Here is a good article explaining grid guidelines.
Whether you're ordering windows for a new home or considering replacing
windows in an existing house, sooner or later you're going to have to make a
decision on grids. Think it's a no-brainer? Think again. There are some
definite considerations that should be taken into account when determining
the configuration, color and style for window grids.
Decisions you make on grids can positively (or negatively) affect the
overall look on both the home's exterior and interior. For older homes, you
may need to capture the historic character of the home's style with grids
fashioned to complement a previous era. For newer homes, you'll want to
consider if the window grids should be a design accent for the home,
pull-together the architectural theme of the house and/or provide continuity
of adjoining windows within a room or from one room to another.
"Grids can be considered the 'cherry on top of the sundae' for windows in
the home," says Whitney Davis of Simonton Windows. "Anyone can go with clear
glass windows and eliminate grid decisions by ordering plain glass. However,
those people may sacrifice style and an important design detail on the home.
"For those individuals who want grids on their windows, the key elements
are to achieve balance with the grids and to select grid patterns that are
aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately there are some tips to help even a
novice correctly specify window grids."
Tips for Success
Davis offers these suggestions for understanding grids and how to specify
them for windows:
Tip #1 - Know where the grids are located. Different window manufacturers
attach grids in different ways to a window. The most popular ways are to
place the grids between the panes of glass (which eliminates cleaning
hassles), affix the grids on top of the glass with an adhesive or to have
snap-in grids that are slipped into grooves at the top and bottom of the
units.
Tip #2 - Consider the size of the window. If a window looks too large for a
room or you want to accent the unit, it's time to think about grids.
Basically, grids (which can sometimes be called grills, grilles or muntins)
divide a large window into smaller viewing units, called "lites."
Tip #3 - Know your terms. Vertical grids go in an "up and down" direction on
the glass of the window. Horizontal grids go "side to side" on the glass.
You don't necessarily need to have both vertical and horizontal grids in a
window. Also, remember that the meeting rail (the horizontal portion of a
Double or Single Hung window where the sashes come together) also provides a
visual break in the lines of the window-basically between the top and bottom
sash. This meeting rail acts as a horizontal grid in these types of windows.
Tip #4 - Understand your grid locations. Grids are defined within the sash
of a window. For example, a Casement window has only one sash, while a
Double Hung window has both a top and bottom sash. On the Double Hung, you
may choose to have grids on both sash, on the top sash only, or on the
bottom sash and not the top.
Tip #5 - Think of the whole house. Generally, grid patterns should match in
all the windows on the same floor and on the same side of the house. This
way, when you view the home from the exterior, you have a unified look.
Tip #6 - Visualize a grid. Take a sheet of notebook paper and bend it in
half. The resulting size shows the average size of glass surrounded by
grids. Lites in grid patterns should not generally be smaller than 8 inches
in width and 6 inches in height. The larger the window size, the more
"lites" of glass can be created using grids.
The "Rule of Rectangles" is good to keep in mind when determining grid
configurations. This rule of thumb generally states that "less is best" and
that grids should be proportional to a window's size. Some guidelines for
the best matches for window grids are:
Square window = Square pattern
Rectangular window = Rectangular pattern
As a cautionary warning, make sure to use the proper terminology when
ordering window grids. Someone who has been in the window business may
describe a pattern showing six lites of glass on the top of a double hung
and six lites of glass on the bottom as a "six over six" window. However, in
today's window ordering system, this description would result in a checker
box look that creates 36 small lites on the top of the sash and 36 small
lites on the bottom of the glass! The correct way to specify this order
would be to say "1V2H (All)." This indicates that you want one vertical grid
and two horizontal grids on both of the sash, which would create a "six over
six" look on the window.
All About Style
Grids themselves can be thin, flat, sculptured, grooved or even round.
Different window manufacturers offer a variety of selections. In general,
the more popular and common grids in a home are either flat grids or
sculptured grids.
Once the grid style itself has been determined, the next step is to decide
on the configuration of the grids. A large assortment of patterns exists
that complement the style of most homes. The most common style of grid
pattern is a Colonial Square pattern with an equal number of square or
rectangle grids on both the top and bottom of the window's sash.
A variation of the Colonial Square is the Cross Square. This simple style
involves one vertical and one horizontal grid on the top half of a sash,
creating a cross effect. For a Victorian style home, a Victorian grid style
may work best. This involves one horizontal grid at the uppermost area of
the window sash separated by several short vertical grids.
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