Bay & Bow Windows
San Francisco & the Peninsula

Windows that
project from the wall

A bay is usually three windows: a wide center unit with two angled sides, often set at 30 or 45 degrees. A bow uses four or more equal windows in a gentle curve. Both bring in light from several directions and add floor space inside.

In most SF homes the bay is part of the building’s structure, so the job is replacing the windows inside it rather than the bay itself. We measure each angled opening separately, because a century of settling means no two sides are quite the same.

Why homeowners
choose them

• More light, from three directions
• The classic look of SF’s Victorian and Edwardian streets
• Room for a window seat or a reading nook
• Side windows can open for cross-ventilation
• New glass makes a drafty bay comfortable to sit in

What to know
before you choose

• Angled units are custom made, so lead times are longer
• A bay’s roof, seat and support need checking, especially on older homes
• Adding a new bay changes the facade and needs a full permit

Where bay windows fit
SF and Peninsula homes

• Original bays on Victorians and Edwardians across Noe Valley, the Haight, the Richmond and Pacific Heights
• Marina and Sunset homes with angled front bays
• Dining rooms and living rooms in Burlingame and San Mateo
• Townhomes in Foster City with projecting bays
• Rooms that need more light without a bigger opening

Replacing the windows in an existing bay is usually a standard permit. On a street-facing historic facade the new units must match the original look, and adding or enlarging a bay goes through Planning. We tell you which applies before you commit.

Bay & Bow windows from
the brands we carry

We’re an authorized dealer for all six brands we carry. Each brand below makes bay & bow windows; we’ll show you samples at the consultation.

• Anlin: Coronado bay, bow and garden windows.
• Simonton: DaylightMax and Madeira bay and bow windows.
• Milgard: Tuscany vinyl bay and bow windows.
• Alside: Bay, bow and garden windows.