Residential Construction

Windows & Doors

* Source: (1) Carpentry & Building Construction / Feirer & Feirer (2) Sill to Sash: A Professionals Guide to Windows & Doors
Building Codes

• What percentage of floor area in a

room is required for light?
– 20%
• What percentage of the floor area
in a room is required for
ventilation?
– 10%
Window Terminology
Windows are factory assembled as complete
units, often with the exterior casing in place.
The basic parts are the glazing, the sash, and
the frame.
Glazing refers to the clear glass or plastic
portions of a window. (the glass within each
section may also be called a pane or light)
The sash is the part that holds the glazing and
the frame is the fixed part of the assembly that
receives the sash.
Anatomy of a Window
1. Tracks
2. Screen
3. Mounting Flange
4. Exterior casing
5. Head jamb
6. Weatherstripping
7. Sash
8. Glazing
9. Muntins
10. Removable storm panel
11. Sill
Parts of a Window
Frame

Sash

Casing

Glass

Sill
Apron
Types of Windows
Casement Have a single hinged side that
swings inward or outward
Outward-swinging sash does
not get in the way of furniture
and the wind tends to keep
push outward-swinging sash
against the weatherstripping
making a tighter seal.
Hardware consists of a rotary
opener, a hinge assembly, and
a sash lock.
Types of Windows
Awning / Hopper Awning windows swing
outward at t he bottom.
A hopper window is
similar except that the
sash swings inward at the
top. Both types provide
protection from rain while
open.
Hardware includes
hinges, pivots, and sash
support arms.
Types of Windows

Horizontal Sliding Resemble casement

windows in
appearance .
However, the sashes
slide horizontally in
tracks or guides,
located on the sill and
head jamb.
Types of Windows
Double Hung Consists of an upper and
lower sash that slides up
and down in channels in
the side jambs.
Each sash has springs or
balances to hold it in any
position.
Some types allow the
sash to be removed or
pivoted for easy cleaning,
painting or repair.
Hardware includes one or
two metal sash locks.
Frame & Sash Materials

Any of the basic types of windows can

have sashes and frames made of wood,
metal, vinyl, fiberglass, or wood
composites.
Hybrid windows are a combination or two
or more materials
 Types of Windows

Palladian
French Fanlight and window
window sidelight
window

Bow Jalousie window

Bay
window window
 Types of Windows

Gliding Sash Hinged-

Double-hung window casement
window window
Wood
Clad-Wood Window Wood window frames and
sashes should be made from a
clear grade of all-heartwood
stock.
Species commonly used are
ponderosa pine, cedar,
cypress, and spruce.
Some wooden windows are
referred to a “wood-clad”
meaning the exterior is
covered or “clad” in another
type of material such as vinyl
or aluminum. Wood-clad
windows never need to be
painted.
Metal
Made from steel or aluminum these windows are lighter
and less costly than windows made from other materials.
Require less maintenance than wooden windows.
Available with baked on or anodized finishes.
Are very common in some parts of the country and less
common in other parts, especially areas where winters
are cold as metal windows experience greater heat loss.
Also moist interior air has a tendency to condense on
metal windows.
The most efficient metal windows have two piece frames
separated by a thermal break.
Normally installed via a nailing flange.
Vinyl, Fiberglass, & Composites
Structural PVC Window Windows with structural
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
sashes and frames are
easy to maintain.
The vinyl is colored all the
way through and resists
attack from insects. The
hollow channels in these
windows are insulated
making them very energy
efficieint.
Vinyl, Fiberglass, & Composites
Window frames can also be made of fiberglass,
which is a polyester-based material reinforced
with very thin glass strands.
Like vinyl, they come in hollow and insulated
types. Fiberglass is stiffer and stronger than
vinyl.
Composite windows are made from a mixture of
polymers (plastics) and wood under pressure.
They have properties of solid wood but are more
decay resistant.
Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency of a window depends

on more than one component. For
example a window with energy efficient
glazing would still experience energy
losses if it had faulty weatherstripping.
Accurate ratings of windows compare
glazing, weatherstripping, materials, and
construction.
Standards & Certification
The Canadian General Standards Board or CGSB sets
the minimum durability on edge seals on insulated glass
units.
CSA in conjunction with the Canadian Window & Door
Manufacturers Association came up with a window
performance rating known as CSA-A440. This rating
considers a windows air tightness, water tightness, wind
load resistance, condensation resistance, forced entry
resistance, ease of operation, hardware, insect screens,
weatherstripping and finishes.
The National Building Code of Canada states that all
windows meet the CSA –A440 standard. This standard in
updated yearly.
Standards & Certification
All windows sold in Canada also have an ER
Rating. This is a comparative performance rating
based on three factors;

• Solar heat gains

• Heat loss through frames, spacers, and glass
• Air leakage
Standards & Certification
Finally windows sold in Canada will have a
IGMAC Logo on them. This stands for the
Insulating Glass Manufacturers of Canada and it
applies to the sealed unit only. It can be found
etched into the glass or the spacer between the
panes of glass.

