Bay window - vinyl not wood - please help

12 years ago

We are looking to replace our DR window with a bay window. My husband would like to go with a local window company that has a very good reputation and all our other windows are from them.

There are a few things that bother me. First it's a vinyl window, which we would do in white. That is not a big issue for me because all my trim in our house is white so I think I can make it look nice by having the woodwork, window seat, etc. in white.

What does bother me is that the vinyl sections between the glass panes is alot wider than if it were wood. Therefore there is less actual glass. We are looking at a 72" window, not including the trim. The glass section in the middle is 31" and the 2 side glass panes are 13" each. That leaves out of a 72" window, only about 43" of glass window.

The 2nd thing that bothers me is that I would like to do roman shades, but given it is vinyl, how would I install it? At the top - ceiling wood part of the window? How would that look? Anyone who has experience or pictures to share, please help me.

I haven't gotten other estimates, but I fear a wood window would be out of our budget and I really would like a bay window, mostly for the appearance inside moreso than outside, making the DR feel larger and will be in backyard, not front. This is a big purchase and I really want to make sure I love this when it's all done.

I also posted this on the window forum but wanted to get the decoration opinion side of this issue also. I'm sure there are alot of people who have this "replacement" type of bay window and can offer some advise, especially on how to do the roman shades.

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Comments (3)

annzgw
12 years ago
If the company can't offer other options in design, then go to another company. At the same time, get an estimate for a wood window from the current supplier so you can compare it with other companies.

Roman shades can easily be inside mounted on the interior frame, but you have to have a window jamb deep enough to accommodate it. Since you're adding a window seat, I assume you're using a carpenter for framing. Talk to him about the depth of the frame for the window and what you'll like to have when it's all finished. Ideally, I'd ask for at least a 4" depth in the jamb...after the window has been installed.
kristinekr
12 years ago
When we were looking at windows, we originally were going to do vinyl, but then priced Harvey majesty wood windows, and the price was not the much more than vinyl.

I am not sure if they do bay windows.

Harvey is in New England, not sure where you are or if Harvey supplies outside New England.

But, it may be worth seeing if you can afford wood. Also, if you get a quote for wood (even if it's too expensive) at least you will know how much glass there is in wood. Maybe you will find that what you are seeing in vinyl is typical of a bay window--regardless of whether its wood or vinyl.

Good luck!
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Valerie Noronha
12 years ago
I have a Milguard vinyl window in my DR and it measures 72" wide with 11" side panels, a 41" center panel and 16" sil. These aren't the best pictures but you should get the idea.

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What concerns me in your measurements the most is the smaller center panel. I don't mind so much the narrower side windows because I have the big center window which I look out of. Is yours narrower because you need a deeper seat? The deeper you go, the narrower the center panel will be to maintain the angles of the bay. In your situation I would draw it out on graph paper, but to me that doesn't sound like that much room for a seat. Our window is flush with the walls but you could always build it out into the room a bit to get the seat depth.

We did consider some type of roman shades for our bay window. I know it can be done but you need to be careful of the measurements as they would be outside mount and you need to make sure the shade headers meet at the correct angles, take into account any cranks, etc. Also, keep in mind because they will be mounted inside the bay window, it will significantly reduce your window view as well since even when open, they will obstruct the view at the top. The only shades I'd consider putting inside would be the mini cellular shades which stack up to about 1". But your window will be taller than mine is since you mentioned a seat so perhaps that is not so much of a concern for you as it was in my situation. Something to think about though, as well as how it will blend with other windows in the vicinity. In my situation I had an adjacent window in the LR and I didn't want such varying heights for the WTs since they were in view of each other. The drapes gave the rooms a more cohesive look as a whole.

Bay window - vinyl not wood - please help

Comments (3)

annzgw

kristinekr

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