Covers double-hung, horizontal sliding, casement, awning, jalousie, top-hinged, and fixed windows. Includes patio doors and skylights

Jones, R.A.

Kapple, William H.

Lendrum, James T.

Lewis, W.H.

English

Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship Repository

c SELECTING WINDOWS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS BULLETIN VOLUME 52, NUMBER 36; JANUARY, 1955. Published seven times each month by the University of Illinois. Entered as second-class matter December 11, 1912, at the post office at Urbano, Illinois, under the Act of August 24, 1912. Office of Publication, 207 Adm inistratio n Building, Urbano, Illino is. COPYRIGHT, 1955, BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. All rights reserved. No port of this circular may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the Publisher. This circular is one of a series on small homes. Other circulars ore available for 15c each. For information, write to Small Homes Council- Building Research Council , University of Illinois , One East Saint Mary 's Road, Champaign, Illinois 61820. MATERIAL IN THIS CIRCULAR BY R. A. JONES, W. H. KAPPLE, J. T. LENDRUM, AND W . H. LEWIS Editor : M. H. Kennedy Illustrator: J. J. Sorbie SELECTING WINDOWS Several factors, including initial cost, influence the choice of windows for a house. In making your selection, consider whether the window: • Can be used to provide daylight in adequate amounts. • Can provide desired ventilation. • Is free from objectionable obstructions to view. • Can be economically adapted to construction t hniqu s to be used. • Is fitted with hardware which makes operation of the window easy. • Is weather-tight when the window is closed. • Can be opened without interfering with drap ries and blinds or furniture placement. • Can be easily fitted with screens and storm sash, if required. • Can be easily washed. • Can be inexpensively maintained. Every window used in residential construction is one, or a combina-tion, of three basic window types, namely: 1) sliding, 2) swinging, and 3) fixed. Within these classifications are windows of a variety of design. Advantages and disadvantages of the various types and designs of win-dows are described in this circular.* As indicated by the chart below, some windows are better suited to certain wall locations than others. To assure precision fit, operating windows should be factory-made and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Materials: All of the various types of windows are available in wood or metal. Some windows are also made with plastic frames. Wood does not transmit heat readily and does not become as cold as metal or glass; hence, moisture vapor from the air does not condense on it. Windows should be made so that they do not stick if the wood sash should absorb moisture and expand. The wood should be treated to resist d cay and moisture absorption, and should be covered with two coats of paint. Metal is stronger than wood and, therefore, permits the use of thinn r frame members around windows. Aluminum and steel are the most com-mon metal windows for homes. Aluminum forms a thin, adherent film of hard oxide which is ex-tremely protective and eliminates the need for painting. Aluminum windows are protected with factory-applied lacquer to prevent plaster stains during construction. Unless steel is of the stainless type, it is subject to corrosion if left unpainted. Ordinary steel is usually given an anti-rust treatment and a coat of primer paint at the factory. Additional paint must be applied after installation of the window. Ordinary steel should not be used near the ocean since it corrodes quickly. Stainless steel, brass and aluminum are best for metal parts which are exposed to salt spray. WIN~WS BEST-S"ITED FOR VARIOUS WALL PLACEMENTS * Publication results from a research investiga-tion on windows made by the Small Homes Council under a grant given to the University of Illinois by the Lum -ber Dealers Research Council . Principles for the design and place-ment of windows are discussed in the Small Homes Council circular, Fll.O, " Window Plan -ning Principles.'' See also F11.2, "Insulat-ing-Windows and Screens." Operating windows preferred for various placements in the wall are indicated by "X"; windows which can be satisfactorily used in those positions, by "x." Window sill heights are given below illustrations. Vtew Nonnal Privacy Below Fixed Glass 0 0 CIIJ Beside Fixed Gloss [] 0' to 1' X X X [I] 2' to 3'·6" • 3 . SLIDING WINDOWS Sash DOUBLE-HUNG A double-hung window consists of two sash* which slide up and down in grooves of a window frame. The sash can be opened from top or bottom. In some windows, the sash are removable. Hardware : Some sash are supported at the sides by springs or weights which minimize the effort required to raise the sash. Other windows have friction devices to hold sash in open position. HORIZONTAL-SLIDING The sash in this window slide horizontally. Usually there are two movable sash; sometimes one is fixed. Hardware : Most sash are light enough to slide