What is a Bay Window?

Bay windows are multi-piece windows that typically extend outward from the exterior wall of a home or business. Although they can be used, and are commonly found, on all styles of home, they are most often found on Victorian or other traditional styled homes. Bay windows are popular for many reasons, but mainly because their large size and unique shape have the ability to fill a room with natural lighting and make a small space fill larger.

Bay windows are typically three sided and made up of three or more windows. One window is parallel to the wall of the home while the other two are angled outward toward the interior wall forming a trapezoidal shape. Typically, bay window installations will add two to three feet of length and width to a room, but this can vary depending on the size of the bay window installation. The additional space created by the window is called a “bay,” hence the name bay window.

Bay windows have a highly sought after aesthetic appeal. For this reason, installing a bay window in your home tends to be a very good investment if you ever sell your home in the future. Home buyers will often pay a premium for the improved natural lighting and panoramic view bay windows bring to a home.

In addition to providing better lighting and views to your home, bay windows are also an excellent way to improve air flow in your house. Bay windows also add additional storage and seating, making them a popular choice for small bedrooms, breakfast nooks or reading areas.

A less common, but practical use for a bay window is to create miniature indoor greenhouse. With the increased lighting and the greenhouse effect created by the glass, bay windows are an excellent location to grow plants that require a lot of light indoors.

Adding a bay window to your home generally requires proper permitting since you are adding space to the structure. In some cases, getting a permit for a bay window may not be possible. In this case, bay windows can actually be inverted, extending into the home rather than outward from it. This is a popular choice for people with ample space that simply want the added natural lighting benefits that bay windows provide.

If you are considering a bay window addition to your home, Weather Shield offers several high-quality lines of windows that can be used to create a durable, low maintenance and energy efficient bay window in your home. For more information on our bay window products and installation, contact us directly or find a Weather Shield dealer in your area.