There are no homes without windows, so we must take these structures seriously.
It might be surprising for you but there are more than twenty parts of a window.
There are even added parts for different types of windows.
If you are here for all of these, read on.
Some of them are so unknown that most of us do not even know how they function.
1.Head
This is considered as the horizontal part of a window frame.
2.Interior Casing
This one is the polished trim that surrounds the frames of the window.
Aside from enhancing the finished look of the window, the interior casing also prevents draft and cold air.
3.Head Jamb
It is where the window sash rests.
It is located on the uppermost, vertical side of a window frame.
Head and side jambs are considered as interior structures of the window frame.
4.Side Jamb
They are vertical strips that connect the sides of a window frame.
It comes with a short strip called the jamb liner in which the window sash is placed.
5.Sash Lock
It is basically the lock system installed in either a single or double-hung window.
It reduces window-rattling by tapping with the lock strike.
The sash is the moveable fixture of the window.
It holds the glass panels on the horizontal and vertical frames.
6.Upper Sash
It holds the upper part of the windowpane by being attached to the windows framework.
It basically holds the upper division of the glass panes.
The upper sash offers all the natural light a window could let in.
7.Stile
This one is usually located parallel to the window jambs.
It is the vertical fitting of the window sash.
Both the upper and lower sash have a stile.
The stile is located on the sides of the window.
8.Top Rail
It is the upper horizontal section of a window frame or casement.
9.Bottom Rail
It connects the vertical parts of a window frame.
It is also considered as the lowest horizontal section of a window frame.
It is located on the jamb and it is more notable on hung windows.
11.Stool
It is attached to the windowsill.
It is also called the bottom horizontal shelf.
It is where the windowsill descends.
It is also where window plants are positioned.
It is also called the lower calf of the entire window frame.
Unlike the upper sash which provides natural light, the lower sash provides the view outdoor view.
13.Channel
This would be the grooves surrounding the window frame.
Its main function is to seal the window from water and debris.
A channel is typically made of plastic or rubber.
14.Exterior Sill
It is both decorative and functional.
It is located in the external, bottom part of the window frame.
15.Apron
It is the raised part of a windowsill.
While it is considered as more decorative than functional, the apron actually supports the sill.
It is like an installed moulding.
16.Weep Hole
This is a small opening along the windowsill which allows moisture to escape through.
Through this, your windows are protected from locking or it being inoperable.
It is usually a woven mesh made of either fiberglass, metal, or plastic.
18.Window coverings
They are also called window blinds.
They are made of either hard or soft fabric materials.
They include roller shades, shutters, shades, and alltypes of window blinds.
They could also be curtains, fabric shades, or valances.
The most durable and go-to choice for hinges would be stainless steel.
They are not prone to friction and at the same time provide a smoother surface.
Parts of a Casement Window
This is a popular window throw in for homeowners.
It is designed with fiberglass, wood or vinyl.
It is opened or closed through a crank.
You could overextend it so that you could get more natural air during hot seasons.
A casement window is composed of the following parts.
21.Operator
It is operated using a crank machine which basically sets casement windows apart from others.
It is the one used to open or close a casement window.
Most of the time, it is even interchangeable with the crank itself.
22.Casement
It does more of a decorative function to the window system.
It is the frame or mold of a window.
It covers the spaces between the window frame and the wall.
The casement is used more in sliding windows because they offer greater insulation.
23.Fanlight
A fanlight can be installed ina dooror window.
24.Transom
This one works as a window divider.
It horizontally divides the upper part of the window from its lower part.
So if you only need the window half-opened, you have the transom to pull.
25.Argon
It is labeled as non-toxic gas used as an insulating component for glass.
It functions to reduce heat, UV and to keep your home cooler even during hot months.
26.Aluminum Clad
It is an exterior wood part that is polished with aluminum.
It has a glossy, smooth finish to be protected from harmful outdoor elements.
On top of it, it adds more insulation to the room.
As a watertight seal, it is usually made of metal, vinyl felt, or rubber.
It is likable to a glass pane of a picture window.
29.Grilles
These are decorative fittings that divide the window panels.
They can be fixed, removable, or installed between the glass.
It is also called glazing.
Window glass can be tinted, insulated, or thickened.
30.Windowpane
The windowpane would be the sheets of glass inserted within the window frame.
They could be designed as single or double pane, made of glass or other ornate materials.
They can be insulated by applying the surface with argon.
31.Mullion
It is considered a major structural part of a window.
It can either run horizontally or vertically.
It works by combining the two window panels together.
Unlike the transom, the mullion is basically the vertical separator of two parts of the window.
It is a long strip usually made of wood, steel, or metal.
It is also called the glazing bar.
33.Window Film
This one is a thin laminate film spread over the window glass.
It acts like a tint or insulator to control heat and airflow.
It also serves as a barrier to limit the UV light which enters the room.
Related:Why birds hit the windows?
The window frame is one of the two major structures that compose the window.
The other structure is called the sash.
Window frames are mostly made of wood, vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum.
It is typically attached to the meeting rail when using a double-hung window.
It also helps the weatherstripping by adding another layer where moisture and too much air could be blocked.
35.Aluminum Bracket
Its job is to offset the window away from the wall through a bracket system.
It is made of aluminum.
It is a silicon-based product and when applied, it could be foam, liquid, or gel.
37.Hollow Glass
This is basically the windowpane.
38.Pane
This is the glass sheet cut and inserted in a windowpane.
39.Spacer
It keeps the windowpanes apart through an aluminum glass sealed in between two other glass panels.
40.Meeting Rail
This is where the two sashes literally meet when the windows are closed.
41.Sloped Sill
It is one of the windows exterior parts.
It is strategically sloped down so that water could easily runoff.
42.Drain Hole
It is where the water and other fluids flow.
It is a small metal channel attached to the frame.
It is usually found in wood and single and double-hung windows.
44.Lower Sash
It holds the windowpane by being attached to the lower part of the window frame.
45.Bottom Rail
It connects the vertical parts of a window frame.
It is the lowest horizontal section of a window frame.
46.Frame
This is the support structure of the whole window.
It makes up the entire windows parameters.
Conclusion
Windows are more complex than how you conceive them to be.
Of course, there are default parts of a window.
These would be the sections that are found in all types of window systems.
On the other hand, there are specific parts that could only be found in specific types of windows.
Some have seemingly overlapping functions and it is important that you know the similarities and differences of these parts.
At some point, you will have to know how each one works and where to find them.