in sill tracks (metal or plastic recommended) . Door-height sash require rollers; overhead tracks are preferred. Ventilation : Sliding windows are not as suitable as swinging windows for obtaining maximum benefit from natural air movement since 1) only half of the window can be opened at one time, and 2) summer breezes cannot be scooped in or directed to rear of room. Latter disadvantage can be overcome somewhat by the use of venetian blinds or similar auxiliary controls. View : The horizontal divisions between top and bottom sash interfere with vision. When windows are opened, interference is greater. View : Vertical divisions, where sash meet, do not interfere with vision as much as the horizontal rails in double-hung windows since a person can look around a vertical obstruction easier than a horizon-tal one. Weathertightness : All sliding windows must be weatherstripped, preferably at the factory. Maintenance : Do not paint track in which sash slides. Apply a penetrating wax finish to wood track. Ease-in- Washing : Glass is troublesome to wash unless sash are removable. Remarks : Wood double-hung windows have been used extensively b cause of th ir availability, sim-plicity and economy. They are manufactured in a wide range of sizes. Maintenance : Metal or plastic tracks do not re-quire special maintenance. Ease-in-Washing: Some units are designed so sash can be removed for washing. This is important where sash are easily handled but difficult to reach from outside. The advantage is lost if sash are too large. Remarks: Sizes range from small sash, such as are used in ribbon windows, to ceiling-height sliding doors. Window is awkward to open and close when located above kitchen sink or large pieces of furniture. Sash are not apt to warp or sag since they slide within frame and are supported on both sides. Screen is installed on outside of window opening to permit easy opening and closing of sash. • When only one sosh is used, window is referred to as vertical sliding (see illustration, page 6). Un iversity of 1/finois OUTSWINGING WINDOWS Sosh CASEMENT A casement window consists of sash hinged at the side to swing outward.* Usually two or more sash, separated by a mullion, ar used in a frame. Hardware : Window can be opened or closed by either a crank or push-bar on the frame, or a handle on the sash. If the push-bar or crank pushes only the bottom part of the sash, the operation will strain tight-fitting sash. Use latch s on frame to hold sash tightly when closed; two are recommended for tall sash. AWNING An awning window is hinged at the top. It is manu-factured as a single unit or as sev ral sash stacked all in one frame. When opened, the sash project out at an angle like "awnings." Hardware : Hardware must hold both sides of the sash equally so the sash does not twist; a dual-arm control is recommended. A push-bar or crank oper-ator permits window to be opened or closed without removing scr en or storm sash. Multiple sash can be operated in unison by means of a crank connected to a series of arms. Hinges should allow arm space between sash and window frame for easy washing of windows. Sliding-arm, ext nsion-arm or maintenance hinges are recommended. The first two are available as friction hinges for use with handle operator. Ventilation : Outswinging window can scoop in air which would otherwise pass the op ning- i.e.) air moving parall I to wall surface. If wind direction is changeable, open only those sash which catch breeze from the right or left, depending on wind direction. View : Vertical window divisions ( 1 'h to 2'12 feet apart) interfere with view, but are not as objection-able as horizontal divisions at eye level sometimes found in other types of windows. Ventilation : Unless sash is opened to a full hori-zontal position ( 90 °) or is placed low in the wall, summer breezes are diverted so they flow above the occupied portion of room. Inside controls, such as a venetian blind, can be used to direct the breeze downward if the sash is not fully opened. View : Horizontal bars of stacked units may block view as bars are apt to be at eye level. Narrow-framed sash block view less than heavy-framed sash. Weathertightness : Weatherstripping is required, factory application being preferred. Remarks : Use of crank operator makes window easy to open and close even when located above kitchen sink or furniture or when placed high in wall. Inside screens and storm sash used with these windows are easy to change. To facilitate opening or closing of outswinging window having no crank or push-bar, inside screen or storm sash must be hinged or must have sliding access panels. Since the sash project outward, people are apt to bump into them. Avoid placing walks, play areas within arc of outswinging windows. Width of each sash is limited to about 2'12 feet be-cause the weight of an opened sash strains hinges. Because of this strain, the frame of the sash and the hardware must be sturdy. * Casement windows can be hinged to swing inward, but these are sel-dom used since they do not offer an effective means of ventilation; they interfere with draperies and window blinds; they limit use of space next to window; and they are hard to keep watertight. Small Homes Council Circular F11.1 When opened, this window collects dirt easily be-cause of its horizontal surface. Ability of awning windows to keep out rain when opened has been overrated although this window is better than others. 