Manufactured or Fabricated:
A Manufacturer makes the window from raw resins with their own machinery from the beginning to
the end. They design the window just the way they want it.
A Fabricator on the other hand buys extrusions
from Manufacturers (along with other required parts) then puts the window together in their "Factory".
A Fabricator makes concessions in putting them together in this way.
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I.G. Unit: Insulating Glass Units are two pieces
of glass (double pane) sealed together with a spacer providing a dead space of air or argon gas. They
are considered a Unit because if the seal should break, allowing condensation inside the unit, the unit
must be replaced.
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Glazing: Glazing is what seals the glass to
the vinyl frame around it, the Sash. It acts as an
access to the removal of the I.G. Unit should it need repair or replacement. It's the trim pieces at the
edges of glass either inside or out. Inside glazing is not exposed to the elements, where
outside glazing is.
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Interlocking Meeting Rails: The meeting rails are the two Sashes, in either a Double Slider
or a Double Hung, that meet in the middle. When the
window is closed shut they lock together. A full meeting rail lock protects against prying the latch open from outside. It also helps maintain a tighter sealing window.
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Header and Sill: The Header is the same as
the window Sill only at the top of the window.
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Weather Stripping: Protects against air
and dust infiltration. The more strips the better the protection.
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Spacer Type: The spacer is what separates
the two panes of glass in a double pane window. It is sealed to the glass on both sides as to maintain an
insulating dead air space. Foam spacers will typically increase the energy efficiency, however, the direct
sunlight, along with the accordion of the glass in extreme temperature changes could result in accelerated deterioration of the
hermetic seal between the two panes.
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Equal Width Glass: The width of the glass from side to
side. The bottom sash on some windows are wider than the top sash. This is due to using the same size
extrusions for both the top and bottom sashes.
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Balance Covers: Covers the Balances in the double hung style windows.
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Balance Type: Balances provide a constant force to the
double hung style windows so that the window stays where you have opened it to.
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Screens: Are usually aluminum frames with nylon mesh. Some frames
are extruded, have mitered corners and are rigid. Others are a less ridgid roll-out formed with plastic caps in the corners.
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NFRC U-Factor Rating: The
National Fenestration Rating Counsel. Conducts tests for the Energy Star Program. The U-Factor is the rating for the entire window. The lower the number the better.
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Relative Price: Relative price lets you know how each windows pricing relates to the other windows on our site.
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| Value Rating: |
Value Rating: These windows were value rated by John Chipman in order to give you some
guidance in choosing your windows. Though the windows themselves support these ratings, incorporated are things not included
on this chart, including warranty service, price, delivery, and local support. All the windows on this site are better than good quality replacement windows.
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Sashes: The frames
around the glass, that move, are called sashes. In a window the sections that move (side to
side or up and down) to open it are the sashes. They move inside the window frame.
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Extrusions: The parts that make up the window
frames and the sash frames. Are manufactured in long pieces and then are cut down to meet the required
window size.
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Fusion Welded: Fusion-welded frames provide greater strength and
durability than frames that are mechanically fastened. Combined with other quality construction processes, fusion
welding practically eliminates the possibility of air and water infiltrating windows at the corners. Fusion welding
is a process involving heat and pressure. Four-point fusion-welded windows provide the best possible square joint. When done properly,
these joints are stronger than the original vinyl frame.
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