In the Surrey window and door installation industry, there’s a lot of jargon used between specialists. But where does that leave the customer? In this three part series, Hamilton Windows is attempting to demystify many of the terms that you’ve probably heard, although you may not be entirely sure of their meaning*. Don’t hesitate to contact us via Twitter @HamiltonWindowz, or by calling 020 8390 4855 for more information.

1. Glazing

Glazing is another term for one of the services we offer at Hamilton Windows, i.e. “the action of installing windows.”

2. Glazier

It probably won’t surprise you to hear then that a glazier is “a person whose profession is fitting glass into windows and doors.” He or she will be responsible for cutting, installing, replacing, and removing commercial and residential glass.

3. Fenestration

Fenestration is window installation, or “the arrangement of windows and doors on the elevations of a building.” This fancy sounding word has Latinate roots, with “fenestra” translating as window.

4. uPVC

uPVC is an abbreviation of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride. It is a “rigid, chemically resistant form of PVC used for piping, window frames, and other structures.” Hamilton Windows offer a range of products with uPVC frames, from windows to doors. You can check out the top 12 benefits of this material here.

5. Bi-Fold door

Bi-folding means ”double or twofold.” When that’s used in conjunction with a door, it means a panelled door that glides and folds in on itself and away. Bi-fold doors offer a host of benefits, and are hot property in today’s glazing industry.

6. Argon

You may remember from your Chemistry GCSEs that argon is “the chemical element of atomic number 18, an inert gaseous element of the noble gas group. Argon is the most common noble gas, making up nearly one percent of the earth’s atmosphere.” Argon’s relevance in the glazing industry is that it is used in double glazing, as when present between two panes of glass, it prevents the conduction of heat from indoors to outdoors, retaining building warmth.

7. Sash window

A sash is a frame that holds the glass in a window, and a sash window comprises of “two sashes which can be slid vertically to make an opening.” Take a wander down a residential street in Chelsea, and you’ll see row upon row of Georgian terraces sporting these kinds of window!

8. Spacer

A spacer is a term used in relation to double glazing. It’s the gap between the two panes of glass, and contains gas to prevent heat conduction.

9. Thermal stress

If a body of glass is subjected to variations in temperature, it may crack. In the industry, this is referred to as thermal stress.

10. Orangery

An orangery is technically “a greenhouse where orange trees are grown.” But today, orangeries are much more typically associated with conservatory type structures. Investing in an orangery may add much to the value of your property, increasing square footage, and improving interior décor.

Hamilton Windows have experience of installing orangeries in Surrey and London.

*Our thanks go to the New Oxford American Dictionary for their official definitions.