glossary of terms

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Annealed glass is ordinary glass, (also called “flat” glass) that has not been heat-strengthened or tempered. Annealing float glass is the process of controlled cooling to prevent residual stress in the glass and is an inherent operation of the float glass manufacturing process.  

Argon gas does not conduct heat as well as air, so it's an excellent insulator. Gas filled windows help prevent a buildup of frost at the bottom of the window during cold weather.   This lessens air movement in between panes, reduces condensation and results in less heat transfer.  Argon gas is cost efficient, and works in unison with Low E coated glass.    

An astragal is a necessary piece of a double door system used to seal the gap between the two doors when they are closed. The astragal is a T-astragal, which includes weatherstripping and is used in exterior door systems allowing both doors to fully open.

An awning window is a window designed with a sash that is hinged near the top on the sides allowing the window to swing outward from the bottom.  Awning windows do not meet building code egress requirements as the hardware obstructs exit. 

Individual windows mulled together that project outward from a home. Bay windows are typical three units with the side flankers projecting at a 30° or 45° angle. Bow windows are typically four to six windows and create a more curved appearance usually projecting between a 10°-15° angle. 

A Brickmould is an exterior trim that is typically used to finish and seal the openings of exterior doors and windows and provides an attractive transition between the door or window and the exterior finishes on the home.  It is also commonly used as part of the installation method. 

A wood buck (sometimes referred to as a window buck) is a length of pressure treated wood that is anchored into a wall opening where a window will be installed. Wood bucks are a critical component needed for the installation of your windows and doors. 

A handled lock used on an outswing door to pull the door slab tight against a frame for a better seal and added security.  This is commonly used on a garden door that vents outwards.

Caming is the grooved metal bars that hold textured glass and bevels in place, creating a decorative design in a doorlite.  Choose a caming finish that coordinates your door hardware, outdoor fixtures and interior furnishings to fit your personal style.

An interior cover/trim applied around a window or door that encloses the opening in wall around the window or door, keeping wall air out allowing the insulation to do its job. 

A window that opens  in an outwardly direction for ventilation. A casement has a sash hinged at the top and bottom which allows the window to swing open outwards at the side.

 Caulking around windows is when you seal off gaps and cracks around your window using a waterproof sealant. When thinking of how to protect windows against water infiltration, caulking around exterior windows is vital. Caulking also stops unwanted airflow through windows and frames. 

Cladding windows and doors helps to preserve the wood and improve its weather resistance.  It is made of Aluminum material attached to the outside perimeter of a window or door that also comes in color and is a low maintenance finish. 

Condensation is the process where water vapor becomes liquid.  It is the reverse action of evaporation, where liquid water becomes a vapor. Condensation happens when air is cooled to its dew point or it becomes so saturated with water vapor that it cannot hold any more water causing water to collect as droplets on a cold surface, such as glass, when humid air is in contact with it. 

Convection is the transfer of heat between the surface of a solid and a liquid or a gas.   Convection occurs when warm air flows up against the cooler surface of a window, forcing colder air away from the surface. The draft that you may experience is actually just heated air circulating through the home, pushing existing cold air off the glass.  

A "COMBO" or combination window consists of a combination of two or more window frames mulled together. A combo window is generally made up of a picture window and a functional window, although you can add any number of windows into the combination. You also have your choice of operation style so your window can open in the direction that works best for your space. 

Composites are simply a combination of two or more constituent materials with different physical or chemical properties (non-wood) that resist moisture and are less prone to warping or splitting on your doors.   

Space in between walls of vinyl extrusions or between glass in which air is trapped and provides insulation.   

A dentil shelf is a small shelf typically located under a pane of glass on the exterior of a door.  Used on a Craftsman style door.   

Used in a door insert,  glass that is used for more than just a functional purpose— it is designed to be decorative and change the look of the space in which it is used along with caming material.  

The temperature at which the air can hold no more humidity and it condenses to liquid. 

Sealed unit installed directly into the window frame as opposed to be glazed into a sash.   

Wood, or composite, materials.  "Jambs" enclosing the sides and top of a doorway to support a doorslab.  

Wood, or composite, materials used as the materials of the sides and top of a door frame.   

A doorlite is a door component consisting of glass panel with a frame that is fastened into a steel or fiberglass door, sidelight, or transom. The glass can be clear or decorative and is usually insulated for energy efficient performance.  

