Roofing & Exterior
Windows That Reach Out for More Light, More Space, and More View
Bay, bow, and garden windows that project past the wall to add room, daylight, and character. The projection is the feature — and the part that has to be supported, roofed, and flashed right so the Northwest rain never gets in.
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Signs to watch
Is this you?
A flat wall you wish had more room and light
A bay or bow reaches past the wall to create a seat, a shelf, or a plant ledge — square footage and daylight you didn't have, without a full addition.
An old bay leaking or staining below the projection
The little roof and the seams where a projecting window meets the wall are the classic failure point. Stains under a bay almost always mean the flashing or head roof gave up.
A bay that sags or feels cold underneath
A projection carries real weight. If it droops or the seat feels icy, it was under-supported or under-insulated — both fixable when it's rebuilt correctly.
You want a garden window over the kitchen sink
A garden window projects like a small greenhouse — glass on the sides and top for herbs and light. It's the smallest projecting window and a favorite over a sink.
Your options
The window you see — and the support, roof, and flashing you don't
Bay windows angle out in three sections; bow windows curve out in four or more for a softer arc; garden windows project like a mini-greenhouse with glass sides and a glass top. We spec the glass and frames — vinyl, fiberglass, or wood-clad — for the look and the climate. But the parts that decide whether it lasts are invisible: proper support brackets or cabling so the projection doesn't sag, a head roof built and flashed over the top, insulation in the seat and soffit so it isn't a cold spot, and a fully flashed, water-managed connection back to the wall. Interior finishing — the seat board, trim, and returns — makes it feel built-in rather than bolted-on.
The method
How we do it
- 01
Measure, assess the wall, and spec
We measure the opening, confirm how the projection will be supported, and plan the head roof and flashing before ordering — the structure and water plan come first, the glass second.
- 02
Set, support, roof, and flash
Old unit out, opening checked for rot, new window set and supported, the projection roofed and flashed, then insulated at the seat and soffit and sealed to the wall. This is where a bay is won or lost.
- 03
Finish and walkthrough
We finish the interior seat and trim, then check operation, the head roof, and every flashed seam with you before we sign off.
Straight numbers
Bay, bow, and garden pricing, quoted honestly
These cost more than a flat-set window because they're really a small structure — support, a head roof, flashing, insulation, and interior finishing on top of the glass itself. A garden window sits at the low end of the group; a wide bow with a finished seat sits at the top. What moves the number: size and number of sections, frame material, glass package, and how much support and framing the wall needs. Fixed bids in writing, with any rot in the existing opening flagged up front.
Where we do this work
Bay, Bow & Garden Windows: straight answers
What's the difference between a bay, a bow, and a garden window?
A bay projects out in three sections with angled sides and a flat center. A bow curves out in four or more equal sections for a rounded look. A garden window is the smallest — a box that projects out with glass on the sides and top, like a mini-greenhouse, usually over a kitchen sink. All three reach past the wall; they differ in shape, size, and how much they project.
Do these leak more than regular windows?
Only when the projection isn't roofed and flashed right — which, honestly, is why we see so many old ones leak. Done correctly, the head roof sheds water, the flashing ties it back to the wall, and it stays as dry as any window. The extra care is exactly what the projection demands, and it's the part we won't cut.
Will the projection sag over time?
Not if it's supported for the load. A bay or bow carries real weight, so it's held with support brackets, a cable system, or framed support sized to the unit. A sagging bay is one that was hung without proper support — something we correct when we rebuild it.
Can I add a bay window where there's only a flat window now?
Usually, yes — but it's more than a swap. Projecting out means enlarging or reframing the opening, adding support, building and flashing a head roof, and finishing the interior seat. We'll assess the wall and tell you what the change actually involves before you commit.
Get the bay, bow & garden windows conversation started.
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