Window materials
What sashes and frames are made of, from wood to fiberglass, each cut through to show how it is built. Take the quiz
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
Hover or tap a part to see what it is called.
All terms
- Aluminum windowA window built from thin-walled aluminum extrusions.
- ChamberOne of the hollow cells inside a vinyl extrusion.
- Clad-wood windowA wood window with a weatherproof skin over its outside faces.
- CladdingThe weatherproof skin fixed over the outside of a wood window.
- Composite windowA window built from extrusions of wood fiber mixed with plastic.
- ExtrusionA length of frame material made by pushing it through a shaped die.
- Fiberglass windowA window built from thin-walled pultrusions of glass fiber and resin.
- Foam fillInsulating foam that fills the hollow of a frame member.
- GasketA rubber strip that cushions the glass and seals it against the frame.
- Glazing beadA removable strip that holds the glass in its pocket.
- Glazing compoundThe putty that beds a pane in its rabbet and seals it against the weather.
- Glazing rabbetThe L-shaped step cut along the edge of a sash member for the glass to sit in.
- PultrusionA length of fiberglass made by pulling resin-soaked glass fibers through a heated die.
- ReinforcementA metal bar slid inside a vinyl chamber to stiffen it.
- Rolled sectionA solid steel bar rolled into a T, L or Z shape to make the members of a steel window.
- Steel windowA window built from slender solid steel sections.
- Thermal breakA strip of insulating material that separates the inside and outside halves of a metal frame.
- Vinyl windowA window built from hollow extrusions of rigid PVC.
- Wood windowA window whose sash and frame are milled from solid wood.