A picture window is one large pane that doesn’t open, made to frame a view and flood a room with light. In this part of the Bay that view might be downtown from Bernal Heights, the ocean from the Outer Sunset, or a garden behind a Palo Alto Eichler.
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A picture window is fixed. With no sash to open, the frame can be slimmer and the glass larger than any operating window of the same size, and with nothing to seal around a moving sash it is also the most airtight window there is.
Most homes pair them with windows that open, such as a large picture window flanked by casements or with an awning below, so you keep the view and still get fresh air.
The fog belt and the Peninsula need different glass. A west-facing picture window in the Sunset rarely overheats, while the same window in Redwood City or Palo Alto needs a Low-E coating built for sun. We choose the glass for the wall, not just the house.
We’re an authorized dealer for all six brands we carry. Each brand below makes picture windows; we’ll show you samples at the consultation.
Book a ConsultationYes, and it is the most common setup. Casements on either side or an awning below give you airflow without breaking up the view.
Larger than any operating window. The limit depends on the material and brand, and fiberglass and aluminum allow the biggest panes with the slimmest frames. Very large glass may also need tempering, which we size for.
On the Peninsula’s sunny walls it can without the right glass. We specify Low-E coatings for heat where the sun hits, and clearer glass where fog keeps things cool.
Yes. We replace the original single-pane glass and aluminum framing with insulated units that keep the thin lines Eichlers are known for.
It depends on the brand, material, size, glass and the work around each opening, such as trim, stucco or siding and permits. We don’t quote a number before seeing the home. After we measure, you get a written, itemized proposal with options, permits included, and no obligation to go ahead.