| A |
| Air Chambers | These are small spaces within the sash and frame which help to insulate and strengthen the window |
| Air Latch | This latch retains the window in a partially open position for ventilation but not security. |
| Argon | This gas is six times denser than air and replaces air between the panes to reduce temperature transfer. Its odorless, colorless, tasteless, nontoxic gas which is six times denser than air. |
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| B |
| Balance Covers | Covers the Balances in the double hung style windows. |
| Balance System | Mechanism for holding upright sashes inside the window using of a spring or weight to counterbalance the weight of the sash. |
| Balance Type | Balances for single hung & double hung windows provide a constant force to the single & double hung style windows so that the window stays where you have opened it to. There are different types of balances; block-n-tackle and coil. Both give you superior performance. |
| Bay Window | A combination of three windows that project out from the wall of the home. The windows are commonly joined at 30- or 45-degree angles. |
| Beveled exterior frame | An angled extension from the frame that adds an aesthetically-pleasing dimension to the exterior of the window. |
| Bow Window | A combination of windows that is similar to a Bay window but creates a more circular appearance. Unlike the Bay it uses 3 or more windows to create the effect. |
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| C |
| Cam Lock and Keeper | The mechanisms which pull the sash together when placed in the locked position. |
| Casement Window | A window with a side-hinged sash that opens outward for ventilation. |
| Condensation Resistance Factor | A measure of the effectiveness of a window or glazing system to reduce the potential for condensation. The higher the condensation resistance factor, the more efficient the window and glazing system. |
| Conduction | Energy transfer from one material to another by direct contact. |
| Convection | Heat transfer by currents that flow from a warm surface to a colder one. |
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| D |
| Dead-air space | The space between the panes of glass of an I.G. Unit. |
| Double Hung Window | A window that has two operable sash which slide vertically. |
| Double strength Glass | Glass with a thickness of approximately 1/8". |
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| E |
| Egress Code | The code that requires a minimum opening of a window for persons to exit or firefighters to enter a building. |
| ENERGY STARŪ | ENERGY STARŪ is an independent U.S. government program establishing a standard set of guidelines to recognize the energy efficiency of various products. ENERGY STARŪ guidelines are used in conjunction with a variety of building materials, including windows and patio doors. Over the past ten years, ENERGY STARŪ guidelines have helped double the efficiency of windows they endorse. |
| Equal Sight Lines | Having the sashes be the same size so that all lights of glass are the same size for every sash of the window. On some windows one or more of the sashes may be wider or higher than the other sash/s. This makes it so you end up with uneven sight lines. |
| Extrusions | The parts that make up the window frames and the sash frames. Are manufactured in long pieces and then are cut down to meet the required window size. |
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| F |
| FUSION WELDED FRAME/SASH | Fusion-welded frames provide much greater strength and durability than frames that are mechanically fastened together. Combined with other quality construction processes, fusion welding practically eliminates the possibility of air and water infiltrating windows at the corners. Fusion welding is a process involving heat and pressure. Four-point fusion-welded windows provide the best possible square joint. If done properly, these joints will be stronger than the original vinyl frame. |
| Fusion-welded | The process of joining materials by melting them together with extreme heat (over 500°F), resulting in the materials uniting into a one-piece unit. |
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| G |
| Glass | An inorganic transparent material composed of sand (silica), soda (sodium bicarbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric or magnesia oxides. Available Styles: Clear, Bronze, Grey and Tinted. Glazing - The process of sealing the glass to the sash. |
| Glazing Bead | A strip of vinyl which surrounds the edge of the glass and holds it in place in conjunction with other sealants. |
| Grids | Decorative horizontal or vertical bars installed between the glass panes to create the appearance of the sash being dividing into smaller lites of glass. |
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| H |
| Head | The horizontal top portion of the main frame. |
| Hopper | A window with a bottom-hinged sash that opens inward for ventilation. |
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| I |
| I.G. Unit | Insulating Glass Units are two pieces of glass (double pane) sealed together with a spacer providing a dead space of air or argon gas. They are considered a Unit because if the seal should break, allowing condensation inside the unit, the unit must be replaced. |
| I.G. Unit (Insulating Glass Unit) | Two or more lites of glass separated by a spacer and hermetically sealed at the glass edges. |
| Interlocking Meeting Rails | Is where the two Sashes, in either a horizontal Slider, Double Hung, or Single Hung meet. The rails (part of the sash frame) in the middle of either style window. When the window is closed shut they lock together. This meeting rail lock protects against prying between the two in order to open the latch lock. It also helps maintain a tighter sealing window. |
