We do bay window replacement in Lawrence on bays and bows that sag, leak at the roof, run cold or have fogged across several panes. The old unit comes out whole, we check what was holding it up, and the new one goes in supported, sealed and insulated.
Request an estimateA bay hangs its whole weight off the wall. Over the years support cables loosen and brackets rust, and the unit starts to drop at the outside edge. The little roof and its flashing are the most common leak point, and once water gets behind the trim it finds the seat and head boards. On top of that, many older bays had little or no insulation above and below, so the alcove runs cold in winter and hot in summer.
A bay window is usually three units: a large fixed window in the middle and two narrower windows on the sides, set at an angle to the wall. The side windows often open. A bow window uses four or more equal panels in a gentle curve and sticks out less sharply. Both make a shallow alcove with a seat or shelf, and both are replaced the same basic way.
Before ordering, we look at the parts that keep a bay in place and keep water out:
On install day the old unit comes out and the new one is set, supported and flashed into the wall and roof. The space under the seat and above the head board gets insulated, a spot older installs often skipped. Then the interior trim and seat are finished.
Most people replace like for like, with better glass and a tighter install. You don't have to, though. A bay can become a bow if the opening width suits it, side windows can switch from double-hung to casement, or the center window can be made larger. Going back to a flat wall of windows is possible but means framing and siding work, so it costs more.
Bay and bow windows cost well more than a standard window of the same width. The cost page covers what goes into a quote.
Once the new unit arrives, setting a bay or bow window is often a day’s work. Rotted framing under the seat or a new roof cap can add time. Most of the wait is before that: bay units are made to measure, so ordering takes a while.
Harder than a standard window. A bay is heavy, hangs off the wall, and needs solid support, a watertight roof and insulation at the seat and head. Get any of those wrong and it shows up later as sagging, leaks or a cold seat. It takes a crew and the right support hardware.
It can make a room feel bigger and brighter, which buyers notice, but nobody can promise a dollar figure. A new bay that replaces a sagging or leaking one mostly protects the value the house already has.
Yes. A bay can become a bow, or the other way around, if the opening width works. Going back to flat windows means rebuilding part of the wall and patching the siding, which is a bigger job. We can price the options side by side.