Guides

The parts of this that are worth understanding first

Windows carry more technical vocabulary than most building products, and most of it is unnecessary. These explain the parts that actually change your decision, for commercial specifiers and homeowners alike.

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Punched opening vs curtain wall

A punched opening is an individual hole in a solid wall. Curtain wall is a continuous glazed skin hung outside the structure. They are different products with different failure modes.

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U-factor and SHGC explained

U-factor measures heat escaping through the window — lower is better. SHGC measures solar heat coming in through the glass — lower blocks more sun. Both are chosen together for the climate and the elevation.

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Egress code for bedroom windows

A window serving a sleeping room must provide a minimum clear opening for escape and rescue. The measurement is taken on the new operable unit after installation, not on the old opening.

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Historic district replacement rules

Historic review judges appearance: frame sightline, division locations, muntin pattern, and glass depth. It does not waive egress, and it rarely waives energy requirements.

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Commercial

How a window schedule works

A window schedule assigns a type mark to each distinct unit, then maps every opening in the building to one of those marks. It is the fabrication order, the pricing basis, and the install checklist at once.

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Residential

Aluminum vs vinyl vs fiberglass

Aluminum gives the narrowest frames and the most glass, and needs a thermal break to perform. Vinyl is the cheapest and the widest. Fiberglass sits between them on both counts.

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What drives aluminum window cost in NJ

Cost is driven by operating type, glazing package, opening condition, access and finish. Fixed units sit at the bottom of the range; operable, egress-sized and historic-profile units sit at the top.

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Read later, quote now

You do not need to finish the reading to start. The form asks for what you already know about the project.

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