Sunday, May 3, 2009

Where Frosted Windows Should Be Used In The House


Frosted glasses are those which have been rendered opaque by a process which ends up making the surface of the glass rough.
It is simple but a sure way to install in places where privacy is needed like the bathroom. They come in different patterns and may include floral or geometric elements. There are several places where you can apply frosted glass both at home or business. You can choose to either purchase these glasses or make them at home.
The patterned glass can be used in ornamental windows and also in mirrors, glasses, vases and other glassware around the house. Frosted windows are used in bathrooms because they do not allow light in and do not allow people to see through it (they are opaque). It is believed to be an excellent privacy aid compared to using curtains or blinds; these make the room gloomy and somehow dark. A frosted window keeps the room lightened and comfortable to be in, it's friendly. One can also use frosted window in entry ways in urban areas for privacy purpose so that the passerby can not see what's taking place in the house.
You can compliment your home and add style by using frosted windows. But wait a minute frosted windows are no longer for bathroom alone, its true that it is the leading in frosted windows but some home owners have discovered other ways where these glasses can be used. There are a number of places where if used can really proof to be amazing. Its contemporary good looks have led to its migration to other areas of the home as well. If you are thinking of starting a home here are some few tips of how to go about frosted windows.
Glass furniture:- you can choose to go for the frosted glass furniture especially tables, desks and shelves. It creates an excellent compliment and you will avoid the colour scheme of contemporary interior design. You can buy the pre made furniture or if you are looking for something that is unique you can look for an experienced custom furniture builder to do the work for you, this is better because you can have the work done as you want it done.
Closet doors, cabinet doors and cabinet panels made from frosted glasses all are part of popular design trend. It creates a more appealing shadow colour and shape that makes kitchen door design or bedroom look great. Glass doors are known for creating wonderful texture, depth and colour where it previously lacked. At the same time frosted windows are known to maximize the use of natural light throughout as it conserves energy while providing barriers between two different living spaces at a time.
If you feel you need some originality, you can try etched glass, its more original than frosted glass, it can be used in entry way windows it brings personality to living spaces.

It is Remarkable What Glass Block Windows Can Do for your Home


Windows are ones of the best ways to provide your home with fresh air and sunlight. While there are many types of windows that can be used, some people like to use another type of material to provide them with sunlight. For this reason you can see glass block windows being used in groupings as alternative windows. These glass block windows are used mainly in places where you need light but the placing of windows would be inconvenient. For instance where two houses are in close proximity to each other using glass block windows as an alternative window is a good idea. While the proximity of the two houses will not allow for the use of a usable window, glass block windows can provide the needed light and ensure that your home’s privacy is still maintained. You will find that these block windows are ideal for using next to stairways. These glass block windows can be arranged in a manner that is attractive as it is practical for maximum light catching.Today’s technology has allowed manufacturers of these products to utilize only the best materials to produce high quality glass block windows. By choosing high end block windows you can ensure that your home has a good supply of light while the heat and energy status of your home is maintained.With the choice of a reputed glass block manufacturer you will find lots of helpful advice about installing your new windows in a way that is easy as it can be attractive. Some firms have instructions that you can download from the computer. This facility provides you with the means of seeing if you have the ability of doing this task yourself or if you need the help of a professional.The variety of glass block windows which are available on the market provides the customer – that’s you – with a rich choice of different types of glass block windows. You will find there is a line of block windows which are preassembled. These glass blocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes.This means that you should be able to find a selection of glass block windows which will meet your expectations. By installing some of these windows into your home, the areas of your home which used to be in the dark due to the inability of having windows placed there will now be airy and look spacious. It is remarkable what glass block windows can do for your home.

Wipe Tears From Weeping Windows


If your windows look sad, they might be weeping on the inside from condensation.Bad seals in double-pane windows can allow moisture to build up between the panes of glass. Temperature changes cause condensation or a “milky” appearance between the panes of glass
In some cases, Glass Doctor® can replace the glass, saving you the cost of a totally new window frame and the repairs to install a complete window unit. But in some double-pane windows, especially Insulated Glass units, you may need to upgrade your existing windows with new energy-efficient glass replacements.
