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Door/window components and door types

Short answer

Doors and windows consist of a fixed frame (jambs, head, sill, horns, holdfasts) and movable shutters (stiles, rails, panels, glazing bars) with fittings (hinges, bolts, locks). Window frames include mullions/transoms; sills have slope and drip groove. Door types: battened/ledged, battened/ledged/braced, framed/panelled, flush, glazed, louvered, sliding, folding, revolving, rolling shutter, swing. Each suits specific uses like stores, houses, shops, hospitals, godowns.

What are the different components of doors and windows, explain with necessary sketches. Explain the different types of doors with the help of sketches.

A door or window is made of a fixed frame and one or more movable shutters, together with fittings.

Components of doors

  • Frame (chaukhat): the fixed assembly in the wall that carries the shutter. Parts: vertical posts (jambs), horizontal head (top) and sill (bottom, in windows and some doors).
  • Shutter: the movable leaf that opens and closes the opening. Parts: stiles (vertical), top, middle (lock) and bottom rails, panels, glazing bars and muntins.
  • Horns: short projections of the head/sill that are built into the masonry to hold the frame.
  • Holdfasts: MS flats (about 30 x 6 mm, 20 cm long) fixed to the frame sides and embedded in the wall/concrete.
  • Architrave and lining: a moulded finishing strip around the frame and a board lining the reveal.
  • Fittings: hinges, tower bolts, aldrop, handle, lock, stopper, door closer, glass and putty.
 Frame in wall (section)   Part of shutter
  wall | horn               ____________
  ==== |==HEAD===           |__top rail_|
  holdfast->|  |            |s|      |s|
       POST |  |            |t| pane |t|
            |  |            |i|      |i|
                            |_|_bottom_|

Components of windows

  • Frame: posts (jambs), head, sill, and mullions/transoms in larger windows.
  • Sash/shutter: the openable glazed part, with stiles, top and bottom rails, glazing bars and a lock rail.
  • Sill: the bottom member, with a slope and a drip groove (throating) to throw rainwater out.
  • Mullion and transom: vertical and horizontal members that divide a large opening.
  • Glass panes, putty/beading, hinges, handles, stays, bolts and window bars/grill.
   +-----------------+   HEAD
   |  sash  | sash   |
   | (glass)|(glass) |  <- MULLION between
   |--------+--------|  <- TRANSOM
   |  sash  | sash   |
   +-----------------+   SILL (sloped, drip groove)

Types of doors

TypeMain features / use
Battened and ledgedVertical boards joined by 2-3 horizontal ledges; cheap; stores, sheds
Battened, ledged and bracedDiagonal braces added to prevent sagging; wider doors
Framed and panelledStiles and rails with panels of wood/plywood/glass; houses, offices
Flush doorPlain smooth faces over a timber frame and core (hollow or solid); modern rooms
Glazed doorPanels replaced by glass; shops, offices
Louvred doorSlats fixed in the frame; ventilation in bathrooms, toilets
Sliding doorMoves on rollers/tracks; saves swing space; shop fronts, garages
Folding / collapsible doorHinged leaves fold; garages, shops (steel collapsible gate)
Revolving doorFour leaves on a central pivot; hotels, banks, air-conditioned halls
Rolling shutterInterlocked steel slats roll on a drum; shops, godowns
Swing / double-action doorOpens both ways; hospitals, kitchens
 Battened & ledged    Framed & panelled    Flush door
 +------------+       +------------+       +------------+
 ||||||||||||||       |   panel    |       |            |
 |============| ledge |------------|       |   plain    |
 ||||||||||||||       |   panel    |       |   skin     |
 |============| ledge |------------|       |            |
 ||||||||||||||       |   panel    |       |            |
 +------------+       +------------+       +------------+

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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