A drip cap is an L-shaped flashing or vinyl that goes over windows and doors after they're installed (but before siding is installed) to prevent moisture from seeping in from above. 

A u-shaped vinyl applied to a window to accept wood, drywall or any other materials to assist to finish the windows to the wall. 

Double-pane windows, also referred to as dual-pane or double-glazed windows, have two panes of glass, many with insulating argon gas between the panes. The additional layer of material, plus the insulating gap in between is what makes them stand out. Double-pane windows help reduce sound and improve energy efficiency. 

Egress is an unobstructed path to leave a building, structure, or space. It is by building codes for emergency escape and rescue in bedrooms which do not have an exterior door. Canada building code egress requires a minimum square footage of the clear opening of 3.79 square feet and a minimum clear opening height and width of 15” in both width and height.

A value demonstrating a window or doors balance between U-factor, SHGC and air leakage. The higher the number, the more efficient the product. 

A "voluntary partnership" between the Government of Canada and industry to promote energy efficiency.  For windows and doors, Canada is divided in to three zones. For more information visit http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/categories/fenestration/13939 

Fenestration refers to the openings in a building's facade.  Fenestration in design is concerned with a building's aesthetics.  Windows are one of the three main components of fenestration.  Window fenestration refers to the placement of windows on a building's facade.    From the Latin word, “fenestra,” meaning window.

Non-opening window that has the same glass sight lines as a venting window providing a balanced appearance. 

Flanker - A window unit placed at the end sides of another unit such as a "combo" window or bay or bow window configuration.  

Water resistant material that directs water to a drainage plane or to the exterior surface of a building.  

Insulated clear or privacy glass that is integrated into a door slab that provide a clean appearance.  

The outside dimensions of a window or door frame – commonly referred as OSM frame dimension. 

This term is used commonly used incorrectly in Alberta.  

A "french door" true meaning is a door with rectangular glass panes extending the full height of the doorslab.  The are also generally an interioer door only.  

However in Alberta it is also mistaken as an "Astragal Door", which is a Double door combination with both door slabs opening with and astragal post attached to the inactive side door, and flushbolts on the top and bottom allowing for a full wide opening of both doors. 

A sidelite of a door where the insulating glass is directly glazed into the door frame providing maximum glass. Also referred to as an open beaded sidelite. 

A full-frame window installation includes removing and replacing from the interior to the exterior trim of a window, completely to the rough opening. This is a more comprehensive method of replacement and the best install for maximizing glass space and overall opening energy efficiency.  This also allows the new window to be sealed to the building envelope (older homes never used sealants) and new insulation around the windows.

Double door featuring an outswing door for exit and entry and a lever/crank operated door allowing for ventilation with a screen. 

Grilles Between Glass (GBG) are color-matched grids installed between the glass panes, making them an attractive, easy-to-clean option.  Both interior and exterior glass surfaces are smooth to the touch.  GBG give the enhanced appearance of traditional grids, with the added benefit of easy cleaning.  

Glazing refers to the installation of glass in windows, doors, or any other fixed opening. Glazing can be referred to as any and all the glass within the structure or the installation of any piece of glass within a sash or frame.  

A vinyl, wood, or composite molding applied to the window frame or sash, or door slab, around the perimeter of the glass.  This holds the glass in place.

Foam glazing tape is a double-sided tape supplied with a pressure sensitive adhesive. Glazing tape is specially designed with high bonding strength for low-surface energy substrates including vinyl, aluminum and glass. It is used between the glass and the frame, or sash, to provide a watertight seal on windows and doors.

Grilles also know as (GBG) are color-matched grids installed between the glass panes, making them an attractive, easy-to-clean option.  Both interior and exterior glass surfaces are smooth to the touch. GBG give the enhanced appearance of traditional grids, with the added benefit of easy cleaning.  

Low profile aluminum door sill providing wheelchair accessibility. 

Hardware that restricts the width a window may be opened. This is typically used in windows installed in hi-rise buildings, hotels etc. 

The main horizontal member forming the top of the window or door frame. 

After the glass has been installed, a bead of sealant is used to bridge the joint between the glass and the sash or frame. This is a secondary line of defense against water penetration in a interior sealed window hidden behind the glazing stop. 