An Insulated Glass (IG) unit must have two pieces of glass and an insulating spacer, which is a metal tube around the perimeter of the IG unit. A spacer is filled with a special moisture absorbing material called a desiccant - like the little bags you find in a shoebox with brand new shoes. The perimeter of the entire unit is sealed with a high grade sealant. As a result, IG units should never have condensation.
Some Windows are Drafty, Too
Next time you feel a draft at your windows, hold a feather next to the seals and joints along the window frame. If the feather moves a lot, the joint may be leaking.
The problem may be the window’s construction if the leak is between the frame and the sash. Measure the window to determine if it is square, plumb and level, and look to see if the window frame is twisted. If the window construction is poor or damaged, the glass panes may pull away from the window frame and the seals may fail.”
If the feather flutters only slightly or does not flutter at all along the seals and joints, move the feather slowly across the face of the window glass. If the feather moves a lot, there might be cold air moving down the surface of the glass. Energy deficient windows will be cold to the touch in winter. The window surface will cool the air next to it. Cold air will move down the window if the inside room temperature is much higher than the outside temperature. If the air is more humid inside than outside, the cold window glass also will cause condensation.
Condensation, temperature drafts and bad-seal drafts all can be solved by replacing damaged windows with high-energy efficient IG units. If you have an older home subject to frequent temperature changes IG units can help balance the indoor climate.
When you consider whether or not to repair or replace IG units, consult your local Glass Doctor for the options available. One pane of glass may be able to be repaired by Glass Doctor instead of replacing the entire IG window unit. Find a Glass Doctor shop on the Web at www.glassdoctor.com

Saving Energy Through Energy Efficient Curtains, Shades, and Other Window Coverings


If your windows are ancient and aren't doing a passable job of keeping heat inside your home in winter (or keeping it out in warm weather), maybe it is time to consider having new, energy saving windows put in. But new windows, especially good quality energy efficient ones, can be prohibitively expensive. This means that it can take a long time for them to pay for themselves in energy savings. For the amount of cash you would pay to replace the windows in a single big room, you can achieve almost the same energy savings with some basic weather stripping and by using energy efficient window coverings to eliminate heat transfer between your home and the out of doors.
Let's first review how windows keep the cold out in winter, and the hot out in summer. Windows reduce heat transfer in three ways: convection, conduction, and radiation.
Windows stop or reduce convection airflow between a room and the exterior, blocking heat from passing through the window along with the airflow. A leaky window, or one with cracks in the glass or broken putty, allows air through these openings, so heat gets out in winter, and heat sneaks in during hot weather.
Even the thinnest sheet of glass has some insulating properties, but if the glass is double-glazed and the space between the panes is an inert gas such as argon, the panes provide extra insulating value, which reduces heat transfer through conduction. Conduction is the type of heat transfer that causes the metal handle of a pot to heat up when you boil water in the pot; so you can imagine that a metal window frame, if not properly built, can conduct a lot of heat. Although you can't readily add extra glass panes to a window, there are other techniques to create extra still air spaces between the window glass and the room, which will increase insulation and reduce conduction transfers.
Radiation, the third type of heat transfer, usually happens when sunlight in the infrared spectrum travels through windows, heating the air inside, or when infrared radiation inside the room radiates out through the glass. Home energy auditors can actually take infrared photos of a house to illustrate where heat losses are most significant, and windows are often among the greatest sources of heat escaping from houses in winter.
How does knowing about heat transfer through convection, conduction, and radiation help you cut energy losses through your windows?
The first issue to tackle is convection. If your windows have broken panes, get them repaired. If you still have the old wood-framed windows with putty holding the glass in, check the pane for any peeling or missing putty. It's fairly straightforward to pry cracked putty out with a putty knife and put a fresh layer on in its place. If the wood of the window itself is rotten, or if the glass is hard to get out for replacing, you may not be able to avoid getting new windows, but if you can cut the minor air leaks, you'll have accomplished a lot towards minimizing energy losses and should feel some relief in your heating and cooling bills.
You might be surprised to know how much heat can travel out of a house in winter through the wood trim around a window. Just wait for a really cold day, put all the exhaust fans on in your house( kitchen range vent, bathroom exhaust fans, etc.), and run your fingers along the edges of window and exterior door trim on the inside of rooms. Anywhere you feel cold air coming in, you have a draft that should be sealed. It probably doesn't hurt to run a thin bead of clear or white caulking around window and door frames to cut this convection heat transfer.
