Glossary of Terms | Letter "M"

Below is a list of some of the most common terms in the window and door industry.

Mahogany: The mahogany we use ranges in color from reddish brown to a deep, rich red, and it stains well for a superior finish. The wood displays a prominent growth ring figure, with grain that is straight or interlocked. Mahogany also offers less expansion, contraction and moisture absorption than other hardwoods.
Manchester Casing: This type of trim has a wide, proprietary exterior profile.
Maple: Maple is a hard, strong wood with a smooth texture and uniform grain. It may exhibit random darker streaks and occasional bird's-eye or worm track patterns. Over time, maple will mellow in color due to natural exposure to light and air.
Marine Glazing: See boot glaze.
Masonry Frame: See block frame.
Masonry Opening: This is the opening in a masonry wall, which accepts a window or door unit, the same as a rough opening in a frame wall.
Mechanical Window: A mechanical window is term for a product (usually vinyl) in which the corners are assembled using screws or other fastening mechanisms, as opposed to a welded corner construction. Also referred to as a mechanically fastened window.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF): It is often used to create door skins for interior doors.
Meeting Rail: See checkrail.
Meeting Stile: See checkrail.
Miami-Dade County: This Florida county, which includes Miami, has set numerous standards and requirements for hurricane-resistant windows and doors.
Millwork: A term used to describe products that are primarily manufactured from lumber in a planing mill or woodworking plant.
Mitered Joints: These are components that are joined at an angle to each other. Each one is cut an angle equal to half the angle of the junction are usually at right angles.
Molded (Also Moulded): Refers to something worked into a form or shape.
Monolithic Glass: This is a single sheet of glass that can be modified for increased strength, improved insulating capability, safety glazing and other features.
Mortise-and-Tenon Joints: These are joints created by fitting together a slot or rectangular cavity in one piece of wood (i.e., a mortise) and a matching projecting member (i.e., tenon) in the other.
Mortised Deadbolt Lock: This type of lock is designed to be installed in a rectangular cavity in a door, rather than on the door’s surface.
Moulding: Moulding (or molding) is decorative trim placed around the perimeter of a window frame.
Mull Cap: A mull cap is a component designed to cover the top or bottom of a mullion.
Mull Cover: This is the horizontal component between a door and a transom.
Mull Post: Mullions are the vertical components placed between door panels.
Mull Strips: These interior trim components are designed to cover a mullion.
Mulled Unit: Two or more window units structurally joined together.
Mullion: A wood or metal part used to structurally join two window or door units.
Mullion Casing: This is an interior or exterior casing member used to cover the mullion joint between single windows.
Multipoint Locking System: A multipoint locking system has more than one locking point.
Muntin: The individual pieces of a decorative grid that help divide a window opening into smaller sections.