Bay Windows

Bay windows became very popular in the 1920 and 30s, however, Victorians were among the first to introduce them onto terraced houses to provide extra space and light, shortly after the abolition of glass and window taxes in 1851.

The construction of bays changed during the interwar period. The first floor would have been timber-framed, as seen in the example here or just a single skin of masonry. The intention was to reduce weight. The ground floor of the bay was usually brick. The bay would typically be rendered or covered in plain hanging tiles.

Bays of dwellings are often built on shallower foundations than the rest of the property, and there is often inadequate bonding between the bay and the main house. These differences will usually result in differential movement, cracking and deterioration due to damp penetration.
There are often signs of cracking or pulling away at the junction of the bay and the main house. Vertical cracks that are relatively uniform in width are usually symptomatic of non-progressive types of movement.

The first-floor bay wall is thin, has a poor thermal performance and is prone to condensation on the inner face. They may have been poorly rendered and have reduced resistance against damp penetration. So it will be essential to ensure that the external cladding is kept in good repair.

But many remain in perfectly good order and provide a lovely feature to millions of homes across the country.  Inspecting and reporting on bay windows is all part of a building surveyors job at Woodward Chartered Surveyors.  Please call our knowledgeable team for advice.

Did you know there was a lot to consider when buying a house with a bay?