The final thing to try to minimize convection heat losses is to use tape-on or Zip-Loc type window kits to close off any windows that are very drafty, or windows that really should be replaced but that can't be replaced because of your budget (or because you are renting the place). These window insulation kits are a good way to rapidly cut your heating losses in winter: the kits normally come with several sheets of 3 by 5 foot clear plastic, and a roll of double sided tape. (If you have many windows to cover you should purchase a 48" roll of the plastic and get the tape separately as you'll pay far less than buy buying several kits.) You measure and cut plastic rectangles slightly bigger than the window, run the tape around the window frame, remove the protective tape from the double sided tape, and then place the cut plastic over the window, sealing along the tape line. Blow dry the window plastic for five minutes, and it shrinks to form a tight, flat extra pane of 'glass' that is practically unnoticeable. This plastic can hold its flat shape for weeks, although you may find it needs an occasional short blow dryer blast to pull up the odd wrinkle in the plastic.
The next problem you'll want to tackle is conduction - heat being drawn through the solid materials of the window. In terms of energy saving window coverings, your goal here isn't really to stop this conduction - you can't usually change the materials the window is made of - but to add barrier layers between the window and the room to slow that conduction down. The plastic window insulation kits stop convection heat loss by eliminating drafts into the room, but they also eliminate conduction, by providing a layer of still air between the room and the window. A curtain can accomplish a similar task: when closed, the curtain traps a small amount of air between the curtain and the window, so that on a cold day the air behind the curtain naturally gets cold but the room itself stays cozy.
When you put curtains on a window to reduce conduction heat transfer, you need to consider convection currents within the living area. Hot air rises, and cold air falls, so if you install curtains you should ensure that the air currents are blocked, preferably at both the top and bottom of the curtain or blind. Otherwise, in cold weather, the cold window will cool the air between the window and the window covering, and that colder air will fall down onto the floor, drawing warm air from above the window covering down in front of the window in a continuous cycle. In summer, the flow runs backwards, with the air between the curtain and the window warming from sunlight, flowing up out the top opening, and drawing cool room air up towards the glass where it gets heated.
You can stop these air flows by having the window covering flush with the wall at the top and bottom, or by having the bottom touch the floor and by closing in the curtain rod area at the top.
If you have cloth blinds that cover the window frame, you can use Velcro tabs along the sides of the blinds that you then press into Velcro tape along the window frame; this completely seals the air space between the window and the blind, providing an excellent insulation barrier. Cloth blinds as well as curtains can use a similar technique but with magnetic tape in the fabric, and metal along the framing, so that the window covering sticks to the walls on either side of and below the opening.
Another method you can try to add an insulation barrier to conduction through the window is to buy cellular blinds, which are made in a honeycomb or cellular cross section, or other blinds that incorporate a hollow space within the blind (for example, air-foil shaped blinds). Cellular blinds when fully retracted take up almost no space and the cells are empty; when extended, they can add insulating value from R-2 (for single-cell blinds) to R-5 (for double-cell).
Window blinds can help address the third type of heat transfer, radiation, by preventing heat from radiating across the window pane (into the house from sunshine in summer, and towards the outside from the radiant heat inside in winter). The most effective blinds use light, reflective colors on the outside, so that sunlight is more or less completely reflected away from the room. Good blinds can reflect enough solar energy away from the window to reduce heat transfer by up to 45%, but they do very little to the R-value of the window, so have little effect in winter.
Roller shades, which have a spring mechanism and can be pulled up or down (we used to call these blinds when I was young) are a great barrier against radiation, and also provide good insulation to reduce convection air flows around the window that lead to conduction losses through the pane or frame. Roller shades, because they are placed so close to the glass, are better at reducing convection currents, especially if their sides and bottom are attached to the window frame (for example, by using side tracks). Unsecured shades can cut heat exchange by as much as 28%, while secured-edge shades cut it up to 45%. Shades that can be reversed, with one side dark and the other light, are ideal, because the light side can reflect the heat where you want it (outside in summer, inside during winter).
