There are few architectural accents more beautiful than bay or bow windows. These additions to your home not only add character and curb appeal, but they can also increase the value of your property, which could equate to a return on investment when you elect to sell your home.
In the meantime, of course, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful addition to your structure, including the added natural light a large bay or bow window lets in, and perhaps the extra seating and storage that are often part and parcel of such upgrades. The only real question when it comes time to choose windows for your home is whether you’ll go with a bay or bow style. What’s the difference and how can you choose? Here are a few things to consider.
Number of Windows
One of the biggest differences between bay and bow windows is the number of windows you’ll enjoy with each. Bay windows tend to feature three windows that angle outward from the exterior of the home to form a window box. These windows could all be the same size, but more often than not, the center window is much wider than the two side windows. The size of windows you choose will depend on the size of your window box and the angle at which the windows protrude.
A bow window, on the other hand, generally features 4-6 windows of the same size. Much like a bay window, a bow window extends beyond the exterior wall of the home, but because there are more windows, the angle of protrusion tends to create a gentle curve, rather than the sharper, more defined angles of the bay window.
Angle of Protrusion
In addition to the number of windows common to both bay and bow setups, they differ in the angles at which the windows protrude from the exterior of the home. Even if a bay and bow windows are both the same width and extend the same distance from the exterior wall, the angles at which the individual window panes are set (against each other) will differ because a bay window has fewer window panels than a bow window (three versus six, for example).
The result is that the angles of a bow window tend to be larger. Whereas a bay window could conceivably feature windows at 90-degree angles to the home, this could never work for a bow window, insomuch as all the window panes tend to be set evenly to create a smooth, curved appearance.
Style of Home
Bay and bow windows may seem interchangeable, and in truth, there are many home styles where both could work equally well. However, you should definitely consider the style of your home, as well as the space available for installing a window, before choosing between bay and bow styles.
Personal Preference
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and everything being relatively equal, you’re sure to prefer one style of window over another. Make sure to speak to the professionals at Renewal by Andersen to get all the information you need about bay and bow windows before making a decision about which to buy, but don’t forget to consider your own preferences, as well.
Leave a Reply