A draft guard balancer is provided that attaches to, or is otherwise mechanically coupled to, or an integral part of, an existing balance shoe or balancer for a fenestration product such as a double hung window. The draft guard balancer creates a weatherstop along the track of the fenestration product that resists air, water, dirt, dust, pollen, and insects from entering the track and then the building. The draft guard balancer may be used with a balancer having a variety of springs, spring assemblies, balancer shoes and pivot bar arrangements. The draft guard balancer creates a seal that also prevents the increased friction that results from dirt and debris entering the track, thus making for a more energy efficient, easier to operate fenestration product. The draft guard balancer is equally applicable to both top and bottom sashes of a double hung window as well as other fenestration products.

A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier. The mounting bracket may include a first mounting surface disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to an exterior surface of carrier when the window balance assembly is in an uninstalled configuration. The first mounting surface may be substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the carrier when the window balance assembly is in an installed configuration and the mounting bracket is disengaged from the carrier.

A window frame has a sash and a panel that is disposed parallel to the sash, both of which are slidably disposed in the frame. A receiver is fixed at a first end of the frame. When the sash is in a first position, the sash is disposed within the receiver. When the sash is in a second position, the sash is disposed outside the receiver. A motor is fixed relative to the frame with a drive system connecting the motor to the sash and/or the panel. A control input is connected to the motor and is configured to receive a signal from a controller, a sensor, and/or a building management system.

An adjustable bar window lock is a straight bar with a foot at each end, and a snap-locking buckle in the center wherein the two double hung halves of the bar are able to be adjusted incrementally and solidly locked at a preferred length to lock a double hung window in a partially opened position against a window cooling unit to prevent removal or access to the interior of the home.

A method for treating an extruded or molded building component, the building component formed of a substantially amorphous thermoplastic having a glass transition temperature above room temperature. The method includes heating the building component from room temperature to a treatment temperature between room temperature and the glass transition temperature, maintaining the building component at the treatment temperature for a treatment time while supporting the building component to prevent sagging, and cooling the building component from the treatment temperature. The building component does not reach the glass transition temperature after reaching the treatment temperature.

A hidden insect screen system for tilt-to-clean, double hung windows whereby raising the bottom sash (104) causes resultant opening to fill with insect screen (115a) dispensed from an ordinary self-storing roller mechanism (114) mounted inside bottom rail (109) of said sash and whereby lowering the upper sash (105) causes resultant opening to fill with insect screen (115b) dispensed from an ordinary self-storing roller mechanism (122) mounted inside window head frame (103), all furnished such that vertical edges of the screens are protected from insect passage by contacting weatherstrip-like edge seals (127), and arranged such that insect protection is maintained with minimal interruption when each sash is tilted and its glazing is cleaned, the lower end of the upper screen being attached so as to be quickly repositioned from top to bottom of said upper sash.

Embodiments of windows mainframe components, for example, head/jamb window mainframe components which meet the egress requirements for egress windows are provided herein.

A sash tilt system for an upper sash of a double hung window includes a mounting bracket sized and shaped to be fixed relative to a lower sash jamb pocket. A sleeve that is configured to be mounted on the upper sash, and a sash link including a first end and an opposite second end. The first end is rotatably coupled to the sleeve and the second end includes a post extending therefrom. The post is at least partially receivable within the mounting bracket such that the sash link is rotatable with respect to the mounting bracket and the sleeve when the upper sash tilts away from an upper sash jamb pocket.

A fenestration assembly includes a sash, a frame surrounding the sash, and at least one screen assembly mounted in at least one of: the top portion and the bottom portion. The frame includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and two jambs forming first slots extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the jamb. The first slots each include a screen edge retention feature. The screen assembly includes a roller assembly substantially hidden from view, a screen material attached to the roller assembly, and a plurality of raised features. Edges of the screen material extend into the first slots. The raised features are attached to each of the edges of the screen material. The raised features are configured to engage the screen edge retention features and retain each of the edges of the screen material at least partially within the first slot of each of the two jambs.

A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element may include first and second portions. The first portion may be coupled to the carrier. The mounting bracket may engage the second portion of the spring element and may selectively engage the carrier.