Glossary

Actual Dimension
Referred to as the outside dimension of the outside horizontal and vertical measurements of a window or door, including the nailing fins (if applicable).

Airspace
The measured distance in a insulated unit between the inner surface of two pieces of glass.

Astragal
Decorative trim pieces mounted on the inactive door for a french opening.

Ballusters
A vertical stair part placed between the handrail and the stair tread or stair stringer.

Banister
Refers to the system of parts that combine to make a stairway.

Bifold Door
Door hinged to fold against the door jamb.

Bore
The hole drilled in a door for a knob, lever or deadbolt.

Bow
A curvature along the length of the door.

Bypass Door
An interior sliding door whereby the door panels pass around each other on separate tracks.

Closed Stringers
Referred to as the same as a box stair. A staircase in which the ends of the treads are not visible to the outside.

Core (Hollow)
A core assembly of strips or other units of wood, wood derivative, or insulation board with intervining hollow cells or spaces which support the outer faces.

Cove molding
Molding placed under the treads and landing treads.

Cup
A curvature along the width of the door.

Deadbolt
The locking mechanism for an exterior door, in which deadbolts can be single or double cylinder.

Divided Light
A pattern of muntin bars using horizontal and vertical members to form a colonial design on the glass.

Edge Band
A strip along the outside edge of the two sides and/or top and bottom of the door.

Egress
The act of leaving an enclosed space.

Finger jointed
Two pieces of wood finger machined on the ends and meshed tightly together under pressure and held in place with adhesives.

Fire Rated Doors
A door that has been constructed, tested and approved to pass the ASTM E-152 "Fire Test of Door Assemblies." Fire rated doors can be rated as resisting fire for 20 minutes (1/3 hour), 30 minutes (1/2 hour), 1 hour (B), or 1-1/2 hours (B).

Fittings
Pieces of wood that are shaped with the same profile as a handrail to to form change of direction for the handrail or to proivde strength.

Flange
Referred to as a nailing fin.

Flat Panel
Commonly referred to as a shaker panel.

Flush Bolt
The working part of the astragal which allows the stationary door to be locked into place for a french opening.

Flutes
Decorative vertical grooves placed in a wood surface such as a newels.

Handing
Dictates the direction the door will swing from inside or outside and from left or right.

Handrail
A molded rail following the pitch of a staircase, which forms the top corners or connects pieces of the balustrade while protecting the outside of the stair.

Intermediate Rail
A rail used to separate panels or to separate panels from glazing material.

Internal Muntins
Muntin bars between 2 pieces of insulated glass.

Jamb
Referred to as the frame

Lock Rail
Located adjacent to the lock.

Louver Door
A door assembly of stiles and rails and possibly panels. There is an enclosed space filled with slats sloping downwards to permit ventilation but exclude rain, sunlight or vision.

Mill Finish
Uncoated aluminum.

Mullion
A vertical member used to separate panels.

Newels
Provide the main support for the rail system.

Nosing
Typically rounded or shaped causing the front edge of the tread to project beyond the face.

Open Stair
Stairs that are open or without a wall on one or both sides.

Panel Door
A door assembly of stiles, rails, and one or more panel configurations which have mullions used to separate panels.

Pocket Door
A sliding door that has operable panels that slide into the interior or exterior of a wall.

Prefinish
The factory applied finishing process for staining or painting exterior or interior products.

Prefit
The trimming of a door for the width or height to fit an exact frame opening dimension.

PVC
Vinyl like material used instead of traditional wood components.

Rail
The horizontal structural member of a door.

Raised Panel
Consist of solid, edge glued, or laminated panels raised above the edges and shaped to fit into the grooves in the stiles and rails.

Risers
Refers to the vertical face of the step.

Rough Opening
The space in the wall into which a window or door is to be installed.

Shoe Rail
Accepts the bottom end of a squared balluster.

Sidelights
Designed to occupy the spaces adjacent to the exterior door, either in a common frame with the door or in a separate frame.

Sill
Referred to as the thresholds.

Sticking
A profile that has been machined into the edges of stiles, rails, and mullions.

Stile
The vertical structural member of a door.

Top Rail
Uppermost rail of the door.

Transom
A fixed window that is placed over a door unit.

Treads
Refers to the horizontal face of the step.

Twist
A deviation with one or two corners of a door in which they are out of plane with the other corners.

Warp
This is any distortion in the plane of a door which does not have any relations to the frame or jamb in which it is to be hung.