 Guide to Defects in Slider or Glider Windows
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Guide to slider or glider windows & window inspections for defects & leaks: this article describes common defects (air or water leaks, out of square, operating difficulties) found in slider windows used in residential buildings
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Sliding Windows or Gliding Windows - Inspection Guide
See our Window Types, Guide article series where we describe the selection and installation of windows and doors, following best construction and design practices for building lighting and ventilation, with attention to the impact on building heating and cooling costs, indoor air quality, and comfort of occupants. We review the proper installation details for windows and doors, and we compare the durability of different window and door materials and types.
See WINDOWS & DOORS our home page for window and door information, and also see WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide for a photographic guide to window and door types and architectural styles. Ourlinks listed at Related Topics provide in-depth articles on window and door selection, inspection, installation, problem diagnosis, and repair.
Slider windows such as the page top installation on a cabin in Northern Minnesota and at left at a New York home can offer large horizontal expanses of glass and operable
sash that do not interfere with interior or exterior
space.
Our photo shows Andeson gliding windows (photo-right) that we [DJF] recently had installed during a log cabin renovation in Two Harbors, MN.
As discussed in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Chapter 3, BEST PRACTICES GUIDE: WINDOWS & DOORS, designing a window that slides sideways presents some challenges that we list here:
- The lower track must rely on weep
holes to drain away water, and second, any grit that collects
in the lower track tends to impair the sliding action.
- If the weeps clog up, water may find its way into the sill
or framing over time. Also, pushing a stuck window sideways
is an awkward motion that tends to strain the back. (Also see STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES).
- As with double-hung windows, ventilation is limited to
rougly 50% of the framed opening, and slide-by weather-seals are
less effective than compression seals. And if the slider is large enough it can also qualify as an egress window.
List of Glider / Slider Window Defects
To avoid problems with slider windows, look for high-quality
windows that slide freely. Also, consider alternatives such
as a picture window with a casement along one side for
ventilation. On some glider windows, especially high-volume lower-quality units we [DJF] have observed these defects:
- Lost window glass seal and condensation in insulated glass gliding windows [see photo below right]
- Improper installation of the glider window into a rough opening and ultimately finish opening that is out of square. The result can be poor window sealing, difficulty latching the window shut, and air or water leaks.
- Air leaks around the window frame
- Water leaks into the building wall and rot or insect damage traced to a gliding window frame that does not drain properly, possibly debris-clogged drain openings
- Sloppy flashing or caulking around the window leading to leaks into the building walls
- Vicinity caulking at windows - is not a problem unique to gliding windows, our photo (above left ) shows what we call "vicinity caulking" - the installer placed caulk "in the vicinity of" the joint between the window and the building exterior siding.
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Openings in sealant around windows allow water to leak into the wall. A casual inspection may see caulk and not recognize that the caulk or sealant was not applied effectively.
Most modern windows include an installing flange that deters leaks into the wall cavity at these defects, but sending wind-blown rain behind the wood siding on the home in our photo above risks siding damage and rot or insect attack on the structure.
- Rust-out of the frame or track on steel-framed glider windows. We suspect that clogged sliding window track drain openings contributes to this problem, shown in our photo [above-left]. .
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Examples of Antique & Site-Built Slider/Glider Windows
Below we illustrate a wood framed sash multi-light sliding window installed in a stone masonry building in Buenos Aires (below left), circa 1935, and a site-built wood frame slider installed in the same Minnesota green cabin shown at page top, but before renovations (below right).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sliding or Gliding Windows
Question:books on details of antique metal sliding windows?
Are there any book or article in the website that shows details or sections of an old metal sliding window? (or gliding window, I don't know the correct name)
thanks! - M.O.
Reply:
We call them sliding windows but window manufacturers such as Anderson Windows & Doors calls them gliding windows. Our photos at left illustrate a 19780's metal frame slider window that was one of most on a condominium complex, all of which had lost their seal, leading to fogging between the panes of the double-glazed unit.
Our slider windows above show a clogged drain opening in the lower track of a 1980's vintage metal-frame sliding window (above left) and an aluminum framed gliding window in an apartment in New York (above right). If you can describe a specific question or concern we'll be glad to do more research - no fees are involved.
Also see ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID for aid in identifying and estimating the age of building components including windows.
Here is a link to Anderson's information on window gliders: http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite/sliding-windows-for-your-home.htm
Skylight & Window Manufacturers & Product Sources
Andersen Windows and Doors
www.andersenwindows.com
Skylights and roof windows with exterior sash clad with
glass-fiber-reinforced material
Milgard Windows and Doors
www.milgard.com
Skylights with aluminum frames (thermal break optional)
with vinyl subframes on operable models; optional motorized
controls with rain sensor
Pella Windows and Doors
www.pella.com
Wood interior, aluminum exterior, optional motorized
controls, and manual or motorized fabric-pleated shades
Roto Frank of America
www.roofwindows.com
Wood interior, aluminum exterior, optional motorized
controls, and manual or motorized fabric-pleated shades;
Sweet16 model fits 16 in. o.c. framing
Velux America Inc.
www.velux.com
Skylights and roof windows with wood interior and
aluminum-clad exterior. Options include insect screens,
blinds, motorized controls and shades with rain sensor,
electrochromatic glass, and flashing kits for metal and tile
roofs and mulled units
Skylight Light Tube Manufacturers & Sources
SolaTube
www.solatube.com
Light tubes from 10 to 21 in. in diameter; options include
electrical lighting, daylight dimmer, and integral bath fan
Sun-Tek Skylights
www.sun-tek.com
Light tubes from 10 to 21 in. in diameter; options include
electrical lighting and multitube Spyder skylight
Velux America Inc.
www.velux.com
Sun Tunnel light tubes from 14 to 22 in. in diameter with
flexible or rigid tubes
Industry Associations for Windows & Doors
American Architectural Manufacturers Association
(AAMA)
www.aamanet.org
Efficient Windows Collaborative
www.efficientwindows.org
National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
www.nfrc.org
Sustainable by Design
www.susdesign.com
Shareware calculators for sun angles, solar heat gain,
and shading
Window and Door Manufacturers Association
(WDMA)
www.wdma.com
-- Adapted and paraphrased, edited, and supplemented, with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Basic Housing Inspection, US DHEW, S 352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries; New York State version, ca 1955, source of our window parts and window repair sketches.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
- The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for adaptations, quotations, or reproductions used at this website. All rights and contents of the JLC material are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
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