Hopper windows are typically a small, narrow window that opens from the bottom inwards and up. This type of window is commonly installed as a basement egress requirement in a bedroom only.  Not recommended for all windows due to lower performance ratings when compared to other windows.

When you choose insert window replacement, new windows are installed within the existing window frame.  It's an option when your existing wood or aluminum window frames are structurally sound and you want to preserve existing interior and exterior trim.  It is also considered a lower cost replacement option. 

These are doors that swing inwards towards the room. The hinges of these doors face the inside of the room and are not visible from the other side when the door is closed. The doorframe of inswing doors is placed on the outer side, preventing the door from being pulled open. 

IGU is an acronym for “insulated glass unit,” which refers to double- or triple-pane windows with multiple panes of glass that range from 1/8-inch to 3/8-inch thick. The panes are hermetically sealed and separated by a spacer and sealed to form one insulated unit to prevent condensation buildup, and they can also be filled with argon gas. 

A pvc component on a sliding sash window where  the sash and frame engage along their interface and pull tightly together to lessen air leakage at the mullion. This is a common feature in higher quality window designs. 

Refers to the depth of the wall from the finished drywall surface on the interior to the outside edge of the wall sheathing on the exterior. 

Vinyl, wood or composite component applied to the frame to help make the overall jamb depth required for a window or door. Also referred to as jamb liner. 

Foil lamination is an industrial process in which decorative foils are bonded to substrate materials in order to improve their appearance and feel. Foil lamination is particularly interesting for manufacturing companies, as the added value generated by this refinement process clearly exceeds the material and processing costs incurred. This means that a high-quality product can be produced with a good return on investment. Exterior durable vinyl laminate permanently adhered to the vinyl extrusion. 

Available in black only.   

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass consisting of two or more layers of glass with one or more thin polymer interlayers between them which prevent the glass from breaking into large sharp pieces.  Breaking produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern (radial and concentric cracks) when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the glass.  

A Service Inspection offered for a fee where a highly skilled Thermotek Employee will come to the residence and install all the screens and handles required for the windows as well as inspect all windows and doors for proper operation and give a detailed report to the homebuilder regarding any observations once the build is complete and prior to occupancy.  

Low emissivity, "Low-E" Glass has a microscopically thin, transparent coating—it is much thinner than a human hair—that reflects long-wave infrared energy (or heat). Some low-e's also reflect significant amounts of short-wave solar infrared energy. When the interior heat energy tries to escape to the colder outside during the winter, the low-e coating reflects the heat back to the inside, reducing the radiant heat loss through the glass. The reverse happens during the summer.  A very cost effective way to improve your windows.

The meeting rail is the portion of the window where both sash and frame meet to interlock together when the window is closed.  This is where the seal is created from the movable sash to the fixed unit.  

Individual window boxes joined, or mulled together, to make a combination window. 

 A mullion is a vertical  or horizontal element that forms a division between units of a window or screen, or is used decoratively. It is also often used as a division between double doors. When dividing adjacent window units its primary purpose is a rigid support to the glazing of the window 

Vinyl, wood or composite component applied to cover the joint between mulled windows or doors on the inside and outside creating a clean look.  

Multi-point lock systems contain: multiple locking points along the length of the window and door system.  Individually, these act as separate deadbolts, when engaged together they make up a locking system that guarantees your house is no longer threatened by intruders or subpar materials. 

NAFS is the North American Fenestration Standard (officially known as. AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S. 2/A440) that is used in Canada and the United States. It is a new fenestration standard to test and evaluate the performance of windows, doors, and skylights. 

Nailing fins, sometimes called nail flanges, are the thin strips installed  or extruded on the exterior sides of a window.  A nailing fin is usually set back from the outer edge of the window frame and has fastener holes punched into it. 

Obscure glass allows light through while blocking your view through the glass.  This glass provides additional privacy to the home.

OSM is the outside measurement of the window frame and refers to the height and width of the entire frame. 

These are doors that swing outwards from the home. The hinges of these doors face the outside of the room and are not visible from the inside when the door is closed. The doorframe of outswing doors is placed on the inside, preventing the door from being pulled open inwards.  

Non-venting, low profile window type that provide maximum light and view.  This is a great cost effective window.

The higher the privacy rating, the more private/non-transparent that particular decorative glass design will be. The lower the privacy rating, the exact opposite will occur.  

