Glossary: Products and Terminology
Jul 02, 2026Sometimes, we use industry or product-specific language. We’ve been talking about our services for more than 50 years, and understand that not everyone may be as familiar with home improvement terminology as we are!
This page is to help you identify the word, product, or service you’re looking for and guide you to an appropriate resource to learn more. To navigate it, simply scroll or click the first letter of the word you’re looking for below.
Each piece of terminology will have a definition, and any words in orange link to a product-specific page with more information.
A
Attic insulation is a layer of fibers that cover the floor of your attic, helping to keep the air inside your house from escaping out through your roof. This keeps your home cooler in the summers and warmer in the winters.
D
Deck Add-ons
Deck add-ons are highly-customizable, additional features you can utilize in your decking project. These include:
- Deck Lighting – lights seamlessly built-in to your railing or stairs.
- Deck Railings – To meet Michigan code, any deck raised 30″ or more requires a railing. Railing color and material can be customized to fit your vision.
- Deck, Pergola and Shade Structures – A pergola is a raised structure that covers your deck or concrete patio, providing shade and keeping you cool, while still allowing some natural light to filter through.
- Deck, Privacy Wall – A privacy wall is not a fence, but a partition that helps to partially enclose your deck and offer isolation in even the busiest of areas.
- Deck, Under Deck Drainage System – A DEKDrain: Under Deck Drainage System helps control water flow and runoff. It also allows you to enjoy underneath your deck even when it is raining.
Deck Materials
- Decking, Composite – Composite boards are a blend of many materials. Our Fiberon composite decking combines wood flour with recycled plastics and is designed to mimic the texture of real wood.
- Decking, Fiberon – Our high-performance Fiberon composite decks allow you to enjoy the look of real wood and are built to withstand many years of weather exposure. They will also resist mold growth, fading, and stains.
- Decking, PVC – PVC decking is made from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. This material is light yet durable, and can also mimic the look of real wood.
- Decking, Wood – Traditional wood decks are often made of pressure-treated lumber. They require maintenance, including sanding and staining, on a regular basis.
At C&L Ward, we maintain expansive design centers across Michigan, where you can stop in to see our products for yourself and discuss your home improvement project with one of our experts.
- Door, Entry – An entry door is a door that leads into your home and is not a patio door.
- Door, Front Entry – When people think of an entry door, they usually think of a front entry door. This is the main door into your home, often a single door or a pair of matching doors. Typically, this door is made of fiberglass or wood.
- Door, Patio – A patio door leads directly to a backyard or porch.
- Door, Side Entry – A side entry door is often located in or near your garage. This door may be made of steel, which offers better fire resistance.
- Door, Screen or Storm – A screen door or a storm door is designed to protect your entry door and keep pests out, while still allowing air to flow through.
- Door, Sidelights (Entry Door) – Sidelights are the narrow window(s) on either side of your door. If you have a sidelight, or sidelights, they are a part of your door frame.
- Door, Sliding (Patio) – A sliding door moves on a track, rather than a hinge.
- Door, Transom Window (Entry Door) – A transom window is a window above your door. It may be a semi-circle, or a rectangle. It is a part of your door frame.
- Doors, French or Double Doors – French or Double doors are a pair of hinged patio doors, which do not utilize a track.
F
Financing options allow you to pay for larger remodeling projects with low monthly payments, rather than all at once.
Our Finishing Department is where we paint, stain, and complete your windows and doors. Our professionals give your products a high-quality, protected finish that’s sure to impress.
G
A garage door refers to the large opening through which your vehicle passes through. The smaller door, through which you pass through to enter your garage or home, is an entry door.
Glass: Low-E Coating
Low-E glass is window and door glass with microscopic, generally transparent coatings (Low-E coatings) that help to improve energy efficiency. These coatings can help block the sun’s heat in summer and prevent heat from escaping in winter.
-Andersen Windows & Doors
Gutters help to protect your home from water damage, and are often replaced or updated along with a roof or siding installation.
I
During your In-Home Consultation with C&L Ward, one of our expert consultants will provide you with a free quote, discuss our product options, answer any questions, and discuss remodeling plans in-depth with you.
An in-house crew is an employee (or team of employees) who work for a company and perform installations on behalf of the company. They are licensed, trained, and insured by the company.
P
C&L Ward’s Peace of Mind Guarantee is our guarantee to you for as long as you own your home. We guarantee your windows, doors, and siding will perform on the day of installation and for as long as you own your home. If at any time a problem arises due to the quality of our installation of your windows, doors or siding, C&L Ward will pay for the materials and labor needed to correct the problem.
R
Roofing, Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt roofing is one of the most popular roofing options in the Midwest.
SBS Polymer Modified asphalt shingles are also common. While similar to traditional asphalt, SBS shingles are more resistant to damage and more flexible.
Roofing, Designer
You can click the link above, or stop by any of our design centers at your convenience or schedule a free consultation at your home to learn more about the designer roofing options available through C&L Ward.
S
Siding, Composite
Composite siding is a blend of wood fibers and plastics, typically polymers and bonding resins. Composite siding offers minimal expansion, deep and rich colors, and mimics an authentic wood grain. It is a great alternative to wood for those seeking a maintenance-free product that won’t crack or split.
Siding, Engineered Wood
Engineered wood siding is composed of wood chips or fibers that have been heated, compressed, and bound together to be made more durable. If you’re replacing a cement board or wood siding and still want that authentic look, engineered wood is a great solution.
