at the bottom towards the exterior. Balance A mechanical device, normally spring loaded, used in hung windows to counterbalance the width of the sash during opening and closing. Bay Window A three-unit combination window consisting of central picture or fixed window and flanked by a pair of windows set at an angle (usually 45 degrees).
Bow Window A type of window consisting of four or more window units attached at an angle to give an impression of a curve. Brickmould Decorative perimeter or border that encases the entire window and is visible from the outside of the house. Camlocks Locks sash to frame for air tightness and security. (One or two per casement, depending on height; two per awning). Casement Window An operating style of window with a side-hinged sash that opens from the side towards the exterior. Casing Molding of various widths, thickness and shapes applied to the framework of window and door units. Caulking A sealant used to seal construction joints, in order to prevent water and air infiltration. Centre of Glass Area (COG) The central area of a sealed unit making up 80 per cent of the glass area. Cladding An aluminum material locked to the outside faces of many products to provide a durable, low-maintenance exterior surface. Combination Window A combination of two or more complete window assemblies of the same or different types that are mulled or welded (v-weld) together.
Condensation Moisture formation on surfaces due to cold temperatures, high humidity levels, and poor airflow. Conduction A process of heat transfer whereby heat moves directly through a material by molecule agitation. Dew Point The temperature at which water vapour will condense as warm, moist air is cooled. Double Hung Window An operating style of window with an upper sash that slides down, and a lower sash that slides up. Drip Cap or Flashing A molding placed on the top of the brickmould or casing of a window frame. Dry Glazing A method of securing glass in a window frame with a dry, resilient gasket, without the use of a glazing component. Dual Pane An insulated glass unit consisting of two panes of glass held together by a sealant and a spacer bar. Edge of Glass The area within 10cm (2.5 ) of the edge surrounding the perimeter of the glass. Egress The space in which the operating part of the window requires clearance for fire regulations.
Elliptical Window Curved top half window that does not form a half circle since the curvature is less. Nor does the arch come down to the sill, but meets with vertical sides. Emissivity The rate at which a surface of a material radiates long-wave heat energy, usually referring to glass surface properties. Low emissivity results in less overall heat loss. Extended Half Round and Elliptical Window The sides extend to various heights beyond the curvature of the top. Extension Jambs Flat wood or PVC parts that are applied to the inside of the frame to extend it in width, which allows the frame to adapt to a thicker wall. (6 ½ or other special widths). Exterior Glazed Glass installed from the exterior side of the window. Finseal Weatherstripping A brush type weatherstripping that has a plastic mylar fin centred in the pile. Mainly used with sliders. Fixed Unit A stationary window or door unit that does not open. Flashing A thin strip of metal or synthetic material that diverts water away from a window or skylight. Flushbolts and Astragal Where a double door is desired that will have no restricting post when both doors are open. This movable, weather-stripped post is attached to one door and locked to the head and sill with flush bolts.
Frame The enclosing box of a window or door that surrounds a sash or sealed unit, consisting of a head, sill and two jambs. French Door Hinged door available in one, two, three, or four-wide combinations with up to two panels operating. Fusion Welded Corners (PVC) Equal to the extruded frame. 100% air and water tight. All frames and sash are constructed in this fashion in automated machines to produce a perfectly square frame every time. Garden Door Available two or three-wide, one panel operates as a door while the other panel opens window-style and comes complete with screen. On three-wide units the third panel is fixed. Glazing (1) The generic term for the transparent, or sometimes translucent, material in a window or a door. It is most often glass. Glazing Stop Used to hold the glass into the frame. Glazing/Glazed (2) Is the process of installing a sealed unit into a frame or sash using stops. Also refers to the type of glass used to make the sealed unit. Glider An operating style of window that has a sash which slides horizontally to open.
Grilles (Muntin bars) Dividing bars or muntins, used either on the surface or between panes of glass for a decorative appearance. Half Round Window True half round where the arch comes right down to the sill. The height is half the width. Head The top portion of a window or door frame. Head and Seat Attached to the top and bottom of a Bay or Bow window as an option where the wall is NOT framed to follow the angle of the window. Hopper A window unit in which the top of the sash swings inward. Inside Casing Available for half rounds or other curved top windows in laminated pine or oak. Insulated Glass Unit (IG or IGU) A combination of two or more panes of glass factory sealed using a spacer bar. Also known as a sealed unit. Integral Nailing Fin A prepunched fin that is part of the extrusion which allows for easy installation. Interior Glazed Glass installed from the interior of the building. Interlocking Mullion and Sash Where the sash joins the centre of the fixed mullion the two are drawn together by a beveled interlock that is double weather-stripped.
