Window Replacement & Sales

Accent Window- A smaller windows designed to lend stylistic impact to a primary window.
Accent windows are usually fixed, and often incorporate interesting shapes or obscure glass.

Argon Gas- An odorless, colorless, non-toxic glass that is 25% denser than air. Because argon possesses
very low levels of thermal conductivity, it makes an ideal insulating element when sealed between panes of glass.

Awning Window- An awning window is hinged at the top and swings out from the bottom, offering
controlled ventilation and an unobstructed view.

Balances- A system used to hold the operating sash open in any position and allows the window to be opened or
closed with minimal effort.

Brick Mould- The decorative moulding surrounding the exterior of a window or door frame to provide them with
the traditional look of a wood window or door.

Casement Window- An operable window hinged on either the left or the right, casement-style windows
open like doors. While some types open inward and others open outward, both provide excellent ventilation.

Cladding- Windows that have wood frames covered on the exterior and/or interior with a layer consisting of vinyl,
fiberglass or aluminum. This cladding provides additional protection for the window frame by strengthening its
resistance to outside weather or heavy inside usage.

Double-Hung Window- A popular type of operable window, double-hung windows consist of an outside
upper sash that slides vertically down and an inside lower sash that slides up. Often the window will house concealed
springs or weights to aid in opening and latching.

Double Pane- Also known as IGU, double pane glass contains two separate layers of glass separated by a
layer of air or argon gas. Double pane windows are significantly more energy efficient insulators than single-pane windows.

Energy Star©- A joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to provide reliable certification standards for energy-consuming and energy-insulating products. Windows and
doors with Energy Star© ratings provide exceptional energy efficiency, reducing both heating and cooling costs.

Fixed Windows- Also known as picture windows, these are stationary panes of glass set in a frame.
Excellent for providing light and views, fixed windows do not open and provide no ventilation. The minimal hardware
involved makes fixed windows an excellent choice for unusual shapes like trapezoids, half-circles, octagon, etc.

Flashing- Metal strip installed at the top of a window or door to direct rain and moisture away from the
frame and other protruding elements. Also known as head flashing.

Frame-The surrounding outside portion of a window or door composed of the head at the top, the side jambs and the sill
at the bottom.

Glazing- The process of applying a coating or film to a glass pane. Different glazes can add strength, tint, or heat-directing
properties to a window, depending on their composition.

IGU- Another term for a double-pane glass window.

Laminated Glass- A form of safety glass made by coating glass windows with a film of transparent plastic,
laminated glass is most common in automobiles and skylights. The layering of glass and plastic also makes laminated glass
an effective sound-dampening material.

Low-Emissive Glass- Also known as low-E, this is an energy-efficient glass coating that reflects the thermal
Radiation spectrum in visible light, keeping interior spaces warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Mirror Glass- Made by coating one side of a glass pane with a highly-reflective compound like aluminum
or silver, mirrored glass can be used as decoration, set into doors, or even used to create one-way reflecting privacy glass.

Obscure Glass- A generic term for glass that has been textured, patterned, or shaded to limit visible detail
and provide privacy. Shower doors are often made using obscure glass.

Operable Windows- This type of window comes with an opening sash, and includes styles like single-hung,
awning, and casement. Operable windows always include hardware for opening and latching the window.

Safety Glass- Constructed to resist breaking and minimize physical harm, safety glass should be installed
anywhere that offers the risk of someone walking through the window, or any location exposed to repeated impacts or vibration.
Safety glass is usually either tempered or laminated.

Sash- The moving part of an operable window.

Single-Hung Windows- Similar to a double-hung window, a single-hung model has only one moving sash,
not two. Also known as a vertically sliding window.

Single Pane- A window with a single pane of glass. This style of window provides significantly less
insulation than double-pane.

Sliding Windows- An extremely popular style of operable window that has one (or more) fixed panes and
one (or more) moving panes sliding in a horizontal track.

Tempered Glass- A form of safety glass, tempered glass is heat-treated during production, making it three
to seven times stronger than common glass. This process also causes the glass to crumble into coarse pebbles
when broken, rather than dangerous shards.

Tinted Glass- Designed to reduce glare and solar heat, tinted glass is usually colored with either gray or
bronze tones.

Transom- A window stacked above another window or door.

Trim- The lining around a window frame, trim provides both increased insulation and aesthetic
enhancement.

Vertically-Sliding Window- Also known as a single-hung window.