42 helpful glazing terms for first-timers

New to the world of glazing? Want to install or replace windows in your home, office, or business but aren’t yet sure what it is you like? Familiarise yourself with these helpful glazing terms to discover which type of glass or design for your window/door is best for you. They’ll help you convey your ideas better and bonus, you’ll sound like a glazing pro!

Glossary of Glazing

Annealed Glass – A type of float glass which has been slowly cooled to allow it to withstand varying temperatures and small impacts without breaking. This is often used as tabletops, basement windows, and cabinet doors.
Arris Edge – removing the sharp cut edges on the glass with a belt machine. Great for protection if you have kids or pets who might cut themselves on the edges.
Australian Standards – The national benchmarks and standards for glaziers, which Haines follows to a T.
Awning Window – a window which has hinges at the top and swings outwards from the bottom to a fixed angle. Allows for ventilation even when it’s raining as it can be opened while minimising water entering. Perfect for laundry rooms and bathrooms where moisture is often trapped. Similar to Hopper windows.
Bifold door – doors made of multiple glass panels which have connecting hinges allowing them to be folded or stacked on top of each other. It’s a great look for any house as well as a space saver.
Balustrade – a barrier between a handrail and floor level. may be framed or unframed. Adds a dash of elegance and modernity to any space.
Bevel – a sloping edge on the face of the glass sheet of various thickness and usually seen on mirrors for a decorative flair.
Casement window – any type of window which has a hinge that attaches to a frame.
Check measure – the final measurements taken/confirmed for order to be processed. Make sure you get these exactly right!
Chip – a small piece of glass which has been detached from the sheet of glass
Colonial Bars – horizontal or vertical bars which divide the glass pane into smaller sections, occasionally fixed to the glass itself. Perfect for glass doors or floor to ceiling windows.
Cut size – the dimensions specified which the glass sheet is cut to.
Cut-out – the removal or ‘cut out’ piece or section of glass from a glass panel or sheet
Diffused glass – glass where the light is diffused (scattered) and results in the glass being less reflective. Often used in picture frames.
Double-glazed unit – two panels of glass separated by an air layer. This results in better thermal insulation and/or sound transmission.
Double Hung window – made up of two panels (sashes) which move up and down. The top panel opens downwards and the top panel opens upwards. Spring balances control the opening and closing of the window.
Finger slot – the slot produced by grinding into the surface of the glass. Seen often in vanity cabinet doors, reptile enclosures etc.
Fire-rated glass – glass that resists the penetration of flames and/or smoke for a period of time (based on Australian Standards).
Float glass – The ‘standard’ type of glass most people think of when you say the word glass. Transparent and breaks into shards.
Fixed panel – the glass panel in a window or door which is fixed in position and does not move.
Glazing – the installation of glass in prepared openings in windows, door panels, or partitions i.e. what we’re experts at!
Highlite – a fixed panel above a glass window or door, can be operable or inoperable.
Insulated Glass Unit – a type of glass unit composed of two glass panels with an airtight space in between. It prevents heat loss so your home or office stays nice and cozy in the winter.
Laminated glass – at least two glass sheets bonded together with a plastic interlayer (PVB – polyvinyl butyral) between them. Laminated glass is safety glass. Upon sufficient force the glass will crack or break but will remain intact and in one piece.
Low emissivity glass (Low-e glass) – this window allows light to penetrate but keeps the heat out of your home or office in the summer and traps the heat in the winter.
Lowlite – a fixed glass pane, often below a larger window, generally where the bottom of the window frame is below knee height.
Louvre – a series of small glass panels that overlap when closed, often controlled by a lever.
Mirror – glass that has been silvered on one side and has reflective properties
Motif – the safety sticker added to doors to ensure visibility.
Mullion – a vertical section between window units.
Obscure – textured glass that allows the transmission of light, however, an image is distorted or blurry. Perfect for a private office.
Polished edge – a process where the edge of the glass is processed so it is no longer sharp, it has a smooth edge of 450
Safety Glass – glass designed and manufactured so it reduces the likelihood of causing serious injury to a person if it was to be broken through human contact. Laminated and toughened glass are Grade A Safety glass and Wired glass is Grade B Safety Glass according to AS/NZS1288.
Safety Mirror – mirror which has an organic backing layer (e.g.vinyl back) that holds the mirror together if it breaks
Sash – the type of window frame where the frames can move up and down
Side lite – typically a narrow piece of glass that is located next to a window or door
Sill – the lower horizontal frame of a window
Sliding door – made up of a fixed panel of glass next to a sliding part (or in combination) that slides vertically
Sliding window – made up of a fixed panel of glass next to a sliding part (or in combination) that slides horizontally
Sump sill – a type of window sill that allows for water drainage to escape outside the building.
Toughened glass/Tempered glass – heat treated glass, which breaks into tiny cubes upon impact. Approximately 4 to 5 times stronger than its glass equivalent.
Translucent glass – often referred to as frosted glass. A white milky coloured glass which allows light transmission but limited image visibility. Great for privacy from neighbours and people walking on the street.

Whatever glass type you need for a window, door, wall, barrier, mirror etc., and whether it’s for your home, office, business, or building, Haines Glass will deliver!

This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their ‘Personally Identifiable Information’ (PII) is being used online. PII, as described in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context.

Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with our website.

What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our blog, website or app?

When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address or other details to help you with your experience.

When do we collect information?

We collect information from you when you register on our site, place an order, subscribe to a newsletter, Use Live Chat, Open a Support Ticket or enter information on our site.

How do we use your information?

We may use the information we collect from you when you register, make a purchase, sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other site features in the following ways:

To personalize your experience and to allow us to deliver the type of content and product offerings in which you are most interested.
To improve our website in order to better serve you.
To allow us to better service you in responding to your customer service requests.
To quickly process your transactions.
To send periodic emails regarding your order or other products and services.
To follow up with them after correspondence (live chat, email or phone inquiries)