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Bay windows are windows that are combined in a series of three or more and arranged so that they project outward from the home’s exterior wall. This style of window originated in the baroque era and became popular during the Victorian era in England. They’re seen in a lot of traditional, turn-of-the-century homes, but can be integrated into modern architecture, too.
Read on to discover why a bay window is a good choice for your Indianapolis home.
Many homeowners think of bay windows as a decorative element. While they do indeed add character to your home, they offer a number of other benefits, too.
Since the windows project past the home’s exterior walls at several angles, they’re great at capturing the sun’s rays throughout most hours of the day. Your space will be more brightly lit, allowing you to reduce your use of artificial lighting.
Perhaps there is a beautiful meadow or forest to one side of your Indianapolis home. With a bay window, you can enjoy the view.
Summer in Indianapolis can get a little toasty. If you open your bay windows, you can capture breeze coming in from several different directions. This might translate to reduced reliance on air conditioning and lower energy bills.
The indoor nook created by the bay window is a great place to read a book, sip your coffee, or just sit and watch the world go by. Adding a bay window creates more space inside your room, which may allow you to get more creative with your interior design.
Bay windows come in all different styles, including casement, double-hung, and picture windows. You can use picture windows to create a large bay window that takes up an entire wall of a room; this is a popular option when there’s a beautiful outdoor view that you want to capture. Casement windows, which open with a crank, are a good choice if you’re concerned about energy efficiency. They lock tightly into the frames, leading to less air loss than double-hung windows. Double-hung windows, however, are easiest to open and to clean.
You can opt for a small bay window with just three panes of glass, or a larger one with five or six panes, depending on your home’s design and layout. You’ll also need to decide on the angle at which the windows project from the home. A 30-degree angle creates a more subtle look, while a 45-degree angle adds more interior space within the window arrangement.
Adding any additional windows to your Indianapolis home increases the potential for heat loss through those windows. However, if you’re careful to choose the most energy-efficient windows, your bay window should not significantly increase your energy bills.
Renewal by Andersen offers double-pane windows filled with Argon gas in Indy for maximum efficiency. If you’re worried about your home becoming too warm in the summer, you can choose low-E glass, such as our SmartSun™ glass, which blocks 95% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
If you’re thinking of adding a bay window to your Indianapolis home, contact Renewal by Andersen today. We offer free in-home estimates, and our knowledgeable associates will help you decide on the design that’s best for your space.