Who Can Install a Bay Window?
3 pros!
Don’t try a DIY bay window installation.
Bay windows can be a beautiful addition to any home. They let in more light, allow for additional seating and space while giving the home’s occupants an entirely new view.
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Yet when it comes to replacing a standard window with one that extends past the exterior walls, it’s not a task homeowners should tackle themselves.
Hire a professional to install a bay window
“We can do everything, because we have the experience installing bay windows,” says Abby Binder, owner of Abby Windows in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
When installing bay or bow windows, hiring a window installer or remodeling contractor with experience handling these types of windows is especially important. Bay windows must be supported from below with braces or from above with steel cables bolted to the overhead framing. Both systems work well, but support cables are the preferred choice because they're hidden inside the window frame.
“Gravity will force that window out of your house, which is why we tie-up in the rafters,” Binder says. “If the homeowner doesn’t have a soffit system, we’ll build one and make sure the window is secured to the house.”
Not all bay window manufacturers include cable supports, but they can be purchased separately and adapted for use on practically any bay window.
Hiring a window installation company who is familiar with bay windows is also important because a bay window isn’t constructed like a standard window.
“Keep in mind that a bay or bow window is built with a seat board and ceiling,” says Jeff Ford, owner of Windows by Jeff in Jenks, Oklahoma. “It does require a significant amount of manpower to install, as well as additional material.”
Be sure to verify the credentials and portfolio of past projects of any contractor you hire to install a bay window. Also ask about warranties or guarantees on both the product and the installation. You might discover the length of coverage and extent of the warranty is different for both.
Maintenance for a bay window
The good news about a bay window is there are really no special maintenance requirements. Simply keep the windows clean for a clear view.
“We’ve done several bay windows throughout the years with no maintenance or repairs,” Jenks says. “The knee braces, if made of wood, should be painted and caulked to prevent wood rot. And of course, you wouldn’t want any sprinkler heads spraying water on the knee braces or the underneath side of the window.”
Binder also reminds homeowners that the seatboard is made of wood, which is something to keep in mind if you plan to display plants in the bay window.
“Be diligent that water doesn’t sit there,” she says. “You can order seatboards that are pre-sealed from the factory, but that will add about $1,000 to the cost of your bay window.”
Something else to keep in mind as you order your bay window is the type of glass used.
“When you no longer have the walls of the house to insulate the windows, condensation can be an issue,” Binder says. “Make sure the window itself is a triple pane.”
Have you recently installed a bay window? How was the experience? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
