By Paul Bianchina
In years past, glass-making techniques were such that producing large, clear, structurally sound sheets of glass was difficult and expensive. As a result, most windows were divided up into smaller panes of glass - known as divided lites - which were separated by wood strips and secured with a semi-flexible material called glazing putty.
As glass-making techniques became more sophisticated, the ability to produce large sheets of perfectly clear glass soon became routine. As a result, windows with broad, undivided panes of glass became both practical and affordable - and very popular.
In the last couple of decades, however, many housing styles have trended back toward the traditional in appearance and materials. Windows play a prominent part of the appearance of any style of architecture, and one of the most distinctive features of the traditional style home is a divided lite window - real or simulated. Depending on your tastes and your budget, there are several ways you can achieve this very popular look.
True Divided Lite
The most authentic - and most expensive - of the divided windows are wood windows with true divided lites. True divided lite windows are manufactured using essentially the same process as of the windows of yesteryear - a solid wood frame is broken up into squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, or other regular geometric shapes using interlocking wood strips, and individual panes of glass are fit into the openings. About the only difference between today's windows and yesterday's is the fact that the glass is now sealed, double-insulated units, and the old glazing putty has been replaced with more modern flexible sealants.
Because of their authentic nature, true divided lite windows have the advantage of unparalleled beauty. Also because of that authenticity, they are labor intensive to produce and utilize more materials, making them more expensive than other types of windows - often significantly so.
Simulating the Divided Lite Look
There are a couple of ways of achieving the divided lite look at a lower cost. One attractive and considerably less expensive alternative are detachable grids. Also used with wood windows, detachable grids are simply a wood framework that snaps over the inside of a standard, non-divided window. The grid simulates the appearance of individual panes of glass, and also offers the advantage of easy removability to simplify both painting and cleaning. One other advantage to the removable grid is that if a manufacturer offers them as part of their product line, the grid can be added at any time and does not have to be ordered as part of the original window.
For vinyl and aluminum windows, the divided lite look can be achieved through the installation of grids between the two panes of insulated glass. The grids are made from metal or vinyl in a color that matches the window's frame, giving the appearance of a traditional, painted divided lite window. No painting is required, and the interior and exterior surfaces of the window are smooth and unbroken for easy cleaning. While not at all a true divided lite, gridded windows still offer a very attractive alternative to more expensive wood windows with individual panes.
Gridded windows must be ordered that way at the time the window is made, since the grids are sealed in place between the two panes of glass. There are a number of standard grid patterns and styles available, and most manufactures can custom build a grid pattern to any design you wish - check with your window dealer for samples.
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