Bow Window
Weather Pro manufactures vinyl bow windows in Canada and installs them with our own crews. A bow curves across four or more sections that project beyond the wall, adding space inside and a wide view outside. Each bow is built to the measured opening, with double- or triple-pane glass and a full colour range inside and out. Every window is ENERGY STAR certified and covered by a transferable lifetime warranty.
What is a bow window
A bow window is made of four or more windows of equal width joined at gentle angles, so together they form a curve that projects beyond the exterior wall. From inside it reads as a rounded alcove; from the street it breaks the flat line of the wall.
The curve lets daylight in across a wide arc and opens a broader, panoramic view than a flat window of the same width. The alcove adds usable space to the room: a flower bed, a crafts shelf or a nook for a pet.
A bow is often confused with a bay. A bay projects in three sections with a distinct centre and two angled sides. A bow curves across four or more equal sections, projects less for the same width and gives a softer line.
Bow window configurations
Bow windows are built in four, five or six sections. All sections share the same frame system, glass packages and colour range as our flat windows, so a bow sits on the same elevation as casement or hung windows without a visible mismatch.
Four sections
The tightest curve and the shallowest projection. Four sections suit narrower openings and walls where the bow must not project far.
Five sections
A fuller curve for wider openings, with a deeper alcove inside and a wider spread of daylight.
Six sections
The widest bow we build, for feature elevations and large living spaces where the wall has room for the projection.
Bow window sizes
There is no standard bow size in Canadian replacement work. Every bow is manufactured to the measured opening, and the number of sections and their width are drawn for each wall.
A bow carries load and needs a roof, a sill and an insulation detail, so it is priced and built per configuration rather than per opening. Our estimator confirms the configuration during the free in-home measurement.
Why bow windows suit the Canadian climate
Every window we build is a vinyl window manufactured in Canada, with a multi-chamber profile that adds insulating air pockets within the frame. Vinyl does not rot, does not need painting, and conducts far less heat than an aluminum frame through a Canadian winter.
Glass packages are double-pane with a low-e coating and argon fill as standard, or triple-pane with a third pane and a second sealed cavity for lower heat loss and reduced outside noise. Both are available ENERGY STAR certified for the climate zone the window is sold into.
Bow window installation
Bow window installation is measured, manufactured and fitted by Weather Pro crews rather than subcontracted trades. Two things get decided during the measurement, and all of them are easier to change before manufacture than after.
01
Retrofit or full frame
A retrofit keeps the existing sound frame. A full-frame replacement goes back to the rough opening and is required when the frame has rot or the opening has shifted.
02
Roof, sill and insulation
A bow projects beyond the wall and carries load, so it needs a roof above, a sill below and an insulation detail between them. All three are drawn for the specific wall and confirmed on site.
Most replacement projects are completed in a single day, and the transferable lifetime warranty is active from the day of installation.
Colours and finishes
White is the standard finish. Exterior colours and laminate finishes are available across the full range, and the interior can be finished differently from the exterior where the room calls for it.
The colour either runs through the vinyl profile or is applied as an exterior laminate, so it is not paint sitting on a surface. That means no repainting, no flaking and no chalky finish after a few Canadian winters.
A few things worth knowing before you choose:
- Most homeowners match the exterior to the soffit or the trim rather than the siding, since the frame reads as trim from the street.
- A white interior with a coloured exterior is the most common combination.
- Woodgrain interior laminates suit rooms that already have stained trim.
- Darker laminates absorb more solar heat, which matters on large south and west facing units.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bow window?
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A bow window is four or more windows of equal width joined at gentle angles to form a curve that projects beyond the wall. It adds space inside, brings in daylight across a wide arc and opens a panoramic view.
What is the difference between a bow window and a bay window?
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A bow curves across four or more equal sections and projects less for the same width. A bay projects in three sections with a distinct centre and two angled sides. Both are built to the measured opening and use the same glass packages and colours.
How many sections does a bow window have?
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Four, five or six. Four sections give the tightest curve and the shallowest projection; six give the widest bow. The number is chosen for the width of the opening and the room the wall has for the projection.
How much does a bow window cost?
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Bow windows are priced per configuration rather than per opening, because a bow carries load and needs a roof, a sill and an insulation detail drawn for each wall. They sit well above a flat window of the same width. Request a free quote and we will price the configuration on site.
How long do vinyl bow windows last?
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A quality vinyl window typically lasts 25 years or more. The frame usually outlives the sealed glass unit, so the first sign of age is a fogged pane from a failed seal rather than a failed frame. Manufacturing defects are covered by a transferable lifetime warranty.
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