What Are the Parts of a Farm House Window?
Farmhouses have been dotting the American countryside since the 17th century. At first, very primitive in design, such a house was one or 1 1/2 stories high, boxy in shape with few small windows. By the 18th century, farmhouses had followed the styles popular in urban areas. Greek Revival, Federal and Victorian were being seen in rural America. Farmhouses of the Midwest had simple, vertical lines, gable roofs, two stories with a large front porch and white wood siding. The saltbox style was prevalent in the northeast. There is no definitive style known as a farmhouse window, but nearly all American farmhouses utilized the double-hung window. Does this Spark an idea?
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Description
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A double-hung window is the most common of all types of windows in American homes. It can be made in many widths and lengths, making it very versatile. The double-hung window uses specially milled pieces to make up the jambs, frame, casing and sashes, according to Don Vandervort. Some have real divisions in the glass known as divided lites. The glass is held in place by muntins.
Parts
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A window seems to be a simple thing at first look, but it is made up of many parts. The upper and lower sections of the window are called the sashes. Each sash is composed of the stile (side rail around glass), top rail, bottom rail, panes and muntins. The surrounding portion of the unit includes the apron, stool and exterior sill. The inner surrounds of the sashes are the side jambs, head jamb and interior casing.
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How it Works
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In a double-hung window both sashes move. The upper sash moves down from the top and the lower sash moves up from the bottom. They slide in tracks located in the side jambs.
Modern Updates
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Historically, double-hung windows were made of wood. Wood is still a popular material and has excellent insulating properties. Many window frames today are made of vinyl or aluminum. Wood ones clad in those materials are available and provide easy maintenance. Instead of true divided lites, many use snap-in grilles. Some have the grilles built in between the sheets of glass.
Choices
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Differences in double-hung window styles occur mainly in the arrangement of muntins. Farmhouses display various muntin configurations. Six lites over six, nine over nine, six over nine, six over one, two over two and three over two are common styles. Some have no muntins at all. The prairie window features perimeter grids.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Cambodia4kids.org Beth Kanter