IGMAC certified products will carry the logo and

the manufacturers name.
Glazing
In all provinces in Canada we now use insulating
glass windows in home construction (sometimes
called double-glazed windows). They are made
with two or more sheets of glass separated by
an air space.
The edges are sealed to trap air between the
sheets, which provides the insulation. Different
types of glazing are available.
Types of Glazing
Low-e glazing; also called Low-Emissivity, means that
the glass radiates less heat to the outdoors than regular
glass. In some types a special coating is applied to one
glass surface facing the air space. This can reduce
energy flow by as much as 50%.
Heat-absorbing glazing; contains special tints that
enable it to absorb large amounts of solar energy.
Gas-filled glazing; air between the glazing is replaced by
a heavier gas such as argon or krypton. The heavier gas
increases energy efficiency.
Weatherstripping

The main purpose of weatherstripping

around a window is to prevent air from
leaking between the sash and the frame.
It can be made from various flexible
materials such as foam and fibrous pile.
Over time it will loose its effectiveness and
must be replaced… it must never be
painted or stained.
 Door
• Broad classification as exterior or interior
• Wood, metal, plastic, glass, or a
combination of these materials are used
to manufacture doors
• Considerations for selection of door
include:
– Fire resistance
– Cost
– Protection/Privacy
– Esthetics/Architectural Style
Doors are required to perform many
functions within an interior
• egress: safety zone created by doors
• weather control
• visual distinction
• acoustical control
• physical safety
• privacy
Terms Associated with Doors
• Door Frames:
– Jamb –sides pieces
– Head – overhead piece
– Sill – on exterior doors (covered by threshold)
– Door Stop- strip against which door closes
• Panel Doors:
– Stiles – vertical members
– Rails – horizontal members
– Muntins – may be vertical or horizontal; divide door
into panels
• Right-Hand or Left-Hand – used to describe swinging
doors- depends on which side is hinged
 Types of Doors
• Composite – wood, steel, or plastic sheets bonded to and
supported by a solid core material
• Hollow Metal – flush or panel design consisting with no less
than 20 gauge steel face
• Metal Clad – flush or panel design consisting of metal-
covered wood cores and insulated panels covered with
steel of 24 gauge or lighter
• Sheet Metal – 22 gauge or lighter steel of corrugated, flush
sheet, or panel design
• Tin-Clad – wood core with a terne plate or galvanized steel
facing ( 30 or 24 gauge)
• Wood – wood, hardboard, or plastic face sheets bonded to
a wood block core material with untreated wood edges
 Metal Doors
• Most hollow core metal doors are made
of carbon steel
• Most are filled with standard fireproof,
rot proof, and sound-deadening
material
• Insulated doors are filled with glass
fiber or plastic foam insulation [R-values
range from 8-15]
• Grades range from 1: standard; 2:
heavy duty; 3: extra heavy duty [grades
used depends on type of building and
locations in building]
Wood Doors
• Kiln-dried wood, moisture content 6-12 %
• Type 1 ---fully waterproof bond (ext. or int.)
• Type 2 --- water resistant bond, interior only
• May be solid or hollow core (S.C. or H.C.)
– Fire ratings range from 20 minutes to 1-1/2 hour for
S.C. wood doors
• Typical thickness: 1-3/8” (int.) 1-3/8” or 1-3/4” (ext.)
• Standard single unit sizes range from 1’ to 3’ width;
6’-8” to 8’ height [doesn’t include sliding or patio door
styles which are much wider]
Types of Wood Doors
• Flush – hollow or solid core with wood
veneers, hardboard or plastic laminates
• Panel – assembled from stiles and rails
• Sash – similar to panel door except that
one or more panel is replaced with glass
• Louver – composed of stile and rail
frame with integral louvers
• Accordion folding – narrow wood strips
31/2” to 5” wide with fabric, plastic or
metal hinges
Door Styles

Transom window Sliding doors Sliding doors

Folding door Screen door Batten door

 Door Styles

Flush door Paneled door Louvered door

Dutch door Glazed door Jalousie door

 Door Operation

• Swinging – hinged on one side or may

have pivot hardware to allow for swinging
in both directions
• Sliding – overhead tracks with rollers
(Pocket doors - slide into wall cavity)
• Folding – hung on overhead tracks with
rollers; may be bi- or multi- fold in nature
Weather Stripping

• Applied to door frames to prevent air

leakage
• Common types include:
– Foam rubber
– Felt
– Rolled vinyl
– Spring metal (V-strip)
– Interlocking metal
Door Hardware -- Locks
• May be either standard, handicapped
access, automatic, or security type.
• Lock types:
– Key-in-knob
– Key-in-lever
– Mortise
– Interconnected
– Auxiliary (dead bolts)
– Security (electromagnetic)
– Padlock
Door Hardware --Hinges
• There are many types of hinges available but common
ones include: butt, piano (invisible), offset, spring,
pivot, and decorative.
• Materials from which hinges are made include: coated
steel, polished plated steel, chromium-plated metals,
brass, bronze, and aluminum.
• Placement and number required varies according to
door material and size:
– All exterior or S.C. interior door >7’ in height should be
hung with at least 3 hinges.
– Interior H.C. doors < 7’ in height need only 2 hinges
Special Doors

• Revolving – prevent passage of cold and

warm air and noise while always being
open/closed
• Typical materials include stainless steel,
aluminum, and copper alloys.
• Most doors are 6 - 8 feet in diameter,
but may be larger for special
applications (Nursing homes)