Awnings and overhangs are a good way to cut direct light from entering a room and heating it up in summer. Because the solar angle is lower in the winter, these window coverings only block the sunlight you don't want, letting the lower-angled winter sun warm your home.
Storm windows - which are found on many older homes - can be up to 50% more energy efficient than single-pane windows, provided the storms are sealed against drafts. So if you have old wood-framed storms sitting around in your basement or garage, you should use them each fall and take them down once winter has passed. If you have aluminum framed storms you can typically leave them up all year long; just don't forget to close the glass during the winter.
Windows make up such a small percentage of the surface area of a home, yet they are among the biggest potential sources of energy waste in a house being heated or air conditioned. So it's important to do anything you can to limit heat exchange through convection, conduction, and radiation. Just remember to set aside a portion of the money you save on lowered utility bills, so you can replace any worn-out, leaky windows

Window Terminology (a-j)


Window Terminology Aluminum-clad windows and doors: Windows or doors of wood construction covered on the exterior with extruded (EAGLE windows) or roll-formed aluminum. Has a factory-applied finish to deter the elements. The extruded aluminum adds structural capabilities to the product and helps eliminate warping and damage through handling. Anchor strip: Board around a window frame nailed to house framing. It also serves as windbreak. In newer windows, anchor strip may be plastic or metal. Angle brace: Wood member nailed across window frame at upper corners while frame is in a squared position in order to maintain squareness before installation. Argon: An odorless, colorless, tasteless, nontoxic gas that is six times denser than air. Replacing the air between two panes of glass with argon gas reduces temperature transfer, making the surface of the glass inside the house closer to the inside temperature. Astragal: The center member of a double door, which is attached to the fixed or inactive door panel. Apron: Inside horizontal trim located under the window stool at the bottom of a unit. Auxiliary frame window: EAGLE’s version of a fixed, direct set window frame where glass is set directly into a frame without a sash. Is used in the creation of geometric and radius windows. Awning window: Hinged at the top, this window has a single sash that swings outward from the bottom. Backband (also Backbend): Millwork around outside edge of the window casing, usually installed when the casing consists of flat boards. Balance: Device for counterbalancing a sliding sash, usually associated with a double-hung window, so sash may be held open at any given position. Usually a system of cords, weights, springs, spiral devices or block and tackle hardware. Barn sash: Plain sash for farm or cottage, used as a fixed, sliding, or casement window; generally installed in a rough frame for utility or temporary structures. Basement window (also sash, cellar sash): Wood or metal in-swinging sash that is hinged at either the top or bottom. Bay window: A composite of 3 or more windows that project out from the wall. Usually consists of one large center window with two flanking fixed or operating windows at 30, 45, or 90 degree angles to the wall. Bead (also bead stop; stop): Wood strip against which a swinging sash closes, as in a casement window. Also, a finishing trim at the sides and top of the frame to hold the sash, e.g., a fixed sash or a double-hung window sash. Bedding: Method of glazing in which a thin layer of putty or glazing compound is placed in the glass rabbet, the glass pressed into the bed, the glazier’s points (metal tabs) driven, and the sash is face-puttied over the points. Bottom rail: Bottom horizontal member of a window sash. Bow window: A composite of 3 or more windows in a radial or bow formation. Typically consists of casement win¬dows both fixed and operating assembled at 10 degree angles from the wall. Boxed mullion: Hollow mullion between two double-hung windows to hold sash weights. Box-head window: Window made so the sash can slide vertically into the wall space above the header. Brickmold: Standard outside casing around the window to cover the gap between the window frame and the opening. Nails are driven through the molding to install the window to the framed opening. Cabinet window: Projecting window for the display of goods, as in a retail store. Cameo window: Fixed oval window, generally with surrounding moldings and ornaments, often found on Colonial Revival Houses. Caming (Cames): Lead strips which bond small pieces of decorative glass in windows. Cap: Decorative molded projection, or cornice, covering the lintel of a window. Casement: A window with side hinges that cranks outward from either the right or left. Casement operator: A hardware device used to operate a casement window to any open position. Casing: Molding or trim available in many widths, thicknesses and profiles applied to the frame around a window or door to cover the