4 PIVOTING WINDOWS INSWINGING WINDOWS JALOUSIE A jalousie window consists of a series of small hori-zontal glass slats, 3 to 8 inches wide, which are held by an end frame of metal. The sections operate in unison, similar to venetian blinds, and open outward. Hardware: Panes are adjusted by a crank operator. Ventilation : When glass sections rotate 90° or more, air movement can be directed downward through the occupied portion of the room. By open-ing the window slightly, ventilation is possible dur-ing rain if wind is mild. View : Multiple-glass divisions are objectionable to view. Jalousies should be used only if natural venti-lation is more important than view, or if they are installed below or at the sides of view windows. Weathertightness: Even with storm sash, the large number of openings (between slats) results in cold-air leakage in winter. Ease-in-Washing : Glass is troublesome to wash because of many small glass sections. Remarks: Screens and storm sash are usually m-stalled on the inside. Louver A louver is a ventilating wall opening with charac-teristics similar to a jalousie except it is of wood or metal instead of glass; hence, it is not strictly a window. Its advantages over a jalousie include 1) ventila-tion with privacy since it is not of glass, and 2) ven-tilation without the interference of draperies since they are not needed. Lock hanclle BOTTOM-HINGED (OR HOPPER) This inswinging window is hinged at the bottom. It is opened by lock-handle at top of the sash. Usually it is manufactured as a single unit. A bottom-hinged window should be placed low in the wall for: • Effective air movement since window can direct breeze upward only. • Ease in washing from inside. • Ease in opening. • Non-interference with draperies. Because the sash swings inward, it interferes with use of space near window. TOP-HINGED A top-hinged window is similar to an awning win-dow except the sash swings inward. The window is commonly used for basements. It is also suitable for high ribbon-windows, in which case, a wide over-hang is desirable. Place window high in wall for: • Effective ventilation. These windows deflect air downward so that air flows through the occu-pied level of room. • Ease in washing from inside. • Privacy without use of draperies. Since the sash swings inward, it interferes with use of space near window. Multiple-Use Windows The multiple-use window is a single sash, which is designed so that it can be installed as any type of 1) outs winging window, or 2) inswinging window if it is furnished with interchangeable hardware and is corr ctly w atherstripped. This window is usually used in groups. Notes on pages 4 and 5 for the various types of windows apply. Window is relatively low in cost due to larger production, fewer sizes, improved production techniques, and simpler hardware. University of Illinois Small Homes Council Circular F11. 1 5 6 FIXED AND COMBINED WINDOWS The function of th fixed window is not to provide ventilation, but rather to admit daylight and to allow the extension of one's vision beyond a room. Since this window does not open, hardware, weath-erstripping and screen are unnecessary. Because the sizes of factory-made fixed sash and frames are limited, many builders and ar hit cts usc specially made frames to receive glass. This makes the variety and size of fixed windows almost un-limited. Large-size window panes (more than 12 square feet) are economical only in fixed glass installations. COMBINED WINDOWS The fixed window can be used in combination with sliding and swinging windows, thus achieving a win-dow which can best serve its several purpos s. While the sliding and swinging windows must provide day-light, ventilation and view all in one op ning, the combined window separates these functions- that is, the fixed window provides daylight and view, and the sliding or swinging window (or louver) with which it is combined provides ventilation. As a re-sult, conflict as regards type, size and placement of windows in fulfilling the various functions is I ssened. The fixed glass can be combined with op rating sash placed on one or both sides, above it, or be-low it. Such windows can be of any height, includ-ing floor-to-ceiling. Each of the combined windows shown here ful-fills the requirements of a well-design d window. Two of the windows have ventilation openings be-low the fixed glass, and two at the side. University of Illinois Small Homes Council Circular F11.1 

Selecting Windows

IDEALS @ Illinois

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/54636/1206810_F11_1_1955_selecting_windows_opt.pdf?sequence=2

Selecting Windows

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