Common Window Terms

Mobile Window Customer Cashes In on Premier Referral Program

What causes condensation on windows?

Premier Window Store expands to Columbia

Glossary of terms-Windows

What is Fenestration?

Use AWDI Installers

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Common Window Terms

January 7, 2009

Here are some basic replacement window concepts you might want to consider when researching windows.

Balance System – This is the mechanism in a window that provides force to the bottom half of the window so it is easy to move it up and down. Older windows have a weight on a line that is hidden in the cavity of the adjacent wall. Modern systems use either constant force spiral springs or very small block and tackle arrangements.

Desiccant – Is a drying agent that is placed inside the panes of glass in a double or triple pane window, (IGU) to absorb any moisture that may get between the glass panes.
To read more on desiccant

Foam Filled – Window frames are generally hollow in nature. This is because they need to be a certain size in order to be thick enough to go from the outside of the wall to and beyond the inside of the wall. If the window frame was a solid mass it would make the window very heavy, and it would have worse insulating properties than if it was hollow with air. There are windows however that are sold, and touted, as having greater insulating properties because the frames are filled with foam.

Heat Gain – The amount of heat gained from both direct sunlight and absorbed heat. On many windows there is an effort to reduce heat gain, particularly from sun light.

Insulation – When old windows are removed and new ones installed generally there will be areas that will have voids that will need to be insulated. This is especially true if the windows were of the outdated variety that had counter weights in the walls. That cavity should be insulated.

Lead Paint – All paints manufactured prior to 1978 had lead as one of the ingredients. It was found that the lead in paints posed a safety hazard to the inhabitants of a dwelling as the paint aged, cracked, peeled and became accessible to ingestion particularly with children. The opening and closing of window sashes, covered with lead paint would created a fine dust that posed a particular threat.

Low-E – This is a metallic coating used to reflect heat (energy) back to its source. It is applied as a thin coat on the panes of glass.

Replacement Windows – This is a catch all phrase for a product that is designed to be used when old windows are removed from a building or house, and a new window unit is installed.

Roll Form Aluminum – There are two types of aluminum used in window manufacturing; roll formed and extruded. Roll form tends to be thinner in nature and is finished prior to the bending process in manufacturing.

Sash – This the term for the part that holds the window, for example in a double hung window there is a top window (sash) and a bottom.

Triple Pane – Most replacement windows today are double paned windows which means there are two independent sections of glass kept apart at approximately 5/8 of an inch. When you have a triple pane window, that means there are three sections of glass.

Wrapped - Is the application and process of bending custom painted aluminum to fit around the outside sills and casing. This is a feature that you should inquire about and not just assume it is part of the installation.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Installations, Mobile, Raleigh, Uncategorized, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

Mobile Window Customer Cashes In on Premier Referral Program

November 26, 2008

Satisfying customers is just one goal for Premier Window employees.  From our initial contact through the installation process, we strive to provide a professional and satisfying experience for the customer.  Our best form of advertising is a referral from a previous customer.  To that end, Premier has developed a “Referral Reward” program to thank the person referring us.  When a satisfied customer refers us to a friend or neighbor, we send them $50.  Additional referrals are a awarded $100 for each referral.  With enough referrals, a customer can pay for their own window project.

The following is an email received from a customer serviced by our Mobile, Alabama Premier store:

“I am extremely pleased with the windows and quality of work by your technician doing the installation. That is why I have told many others about your service. I did know about the referral program. This is my third referral. I will continue to refer, not just for the fee but for the quality and self satisfaction.” –Mr. J.Mosley

We thank Mr. Mosley for his business and the new customers he’s sent us.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Installations, Jefferson, Mobile, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

What causes condensation on windows?

October 23, 2008

What causes condensation on windows?
Whenever there is excess humidity in a home, it manifests itself in the form of condensation on the coldest area of a wall, which is normally the windows. The warmer the air, the more moisture it will retain, so when air in your home comes in contact with the colder glass surface, it is subsequently cooled and moisture is released in the form of condensation on the glass.

Do windows cause condensation?
No, condensation on windows is not the fault of the window. However, by replacing drafty windows and doors or installing a new roof or siding, you are reducing air flow in your home and making it tighter. Tighter homes actually retain more humidity.

Where on a window does condensation normally form and why?
Condensation often forms at the meeting rail and at the bottom of the lower sash on the interior of the glass. This is because when warm air cools, it falls down across the interior surface of the window at the same time the air’s temperature is falling. The air contacts the horizontal surface of the meeting rail, which acts like a dam, slowing the air’s rate of fall and creating the perfect opportunity for the trapped water vapor to escape and form on the meeting rail’s surface. The air then rolls over the edge of the meeting rail and again gains speed until it encounters the lower handle of the sash. At this point, the water vapor again makes its exit and lies at the bottom of the sash.

Can I reduce the condensation on my windows?
Yes. In order to reduce condensation, humidity must be controlled and air movement must be generated. As the exterior temperature drops, the humidity level needs to decrease if condensation is to be controlled.