space between the window frame and wall. Center-hung sash: A sash that pivots on pins in the middle of the sash stiles and sides of the window frame to allow access for cleaning from the inside. Check rail: On a double-hung window, the bottom rail of the upper sash and the upper rail of the lower sash, where the lock is mounted. Chicago window: A large fixed sash flanked by a narrow, often mov¬able, sash on either side. First used by Chicago School architects in the late l9th and early 20th Century. Circle top: A generic term referring to a variety of window units with one or more curved frame members, often used over another window or door. Cladding: Usually an aluminum or vinyl material fixed to the outside faces of wood windows and doors to provide a durable, low-maintenance surface. Clerestory window: A venting or fixed window in the upper part of a lofty room that admits light to the center of a room. Colonial windows: Windows with small rectangular panes, or divided lites, designated as l2-lite, 16-lite and so on. Combination window unit (also combination storm sash and screen: Window assembly containing a half screen and two glass storm panels; in summer the bottom storm panel is stored in the top frame, exposing the screen panels. Condensation: The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a window glass or frame that is exposed to cold outdoor air. Is controlled by limiting the amount of humidity inside of a room relative to the outdoor temperature. Corner window: Two windows meeting at a corner of a structure. Coupled window: Two separate windows separated by a mullion. Also called a double window. Cottage double-hung window: A double-hung window in which the upper sash is shorter than the lower sash. Crank handle: A handle that attaches to an awning or casement operator, used to open the venting window. Diffusing glass: Glass with an irregular surface for scattering light; used for privacy or to reduce glare. Diocletian window: Semi-circular window divided by wide mullions into three lights (lites). This ancient Roman style was later used by Palladio in the 16th century. Also called a Therm. Used in Classical Revival buildings of the early 1900s. Dormer window: A space which projects from the roof of a house, usually including one or more windows. Double-hung window: A window with two vertically moving sashes, each closing a different part of the window. Double windows (also double glazing): Two windows, such as a regular window plus a storm sash; also an insulating window with air space between glass panes. Drip cap: Horizontal exterior molding to divert water from the top casing so water drips beyond the outside of the frame. Drop window: Vertical window in which the sash can descend into a cavity in the wall below the sill. Extension blind stop: Molded window frame member, usually the same thickness as the blind stop and united with it, thus increasing the width of the blind stop, in order to close the gap between the window frame and the rough opening in the house frame. Used to attach the window frame to the wood framing. Also known as blind stop extender or blind casing. Extension casement hinge: Hinge for a casement window which provides clearance for cleaning the two sides of the sash from the inside. Extension jamb: A board used to increase the depth of the jambs of a window frame to fit a wall of any given thickness. Extrusion: A form produced by forcing metal or vinyl through a die. Window and door frames are often clad with extrusions. Eyebrow windows: Low, inward-opening windows with a bottom-hinged sash. Usually attic windows built into the top molding of the house, the units sometimes are called “lie-on-your-stomach” windows or slave windows. Often found in Greek Revival and Italianate houses. Face glazing: Common glazing set with putty in a rabbetted frame. Fanlight (also sunburst light; fan window; circle-top transom): A half-circle window over a door or window, with radiating bars. Fenestration: The arrangement, proportioning and design of windows and doors in a building. Finger-jointing: A wood end-joint formed by a set of interlocking fingers, coated with adhesive and meshed together under pressure. Fire window: Window with fire-endurance rating specified for the location. Fixed light (also fixed sash): Window or sash which is non-operative or non-venting. Foil: Lobe on a leaf-shaped curve formed by the cusping of a circle or arch. The number of foils involved is indicated by a prefix, e.g., tre-foil (3); quatre-foil (4), etc. Foils are found in windows of Gothic Revival churches and houses. Folding casement: Casement windows hinged together so they may fold into a confined space. Frame: An enclosure or combination of parts which surround a window sash or door panel. French sliding doors: A sliding door which has wider panel members around the glass, thus giving it the appearance of a hinged French door. French window: Two casement sash hinged on the sides to open in the middle; sash extends to the floor and serves as a door to a porch or terrace. Geometric window: A fixed framed window made up of 2 or more angles (i.e., pentagon or trapezoid). Georgian window: