Oriel Windows

Product Details

With no frames to obscure views and huge versatility in size and shape, our Oriel windows allow you to create a totally bespoke design to suit your property. With its ability to support the roof load itself, allowing you to achieve maximum height to fit your room, coupled with the requirement for only structural silicone at the corner joints, you can expect to be wowed with the result.  Not forgetting the high specification glazing, ensuring that u-values are extremely low and additional coatings are available, meaning that not only will your Oriel window look superb, but it will also perform superbly too.

As with many of our products, our Oriel windows are available in a wide range of specifications, including double and triple glazing, acoustic glass, painted borders, tinted glass, and much more. All of our Oriel windows are made to order, and therefore, we can work to any size or shape you desire. We have even done a pitched roof oriel window.

All glass box window

Our Oriel windows are also known as glass box windows. This is because the window has no visible frame and projects from the face of the building, creating a glass box.

There are many possible configurations, including glass on three sides (as shown), glass on four sides, a floating glass box (as shown), and a glass box supported from the floor.

We have developed a unique cantilevered base system that can be manufactured to any size. We have partnered with the best specialist glass manufacturer in the UK to have all of our structural glass panels manufactured to our exact specifications, ensuring each window is made to last and withstand the elements. 

We have several teams of fitters who have vast experience in glass bonding. In this process, the glass panels are joined with structural adhesives to form the window instead of using a traditional window frame. This magic enables us to create an all-glass box window with no visible frame; however, specialist skills are required to do this correctly.

The exposed glass corners are treated with a specialist black coating to protect the internal glass bonding from sunlight; skipping this step can result in earlier panel failure due to the ability of the sun to break down the glazing spacer, which would usually be protected by the frame.

Benefits of an Oriel Window

Adding a modern oriel all-glass window to your home is a great way to enhance its size, usability, and comfort.

As the window protrudes out from the wall, it will actually add more space to a room both literally and figuratively, In a literal sense, the window will increase the volume of the room and figuratively, the increased light flow and lack of visual barriers to the outside will make any room appear bigger than it is. 

Once installed the amount of glass will be much larger than that of a standard window. This will allow more sunlight to flow into your space which can help to increase mood and productivity.

Solar gain can also be improved, as well as more energy-efficient glass, giving your property better thermal performance and balance. If solar gain is an issue this can be controlled with specialist coatings applied to the glass when manufactured.

Is planning permission required?

If you are replacing an existing protruding window, such as a bay window or an existing oriel window, with a new modern version, then planning permission is generally not required. Likewise, if you are replacing a standard window with an oriel window at the side or rear of your home, you do not usually require planning permission.

If you plan to install an oriel window on either side of your home to the second floor, this would generally need to be obscured glazing; if you want it to be clear, you would need to check with the local authority if this is possible. As always, when making changes to your home, we recommend contacting your local building control to check there are no issues in doing so.

Window Seat

When installing an Oriel window, you achieve a much deeper cill than a standard window, creating the perfect opportunity to install a window seat. Not only does this add great interest to your space, but it also forms the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view outside year-round, giving both form and function in one.

Whether you have a view from your home or want to enjoy your garden from the inside, an oriel window is a great addition to any home. The glass box appears to float from the building both internally and externally, creating a sense of magic that will usually pique visitors' interest and become quite the talking point.

The depth of the window is completely customisable, so for those looking for a larger projection from the face of the building, this is also entirely possible. With each window bespoke to the homeowner's specifications, there is no limit to what is possible. 

If you are worried about sun glare or too much solar gain, we are able to apply various coatings to the glass to help control these factors as well as improve acoustic properties through acoustic coatings.

Preparation is key

The process of purchasing an oriel window is far more complicated than ordering a standard window, so as always, we recommend early planning. All of our structural glass projects are designed in CAD software before being manufactured so that we can ensure all stakeholders, including builders and architects, are happy with the design before we manufacture. The glass is also manufactured differently from the glass you have in standard windows and doors and, therefore, prolongs the process. 

If you are looking to fit an Oriel window to a new extension, we recommend getting our survey team in at the earliest point, usually once the walls are erected, to ensure the installation of the Oriel window does not slow down your build.