Bay windows inside and out: replacing the front room window on a North London home
Bay windows are one of the defining features of North London's Edwardian and 1930s houses. They bring light deep into the front room, give a house its character from the street and add usable space inside. They are also, in many older homes, the window most in need of replacement: draughty timber frames, tired seals and single glazing that leaves the room cold from October to March.
Here is what we look at when we replace a bay window, and why it is a job for a specialist rather than a general window fitter.
Outside: keeping the shape of the house
A bay is not one window, it is a structure. The corner posts carry the weight of the roof or the floor above, so a new bay needs proper load bearing bay poles and jacks, not just three frames screwed together. We survey the existing bay, check what is holding it up and design the replacement so the original line of the house is kept. Angled bays, square bays and curved bays all need a different approach.
On the outside we match the frame style to the property: slim sightlines and Georgian bars for period houses, flush frames and flat profiles for more modern homes. White is still the most popular finish, though we install a growing number of bays in anthracite grey, cream and woodgrain foils.
Inside: light, warmth and a quieter room
From inside, a new bay should feel like an upgrade in every direction. Modern A rated double glazing keeps the front room warm, cuts noise from the street and stops the condensation that plagued the old frames. Openers can be placed where you actually want ventilation, and internal sills can be replaced in one clean piece.
The photos in this post show two recent bay installations: a white uPVC bay on a red brick house seen from the street, and a bright living room view from inside a new bay with opening casements for fresh air.
What happens on the day
The old bay is removed and the structure is temporarily supported.
New bay poles and jacks are fitted to carry the load.
Frames are installed, sealed and trimmed inside and out.
Glazing, handles and internal sills are fitted and the room is left clean.
Most bay window replacements are complete within one working day, with a two day allowance for larger or curved bays.
Book a free home survey
If your bay window is letting the cold in, we will visit, measure and give you a written quote with no obligation. Call the showroom on 020 8361 0128 or use our online quote form. You can see more of our work in the window gallery and read about our uPVC windows.