A double-hung window. Glazing: The glass panes or lights in the sash of a window. Also the installation of glass in a window. Glazing bead (also glass stop): Removable trim that holds glass in place. Glazing clip: Metal clip for holding glass in a metal frame while putty is applied. Glazing channel: Groove cut into sash for acceptance of glass. Glazing gasket: Special extruded plastic shape for attaching window glass to metal or masonry wall openings. It also serves as a cushion and insulator. Gothic-head window: Window topped with a pointed arch. Grille (or muntin bar): Usually removable for easy cleaning, grilles give the appearance of a divided window pane. Guillotine window: The first double-sash window, with only one movable sash and no counterweights or balancing system. A peg was inserted through a hole in the movable sash and into a corresponding hole in the frame. Its tendency to come slamming down led to the colorful name. Hanging sash (also hung sash): Sash hung on a cord connected to a counterweight. Head casing: Top or upper member of any element or structure. In windows, it refers to the top of the frame. Head flashing: Flashing installed in a wall over a window. Header: Supporting member or beam above window opening which transfers building weight above to the supporting wall structure on each side of the window. Head jamb (also head): All of the horizontal members that make up the top of the window or door frame. Hinged French doors: Hinged door(s) which have wider panel members around the glass. Hit-and-miss window: Two-part window with the lower sash containing movable ventilation panels. Hopper light (also hopper vent and hopper ventilator): Inward-opening ash hinged at the bottom. Impact resistant glazing: Glass specifically manufactured to withstand impacts from airborne objects or forced entry. Usually a type of laminated glass often used in coastal areas impacted by hurricanes. Insulating glass: A combination of 2 or more panes of glass with a hermetically sealed air space between the panes. The space may be filled with an inert glass such as argon. Interior glazes: Glazing installed from inside of the building structure. Jal-awning window (also awning window): Windows with several out-swinging, awning type units that pivot near the top of the glass and operate in unison. Jalousie: A shutter-type window with slats, which are either fixed or adjustable. Jalousie windows (also louvered windows): A window composed of overlapping narrow glass, metal, or wooden louvers, operated with a crank handle for adjusting the louver angles. Jamb: The vertical members at the side of the window or door frame. Jamb depth: Width of the window frame from inside to outside. Jamb liner: The plastic or metal track installed in the jambs of the window in which the window sash slide.

Window Terminology (k-z)


Window TerminologyKeeper: The hook-shaped piece of hardware that it is mounted on the inside sash stile of a casement window in which the sash lock engages. Knocked-down: Not assembled. Parts for a window frame pre-manu¬factured for assembly later on a job site. Label: A projecting molding by the sides and over the top of an opening. Label stop: Ornamental projection on each end of a label, sill, or sill course. Often takes the shape of a gargoyle or other decorative carving. Labeled window: Windows bearing fire-rating labels of Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL). Laminated glass: Similar to the construction of car windshields, this technique sandwiches a piece of transparent film or plastic between two panes of glass. Typically used for safety reasons because of its resistance to shattering. Also reduce noise transmission to the interior. Lancet window: Tall, narrow window with a pointed-arch top, often with leaded diamond shaped lights; characteristic of Gothic architecture. Lattice window (also lozenge): Window with glazing bars set diagonally. Lead light (also lead glazing; stained glass): Window with small panes of glass set in grooved rods of cast lead or came. The glass may be clear, colored, or stained. Lift: A handle or grip installed on the bottom sash rail of a double-hung window to assist in the raising or lowering of the sash. Light (also lite): A window; a pane of glass within a window. Double-hung windows are designated by the number of lights in the upper and lower sash, as in 6-over-6. Lintel: Horizontal member (wood, steel, or stone) over a window opening to support the weight of the wall above. A header. Loop window (also Balistraria): A long and narrow vertical opening, usually widening inward, cut in a medieval wall, parapet, or fortification for use by archers. Modifications appear in Roman¬esque Revival architecture. Low-E Glass: A term used to refer to glass which has low-emissiv¬ity due to a film or metallic coating on the surface of the glass. Usually constructed of dual, sealed panes of coated glass filled with pure inert gas to block ultraviolet heat, for cooling purposes, while reflecting room heat back into the room for heating purposes. LVL: Laminated Veneer Lumber – A combination of many pieces of veneered lumber glued together to give added