Hello all.
I am in the process of installing a bay window in a family room. The window is ten feet off the ground and six feet down from the soffit. It’s approx. ten feet wide by five feet high. It did not come with the attachment cables to secure to the header. I saw some place some iron 90s that were two feet by two feet that attach to the wall studs on the outside of the home and then the bay window rested on the horizontal but I am unable to find these yet was wondering if I should spend time trying to find these or frame them in the traditional 45 to support it from underneath. Any thoughts or ideas?
Thanks a bunch. You guys have always been a great help.
Busyman
Replies
Busyman,
I believe you'll receive a great many intelligent responses from seasoned homebuilding professionals if you post your question on the Breaktime forum (the icon just to the right of Knots at the top of this screen).
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
thanks
It has been a while since I installed a free hanging bay window but I've always used cables. There is often an open channel at the front angles behind the trim. You can use steel cables like they use on garage doors. Fix one end to a large heavy washer, run it up through the channel and fasten it to the wall above. Your roof framing will cover the cables.
I generally frame a box under the window so that I can insulate under the bottom, otherwise, it's a cold spot. If you place a solid framing member at key places, you can also add support brackets underneath. Steel can rust and mark the siding, so, I typically use wood.
Your window will be heavy and will head south over the years. Make sure to use cables in addition to the brackets. Get everything as tight and secure as possible. If the window sags later on, it may effect the thermal seal in the large glass areas. Framing the entire wall out under the window will offer better support, the cables do stretch.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Also, If you do go with cables, when you tighten the cables, pluck them and listen to the vibration. make sure they are the same pitch - that means you've got them tightened evenly.
I'm surprised your bay didn't come with cables. Unless it's not very deep. You didn't say How deep the window is.
It may not need the cables or braces from below.
Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
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