If a customer wants to increase the home’s curb appeal and visual interest, bay windows are a fantastic choice. They make the interior feel roomier, let in natural light, and allow for a more expansive view. In this guide to bay windows, homeowners will learn more about bay windows and how best to include them in your home renovation.
Design Flexibility
On a bay window, the middle portion is parallel to the home’s interior walls while the windows to the left and right are set at an inward angle. Installations typically hang roughly three feet from the home’s foundation, but a bay window can be installed on a home’s second floor as well.
Bay windows offer homeowners a great deal of design and installation flexibility, because they can choose the operation style that suits their needs. Double hung windows are a popular choice because they’re easy to clean. Casement windows are also common; the outer windows swing outward toward one another, while the center window does not open.
Bay windows’ angle and size are flexible as well. In some settings, these windows run from ceiling to floor, but in other places, they stop a few feet above the floor and a few inches beneath the ceiling. With all that room at the bottom, homeowners can turn a bay window into a handy storage area or comfy reading nook.
Construction Considerations for Bay Windows
If a customer wants to add a bay window to an existing home, they’ll likely need a building permit. In second-floor installations with no similar windows below, buttress-type supports may be required. It’s important to sufficiently insulate the windows’ framing to ensure that the home doesn’t become cold and drafty during the winter. A professional window installer can handle all paperwork, permitting, and construction details.
Bay Window Variations
Recessed bay windows project inward, not outward. While the inward projection comes at the expense of interior space, it allows more natural light to enter the room. A recessed bay window is a great choice for homeowners who want the look but can’t obtain the permit necessary to build beyond the home’s exterior wall.
Bow windows are another bay window variant that comes in multiple forms. The first option is a triple-window opening with curved panes of glass; it creates a semicircle that protrudes from the home’s exterior wall. The second type is a four- or five-panel opening with flat panes set at a shallower angle than that found in standard bay windows. Finally, there are square bay windows, which protrude from the home’s exterior wall at a 90-degree angle. Local installers will help customers choose the right bay window style for any home’s architecture.
Call Today for Window Selection Advice and Installation Help
Bay windows, in all their variations, add classic style to any home. If a bay window sounds like a good choice for an upcoming renovation project, it’s easy to find out more about them. Homeowners can learn more about bay windows and other Milgard products from US Window and Door; just visit the main page for further details or call today to schedule an estimate.
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