Examples of types of exterior doors, & door defects
List & photos of types of windows found on residential buildings
Guide to skylights, skylight leaks, repairs, proper installation methods
Guide to sloped glazing, guide to vertical glazing
Guide to diagnosing and curing leaks at basement windows
Window condensation causes & remedies
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How to build, diagnose, inspect, install, and repair skylights, windows, doors.
For some home buyers, especially of older homes, un-disclosed problems with windows and doors (leaks, rot, energy loss, operability)
can be a real "sleeper" that later turns out to be a source of major headaches and big costs. Our photo (left) shows a lovely antique eyebrow window on a roof in New York state.
At a home inspection in New York we found an entire development in which nearly every wooden window in the 1960's - 1970's homes was badly rotted. The same siding installation company had made the same mistake - hundreds of times.
A flashing error at window tops and sides sent wind-blown rain into the window frame, leading to rot and in some cases termite damage as well.
Windows and doors that are leaky or poorly constructed can be a big energy loser on buildings as well. Here we provide a series of articles on the inspection, diagnosis, installation, and repair of problems at windows and doors on residential buildings.
Our photo (left) shows an expedient, but insecure means of securing these interior doors.
This photo shows rot and damage that will eventually occur if a sliding glass door threshold is not kept flashed and sealed.
Basement walkout doors were originally usually site-built using sloped wood (photo, below left); if your basement door is in as terrible shape as the unit shown here, the worry about leaks into the building basement should take second place to the immediate life-safety hazard of a rotted door like this one. Modern basement walkout doors are purchased as a pre-fab steel unit from manufacturers such as Bilco™ (photo below right) and may be set on a site-built or pre-fabricated masonry stairwell.
What are the Basic Types of Windows and What are the Names of Parts of Windows?
Our sketches of basic double-hung window parts (above left and below left) appeared in Basic Housing Inspection and later in other window guides. Our sketch of repair of window sash cords and weights shows how older double-hung windows operated with sash weights and came from the same source.
Awning-type windows operate by a crank and open outwards from the bottom, hinged at the sash top.
Basement windows vary among many of the styles listed here, but because they are normally close to or even below ground level, special installation detail and attention to handling of roof spillage are critical to avoid leaks, rot, and indoor water and mold problems. See WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT.
Bay windows project out from the building wall and may incorporate both fixed vertical glazing and operable sashes of any type, usually double-hung or casement style. If the roof over a bay window is not maintained, or if the window is not properly installed, leaks and condensation are likely. This bay window uses fixed center glass and double hung sashes at either side.
Casement-type windows also operate by a crank, but are hinged at one side and open outwards like a door.
Dormers (photo at left) are not a window-type but rather are an expansion of space under the roof area of a building. Nearly any type of window can be installed in a dormer. Dormers as a means of gaining space and light to make an attic area into living space have been around for a long time.
Double-hung windows use two moveable sashes, an upper and lower unit that slide past one another. When inspecting a home for window problems don't assume that all new or recently-installed sashes are operable without doing some actual testing.
Eyebrow windows (see photo above) may be fixed or operable and are built protruding through the slope of a roof surface. Eyebrow windows may also appear as small peaked installations but the classic is rounded such as we show above. An "eyebrow" window is a miniature dormer in essence but requires less supporting framer than a larger dormer. An eyebrow window is not a dormer.
Single-hung windows are similar to double-hung units but only one sash, usually the lower one, is movable.
Slider type windows use sashes that slide horizontally like "bypass doors", one sash passing the other on the inside or outside. These slider widows on a log cabin we renovated in Minnesota were site-built, leaky, and replaced entirely.
Storm windows are additional windows, fixed or operable, that are hung or installed over the main window sash to reduce heat loss through the window. A "triple-track" storm window incorporates a movable screen and upper and lower widow sashes. Each layer of glazing added to a window cuts heat loss through the window glass by about one third, but if the window is drafty any energy savings will be lost until the drafts are found and sealed. See AIR LEAK MINIMIZATION and AIR SEALING STRATEGIES as well as ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE.
How to inspect, diagnose, and repair skylights, sloped glazing, vertical glazing, energy-losing windows, and leaky basement windows.
WINDOWS & DOORS articles on window selection, installation, efficiency, leaks, diagnosis, and repair
VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS - proper installation details for vertical fixed glass windows to avoid leaks, rot, condensation, heat loss
WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE U.S. Department of energy detailed recommendations for energy savings at windows and doors - supplemented by leaks to articles with additional "how to" details
WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT - the good, bad, and ugly of leaks into basements at basement windows: diagnosis and cure
Here we show two problem windows at building basements. If your basement windows seem to be points of leakage into the building, see WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT.
If your skylights leak or seem plagued with condensation there is a risk of hidden rot or even mold contaminated ceiling or roof insulation.
If you are building or installing vertical windows such as the fixed glass triangular windows shown in this photograph, see
VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS - proper installation details for vertical fixed glass windows to avoid leaks, rot, condensation, heat loss
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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.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
"Weather-Resistive Barriers", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
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InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.