Strassburger Windows and Doors

Window & Door Glossary

Argon	Argon is a naturally occurring gas, which properties include being a low thermal conductor and is used for thermal insulation in energy efficient glazed units.

Astragal	The astragal is applied to a double door, to the stationary/inactive door at the meeting edges creating a seal at the centre joint.

Awning Window	A single sash window that opens from the bottom on a scissor hinge.

Bay Window	Tthree or more windows, typically with a larger unit in the centre, mulled together on a 30 or 45 degree angle, projecting out from the exterior wall.

Bow Window	Four or more windows mulled together on a 10 or 15 degree angle, projecting out from the exterior wall.

Brickmould	An exterior molding applied around the window or door frame to project past the frame size.

Casement Window	A window with a hinged sash that swings out like a door, by means of a hinged operator mounted on the sill of the window.

Casing	Flat decorative molding that covers the interior edge of the jambs and rough opening.

Daylight Opening	The area of open or visible glass space.

Dormer	A structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and may enabe the addition of window(s).

Double Glazing	Set of two lites of glass spaced apart and sealed to form a glazed unit with an air space between each lite.

Double Hung	A window made of two movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which vertically.

Double Slider	A window which is made of two movable panels or "sashes" side by side, which slide horizontally.

Drip Cap	Exterior molding or capping mounted to the top of the window or door, creating a drain surface.

Egress Window	A window large enough for exit or entry in case of an emergency.

ER Rating	The Energy Rating (ER) value is calculated using a formula that balances a product's U-value with its potential solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and airtightness.

Fenestration	A term in reference to products that fill openings in a building envelope, such as windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, etc., designed to permit the passage of air, light, vehicles, or people.

Finger-Joint	A woodworking term referring to the joining of pieces of wood, creating a longer length or box corner.

Fixed	Non-venting or non-opening window or door.

Flanker	A window, door or sidelight unit which is mulled to the side of another unit. Typically the flanker is smaller in width than the centre unit(s).

Flashing	Exterior molding or capping mounted to the top of the window or door, creating a weather barrier between the frame and the wall.

Fold-Down Handle	Casement handle that folds down or collapses, allowing for window treatments.

Gasket	A strip of material used to create a seal between a sash and frame.

Glazing	Set of two or more panes of glass spaced apart and sealed to form a glazed unit with an airspace between each pane, also known as an IG Unit.

Grilles	A set of decorative bars added to give a sash the appearance of multiple lites.

Head	Main horizontal member at the top of the window or door.

Head Board	A flat board (typically plywood) fitting the interior contour of a bay or bow window, creating a ceiling.

Header	A horizontal member (the lintel) is supported by two vertical posts at either end. This very simple form is commonly used to support windows and doors.

Jamb Depth	Overall depth of wall system, where the window or door system is placed.

Jamb Extension	Interior moulding, typically made of wood or vinyl, to fill wall opening from the interior of the window or door, to the interior wall finish.

Jamb Liner	Component that covers the inside surface of and head of sliding windows and sliding patio doors.

Keeper	A latch typically engages another piece of hardware on the other mounting surface. Depending upon the type and design of the latch, this engaged bit of hardware may be known as a keeper or a strike.

Low-E Glass	Layers deposited on a window glazing surface primarily to reduce the U-factor by suppressing the passage of radiant heat.

Lite	Decorative glass with a frame, that is inserted in a door or sidelite system.

Masonry Opening	The opening in a masonry or brick wall to allow a window or door unit.

Meeting Rail	The centre meeting point of sliding sashes.

Molding	Trim for the perimeter of the frame.

Mortise	The mortise and tenon joint application has been used to join two pieces of wood, most often at an angle close to 90°.

Mullion	A structural element which divides adjacent window units. A mullion may also vertically divide double doors.

Mullion Cover	Interior or exterior casing to cover the mullion joint.

Muntin	A set of decorative bars added to give a sash the appearance of multiple lites.

Nailing Flange/Nailing Fin	An exterior molding applied to the window or door unit (or as a part of a brickmould). By nailing through the molding, the unit is held in place within the wall structure to allow installation to be completed, without the unit moving or falling out of place.

Panel	Typically refers to the slab or the embossing of a slab in a door system.

Pitch	The degree of the slope of the roof.

Pull Rail	A handle or grip on the sliding sash, enabling a slide function.

R-Value	An R-Value is the inverse of a U-value and indicates the resistance to heat transfer. The higher the R-Value number, the more insulative the product is. The R-Values given are in imperial units. Neither the U- or R-value account for heat energy from the sun (solar gain).

Return	An interior 'u-chanel' molding which accepts materials such as drywall, vinyl or wood, for building out the jamb depth.

Rails	Members of a sash.

Rough Opening	The opening created in a frame wall to receive a window or door unit.

Sash Balance	A hardware system which assists in raising and holding an operating sash in place.

Sash Lock	A latch system attached to the sashes, pulling the rails tightly together.

Scissor Hinge	Double arm hinge that opens via centre joint, pushing the sash out.

Seat Board	A flat board (typically plywood) fitting the interior contour of a bay or bow window, creating a base or window seat.

Shims	Wedges that are used to level the window or door within the rough opening.

Sidelites	Tall narrow sash on either or both sides of a door to allow additional glass for an entry.

Sill	Main horizontal member at the bottom of the window or door.

Simulated Divided Lites (S.D.L.'S)	An adhered strip to the interior and exterior of the glass, creating the appearance of multiple window panes.

Single Glazing	Use of single glass panes in a window.

Single Hung	A window made of one movable panel or "sash" at the bottom of the window, fixed at the top of the window.

Single Slider	A window which is made of one movable panel or "sash" that slides horizontally and one fixed panel.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient	The reading of how much heat is collected inside a home through the glass of windows and doors. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window transmits.

Sound Tranmittance Class	A sound rating system which ranges from 18-to-50 for glass, with higher implying better noise reduction. An average dual-pane IG unit has a rating around 30.

Spacer	Designed to improve the thermal performance of the windows, spacer bars reduce condensation, and permit assembly of insulating glass units by creating a spaced seal between two or three panes of glass.

Stud	Vertical framing members, typically made of 2x4's.

Sweep	A gasket applied to the bottom of a door slab to create a seal between the door slab and the door sill.

Tilt Slider	Operating sliding sashes that have a 'tilt shoe and pin' design, allowing the sash to be unlatched and swing in, typically for cleaning purposes.

Tempered Glass	Glass that has been processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments. It has increased strength compared with normal glass and will usually shatter into small fragments, rather than sharp shards, when broken.

Transom	Smaller windows placed above a door or another window.

Triple Glazing	Set of three lites of glass spaced apart and sealed to form a glazed unit with an air space between each lite.

U-Factor	The measure of thermal transmittance, incorporating thermal conductance along with heat transfer due to convection and radiation.

Vapor Barrier	A watertight material used in construction to prevent the passage of moisture through the wall system and the window or door.

Venting Unit	A window or door unit that opens or operates.

Visible Transmittance (VT)	Measures the amount of light the window lets through. The higher the VT, the more light you see. VT is measured on a scale of 0 to 1; values generally range from 0.20 to 0.80.

Wind load	Force exerted on a surface by moving air.