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Replacing a “bay” window

BobRat | Posted in Construction Techniques on June 15, 2008 09:22am

I have an existing bay style window – not sure what the right name is, since it does not curve.

It goes straight out 18″ , is 70″ wide, 50″ high, the bottom starts 30″above floor level. The front is divided into 3 glazed sections, there are panes at each side, and the top is angled and glazed. Outside there is about 24″ below the window boxed in and empty. The bottom of the window area on the inside is flat and covered with wood. It’s mostly made from 2×4 cedar with the glass caulked into place.

The whole thing was home built (not very well) by the previous owner from cedar and is rotting badly. I’ve installed some metal angle plates to hopefully stop it from collapsing until I rebuild from scratch.

I’m planning on using wood, I’m not sure what kind would be best for long term stability and rot resistence (window is south facing), and building a new frame to be installed (bolted?) in the opening, (concrete block with stucco wall) and then getting glazing and intalling that somehow.

At one time in Fine Homebuilding there were ads for a metal extrusion and gasket system that might be appropriate, but I cannot find the manufacturer.

I’m looking for any pointers that would guide me in designing and installing this correctly.

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  1. MikeSmith | Jun 15, 2008 12:12pm | #1

    what's the rough openig ?

    i'd use one of the major window mfr's bay.. 18" projection is fairly standard

    Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
  2. USAnigel | Jun 15, 2008 02:56pm | #2

    As much as this would be an interesting project I suggest you buy a window made for the job. You would be making a prototype and could run into many problems with it. Pella, for one, has already done all this and have a unit that will work great.

    An all vinyl window would run about $1000 ready to install. The Pella a bit more.

    Bay is the right name for this style.

    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Jun 15, 2008 04:31pm | #3

      With the glas top I think it would be called a window solarium, albeit a pretty big one. Pretty much the same thing as one might retrofit into an existing window, and fill it with plants. They sometimes have a shelf in the middle. Just that yours is real big and is home made.

      I agree with the others that you would be best off getting a prefab unit, or at least a kit. I tried googling for some ideas/suppliers but it seems their servers are down at the moment.

      If you want to build your own from wood, I would suggest Ipe or Mohagony. Teak would also work but on the pricey side. I'd also suggest prebuilding it as a unit, rather than stick building it in place. --------------------------------------------------------

      Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

      1. BobRat | Jun 15, 2008 06:32pm | #4

        Interesting - $1000 seems very low I got a rough quote last year from a company that makes Solariums and it was over $10,000 - I think that was for cedar, exposed on the inside with metal strip covering on the outside to prevent weathering.I was guessing that if I made it myself, the cost would be several thousand just for material. Just getting the glass panes made up would be over $1000, the extruded mounting strips was I think was over $1000, and add to that the cost of wood.I would prebuild it in sections with mortise and tenon so that the I could do the whole install in one day. but not have to worry about trying to lift and align the whole thing.

        1. User avater
          Ted W. | Jun 15, 2008 06:53pm | #5

          That was USAnigel who said that, and it was for all vinyl. But it seems about right to me, considering an all vinyl double hung replacement window runs about $200. Of course, something with solid cedar on the inside and aluminum clad on the outside would run a whole lot more.

          That quote of $10,000 seems pretty high, unless it included installation. Even then it seems kind of high, but I don't really know these things. Other's more enlightened will probably comment on that one. --------------------------------------------------------

          Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

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