structural capabilities. Often used in window or door frames. Masonry Opening: The space in a masonry wall left open for the window or door. Meeting rail (also lock rail): One of the two horizontal members of a double-hung sash which come together. A check rail. Meeting stile: The vertical member in a pair of stiles, as in abutting casement windows. Mold stone (also jamb stone): A stone that serves as a window jamb. Mortise: A slot or rectangular cavity cut into a piece of wood to receive another part. Mortise and tenon: A strong wood joint made by fitting together a mortise in one board and a matching projecting member (tenon) in the other. Mullion: A vertical member (usually wood or metal) to structurally join two window or door units. Muntin: Vertical or horizontal bars used to separate glass in a sash into multiple lights. Often called a grille. Nailing Fin: A vinyl or aluminum extension attached to the frame of a window or door which creates a positive seal be¬tween the window and the framed wall. Acts as an additional barrier against air and water leakage. Screws or nails are fastened through the fin to hold the unit in the opening. NFRC label: NFRC stands for the National Fenestration Rat¬ings Council. This non-profit trade group sets energy standards for windows - the NFRC label shows everything you need to know about the window you’re considering. North-light roof: Sawtooth roof with north-facing clerestory windows. Ogee curve (also ogee molding): Reverse flex curve commonly found in window moldings and trim pieces. Operable window: Window which can be opened for ventilation. Operator: A metal arm and gear attached to a window which al¬lows for easy operation. Palladian window: A large, arch-top window flanked by smaller windows on each side. Panel: Usually refers to the glazed panel or panels in a door frame. Parting slip: A thin wood strip separating the sash weights in the weight box of each jamb of old double-hung windows. Parting stop: A vertical strip on each jamb that separates the sash of a double-hung window. Picture window: Large fixed windows. Pivot window units: Window units in which the sash hardware is located near the midpoint of the stile or rail to permit sash rotation. Prime sash: Balanced or moving sash of a window unit. Prime window: Window with single or multiple glazing. A storm sash may be installed. Projected window: Awning type window that swings either inwards or outwards at the top or the bottom. The window usually may be cleaned from the inside. Quarrel: A diamond- or square-shaped glass piece set diagonally. A medieval term for small panes of glass set diagonally in Gothic windows. Queen Anne window: A window with small glass windows or lights arranged in various forms, usually only on the upper sash. Appeared l870s. Rail: Horizontal member of a window sash or door panel. Reglet: Plastic or wood molding put in a concrete or masonry opening for a uniform groove for a spline-type gasket to hold window glass. Reversible extension blind stop: An extension blind stop that is rabbetted to receive l/2 or 25/32-in. sheathing. Rough Opening: A framed opening in which the unit will be installed. R-Value: The measurement of resistance to heat transfer in a material. The higher the R-Value, the greater the insulation value. Sash: Framework of stiles and rails in which the glass of a window or door is set. Saddle bar: Light steel bar placed horizontally across a window to stiffen leaded glazing. Saddle bead: Glazing bead for securing two panes. Sash lock: A lock applied to the window to pull the sash tightly against the frame (casement) or to pull the check rails together (double-hung) in order to seal the sash from weather and for security. Single-hung window: Window similar to double-hung window, except the top sash is stationary. Seat board: A flat board cut to fit the contour of a bow or bay window and installed between the sill and the wall surface, providing a seat or a shelf space for plants, etc. Shading coefficient: Decimal value which is the solar gain of a window, divided by the solar gain for a clear single-glass window of the same size. The shading coefficient of clear, double-glazing is about 0.85 to 0.9. Side light: A fixed, often narrow glass window next to a door opening or window opening. Sill: Horizontal member at the bottom of the window frame. Simulated divided lights: A method in constructing windows or doors in which muntins are fixed to the inside and outside of the insulated glass panel to simulate the look of a true divided light. Modern Divided Light® in EAGLE terminology. Single glazing: Use of single panes of glass in a window sash or door panel. Not as efficient as double glazing. Single-hung window: Window similar to double-hung window, except the top sash is stationary. Slide-by window: Windows which slide horizontally. Smartwindow: Generic term that refers to windows with switchable coatings to control solar gain. Solid frame: Window frame made from a single piece of lumber. Sound-insulating glass (also sound-resistive glass): Double glass fixed on resilient mountings and separated so as to reduce sound transmission. Splayed window: Window unit set