Archive for December 2016

A balance system holds the sash in place in any position. The block and tackle balance is a type of balance that uses both a block and tackle (a pulley system with a high-density nylon pulley and a moveable block) and a heavy duty spring within a rigid channel to counterbalance the weight of the…

Butyl is a synthetic rubber that is frequently used in the production of windows to seal the glass to the spacer. Butyl is highly impermeable to gases, creating an airtight and watertight unit. It is the most effective rubber for preventing gas transfer. It also ages very well, resisting degradation from chemicals, weather, and oxidation.

Fenestration is the placement and design of windows and other openings along a building’s wall. This can include the arrangement, size, proportioning, and construction of openings such as windows, skylights, and doors. The proper placement of windows greatly affects the ventilation and lighting within the building, as well as the attractiveness of the building’s exterior.

A fixed lite, also called a fixed sash, is a fixed and non-operative window—it cannot be opened. Fixed lites are useful in places where extra light is required without extra ventilation. They are also frequently used in conjunction with other windows to add more natural light or create a visually appealing window display. Fixed lites…

Fusion welding joins two materials into one unit by heating them past their melting point(s) with temperatures usually over 500°F. This creates a more secure bond than mechanically joining two pieces together using screws, adhesives, or other means of attachment. Mechanically bonded materials develop gaps, leaving room for water and air leakage and compromising the…

A glazing bead is a strip of trim (often vinyl or wood) that runs along the inside of a window frame and secures the glass to the sash. It covers the gap between the edge of the glass and the sash and improves the appearance of the window.

Grids, also known as grilles, are optional decorative bars that can be placed in or on a window horizontally and/or vertically to create the appearance of a divided sash. Grids are often customized to create an attractive design or to match the architectural style of a particular home. Colonial, prairie, and diamond grids are three…

Jambs form the sides and top of a window frame. They are the vertical and horizontal supports of the window. The vertical jambs are also known as “side jambs,” and the horizontal jamb at the top of the window is called the “head jamb.” In some windows, the jambs house other pieces, such as tracks,…

Krypton gas is one of two gases frequently used to fill the spaces between panes in double- and triple-paned windows. Like argon (the other gas used to fill windows), krypton gas is nontoxic, inert (nonreactive), colorless, and odorless. Krypton is slow-moving and denser than both air and argon. Krypton increases the energy efficiency of a…