BAY AND BOW WINDOWS FROM WINDOW MANUFACTURERS IN ONTARIO
If you’re looking to improve, renovate or repair your home, you may be looking at getting new windows installed. There are many options to choose from, but you may want to consider that both bay and bow windows give the appearance of an open room while adding an attractive focal point to your space.
While they look similar, window manufacturers will install and charge differently for these two windows.
Bay and bow windows have unique attributes, advantages, and benefits that could be perfect for your equally unique style, project and needs. It’s best to contact your local window manufacturer in Ontario for custom Canadian made windows that suit your building project, but here is a more detailed explanation and comparison of these two luxurious-looking windows.
BAY WINDOWS
Bay windows consist of a windowed area with three sections that protrude outwards from the house and are usually in a square, hexagonal, or octagonal shape. They usually have a fixed window pane in the centre and two smaller and angled window panes installed on each side of the fixed panel. These two smaller window panes can either be fixed or vent windows.
Bay windows provide rooms with more interior floor space and add a nice touch of elegance. Since bay windows are typically easier to install and include fewer window panes, your window manufacturer will charge you less. Therefore, bay windows provide an easy, affordable and efficient upgrade for your property.
BOW WINDOWS
Bow windows include a series of window panes (usually four or five) that are attached together very closely to form a curved shape. The windows can be either fixed or vent windows, though a window manufacturer should be consulted before any choice is made.
These windows provide a rounded appearance on the home’s exterior and offer a little additional floor space in the interior. However, bow windows give plenty of natural light inside the home. While this upgrade is usually costlier, it does provide an unbeatable elegance to both the interior and exterior of your home.
BAY VS BOW WINDOWS
Both bay and bow windows bring attractive focal points into an otherwise regular room, while also providing an excellent view of the outdoors and generous amounts of natural light. These windows can easily transform both the interior and exterior of a home. Who doesn’t want more space and more sunlight?
Design
Although both bay and bow windows are suitable for almost any style of home, they can look more fitting in certain homes. The angular lines and flat panels of contemporary bay windows suit the exterior architecture of modern homes while the rounded, semi-circular bow windows suit the architecture of Victorian style homes.
Floor Space
Bay windows provide more floor space, but both bay and bow windows are suitable for adding boxed window seats. This adds usable space and creates a more spacious appearance.
Wall Space
While both windows usually need the same amount of height for installation, there is a difference in the width needed. Bay windows will use more space on from the exterior of the home to accommodate the protruding windows. Bow windows usually need a wider opening from the interior wall to accommodate the additional window panes.
Light
Bow windows allow more light into a room not only because there are more glass panes but also because bow windows include fewer supporting features between each window pane. Additionally, bow windows can wrap around corners of a house, which allows for more light to come in from both sides of a building. Such installations will, of course, need to be carefully considered by a window manufacturer in Ontario.
Ventilation
The design of bay windows makes it easier to install vent windows for better ventilation. Since these windows are not grouped as closely together as bow windows, there is room between the panes to install opening mechanisms.
However, if you plan to install a bow window with vent windows, you can order custom windows from a local window manufacturer in Ontario.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Since these windows project outwards, you will need to check the building consent requirements to see how far out you can build the windows. This is especially important for bay windows if the building is near a street.
Bay windows are usually installed at angles of 25, 35, 45, 90, 135, or 150 degrees from the house; they therefore protrude further out than bow windows. These windows are also heavier, so you will need to consider support for the window panes if you plan to install bay windows on an upper floor. Inevitably, such installations will require professional assistance and opinions – contact a trustworthy window manufacturer for help.
The choice of bay or bow windows will ultimately depend on your personal needs and preferences for your project as well as the regulations for your building. Speaking with a local windows manufacturer about custom-designed bay and bow windows can make the process much simpler than you think.