Jamb The side components of a window or door frame. Jamb Wrap (Painted Metal) Applied on the jamb between the brickmould and weatherstrip of a door frame. Lite Single pane of glass. Low-E Glass A type of glass consisting of a low emissivity coating on one side. A low emissivity coating significantly reduces heat loss in glazing combinations. Mortise A slot or rectangular cavity cut into a piece of wood to receive another part. Mortise & Tenon Joint Used at the corner of a wood sash to give strength and prevent sagging. Glued and machine squared for perfect fit in frame. Mullion An extrusion that joins windows. A sealant is applied between the units to prevent air and water leakage. A bullnose or profiled moulding is used on the inside and outside to cover this joint. Mullion Cover An extrusion that joins panning perimeter legs that extend over existing mullions. Multi-lock One camlock lever at the bottom operates multiple locking points to secure the sash to the frame.
Nailing Fin A vinyl or metal flange integrated into (or attached to) the perimeter of a window frame for insulation onto the rough opening header, jack studs and rough sill. Operator Refers to a door or a window that has an operable sash or panel that opens to allow passage or ventilation. Patio Door A sliding door comprising of a panel fitted with an insulated sealed unit, with one operating panel sliding horizontally to provide passage. Available in two, three and four wide units. Picture Window A type of window in which a sealed unit is glazed directly into window frame, without a sash. Polyurethane Core Doors are foam injected for high insulating value R15 R-Value A term used to express the insulating values of a material or unit. A higher R-value results in a better insulating properties. R-value is the inverse of the materials U-value. (R=1/U). Reinforced Steel Comes in flat or tubular form that is completely enclosed in the vinyl frame for very large window combinations to structurally enhance the window. Relative Humidity Humidity expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible humidity at a given temperature.
Rough Opening The opening built into a frame wall to receive a window or door unit. Sash A sub frame component that surrounds a sealed unit. A sash can be either fixed (nonoperating) or operating. Sash Balance A coiled spring or spiral system integrated into the jamb liners to allow double hung or single hung sashes to open and close. Sealant Hot melt butyl between glass and sash for air and water tight seal every time. Sealed Unit A combination of two or more panes of glass factory sealed using a spacer bar. Also known as a insulating glass unit (IGU). Shims Rubber setting blocks used to position the glass into the window to ensure it is level, square and plumb. Sidelite A narrow fixed or operating unit joined to the side of a door frame combination. Sill The bottom component of a door or window frame. Sill Track Snap-in extruded vinyl, covers drain holes and provides platform for sash rollers to roll on.
Simulated Dividing Lites (SDL) A decorative bar mounted on the exterior and interior of a sealed unit to provide the visual affect of dividing the glass into smaller units. Single Hung (Vertical) An operating style of window, with fixed top panel and a lower sash that slides up vertically. Skylight A window designed especially for roof installation, usually to provide natural light to interior building areas. Slider A type of window with one fixed sash, and one or two that slides sideways. Also known as a glider. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) The measure of how much solar heat gain energy a glass combination will allow to pass through. A higher SHGC allows more potential solar heat gain than a lower SHGC (see SunStop.) Solar Transmittance The percentage of total solar energy that glazing transmits through a window. Sound Transmission Class (STC) A rating measure for the ability of glazing to block out sound from outside sources. Spacer Bar The strip of material that maintains uniform separation between the layers of glass in the sealed unit of the window. Stops A window component that holds the sealed unit into a frame or sash.
SunStop A special Low-E coating designed to reduce the solar heat gain coefficient of glazing. SunStop glazing reduces UV rays, excessive solar heat gain, improves the R-Value, and allows a high percentage of visible light transmittance. Thermal Break A space or insulating material used to break highly conductive materials, to reduce heat transfer. Transom A window unit combined to the top of a window or door frame. Tri-pane A sealed unit consisting of three panes of glass separated with two spacer bars. U-Value A measurement of heat transmission (see R-Value.) Visible Light Transmittance The percentage of visible light that is transmitted through a glazing combination. The type of sealed unit, coatings and tints will affect the percentage of visible light transmittance. Weatherstripping A material used to create an air or water seal between operating components of a window or door. Wind Load The amount of pressure exerted by the wind on a window or door generally expressed in pounds per square foot.