Siding, Stone Veneer
Stone veneer is a decorative layer of stone applied over the top of your exterior wall, rather than a fully-constructed stone wall. It provides texture, color, character, and affordability.
Siding, Vinyl
Vinyl siding is typically made of PVC, a type of plastic, blended with other stabilizers and pigments. Vinyl siding also offers durability, low maintenance, and is available in a wide variety of colors.
Over the years, many enhancements and changes to the product have transformed vinyl siding to make fading less of a concern.
Skylights and sun tunnels are windows installed in your ceiling or roof. They are an energy-efficient option that allows natural light to easily brighten up a space.
A subcontractor, or a third-party installer, is an installer performing work on behalf of a company who is not an employee of the company (and is employed by that third-party company).
Skylights and sun tunnels are windows installed in your ceiling or roof. They are an energy-efficient option that allows natural light to easily brighten up a space.
T
With The TruePrice Promise™, our goal is to remove the uncertainty from contractor pricing. Before you move forward, you’ll understand what affects your price, why your project falls within a certain range, and what you’re paying for. That’s our promise to you.
W
Window Manufacturers
- Windows, Andersen – Andersen Windows & Doors is a manufacturer. They make windows, but they do not sell them. C&L Ward is also an installer. We sell Andersen Windows and will install them in your home, but we do not manufacture them.
- Windows, UpWARD – UpWARD is C&L Ward’s own line of vinyl windows. Our products are crafted using a unique vinyl composition for exceptional quality, performance, and longevity.
Window Materials
- Window, Composite or Fibrex – Composite windows are made from a blend of vinyl and wood. Fibrex is Andersen’s unique blend of composite.
- Window, Vinyl – Vinyl windows are made of Polyvinyl Chloride, or “PVC”. This is often the most affordable window material.
- Window, Wood – Wood windows may be made of softwood or hardwood, and are often the most expensive window material. They require maintenance to perform and last.
- Full Frame Window Replacement –
A full frame replacement is when the entire window, including the sash, trim, and frame, is removed, exposing structural framing materials. The rough opening is then prepared for the new window.
The new window and frame are then installed, and insulation is added around the frame for maximum efficiency. New trim and sill materials are installed, and the replacement is complete.
- Insert Window Replacement –
Also called a “pocket window,” an insert window is a new window installed within an existing frame. Installing an insert window involves removing the window’s inside and parting stops. From there, the sash is removed, and the sill is prepared for the new insert window.
The new insert window is then installed into the existing frame, and new interior stops are installed.
Window Series
- Window, Andersen Composite: 100 Series – The 100 Series by Andersen Windows has a number of features that make it a great choice for any homeowner. All 100 Series windows are made of Andersen’s exclusive composite window frame material, Fibrex.
- Window, Andersen Composite: 200 Series – Andersen 200 Series windows are available in all of the most popular styles, ensuring you’ll be able to find the perfect option for your home, with beautiful wood interiors, a low-maintenance vinyl exterior, and energy-efficient glass.
- Window, Andersen Wood: 400 Series – The 400 Series line of replacement windows from Andersen is their most popular window line, and for good reason. These time-tested windows offer classic wood craftsmanship and state-of-the-art energy efficiency.
- Window, Andersen Wood: A-Series – Homeowners are particularly drawn to Andersen A-Series replacement windows because they are inspired by architectural details and feature authentic style. Their high level of customizability, with numerous options for the sash, frame, and trim colors, ensures you’ll be able to find a look that perfectly complements your home’s architecture and design.
- Window, Andersen Wood: E-Series – Andersen’s E-Series line of windows from their Architectural Collection offers you exceptional flexibility and virtually unlimited customization options to design windows that are truly one of a kind. Custom-built to your exact specifications, E-Series replacement windows enable you to choose the color, size, shape, and material you want to design windows that are as unique as your home in the Midwest.
- Window, UpWARD Vinyl: Eclipse Series – Classic white vinyl with comfort level glass.
- Window, UpWARD Vinyl: Transcend Series – Choose from white, beige, or black interiors and exteriors, with the option of interior woodgrains.
Window Types
- Window, Awning – Awning windows are hinged at the top. When opened, they create an awning over the window opening. Our awning windows are available with or without a crank, enabling easy operation in any space.
- Window, Bay & Bow – Bay windows extend outward and feature a large central window framed by angled windows on each side. Bow windows also extend outward but feature multiple angled windows that are all the same width.
- Window, Casement – Casement windows are designed to create maximum ventilation and a large, unobstructed view. They are hinged along the side of the window and when operated open outward.
- Window, Custom – Custom windows are perfect for homeowners that want windows to fit into any space of their homes. You can create designs in any combination that you desire, from elegantly curving glass to shapes to fit architectural accents.
- Window, Double-hung – In a double-hung window, each sash is mounted independently, so you can open them any way that you please. If you’d like a clear view out of the top, simply slide the top sash down. If you find yourself getting better airflow from the bottom sash, open it upwards.
- Window, Gliding – Gliding windows are designed to be operated effortlessly. They glide along a track so that the sashes stand behind each other when opened. This means that they stay flush with the wall and have a full, top-to-bottom opening.
- Window, Picture – Picture windows are one of the simplest types of windows since they are designed to be completely stationary. This means that they can be large and expansive, offering unparalleled views and opening up large sections of your home that used to be opaque walls.
- Window, Single-hung – Single hung windows are what many people imagine when they envision windows. Featuring one stationary sash and one moveable sash, they can be opened to promote ventilation without obstructing views.