at an angle in a wall. Stacked windows: Combined grouping of awning, casement, or non-operative windows to form a large glazed unit. Stile: Vertical member of a window sash or door panel. Stile Lug or Horn: One of two extensions of the sash stiles to support the upper sash of a double-hung window. Storm clip: Device attached to the muntin of a metal sash to stop the pane from moving outwards. Stool: An interior trim on a window which extends the sill and acts as a narrow shelf. Often seen on double-hung window. Stop: A wood trim member nailed to a window frame to hold, position or separate window parts. Tandem lock: A locking system which secures the window at two locking points by the operation of one lever. Tempered glass: Special heat-treated, high-strength safety glass which shatters into pebble-sized particles and not in slivers. Tenon: A rectangular projection cut out of a piece of wood for insertion into a mortise. Thermal break: A thermal insulating barrier between two thermally conductive materials. Transom joint: Horizontal member separating a door from a window panel above the door, or separating one window above another. Transom: Small window located above a door or another window. Top hung-in window: An awning window pivoted at the top and with the bottom swinging-in. Transom (also transom bar): Horizontal member separating a door from a window panel above the door, or separating one window above another. Triple glazing: Three panes of glass with two air spaces between, com¬monly consisting of an insulating glass with a separate storm sash. Also available in an insulating window in a single frame. Triple window: Generally refers to any tripartite group of windows with square heads. Found on Colonial Revival houses. Units suggest Palladian windows but are less expensive to construct. U-Value: Measurement of heat transfer through a given mate¬rial. The lower the U-Value, the better the insulation value. Venetian window: Same as Palladian window. Vertical sliding window: One or more sash that move in a vertical direction. View sash: Picture window with the lights divided by muntins. Venting unit: A window or door that operates or opens for ventilation. Wash cut: Beveled cut in a stone sill to divert water. Water drip: Molding sometimes used on exterior surfaces of an in-swinging casement sash to prevent water from being driven over the sill. Weather-stripping: A strip of resilient material applied to the perimeter of the sash and/or frame of a window or door to minimize the potential for water and air infiltration. Weep cut (also drip cut): Groove in the underside of a horizontal board or masonry unit which projects beyond the wall service below to prevent water from moving back toward the wall surface. Yoke: Head window jamb in a box window frame. Yorkshire light: Window with one or more fixed sash and a horizontally moving sash. Windload: The force exerted on a surface by moving air.

How Mobile Window Tinting Creates a Stunning Car


Riding in a striking black or red mobile is stunning. What commands more attention to it though is the perfect mobile window tinting I’ve had done recently. This automobile window tinting is undoubtedly a splendid feature in one’s car. Aside from turning heads, a glass window tinting protects you from the sun’s damaging UV rays and maintains your privacy. What’s more, it would be impossible for prying passersby to spy on your precious belongings through an auto glass window tinting. It would do you good if you invested on a car window glass tinting nd you’ll realize why in the long run. It pays to be meticulous when applying glass tinting on your vehicle’s windows. The film should be properly shaped and cut according to the size of the window. Once the film has been cut, clean the surface of the glass before applying the film using a film application solution. Use a spray bottle to spray the film solution on the glass then place the film onto it while the surface is still wet, so it’s easy to adjust and move the film. Gently squeeze out all the bubbles and excess solution trapped under the film using a plastic applicator covered with paper napkins. Use of paper napkins is recommended for it prevents the applicator from tearing into the film. Other tools required for window tinting film application are an extremely sharp knife, a pair of scissors, paper patterns, paper napkins, spray bottle, plastic applicator, and a mop usually made of lint free cloth and some good quality window glass-cleaning agent. Always start at the rear window when applying a window tinting film on your vehicle. The rear windows usually have curvy glass, which are quite difficult to apply film on considering the indefinite shape of the glass. The film needs to be cut across a pattern that is usually the window surface. If you want to create patterns for the rear hatch, cut strips of the window tinting film and then apply it. Be careful not to overlap the films at least 2 mm at all joints. You can easily achieve perfect window tinting for your car with the right tools and attitude. However important it is for your car to look good, don’t forget that your safety should always come first.