Residential Construction

Windows & Doors

* Source: (1) Carpentry & Building Construction / Feirer & Feirer (2) Sill to Sash: A Professionals Guide to Windows & Doors

Window Terminology
Windows are factory assembled as complete
units, often with the exterior casing in place.
The basic parts are the glazing, the sash, and
the frame.
Glazing refers to the clear glass or plastic
portions of a window. (the glass within each
section may also be called a pane or light)
The sash is the part that holds the glazing and
the frame is the fixed part of the assembly that
receives the sash.

Anatomy of a Window
1. Tracks
2. Screen
3. Mounting Flange
4. Exterior casing
5. Head jamb
6. Weatherstripping
7. Sash
8. Glazing
9. Muntins
10. Removable storm panel
11. Sill

Types of Windows
Casement

Have a single hinged side that

swings inward or outward
Outward-swinging sash does
not get in the way of furniture
and the wind tends to keep
push outward-swinging sash
against the weatherstripping
making a tighter seal.
Hardware consists of a rotary
opener, a hinge assembly, and
a sash lock.

Types of Windows
Awning / Hopper

Awning windows swing

outward at t he bottom.
A hopper window is
similar except that the
sash swings inward at the
top. Both types provide
protection from rain while
open.
Hardware includes
hinges, pivots, and sash
support arms.

Types of Windows
Horizontal Sliding

Resemble casement
windows in
appearance .
However, the sashes
slide horizontally in
tracks or guides,
located on the sill and
head jamb.

Types of Windows
Double Hung

Consists of an upper and

lower sash that slides up
and down in channels in
the side jambs.
Each sash has springs or
balances to hold it in any
position.
Some types allow the
sash to be removed or
pivoted for easy cleaning,
painting or repair.
Hardware includes one or
two metal sash locks.

Frame & Sash Materials

Any of the basic types of windows can
have sashes and frames made of wood,
metal, vinyl, fiberglass, or wood
composites.
Hybrid windows are a combination or two
or more materials

Wood
Clad-Wood Window

Wood window frames and

sashes should be made from a
clear grade of all-heartwood
stock.
Species commonly used are
ponderosa pine, cedar,
cypress, and spruce.
Some wooden windows are
referred to a wood-clad
meaning the exterior is
covered or clad in another
type of material such as vinyl
or aluminum. Wood-clad
windows never need to be
painted.

Metal
Made from steel or aluminum these windows are lighter
and less costly than windows made from other materials.
Require less maintenance than wooden windows.
Available with baked on or anodized finishes.
Are very common in some parts of the country and less
common in other parts, especially areas where winters
are cold as metal windows experience greater heat loss.
Also moist interior air has a tendency to condense on
metal windows.
The most efficient metal windows have two piece frames
separated by a thermal break.
Normally installed via a nailing flange.

Vinyl, Fiberglass, & Composites

Structural PVC Window

Windows with structural

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
sashes and frames are
easy to maintain.
The vinyl is colored all
the way through and
resists attack from
insects. The hollow
channels in these
windows are insulated
making them very energy
efficieint.

Vinyl, Fiberglass, & Composites

Window frames can also be made of fiberglass,
which is a polyester-based material reinforced
with very thin glass strands.
Like vinyl, they come in hollow and insulated
types. Fiberglass is stiffer and stronger than
vinyl.
Composite windows are made from a mixture of
polymers (plastics) and wood under pressure.
They have properties of solid wood but are more
decay resistant.

Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency of a window depends
on more than one component. For
example a window with energy efficient
glazing would still experience energy
losses if it had faulty weatherstripping.
Accurate ratings of windows compare
glazing, weatherstripping, materials, and
construction.

Standards & Certification

The Canadian General Standards Board or CGSB sets
the minimum durability on edge seals on insulated glass
units.
CSA in conjunction with the Canadian Window & Door
Manufacturers Association came up with a window
performance rating known as CSA-A440. This rating
considers a windows air tightness, water tightness, wind
load resistance, condensation resistance, forced entry
resistance, ease of operation, hardware, insect screens,
weatherstripping and finishes.
The National Building Code of Canada states that all
windows meet the CSA A440 standard. This standard in
updated yearly.

Standards & Certification

All windows sold in Canada also have an ER
Rating. This is a comparative performance rating
based on three factors;

Solar heat gains

Heat loss through frames, spacers, and glass
Air leakage

Standards & Certification

Finally windows sold in Canada will have a
IGMAC Logo on them. This stands for the
Insulating Glass Manufacturers of Canada and it
applies to the sealed unit only. It can be found
etched into the glass or the spacer between the
panes of glass.
IGMAC certified products will carry the logo and
the manufacturers name.

Glazing
In all provinces in Canada we now use insulating
glass windows in home construction (sometimes
called double-glazed windows). They are made
with two or more sheets of glass separated by
an air space.
The edges are sealed to trap air between the
sheets, which provides the insulation. Different
types of glazing are available.

Types of Glazing
Low-e glazing; also called Low-Emissivity, means that

the glass radiates less heat to the outdoors than regular

glass. In some types a special coating is applied to one
glass surface facing the air space. This can reduce
energy flow by as much as 50%.
Heat-absorbing glazing; contains special tints that enable
it to absorb large amounts of solar energy.
Gas-filled glazing; air between the glazing is replaced by
a heavier gas such as argon or krypton. The heavier gas
increases energy efficiency.

Weatherstripping
The main purpose of weatherstripping
around a window is to prevent air from
leaking between the sash and the frame.
It can be made from various flexible
materials such as foam and fibrous pile.
Over time it will loose its effectiveness and
must be replaced it must never be
painted or stained.

Residential Construction
Windows & Doors

* Source: (1) Carpentry & Building Construction / Feirer & Feirer (2) Sill to Sash: A Professionals Guide to Windows & Doors