Residential Glossary
glass from A to Z
Airspace
Insulating gap between two sheets of glass, filled with air or gas to reduce heat transmission through the glass.
Awning Window
A window that is hinged at the top and opens outward.
Barrier-Free Door
Door with no bottom track, designed to offer accessibility to the physically challenged.
Bay Window
A window that projects out from the exterior wall.
Bow Window
A type of bay window that forms a curved arch.
Buttress
A change in levels of the curb of a shower or tub enclosure.
By-Pass Door
Door where two glass panels travel in parallel tracks and overlap when closed.
Casement Window
A type of window that is hinged along one side and opens outward.
Casing
The trim around a window.
Divided Light
A window made up of two or more smaller panes.
Dual Seal (Insulated)
A window with two layers of glass separated by an air space. This helps increase the insulating value of the window.
Etched Glass
Glass that has been chemically treated or sandblasted.
Extrusion
Piece of metal hardware created by forcing softened metal through an extrusion die to shape it into its final form.
Framed Enclosure
Enclosure with metal extrusions protecting all its glass edges.
Frameless Enclosure
Enclosure that has minimized its use of metal extrusions.
Heavy Glass Enclosure
Frameless enclosure with glass that is 3/8” or more thick.
Hinge Door
Door that is attached by its side edge to the door frame.
Inline Panel
A glass panel that is in the same plane as the door of an enclosure.
Jamb
The inside frame of the window.
Lite/Light
A single piece of glass; a pane.
Low-E
A special coating for window glass that reduces the transmission of radiant heat and ultraviolet rays through the glass.
Mullion
The frame that separates individual lights in a window.
Neo-Angle Enclosure
Enclosure for use in a corner; it has two sides and a door, with the door being in the center.
Obscure/Patterned Glass
Glass that allows light to pass through indirectly, without giving a clear view.
Pivot Door
Door attached at the top and bottom by a pivot mechanism. When the door opens, it pivots at the point of connection, usually an inch or two in from the door frame.
Powder Coating
The painting of aluminum extrusions by dusting with a dry powder and heating until the powder melts, forming a tough coating of paint on the surface of the extrusion.
R-Value
The measure of relative insulating value of different materials.
Reflective Glass
Glass that reflects about 70 percent of light.
Return Panel
Glass panel set at an angle to the door or other panels of an enclosure.
Sash
The fixed or moveable frame that holds the window lights.
Stile
The side parts of a sash frame.
Stop
A piece of molding that is attached to the sash or jamb and holds the glass in place.
Storm Sash
An extra sash placed over a window for added insulation in winter; also called a storm window.
Tempered Glass
Glass that has been specially heat strengthened and is several times stronger than plate glass so that, should it break, it shatters into thousands of glass beads, minimizing the risk of harm to anyone nearby. It is very difficult to break tempered glass; use of it for all glass enclosures is required by code.
Tinted Glass
Glass that only allows certain colors of light to pass through it. The most popular tints in enclosures are bronze or gray.
Transom
Glass panel over an enclosure often used for showers with steam applications. Can often be operable or fixed.
Triple Glazing
A window with three layers of glass, separated by air spacers.