I have a bay window that the crappy veneered wood is in bad shape. A roof leak I just fixed caused some water damage an warping to the interior jam (or whatever its called) I am thinking of cutting it out to replace with some nice maple. My question is is does this inner frame or jam provide any structural integrity. Basically can I safely cut it out or will my window fall out into my backyard?

I dont know the manufacturer as its not marked nor did I install this before.

Thanks in advance

pics here

 

That is not a bay window, it is usually called a garden window. And most reputable manufacturers no longer make them because they always had leak problems. Different manufacturers had different installation techniques, so it is difficult to say if the plywood on the side is structural to the window, but I would guess that it is. Consider laminating the sides/bottom with a real wood laminate. This is usually available at home stores and lumberyards.

 

The garden windows that I have installed have come with a bottom seat that is preinstalled. After you install the window properly, you add the top jamb and side jambs. So I would guess that they are NOT structural. The main support for most garden windows is a header nailing flange, and the seat, which sits inside the rough opening. Additionally, I usually will lag the frame to the sheathing through an open casement window.

But like Just Bill says, different manufacturers may have had different installation techniques. It's hard to tell for sure from the pictures, but it kind of looks like a Gorell 5300 series garden window. You could open one of the casement windows and look inside the frame for a "permanent do-not-remove" NFRC sticker. If you could id the manufacturer you could call them and ask them for sure.

I wouldn't be afraid to remove the top or sides, but I would NOT remove the bottom. Just Bill's suggestion of laminating over the top is a better idea, provided the surface is still flat, or can be belt sanded flat.