Polyvinyl chloride is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic. About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year This is the materials of which our vinyl windows are made of.

Vinyl exterior trim available in 2” and 1 ½” width applied to a window and used for full frame window replacements. A Cover Cap can be removed to install screws used to hold the window in place during install. 

The term R-value stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of the level of resistance to heat flow a given material or an assembly can offer as a result of suppressing conduction, convection, and radiation. The higher the R-value, the better an objects ability to resist heat loss. 

R-values are determined by inverting the U-value (R=1/U). 

Rake windows are windows with irregular angles and sides. Often used to mimic roof lines, rake windows are a great way to add visual interest and character to a home. 

A rough opening is the framed opening of a window or door that may be able to hold one or more windows and/or doors. Each rough opening is counted as one window and/or door. 

A window sash is a part of the window that surrounds the glass and holds the glass in place in the window frame. Window sashes are moveable. 

Simulated divided lites that are permanently applied to the outside and inside of the glass to replicate the look of authentic divided lites. 

Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, door, or skylight -- either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and subsequently released as heat inside a home. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater its shading ability. 

A shim is a thin and often tapered or wedged piece of material, used to fill small gaps or spaces between windows and doors. Shims are typically used in order to support, adjust for better fit, or provide a level surface. Shims may also be used as spacers to fill gaps between parts subject to wear.

A sidelite is a pane of glass located on one side or both sides of an operable or inoperable door. A sidelite can be operable or inoperable, too. Sidelites often have their own frame or come as part of a complete assembly. Sidelites can also have decorative bars. 

A single-hung window, is a type of window with a lower, operable sash and an upper, fixed sash. This means that the bottom part of the window slides up and down, while the top part remains stationary. 

Glass installed on a jobsite once the window is secured in place.  This is commonly used when windows exceed the weight limit for installers to maintain safely. 

A sliding window is a window that opens by sliding horizontally on wheels between a top and bottom track in the window frame.

A formed aluminum (1" or less) door brickmould w/nailfin fastened to a door system and used in new build applications.   

Solarban 60 Solar Control Low-E Glass blocks 62 percent of solar energy while allowing 70 percent of visible light to pass through. 

Vinyl window component used with 2” Reno brickmould for full frame window replacement and replicates the look of traditional wood windows.  

For use with concealed of exposed hinges, Snubbers prevent bowing of tall casement windows, or wide awning windows and have been found to be useful with Hopper as well to pull the sash tightly to the frame. 

Sungate® 400 glass is a highly transparent, passive low-e glass designed specifically for use in heating-dominated climates.

Super Spacer® is a flexible, silicone foam spacer that provides the maximum in perimeter insulation for sealed insulating glass units. It features a pre-applied adhesive that bonds to the glass with a continuous vapour barrier backing.  

Door sweeps do not necessarily sweep, but provide a buffer between the door gap and the floor. Door sweeps are important in controlling air movement, allowing less warm air out and vise versa. The tight seal eliminates light, sound and odors that can attract pests. 

Tempered or safety/toughened glass is a type of  safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension Such stresses cause the glass, when broken, to shatter into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards as ordinary annealed glass does. The granular chunks are less likely to cause injury. 

A European Inspired Window --A tilt and turn window opens on two axes: tilting when ventilation is needed, and turning mainly to provide a means of escape from a room in case of a fire.  

A fixed window mulled on top of a window or door. 

Triple-pane windows, also referred to as triple-glazed windows, have three panes of glass. There is a gap between each pane which may house an insulating gas like argon. The increased insulating air space of triple-pane glass delivers even better energy efficiency and noise reduction. 

Rate of heat transfer from warm to cold areas in watts per square metre Kelvin (W/m2K), the lower the number, the more efficient the product. 

known as single-hung window, is a type of window with a lower, operable sash and an upper, fixed sash. This means that the bottom part of the window slides up and down, while the top part remains stationary. 

known as "PVC" (Polyvinyl chloride) is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic. About 40 million tons of PVC are produced each year. PVC comes in rigid and flexible forms. Rigid PVC is used in construction for pipe, doors and windows. 

Ratio of the amount of visible light that can pass through a product. The higher the number, the more light can pass through. 

A strip of rubber, or other material used to seal the edges of a door or window against the cold elements.