Every home has windows to light up the interior space and improve the airflow. However, have you ever thought you would add a bay window or a picturesque design that enhances these qualities even more?
If so, you can enjoy the weekend by making one yourself or with your friends. It would be easy enough with the step-by-step instructions provided in this article.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Add A Bay Window
Brighten The Room
Thanks to its three-part design, a bay window can gain a lot of natural light, thereby lighting up your room. Besides, it retains the sunshine longer, saving you many electricity bills.
As sunlight crisscrosses the space, it creates an ethereal scene, ideally for homeowners to read books, gather with their beloved ones, etc.
Light up your room with a bay window
More Space
Since a bay window has an outward protruding appearance, it helps extend the floor’s length, transforming a cramped room into a spacious and comfortable area.
Because of that, you are free to decorate this corner to indulge in your hobbies without worrying about the small square footage. It can be a quiet reading nook, a relaxing spot, or a lovely ledge planting your favorite flowers.
Good Ventilation
Because a bay window is formed with a three-sided shape, it maximizes the fresh air entering the room. You will have an airy rather than stuffy feel when you open the side and top openers.
On top of that, every hot summer, it allows the cool breeze to enter the room, freshening your temperature without needing an air-conditioner. What a convenient, friendly-environmental way!
A bay window allows a large amount of airflow to enter your room
Increase Real Estate Value
Because of its elegant beauty, a house with a bay window attracts more potential home seekers, increasing the house’s value.
In addition, as we already mentioned, a bay window adds square footage to the house, making the estate more profitable when re-sale.
How To Add A Bay Window: Step By Step
Gather the necessary pieces of equipment
To add a bay window, you must prepare the necessary tools well. They all have roles in the installation process, so do not skip any.
In the list we provide, there will be eighteen tools. Do not be afraid of this number. Follow our guide, and adding a bay window is a piece of cake.
The things you will have to arrange include: a tape measure, a hammer, support braces, caulk, lumber, level, windows, shingles, shims, insulation, plywood, cap flashing, both screws and nails, roof sheeting and shingles, and finally is roofing paper.
Measuring
At first, you should get the width numbers of the two smaller windows by using the tape measure and placing its tip on the joint between the window casing and frame. Then, spread it until reaching the contiguous window’s seam.
After writing down the first window’s width measurement, you should continue the same process with the height and record it. When finished, conduct similar steps with the second window at the opposite position.
With the central window, you need to measure the width. Place the tape measure in the middle of the left window’s joint and extend it until it touches that of the right. Note the number on the paper.
To ensure all the information is correct, double-check the measurements.
Removing the existing window
Before removing the old window, you must prepare some stuff to protect yourself, including gloves, dust masks, and protective eyewear. You should also check whether it is essential to use the load bearing to keep the structure stable.
After that, measure the area where you will add a new window bay from outside the house. Recording the numbers in the ways you can remember, such as using a mobile phone or a notebook.
Lastly, you need to remove the old windows’ tracks and sash to ensure that the frame can be as flat and tidy as possible to install a new one.
Removing the old window
Cutting the sill
The next step is to measure the correct angles for the sill. It is quite challenging as a bay window has two types of angles: 90 and variable degrees. After getting the right numbers, it is time to cut the sill.
When cutting the sill, you should put the window on its head and cut the sill according to the angles you measured. Then fixing it on the window. It is nearly done!
Installing frame adaptors
Before putting the windows into the frame, it is necessary to fit the adaptors on the two sides of the middle bay. You can refer to the 25mm self-tapping screws to do this. One will be placed at the top and the others at the bottom; each will be 500mm far apart.
It is important to check whether the adaptors are touching the external frame or not. Confidence in this step ensures the bay poles can be placed in the right position later.
Adding windows in the frame
Use the support braces and attach them to the frame’s sill, then elevate the middle window and put it on top of these braces. You can take shims as a supplement to lift the window. After that, screw the window to keep it in place.
Doing the same process with the other two windows.
Fixing the bay window into its frame
Fixing screws
At this stage, all three windows and bay corners are in their right positions. To ensure the windows are stable, place some screws on the top of them and through the sill.
Finishing
Finally, you must apply the caulking around the window’s edges to prevent water and air holes.
The installation of your bay window is now done! Before using it daily, you should check it for the last time to ensure the windows operate correctly.
Also, remember to clean the area around the bay window before leaving it so that you can find unexpected gaps timely.
A finished bay window
Conclusion
While it is quite complicated to add a bay window: it takes you at least two days to finish one, an array of steps like removing the old frames, setting up two others, screwing the shingles, etc., the benefits it provides are undeniable.
It is time for you to enjoy your spare time with this classic window to gaze out of and be blessed with the floral scent from your garden.
