The term ‘bay window’ actually refers to any window construction that protrudes from your home’s exterior wall. It can be bewildering to choose from the many types and shapes available, which is why we’ve compiled this guide featuring the following:
- Adding a new bay window
- Upgrading an existing bay window
- Aluminium bay windows in different types of properties
- Types and shapes of bay windows
- Common angles and sizes
- Design ideas
- Different locations in your house for bay windows
Adding a new bay window
There are a number of pros and cons to installing a new bay window in a property:
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If you’re thinking about adding a completely new bay window, it’s a good idea to consider both your budget and the knock-on effects of the building and structural work it will take to install it.
Upgrading an existing bay window
Replacing your existing bay window – whether it’s timber or uPVC – is the ideal opportunity to upgrade to aluminium. Not only does it provide the potential to improve your energy efficiency, aesthetics and security of your property, but also allows you to pick a colour that better complements your décor and building style.
On top of this, it allows you to consider or reconsider the existing configuration of your bay window. This can be looked at from a practical as well as a safety perspective. For example, does the room need more or less ventilation?
Additionally, the likes of a side hung window can be easier for children to open when compared to top hung windows on top of a fixed frame, which feature handles that children won’t be able to reach, so this would be a great opportunity to make your windows safer for your family.
Read more about the benefits of the Origin Window here:
Aluminium bay windows in different types of properties
Material is an important factor to consider when choosing the right bay window. Very old houses may still have timber frames, or it might be time to replace old and outdated uPVC frames. Read our advice on how to tell if it’s time to replace your windows here.
At Origin, all of our windows are manufactured from a premium grade aluminium. With an industry-unique internal and external flush casement, it’s a modern take on a traditional design. Read more about making aluminium windows work in period properties here, and see how they look in new builds here.
Types and shapes of bay windows
If you’re building a new bay window or replacing an existing one, it’s the perfect time to consider the best type and shape of to suit your home.
Heights of bay windows
Bay windows can be built in different heights. The height from floor level is the factor that most affects how a window might be used by the household.
- Floor level windows
Many bay windows increase the floor space of a room by being built from floor level upwards to either door or ceiling height, creating extra space on the floor.
- Oriel and cill height windows
Some bay windows may be constructed higher up the interior wall, supported by a bracket into the exterior wall. Windows of this kind don’t increase the floor space of the interior room, but may be used for features like window seats. Cill height bays can often be bow windows; shallow, circular bay windows, providing a gentle extension of the window, deepening the window cill and widening the view, but not affecting the floor space.
Types and shapes of bay windows
Bay windows can be built in a range of different shapes:
- Triangular bays
These are quite rare and usually built as oriel windows rather than to floor level. They are two-sided and form a triangular shape.
- Box bay windows
These form a square or rectangular bay, with three window panels at right angles.
- Three-sided bay window
These consist of window panels set at angles to make a half-hexagonal shape. The window panels may be of equal width, or may make the specific ‘canted’ shape, as below.
- Canted bay window
Probably the most common bay window shape seen in houses, canted bay windows consist of three sides, but they have a longer front panel, with two shorter window panels set at an angle to it. This forms a half-hexagonal shape.
- Five-sided bay window
Similar to the three-sided model, five window panels can be constructed to make a shape with gentler angles. They can be arranged with equal widths and at equal angles to give a soft, rounded feel. They can also be constructed in a fashion to ‘round’ the corners of a box bay.
- Bow window
Bow windows are a curved bay window. They consists of at least four window panels, usually of equal width, set at equal angles to each other in order to create a gentle circular shape. They may have many more window panels, depending on how big the bow is.
Types of windows in a bay window
The most common types of bay window are made up of:
- Casement windows, which are hinged on the left, right or top to open outward.
- Sash windows, where the bottom sash usually slides upwards to sit behind the top sash when open.
- Fixed
These are windows that are non-operational, so they are plain glazing units without the function to open or move them. A combination of fixed and openers is a popular choice. A dummy sash is sometimes used to give the same aesthetic as a casement window, without it opening.
Common angles
The greater the number of sides in the bay, the larger the angles will be.
- Triangular bays
This is the smallest type of bay window and is constructed with just two windows, set at 120 degrees to each other. They are typically seen as oriel windows; built from the cill upwards instead of floor level, and supported with a bracket or corbel underneath.
- Square or rectangular bays
These necessitate the three sides to be set at 90 degrees to each other in order to form the square shape.
- Three- and five-sided bays
The angles in a three-sided bay may depend on the width of the panels. The most common angle for a three-sided bay is 135 degrees, but they could vary between 120 and 140 degrees.
In a five-sided bay, the angles will be larger: 150 to 175 degrees.
Design ideas
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Different locations in your house for bay windows
It’s important to consider which locations in your home are best for installing bay windows. This will depend on the type of house you have, and the space and view to the exterior.
Front of house
Bay windows are ideal on the front of your home, usually where the living room is. Here, they can add kerb-appeal and architectural interest to a frontage, increase valuable floor space and provide a focal point for the room. They can offer the ideal combination of letting light in to the home and providing a widened view to the exterior.
Side of house
Unless you have a detached house and an attractive view to the side, such as a beautiful garden, bay windows are less commonly installed here. Bay windows wouldn’t usually be installed on the sides of semi-detached houses, where space is at a premium between properties.
However, many detached period properties have desirable views to every aspect, so it may be possible to install a bay window to the side in this type of property.
Back of house
Bay windows are sometimes seen on the backs of houses, particularly from the Edwardian era onwards, where houses were built increasingly with a dining room or parlour to the back of the property. They can widen the view to the rear gardens. If a view to the rear of your property is important, then bi-folding doors are a superb alternative (or can be used alongside) bay windows.
Origin Windows case studies
Follow the links below to find out more about how aluminium bay windows from Origin have helped transform a range of properties throughout the UK.
This stunning property benefitted from having a bay set installed which comprised of 2 layers of 7 window frames coupled together.
Our customer Peter already had a set of Origin Bi-fold Doors and an Origin French Door installed when he chose to fit three new bay windows in his house with the new style. The bay windows were specified due to the slim sightlines that aluminium offers, helping make the most of the fantastic view of the garden and act as a focal point.
The huge bay window specified for this home spans around the entire width of the new kitchen. With 7 window bays spanning across an impressive 4 and a half metres in width, it’s intended to get as much light into the property as possible and give it a huge boost of character.
To find out more about the options available for aluminium bays, and other style windows for your home, contact your local installer today. Alternatively, you can order a brochure, visit a showroom or check out our dedicated aluminium windows section here.
