A well-built bay window completely changes the feel of a room. It pulls in the Kansas sunshine, adds a nice nook, and updates the look of your house. Getting one put in is not like swapping out a standard double-hung window in your kitchen. Guardian Window Installation has driven out to plenty of houses around the McKinley Elementary neighborhood where a bay window job went sideways because of shortcuts.
If you are thinking about adding one to your place, you need to know what can go wrong before the crew starts tearing out drywall.
Skimping on Exterior Support Brackets
A bay window sticks out past your foundation wall. That means it is hanging out in mid-air, holding up hundreds of pounds of glass, framing, and roof components. Homeowners sometimes try to save money by skipping proper knee braces or cable support systems. Heavy winds rolling across the plains put a massive load on these structures. Guardian Window Installation anchors those support systems deep into the framing studs so the Window Installation does not sag over time.
Ignoring the Little Roof Above the Bay
Most bay windows need a small hip or shed roof built over them to shed rain and snow. If whoever is installing Window Installation treats that little roof like an afterthought, you are going to deal with leaks. Here in Great Bend, KS, we get driving rain and heavy wet snow that sits on shallow slopes. If the flashing is not tied directly into your home's main siding with proper weather-resistant barriers, water is going to find a way right down your new glass.
Choosing Cheap Materials for Our Climate
Our weather in Great Bend, KS swings from freezing winter winds coming straight off the plains to 100-degree summer scorchers. If you buy a cheap vinyl bay window without reinforced structural mullions, that frame is going to warp. Once Window Installation warps, the seals break, the glass fogs up, and you are losing money on your heating bills. You should spend a little more upfront on sturdy composite or properly treated wood-clad frames that can handle the temperature swings without throwing a fit.
Letting Just Anyone Handle the Install
Window Installation is not a DIY weekend project, and Window Installation is definitely not the time to hire the cheapest handyman who knocks on your door. Setting a bay window square, plumb, and level takes serious patience. If Window Installation is off by even a fraction of an inch, nothing else lines up right, and the window will not lock or seal correctly. Guardian Window Installation knows local construction quirks inside and out. For homes and businesses in Great Bend, Guardian Window Installation provides Window Installation services.