Glossary

Window e-Store makes every style of residential window available to you including single hung, double hung, slider, casement, awning, hopper, half round, geometric, and more.

• Awning – A top-hinged window that swings outward for ventilation.
• Argon Gas – An odorless, colorless, and non-toxic gas which is six times denser than air. It is used to replace air between the glass panes to reduce temperature transfer.
• Bay Window – An angled combination of three windows that project out from the wall of the home. The windows are commonly joined at 30- or 45-degree angles.
• Bow Window – An angled combination of windows in 3-, 4- or 5-lite configurations. The windows are attached at 10-degree angles to project a more circular, arced appearance.
• Casement – A window with a side-hinged sash that opens outward for ventilation.
• Double-strength Glass – Glass with a thickness of 1/8″.
• Double Hung – A window that has two operable sashes which slide vertically.
• Egress Code – The code that requires a minimum clear opening of a window for a person to exit or a firefighter to enter a building.
• Geometric – Specially designed windows classified as either Straight Line Geometrics such as rectangles, triangles, trapezoid, octagons, pentagons, etc., or Radius Geometrics which include Half-rounds, Quarter-rounds, Circles, Ellipses, Eyebrows, etc.
• Grids – Decorative horizontal and/or vertical bars installed between the glass panes to create the appearance of a sash being dividing into smaller lites of glass.
• Hopper – A window with a bottom-hinged sash that opens inward for ventilation.
• Intercept® Spacer System – Spacer system using a U-channel design to reduce the number of conduction paths from the exterior glass to the interior glass.
• KeepSafe Laminated Glass – Specially designed glass where two panes of glass are bonded to a durable inter-layer, providing increased safety, UV protection and noise reduction. If the window or door gets broken the glass will adhere to the to the plastic inter-layer, preventing glass fallout in the home. Perfect solution for security conscious customers and those living in areas where sound dampening windows are a necessity. Laminated glass is almost impossible to break into for a burglar and has a dramatic sound dampening effect making your home more insulated from outside noises.
• 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 and overall energy efficiency.
• Obscure Glass – Glass that has been made translucent instead of transparent allowing for greater privacy while still allowing light to enter.
• Oriel – A window with the meeting rail located below the center of the frame. Most oriels have a 60/40 configuration meaning the top sash is 60% the height of the window and the lower sash is 40%.
• Patio Door – A glass door that slides open and closed on adjustable tandem rollers. Available in 2- or 3-lite configurations with the operable panel available in any position.
• Picture – A window that has no movable sash.
• Sash – The part of the window which contains the glass. As an example: A single hung window has an upper and lower sash.
• Single Hung – A window in which the bottom sash slides vertically and the top sash is fixed.
• Single Window – One window per one opening.
• Slider Window – A window in which the sash moves horizontally. Sliders are available in a 2- or 3-lite configuration, with the 3-lite having operable end vents.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient – 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. In other words, the smaller the number the less heat is transferred into the home.
• Tilt-in/lift-out Sash – A sash that can be tilted to the interior and removed for cleaning and is manufactured by welding.
• Triple Pane Glass – Triple-pane glass features a single-strength pane of glass surrounded by two double-strength panes which creates a 1″ insulating glass unit.
• Triple Window – Three windows of the same size and configuration mulled together to fill one opening.
• Twin Window – Two windows of the same size and configuration mulled together to fill one opening.
• 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. Especially helpful in the winter when heat loss through a window needs to be eliminated or drastically reduced.
• Vinyl Windows – Vinyl windows are an excellent choice for new construction or replacement windows. They offer excellent thermal performance for lower utility bills. They are low maintenance – never require painting and resist dirt, never rot or require repainting like wood windows, and never pit or flake like aluminum windows. They can stand up to extreme weather conditions. Finally, vinyl windows add value to your home.