Standard Sizes for Bow Windows

Definition

• Bow windows are designed to curve instead of angle like a bay window. Standard bow windows contain four or five vertical windows joined together inside a pre-made frame. The framework arranges the windows so they create a graceful curve. Bow windows may be fixed or designed to open, as in a casement or a double- or single-hung window. Because of the similarity between bow and bay windows, the two window styles are usually classified together in a window manufacturer's catalog.

Styles

• Bow windows can be ordered in plain glass -- without decoration -- or with a grille pattern. Grilles divide window glass into smaller decorative panes. Grilles can be specified to adhere to both the interior and exterior of the window glass, be embedded within the layers of the bow window's glass or attach only on the interior side of the window. The grilles give the appearance of traditional window panes without the possibility of drafts and weather entering the room. This type of grille system increases the energy efficiency of the bow windows.

Sizes

• Standard bow windows run between 6 and 12 feet wide and from 3 to 6 feet in height. The availability of larger or smaller sizes is dependent on the manufacturer's capabilities — some may have larger or smaller sizes that a manufacturer considers standard while others may require a custom order and an increase in cost to make a larger or odd-sized bow window. When specifying a bow window, additional dimensions to verify include the width of the projection (the depth of the curve at its middle point from interior to exterior) and the number of panels.

Shape

• Bow windows appear to combine or join a group of vertical windows together. The bow is created by the slight angle of the frames to create a curved pattern; the glass itself is neither curved nor bowed. Because of the nature of a curve, the widths of each vertical panel in a bow window are the same. Some manufacturers refer to their standard bow window products by the number of vertical panels or units they contain, while other manufacturers reference the angle that creates the curve of the windows, such as a 10-degree or 12-degree window.