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Pella Windows & Doors of Omaha and Lincoln’s bow windows can be a beautiful and practical addition to any home. But measuring them correctly is essential to ensuring you have enough wall space to accommodate this new feature or that it won’t clash with existing elements like furniture or your home’s architecture. And if you make a mistake, it can be costly to fix. Give this step-by-step guide a read and contact a Pella representative today to learn more about getting the perfect bow windows for your home. As part of our free, in-home consultation, we can take these measurements for you and provide additional information as you consider your options.
How to Measure a Bow Window
Step 1
Determine the Shape of Your Bow Window
Bow windows come in various shapes, including circular, hexagonal, and angled. Take a moment to examine your window and sketch its shape on a piece of paper. Do the same with your other panels.
Step 2
Measure Your Windows’ Width
The width of a bow window is the distance between its outermost points. To measure it, take a measuring tape, place it at the outer edge of the left panel and then stretch it to the outer edge of the right panel. Record the measurement. If your window has more than three panels, measure the width of each panel individually and add the measurements to determine the total width.
Step 3
Measure Your Windows’ Height
The height of a bow window is the distance between its topmost point and its bottommost point. To measure it, place the measuring tape at the bottom edge of each panel and stretch it to the topmost point of the window. Record the measurements. If each window contains multiple panels, measure each panel and add them together to receive the total height.
Step 4
Measure the Depth
The depth of a bow window is the distance between the outermost point of the window and the wall. To measure it, place the measuring tape at the outer edge of the left panel and stretch it to the wall. Record the measurement. Repeat the process for the right panel and subtract the sum of the two measurements from the width of the window. The resulting number is the depth.
Step 5
Measure the Angle
The angle of a bow window is the degree of its curvature. To measure it, place a protractor on the outer edge of the left panel and align it with the angle of the curve. Record the measurement. Repeat the process for the right panel and average the two measurements to get the angle of the window.
Step 6
Double-Check Your Measurements
As with any home project, follow the old saying “measure twice, cut once.” After taking all the measurements, double-check them to ensure they’re accurate. A small mistake can lead to a window treatment or furniture that doesn’t fit, which can be frustrating and costly.
Making sure your bow windows are a perfect fit for your home is more than just a design choice. Accounting for their size and the available space you have in your home can be the difference between something looking opulent or out of place. To get the best fit, work with a Pella representative. All of our windows come with the Pella Guarantee which not only covers installation but also offers industry-leading warranties.
