The ABC’s of Window Sashes

One of the terms associated with replacement windows in San Jose, CA is window sashes. You may not know what window sashes do, why they are important, even perhaps even what part of windows they are.

Because we don’t use this term very often in our everyday language, unlike previous generations of Americans who knew exactly what they were, it’s good to have a basic understanding of what window sashes are when you are considering have replacement windows installed in your home.

Perhaps window sash sounds slightly familiar to you, but you don’t know why. The reason it’s familiar is because of one of the most well-known poems ever written, €œThe Night Before Christmas,€ by Clement Clarke Moore.

A window sash is referred to in this excerpt:

“…When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a luster of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.”

But what exactly is a window sash? What does it do? And what do you need to know about window sashes when you are buying replacement windows?

Window sashes are the part of the window that holds the glass of the window in place. Window sashes are installed into window frames. Window sashes are what enable you to open and close windows. However, some window sashes in a window may not move.

For example, with single-hung windows, the top window sash is stationary, while the bottom window sash moves up and down. With double-hung windows, on the other hand, both window sashes move, allowing you to open the window from the top or bottom.

Window sashes play an integral role in window quality and durability. Window sashes are part of a window’s structural reinforcement. The stronger a window’s structural reinforcement is, the longer the window will function properly.

Apart from being used to open and close windows, window sashes are often a key component in identifying and addressing window issues and problems.

Window sashes have a critical function in window design. If your windows are stuck or that you can’t open and close them, the first thing to look at is window alignment inside the frame.

Windows get installed when a home is built. However, as time passes, house foundations settle causing the house to move slightly. While this does not compromise the structural integrity of the house, it can cause misalignment of windows because they don’t sit squarely anymore in their frames.

You may be able to address this by just having the window sashes replaced. However, it is more likely that you’ll need to have replacement windows installed to fix the problem.

Another reason that window sashes may get stuck or do not move freely is because of dirt buildup on the tracks of the window. Sometimes this can be resolved by cleaning and lubricating the tracks with a silicone lubricant. If this does not resolve the issue, then you need to consider having replacement windows installed.

Window sashes that do not function properly can reduce the value of your home. If you getting ready to sell your home, you should consider having replacement windows installed to address window sash problems that may mean the difference between selling your home quickly or having it sit on the market for a while.

To learn more about replacement windows in San Jose, CA, you can speak with our knowledgeable staff at California Custom Creations.