Types of Window Construction

Windows The frame for a window can be made from a number of materials, all of which are impervious and resilient to weather or coated to be so.

Steel A steel extrusion shaped as a Z set in a timber surround. The glass is held in place either by wire clips with metal placement putty as the base and face putty over the top, or hollow steel glazing beads either screwed to the frame or clipped to studs in the frame.

Aluminium Anodised or powder coated as a finish. The frame is set in the wall and the glazing is set into neoprene gaskets within the glazing beads, in the form of extrusion to match the frame, clipped and held in place by metal studs.

Timber The frame is cut into its profile, sometimes with their sill attached or the sill being part of the cladding. The glass is held in place by laying it on the back of putty, holding it in place with glazing sprigs and finishing with a face putty.

Diagram of window parts Double Windows / Double Glazing A double window is two separate window sashes fixed to the same window frame. Double-Glazing consists of two sheets of glass fixed together with an air gap between, within the same rebate of the window frame. Both help reduce heat loss and increase sound insulation, but double windows increase sound insulation to a greater extent due to be increased distance between the panes of glass. With double-glazing the two glass panes are fixed together and the edges sealed. This is known as being hermiatically sealed. It can be made to suit the size of the window in most situations.

Definitions

Sash A frame in which panes of glass are set in a window or sometimes a door. The sash is usually referred to in sliding windows. e.g. opening sash, fixed sash Casement A window that opens on hinges, rather than sliding

Mullion The central vertical members that may frame a window

Transom The central horizontal member of a window Sill The horizontal member at the base of a window that forces water to run off and away from the building.

Bottom Rail The bottom horizontal member of a casement or sash

Top Rail The top horizontal member of a casement or sash

Vent Light An opening part at the top or bottom of a window, hinged at either its top or bottom rail. If hinged at the top it opens out and if hinged at the bottom it usually opens in.

Fixed light The glazed part of the window that is not hinged or opening. i.e. it is fixed in position

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