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| J |
| Jamb | Vertical sections of the main frame. |
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| K |
| Krypton Gas | An inert, odorless, colorless, tasteless, nontoxic gas which is about 12 times denser than air. It is used to replace air between the glass panes to reduce temperature transfer and deter convection. Used when a higher performance is desired than that produced with Argon gas. |
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| L |
| Laminated Glass | Two or more pieces of glass bonded together over a plastic interlayer. |
| Lift Handle | A handhold for raising and lowering the sash. Handle implies that the handhold is not continuous across the sash. |
| Lite | A unit of glass in a window. |
| Lock type | Cam-Lock is the mechanisms which pull the sash together when placed in the locked position. Having a window lock turn in a full 180 degree motion allows it to reach, grab & pull the other sash toward the lock, gripping the sashes tightly together and lessening both air & water penetration. & Positive Action A lock that has a spring loaded mechanism that self latch when venting sash is slid into closed position. |
| Low-E | Glass with a transparent metallic oxide coating applied onto or into a glass surface. The coating allows short-wave energy to pass through but reflects long-wave infrared energy which improves the U-value. |
| Low-E (Emissivity) Glass | Glass with a transparent metallic oxide coating applied onto or into a glass surface. The coating allows short-wave energy to pass through but reflects long-wave infrared energy which improves the U-value. |
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| M |
| Main Frame | The head, sill and jambs sections of a window. |
| Manufactured or Fabricated | A Manufacturer makes the window from raw resins with their own machinery from the beginning to the end. They design the window just the way they want it
A Fabricator on the other hand buys extrusions from Manufacturers (along with other required parts) then puts the window together in their "Factory".
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| Mesh | Fabric made of either fiberglass or aluminum, used in the making of screens. |
| Metal Reinforcements on Sashes | Metal reinforcements are installed on all four sides of the interior chamber of the sashes. This makes the window stronger, minimizes deflection of frame movement & creates 28% more resistance to impact. |
| Mullion | A vertical or horizontal connecting unit between two or more windows. |
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| N |
| Nailing Fin | An extrusion attached to the main frame of a window used to secure the unit to the rough opening. |
| NFRC U-Factor Rating | The National Fenestration Rating Counsel. Conducts tests for the Energy Star Program. The U-Factor is the rating for the entire window. The lower the number the better. |
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| O |
| Obscure Glass | Glass that has been made translucent instead of transparent. |
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| P |
| Patio doors | A glass door that slides opens and close on adjustable tandem rollers. Available in 2- or 3-lite configurations with the operable panel available in any position. |
| Picture Window | A window that has no moveable sash. |
| Pull Handle | A handhold for sliding the sash back and forth. Handle implies that the handhold is not continuous across the sash. |
| Pvc | vinyl windows are made out of a compound known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. . To aid the PVC through the dies, plasticizers are added to make the compound more pliable. While plasticizers aid in the production of the extrusion, they can have some adverse side effects as well. Plasticizers can make the vinyl itself very dense and brittle, thus making the final product susceptible to cracking and the effects of ultra-violet light. |
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| Q |
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| R |
| R-value | Resistance a material has to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the resistance. |
| Radiation | Wave energy transmitted directly from one object to another through the atmosphere or through transparent or translucent materials. The energy radiated is transmitted, absorbed, reflected or a combination of all three. |
| Rail | The horizontal sections of the sash. |
| Relative Humidity Condensation Point | The relative humidity level at which visible water vapor or other liquid vapor begins to form on the surface of the sash or frame, based on an inside temperature of 70E F and an outside temperature of 0E F. The higher the percentage, the more moisture the air can hold before condensation will occur. |
| Relative Price | Relative price lets you know how each windows pricing relates to the other windows on our site. |
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| S |
| Sash | The part of the window which contains the glass. |
| Sashes | The part of the window which contains the glass. |
| Screens | Are usually aluminum frames with nylon mesh. Some frames are extruded, have mitered corners and are rigid. Others are roll-out formed with plastic caps in the corners which make for a fairly flimsy screen frame. |
| Sill | The horizontal, bottom section of the main frame. |
| Single Hung | A window in which one sash slides vertically and the other sash is fixed. |
| Single-strength Glass | Glass with a thickness of approximately 3/32". |
