Customer wants me to move a window, 4’0″ x 4’0″, and add a site-built bay for it. Siding is horizontal lap siding 1×6. Craftsman style home probably built around 1920. I’m thinking corbels under the bay – anyone have any ideas for detailing to avoid water intrusion. Or another thought on how to build it? I could add a bay to the slab (dowel it with rebar) and go all the way down. Angled bottom (like an inverted hip) just doesn’t seem right to me, and makes the siding awkward to tie-in. Appreciate any input.
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Replies
i'm no technical help, but would say you are correct that the "inverted hip" bottom would be wrong for a craftsman style house. it should go straight down on the planes of the window, as though there was an inglenook inside. preferably 90 degree angles instead of obtuse angles, in keeping with the style.
Huck, I'm an old house lover for years. I have, and have been working on an 1880's Victorian for a while. Two bay windows, and I wanted ideas, so, I went to Cape May New Jersey. There were lots and lots of oldies - late 1800's to the turn of the (20th) century. There were none with the shortened "bottom". All went down to the ground/foundation. Typically, these are walk in bays inside.
Just finished siding the back of my oldie - with one bay. It was built rectangular (not 45 degree angles), with a deep drop off the bottom (24"?) to cover the brackets. It ends about two feet above ground, which is enough that you can see the bottom. I also designed a small water table at the bottom - 6". The guy working with me couldn't compliment it enough. It does look sharp. I am working on the design under the second bay now. That happens to be a more modern 45 degree bay. Even if you don't go down to the foundation, at least go down 12" or so. You can fill that area with some more insulation. I definitely recommend against the "splayed" return, where it angles up, away and out from the house. To my eye, it looks way too modern, even on a Craftsman style. My recollection is that they typically used 90 degree bays and let them "stick out", maybe with 4 x 4 brackets underneath. Look at a couple books on Craftsman style.
Good luck.
Don