What steps can I take to reduce humidity in my home?
The two main things you can do are to control sources of moisture and increase ventilation. To decrease or control excess humidity and condensation:
* Use exhaust fans in your kitchen, laundry and bathrooms.
* Vent gas burners, clothes dryers, etc. to the outdoors.
* Shut off furnace humidifiers and other humidifying devices in your home.
* Be sure that the ventilating louvers in your attic, basement or crawl spaces are open and amply sized.
* Open fireplace dampers to allow an escape route for moisture-laden air.
* Air out your house a few minutes each day.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Installations, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

Premier Window Store expands to Columbia

October 17, 2008

Premier Window Inc. announces that its Charlotte, NC store has expanded services south to include Columbia, SC.  Premier of Charlotte has tested advertising and sales in the Columbia market and determined its products, services and prices are well received.  The map shows the new coverage area for the Charlotte store.  Plans are underway to open a new store location in the Columbia metro area.    Premier has sold windows and doors in Charlotte for over twelve years and has expanded offerings to include siding and gutters.  Aggressive pricing and strong customer service has made Premier an excellent option for homeowners looking for quality, energy-efficiency and price.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Installations, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Glossary of terms-Windows

October 17, 2008

As you do research for your replacement window purchase, you’ll hear and learn a number of terms related to features and function of the window product.  Here are a few of those terms:

Argon Gas- This odorless, colorless gas is inserted between panes of glass for insulation and also increases a window’s energy efficiency by reducing conductive heat transfer.

Awning Window- This style of window swings out from the bottom and away from a building, just like an awning.

Bay Window- A three-unit window with a center piece flanked by two side panels that are usually angled at 30 or 45 degrees.

Bow Window- A combination of windows composed of four or more units, which are aligned in a smooth curving contour.

Casement Window- A window that swings open from the side, hinging at the top and bottom of the frame. Nailing Fin (Flange)- A strip of sheet material either integral or fastened to a unit’s frame, creating a flange. This is a common method to install new construction windows and doors.

Double Hung Window- Consists of top and bottom vertically sliding sashes in a single frame.

Picture Window- A large, fixed or stationary window designed to provide a maximum viewing area without obstructions.

Emissivity- The relative ability of a surface to radiate heat. R Value- Measure of a window’s overall resistance to heat transmission from different air temperatures on either side of the glass.

Frame- The outer components of a window or door unit, consisting of a head jamb, side jambs, blind stops and window sills, as applies. Sash- A wood/vinyl perimeter to support the glass of a window, holding it separately from the frame and allowing some independent movement from the frame.

Fusion Welded- A process of melting two or more items together (i.e., a window sash and frame) via welding. Single Hung Window- A window system with only one glass unit movable in the window pane.

Geometric Window- Specialty windows customized to fit a variety of shapes, such as starburst, gothic, colonial, etc. within a door pattern.

Glazing- 1) Act of fitting a window or door frame with glass. 2) Installing glass into a window or door frame. Slider Window- A window that opens horizontally.

Glazing Bead- A long, thin piece of moulded wood used to secure glass to the sash or frame of a window; silicone is often used to create a seal between the glass and wooden glazing bead.

Hermetically Sealed- An airtight seal.

Insulating Glass- Comprised of two or more pieces of glazing (glass) separated by hermetically sealed airspace for improved thermal efficiency.

Kickplate- Applied to one or both sides of a door’s bottom rail, this thin, polished metal plate is used to prevent denting and soiling of the wood surface.

Laminating- Method of bonding two or more layers of glass together using heat and pressure, with inner layers of transparent plastic. This process provides one of the best avenues to blocking ultraviolet rays.

Low E Glass- Windows that have been coated with a transparent, metallic layer to the glass surface, reducing its emissivity or ability to radiate heat.

Mulled- To join two windows or doors together, side by side.

NCTL Validated- National Certified Testing Labs (NCTL) is an organization that performs standardized tests on windows to ensure proper quality control levels.

NFRC Rating- The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a non-profit group comprised of manufacturers, builders, designers, government officials, utilities and consumers working together to provide unbiased energy performance ratings for windows, doors and skylights (fenestrations).

Tempered Glass- Plate glass with increased strength due to a special heat-treatment for greater strength as a safety glass.

Thermal Performance- A window’s ability to act as a barrier to the transfer of heat.

Thermo-Edge Spacer- A system where protected insulated glass creates increased temperatures along the window’s edges and therefore reduces the potential for condensation on the glass surface.

Transom- An operating window unit for specific use above a door or window.

Weatherstripping- Material used to provide a weather-tight seal between a window/door sash or frame.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cleveland, Energy, Installations, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

What is Fenestration?

October 17, 2008

What is Fenestration?

Fenestration: Any opening in a building’s envelope including windows, doors and skylights.

Windows, doors, skylights and curtain wall manufacturers are constantly improving and re-designing their products to meet the needs of their customers.

How do customers know the benefits they can get from new technology?

By looking for the NFRC label or Label Certificate and understanding what NFRC ratings mean.

There are a number of resources available to assist you in this area

* Information on the NFRC Label basic explanation of the NFRC label and rating system
* NFRC Fact Sheets explain the various issues involved in comparing energy related fenestration performance - from U-factor to Daylighting; from Condensation Resistance to Solar Heat Gain.


Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cleveland, Doors, Energy, Installations, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

Use AWDI Installers

October 7, 2008

When you purchase replacement windows you have a lot of choices.  You can buy directly from the home center store and install them yourself.  You can have the local handyman handle the work.  Or the guy working from the back of his truck.

But the installation of your window investment is as important as the decision of which style and color you bought.  That’s why it’s important to make sure your installer is trained and qualified.  The American Window and Door Institute is an instructional and governing body for the window and door installation process.  AWDI certification of your window and door installer provides you security and confidence that your windows and doors have been installed correctly.

As you shop for new window and door products, be sure to shop for the correct installation to make you project successful.  Premier Window installers have been trained and are AWDI certified.  Call your local Premier office today to get a free in-home estimate.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Installations, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

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