Replacement Windows, Vinyl Padio Doors & Vinyl Siding    

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Safety Glass:  A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering. Also known as tempered glass.

Sash:  The part of the window which contains the glass or panes, not the outer frame that is attached to the walls.

Sash Alignment System:  An exclusive hinge-type system used on hung windows. This system attaches the sash to the balance, creating perfect alignment between the sash and frame, while allowing the sash to tilt inward for cleaning.

Sash Balance:  A system of weights, cords and/or coiled springs which assist in raising double-hung sash and tend to keep the sash in any placed position by counterbalancing the weight of the sash.

Sash Cord:  In double-hung windows, the rope or chain that attaches the sash to the counter balance.

Sash Lock:  Generally, a cam-action type lock applied to the check rails of a sliding window or at the open edges of a projecting window to pull the check rails tightly together or to seal the sash tightly to the frame, both for security and weather tightness.

Sash Weights:  In older double-hung windows, the concealed cast-iron weights that are used to counterbalance the sash.

Screen:  Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects.

Screen Stop:  Found on the outside of wood windows, a narrow strip that holds a sash or panel in position in a frame from the outside.

Seat Board:  A flat board cut to fit the contour of a bow or bay window and installed between the sills and the flat wall surface, providing a seat or shelf space.

Shading Coefficient:  The ratio of solar heat that is transferred through a glazing material relative to the solar heat transferred through 1/8" clear glass. The lower the number the more efficient the window is at reducing solar heat gains.  . It is being phased out in favor of the solar heat gain coefficient, and is approximately equal to the SHGC multiplied by 1.15. It is expressed as a number without units between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient or shading coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater is its shading ability.

Shade Screen:  A specially fabricated screen of sheet material with small narrow louvers formed in place to intercept solar radiation striking a window; the louvers are so small that only extremely small insects can pass through. Also called sun screen. Also, an awning with fixed louvers of metal or wood.

Shims:  A thin, waterproof piece of material used between the window/door unit and the rough opening to support the unit, center it within the rough opening, and adjust it to a plumb, level and square position. If tapered shims are used, they must be used in pairs with the tapers opposing each other to avoid tilting the unit or twisting the jambs.

Short-Wave Infrared Radiation:  Invisible radiation, just beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (between 0.7 and 2.5 microns), emitted by hot surfaces and included in solar radiation.

Side Lights:  Tall, narrow, fixed or operating sash on either or both sides of a door to light an entryway or vestibule.

Sill:  The horizontal, bottom section of the main frame.

Sill Course:  The row of brick, cement blocks or stones laid across the bottom of a masonry opening which lay under the outside edge of the window sill.

Sill Extender:  An extrusion that is attached to the bottom of the window to cover the gap between the sill and the rough opening.

Sill Track:  The track provided at the sill of a sliding glass door. Also, the sill part incorporating such a track.

Simulated Divided Lites:  A window that has the appearance of a number of smaller panes of glass separated by muntins, but actually is a larger glazing unit with the muntins placed inside or on the surfaces of the glass layers.  Meant to simulate true divided-lite.

Single Glazing:  Single thickness of glass in a window or door. A single-pane window.

Single Hung:  A window in which one sash slides (typically the bottom) vertically and the other sash is fixed (typically the top).  

Single-Strength Glass:  Glass with a thickness of approximately 3/32".

Slider or Sliding Window:  A window in which the sash move horizontally. Sliders are available in a 2- or 3-lite configuration, with the 3-lite having operable end vents and can be in equal or unequal sections 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 or ¼, ½, ¼.

Sliding Glass Door:  A door fitted with one or more panels that move horizontally on a track and/or in grooves. Moving action is usually of rolling type (rather than sliding type). Also called gliding door, rolling glass door, and patio sliding door.

Slope Glazing:  Any glazed opening in a sloped roof or wall, such as a stationary skylight or fully operable roof window.

Sloped Sill:  A window sill that has a downward slope to the outside to aid in water runoff. 

Solar Control Coatings:  Thin film coatings on glass or plastic that absorbs or reflects solar energy, thereby reducing solar gain.

Solar Heat Gain:  The percentage of heat gained from both direct sunlight and absorbed heat. The solar heat gain coefficient has replaced the shading coefficient as the standard indicator of a window's shading ability. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater its shading ability. SHGC can be expressed in terms of the glass alone or can refer to the entire window assembly.

Solar Radiation:  The total radiant energy from the sun, including ultraviolet (UV) and infrared wave (IR) lengths as well as visible light.

Solar Spectrum:  The intensity variation of sunlight across its spectral range.

Soldier Course:  The row of brick, cement blocks or stones laid across the bottom of a masonry opening
which lay under the outside edge of the window sill.

Sole Plate:  The bottom horizontal member in a frame wall. Usually either single or double 2x4’s. It is nailed to the deck or rough floor and the studs are nailed into it.

Sound Transmission Class (STC):  The sound transmission loss rating of a material over a selected range of sound frequencies. The higher the number, the less sound transmitted.

Spacer:  A material placed between two or more pieces of glass in order to maintain a uniform width between the glass, and prevent sealant distortion.

Spectrally Selective Glazing:  A coated or tinted glazing (i.e., pane of glass) with optical properties that are transparent to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others. Typical spectrally selective coatings are transparent to visible light and reflect short-wave and long-wave infrared radiation.

Special Shapes:  Specially designed windows classified as either Straight line Geometrics such as rectangles, triangles, trapezoid, octagons, pentagons, etc., or Radius Geometrics which include half-rounds, quarter-rounds, full-rounds, sectors, ellipses, eyebrows, etc.

Stepped Sill:  An exclusive triple-stepped, sloped sill design.

Stile:  The vertical sections of the sash that run up and down.

Stool:  Inside horizontal trim member of a window sash or door panel found the bottom of a window.

Stop:  A wood trim member nailed to the window frame to hold, position or separate window parts. The stop is often moulded into the jamb liners on sliding windows.

Storm Windows:  A second set of windows installed on the outside or inside of the primary windows to
provide additional insulation and wind protection.

Stucco Fin:  An extrusion used in stucco home installations that is attached to the main frame to create a smooth, finished look for both the window and the stucco.

Stud:  Vertical wood framing members which form a frame wall. In normal construction these are eight foot-long 2x 4’s.

Sun Control Film:  A tinted or reflective film applied to the glazing surface to reduce visible, ultra-violet, or total transmission of solar radiation. Reduces solar heat gain in summer and glare. Some can be removed and reapplied with changing seasons.

Super Window:  A window with a very low U-factor, typically less than 0.15, achieved through the use of multiple glazings, low-E coatings, and gas fills. Switchable glazings, (glazings with optical properties that can be reversibly switched from clear to dark or reflective).