| Slider Window | A window in which the sash move horizontally. Sliders are available in a 2- or 3-lite configuration, with the 3-lite having operable end vents. |
| Sloped sill | The sill of the window that has a downward slope to the outside. This sill has sufficient degree of slope to aid in water runoff. |
| Solar Heat Gain | The percentage of heat gained from both direct sunlight and absorbed heat. The smaller the number, the greater the ability to reduce solar heat gain. |
| Spacer | Material placed between two or more pieces of glass in order to maintain a uniform width between the glass, and prevent sealant distortion. |
| Spacer Type | The spacer is what separates the two panes of glass in a double pane window. It is sealed to the glass on both sides as to maintain an insulating dead air space. Foam spacers will typically increase the energy efficiency, however, the direct sunlight, along with the accordion of glass affected by temperature changes could result in deterioration of the hermetic seal between the two panes of glass. |
| Stepped Sill | An exclusive triple-stepped, sloped sill design. |
| Stile | The vertical sections of the sash. |
| Stucco Fin | An extrusion used in stucco home installations that is attached to the main frame to create a smooth, finished look for both the window and the stucco. |
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| T |
| Tandem Brass Rollers w/stainless steel axels | Brass is used extensively on boats, as it has an extremely high resiliency to corrosion, especially when exposed to high salt air environments. In addition, Brass can easily be cleaned & maintained. |
| Tempered Glass | Glass with a surface compression of not less than 10,000 psi, or an edge compression of not less than 9,700 psi. When broken, the glass breaks into pebbles instead of shards. |
| Tilt in Single & Double Hungs | Caring for tilt in Single & Double Hung is a snap with the Tilt in sash design. The windows tilt in easily and effortlessly for easy cleaning and full access. |
| Tilt Latch | Mechanism that unlocks the sash and allows it to tilt in from the main frame. |
| Tilt-in/lift-out sash | A sash that can be tilted to the interior and removed for cleaning and is manufactured by welding. |
| Total Unit U- and R-values | The U- and R-values of the window calculated from the average of the center of glass, edge of glass and frame U- and R-values. It is the reciprocal of the R-value. |
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| U |
| U-value | Amount of heat transferred through a material. The lower the U-value, the slower the rate of heat flow and the better the insulating quality. |
| uPVC | Unplasticized-polyvinyl chloride, or uPVC. Known as virgin vinyl, the "u" in uPVC stands for "unplasticized". With this compound, no plasticizers are added. Instead, other additives are mixed with the compound to provide protection from weathering & impact strength. The final product is stronger, longer lasting, and will fight the effects of Ultra-Violet light. |
| UV Block | The percent of ultraviolet rays blocked from being transmitted through the glass. The higher the number the lower the percentage of ultraviolet rays transmitted through the window. |
|
| V |
| Value Rating | : These windows were value rated by Advance Windows & Doors in order to give you some guidance in choosing your windows. Though the windows themselves support these ratings, incorporated are things not included on this chart, including warranty service, price, delivery, and local support. All the windows on this site are Lifetime Warranty. |
| Vinyl Type | Typically, vinyl windows are made out of a compound known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. In general, PVC can be difficult to push through the dies, in order to make the extrusion. To aid the PVC through the dies, plasticizers are added to make the compound more pliable. While plasticizers aid in the production of the extrusion, they can have some adverse side effects as well. Plasticizers can make the vinyl itself very dense and brittle, thus making the final product susceptible to cracking and the effects of ultra-violet light & Unplasticized-polyvinyl chloride, or uPVC. Known as virgin vinyl, the "u" in uPVC stands for "unplasticized". With this compound, no plasticizers are added. Instead, other additives are mixed with the compound to provide protection from weathering, impact strength, and aid in the processing of the material. The final product is stronger, longer lasting, and will fight the effects of Ultra-Violet light. |
| Visible Light Transmittance | The percentage of light that is transmitted through glass in the visible light spectrum (380 to 720 nanometers). The higher the number the higher the percentage of visible light transmitted through the window. |
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| W |
| Weather Stripping | Protects against air and dust infiltration. The more strips the better the protection. |
| Weather-stripping | Material used to form a weather-resistant seal around operable sash. |
| Weep flaps | A weep hole that is covered with vinyl flap that allows water to escape, while keeping insects out. |
| Weep Holes | Small openings designed to allow water to escape that might otherwise accumulate in a window's sill. |
| Weep Slots | Slots or holes in the sill (bottom) member of the sash frame that provides an outdoor release of infiltrated rainwater. |
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| X |
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| Y |
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| Z |
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