What is the box above windows called?

Author: Margarete Corwin  |  Last update: Saturday, January 3, 2026

A cornice is a box-like wooden valance typically crafted from plywood, then covered with paint, wallpaper, or fabric and mounted to the wall above the window. Other cornices are carved from attractive wood and then stained to look good without needing paint or fabric coverings.

What is the thing above the window called?

1. Head. The horizontal piece at the top of the window frame is called the head.

What is the board above a window called?

The lintel of a window is a beam that sits horizontally along the top of the window (above the head of the frame). Commonly made of wood, steel or concrete, the lintel is a key part of the window construction.

What are the covers above windows called?

A valance is typically a soft fabric panel that hangs loosely from a board installed at the top of your window treatment. However, there are also upholstered, wood and metal valance options for drapery, blinds and shades.

What is the structure above a window called?

What is a Window Lintel? A window lintel is a structural element that takes the weight of the masonry above the window opening and transfers the load through the structure. The wider the window opening, the stronger the lintel will have to be. Lintels carry the weight so the window doesn't have to.

Simple Wooden Window Cornice stained with General Finishes Java Gel Stain

What is the box above a window called?

A cornice is a box-like wooden valance typically crafted from plywood, then covered with paint, wallpaper, or fabric and mounted to the wall above the window. Other cornices are carved from attractive wood and then stained to look good without needing paint or fabric coverings.

What is the support above a window called?

Simply put a lintel is a beam that is usually placed above windows and doors. The lintel's main job is to support the load from the structure above it. Both doors and windows are not constructed to structurally withstand massive loads by themselves. Lintels are mainly found in masonry or brick structures.

What is the box around a window called?

Casing. Casing is the decorative molding or framing around a window that is used to cover the space between the window frame or jamb and the wall.

What is a cornice box?

Box cornice

Box cornices enclose the cornice of the building with what is essentially a long, narrow box. A box cornice may further be divided into either the narrow box cornice or the wide box cornice type.

What is the framing above a window called?

Headers are horizontal framing members most commonly installed over a window or door opening. They are used for openings that are greater in width than standard stud spacing, and function to support the load above the opening of a window or door.

What is the thing that covers the window?

Types of window treatments include blinds, window shades, shutters, curtains and drapes. Blinds tilt open and closed using a wand or remote device. They have louvers or slats made of various materials. Blinds can be vertical or horizontal.

What are window squares called?

Grids (or muntins or grilles) are strips of material that simulate smaller panes of glass. Use our quick guide to window grids to help make decisions regarding the style of your windows.

What is the decorative piece above a window?

Pediments are decorative features that are placed at the tops of windows or doors that add charm, sophistication, and value to your home. The window pediment is an underutilized exterior feature. Too often, homeowners forget how much an understated accent to windows and pediments can add to their home.

What is the thing on top of windows?

Window Drip Cap

Also referred to as head flashing, drip cap is a formed metal or vinyl flashing, which is installed at the top of windows and doors. Drip cap is designed to shed water out and away from a window or door and prevent it from infiltrating into the home.

What is a window header?

A header is a beam that horizontally spans an opening, such as a doorway. For example, a window header spans the top of a window opening. The header is the structural element—much like a bridge—that allows the space below to be open, not closed.

What is a window panel?

Window panes are the sheets of glass inside the window frame. They may be single-pane thickness, double-pane, or energy efficient. They can be plain glass or ornate. They may come in a single large sheet, or there may be varying shapes and sizes of panes set within the frame.

What do you call the box above a window?

▶︎What is a window cornice box/curtain box? As known as curtain box. A window cornice box is a space reserved by wooden works on the top of windows. It is actually more a cover than a box, as its function is to hide headrails, tracks or wires in it. The outlook thus can be neat and beautiful.

What is a window pelmet?

What is a Pelmet? A pelmet, or valance, is a wooden frame or fabric border that sits above a window and its curtains. Traditionally placed to decoratively hide the curtain track, they also help with blackout in the room and act as an extra layer of insulation in front of the window to reduce heat loss in your home.

What is a pilaster used for?

In architecture, a pilaster is both a load-bearing section of thickened wall or column integrated into a wall, and a purely decorative element in classical architecture which gives the appearance of a supporting column and articulates an extent of wall.

What is the windows box?

The term typically refers to a personal computer in a desktop or tower case. For example, the phrase "that's a nice Windows box" simply means a "fully equipped or well-made computer running the Windows operating system."

What is the box on the outside of the house called?

Fusebox: most commonly located on the outside of the house along one of the side walls.

What are the boxes in windows called?

The framing that is used to separate and hold pieces of glass within a window is called a “muntin”, sometimes called “muntin bars”, “sash bars”, or “glazing bars”. Typically muntins are made of wood or metal.

What is the structure above a window?

A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented/structural item.

What lintels above windows?

What are Lintels? Lintels are horizontal structural elements that provide support and reinforcement above a window and door opening in load-bearing walls.

What is the design above a window called?

Lintel. A horizontal shape above the door or window opening. GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) and GFRP (architectural fiberglass) lintels are not structural in and of themselves, but are used to wrap and protect steel or concrete structural lintels. Neoclassical Style.

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