Renovating your home is an exciting time! It’s an opportunity for you to freshen up your house and give it some long, overdue updates. Are you planning to replace old windows? Distinguishing between different types of windows can be tricky because there are so many styles.
Do you know what the differences are between a bay and bow window? What about a casement or sliding window? You might be up to your ears in home improvement language right now, but it’s essential to know the differences between products. You want to ensure you’re making the right decisions when it comes to your home. It’s a significant investment, and you and your family deserve comfort and quality.
We’re Casa Bella Windows & Doors, a window manufacturer serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). One of our favourite parts of the job is helping people decide which window styles to choose for their homes. We’re committed to providing our customers with the best customer service in manufacturing and installation and always aim for excellent results. If you have questions about which styles to select for your needs, we’re here to help.
Let’s look at a few common styles so you can make an informed home improvement window decision!
The Casement Window
When it comes to replacing the windows in your home, the dimensions of your window openings will influence your decision. If you have wide window openings, sliding windows are the preferred choice.
Tall, narrow openings are more suited for casement windows — also known as crank windows.
These windows are attached to the side of a window frame by at least one hinge and swing outward. They open and close with a crank, lever, or handle. They’re commonly used in pairs and are often held open using a metal bar called a “casement stay.” Windows hinged at the top are referred to as awning windows, and ones with bottom hinges are called hoppers.
Ventilation
Most casement windows open completely, so air can effortlessly pass through the entire opening. Some people prefer this to sliding windows because half of the window space is overlapping or closed, and sometimes it provides less ventilation than the casement style.
Casa Bella’s casement windows are top of the line quality. When you purchase our casement windows you can expect to find:
- Sturdy vinyl construction
- Advanced weather stripping for a superior seal
- A multi-point locking system on windows over 22” in height
- And more
Our casement windows are also all energy-efficient and have Energy Star approval.
Bay and Bow Windows: The Subtle Differences
Both bay and bow windows make beautiful additions to any home that has space for them. Bay and bow windows can become the focal point of a house — from the inside and the outside. They create spacious room inside your home, filling your house with beautiful natural light.
Bay windows are the combination of three or more windows that angle outside of the exterior wall, creating a bay-like space inside a room. The purpose is to admit more light than a window would that’s flush with the wall line.
Like bay windows, bow windows extend beyond the exterior wall of a house but sweep away from the wall in an elegant arch of typically, four to six windows. The bow style is usually larger than the bay window style and has more glass area due to a curve instead of corners.
Bay vs. Bow
Bay and bow windows are perfect if you have a big space to fill in a room. Before you choose one or the other, check out these additional differences in the two styles:
- The bay windows’ overall structure consists of two windows and a picture window, whereas a bows’ structure is curved. Bow windows create a rounded appearance on the outside of a home.
- Bay windows typically protrude farther from the wall out into the exterior space, and this adds more floor space to the interior.
- Bow windows are generally wider than bay windows because usually the bay style only has three panels.
- Bow windows can wrap around the corner of a building, forming an interesting turret exterior shape and a cozy nook
Whichever you decide, bay or bow, we’ll ensure you get the best quality at Casa Bella. They can be made with various combinations of our fixed and operating Casement or Single Hung windows.
You must review your options before committing to anything when renovating your home. Our window experts at Casa Bella are always here to offer any advice. With over 60 years of experience under our belts, you can count on us for trustworthy guidance.
