Window Field Guide · Mid-Atlantic Rowhouses & Flats

Mid-Atlantic rowhouse windows: brick jambs, bay groups, and outside mount

The I-95 corridor between Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington built on brick rowhouses and flat conversions — not NYC pre-war walk-ups, not Chicago three-flats. Narrow front windows, grouped bay oriel windows, shallow masonry returns, and rear kitchen sliders repeat from Fishtown and Passyunk to Federal Hill, Charles Village, and Capitol Hill. Jambs are often too shallow for inside-mount 2" faux wood; vinyl mini outside mount on trim is the turnover default. This guide maps mount methods by material for Mid-Atlantic row stock.

Common in: Philadelphia · Baltimore · Washington DC · Arlington · Alexandria · Wilmington

Quick answer

What owners and landlords standardize on across Philly, Baltimore, and DC:

  • 1" vinyl mini — bedrooms and baths; outside mount when brick returns are shallow
  • 2" faux wood on living rooms when depth allows — bay windows often need outside mount
  • 3.5" vertical on rear sliders — 68×84 and 78×84 reorder pairs
  • Measure bay groups window-by-window — never assume one width for the group
  • Shipped nationwide — pro install in DFW only; hire locally in Mid-Atlantic metros
  • Ships nationwide from Texas
  • Custom cut to measured size
  • Mini, vertical & faux wood lines
  • Mount notes by material

Mid-Atlantic housing types behind the measurements

Rowhouse stock spans 1880s–1920s brick rows, 1940s–60s flat conversions, and rehabbed units with vinyl replacements mixed room to room — similar mounting discipline to pre-war Northeast apartments but with heavier masonry and more bay-window groups.

  • Classic brick rowhouse (1880s–1920s): narrow double-hungs, decorative front trim, shallow masonry returns — Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC core neighborhoods
  • Bay oriel window groups: three-window fronts on Philadelphia and Baltimore rows — measure each lite separately
  • Flat / apartment conversion: upper and lower units with separate entrances — measure each unit independently
  • Rear kitchen or garden-level slider: common on Baltimore and Philly rows — vertical track above header
  • Historic district guidelines may restrict visible hardware from the street — confirm before outside mount on front elevations
  • Vinyl replacement packages from 2000s rehabs change depth opening by opening within the same row

Products Mid-Atlantic rowhouse orders use most

Vinyl mini leads bedroom turnover volume. Faux wood upgrades living rooms and bay lites. Vertical handles rear sliders.

1" vinyl mini blinds

Narrow front bedrooms and baths — outside mount friendly on shallow brick.

Shop vinyl mini
1 inch cordless vinyl mini blinds on a bedroom window
Close-up of vinyl mini blind slats and headrail
Vinyl mini blinds installed in an apartment unit
White vinyl mini blinds — standard turnover color
Cordless vinyl mini blinds on a dark trim opening

3.5" vertical blinds

Rear kitchen and garden-level sliders — 68×84 and 78×84 sizes.

Shop vertical blinds
Vertical blinds on a sliding glass door

Typical opening → blind size

Typical reorder bands for shipped Mid-Atlantic rowhouse orders — measure each opening:

Opening (approx.)Order sizeRoom
24"–28"23.5"–27.5"Narrow front bedroom
30"–36"29.5"–35.5"Primary bedroom / bath
40"–48" bay lite39.5"–47.5"Single bay window (measure each)
68" × 84" slider68" × 84" verticalRear kitchen / patio slider

Mounting by material & situation

Brick rowhouse jambs reward the same discipline as pre-war NYC stock: pick mount type from measured depth, then pick material. Bay windows almost always need per-lite measurement.

1" vinyl mini blinds

View product line →

Default turnover line on narrow rowhouse bedrooms — slim headrail fits some shallow brick returns; outside mount on trim when depth fails.

  • Outside mount on shallow brick returns

    Pro often used

    Most rowhouse bedrooms need face-mount on the flat trim board when masonry returns are under 1½" deep. Overlap 1½"–2" per side for privacy on street-facing windows.

    Min depth:
    N/A — mounts on trim face
    Hardware:
    Extended brackets; masonry anchors into solid lintel when trim is absent

  • Inside mount — adequate wood or vinyl liner depth

    Post-rehab vinyl replacements sometimes leave adequate returns. Measure width at top, middle, bottom; use narrowest. Needs roughly 1" clear for inside mount.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1" clear

  • Historic front elevation restrictions

    Capitol Hill, Society Hill, and Fells Point may restrict visible blinds from the street — confirm with historic review before ordering outside mount on front windows.

2" faux wood blinds

View product line →

Upgrade line on living rooms and bay-window lites when depth allows — outside mount on bay trim is common.

  • Bay window — one blind per lite

    Pro often used

    Philadelphia and Baltimore bay groups rarely share one width. Measure each double-hung or fixed lite separately; do not span the whole bay with one blind unless each opening is identical.

  • Inside mount — adequate depth only

    Requires roughly 1½"–2½" clear depth. Many rowhouse living rooms fail this test — default to outside mount on the flat trim.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1½"–2½"

3.5" vertical blinds

View product line →

Rear sliders on rowhouse kitchens and garden-level units — face-mount track above the header.

  • Rear slider — wall-mount track

    Pro often used

    Standard 68×84 and 78×84 pairs — measure glass width, not the brick surround. Stack side clear of the handle.

When to hire a pro in Philadelphia, Baltimore, or DC

Bay-window groups, masonry drilling, and historic-district front elevations push many rowhouse owners toward a local installer. Third-floor long drops on Baltimore and Philly rows are often hired out. We ship custom-cut blinds nationwide from Texas; professional installation is available in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro only.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure a Philadelphia bay window?

Measure each window lite in the bay separately — width at top, middle, bottom; height left, center, right. Bay groups on rowhouses rarely repeat one width across all three openings. Order one blind per lite unless measurements match exactly.

Can I inside-mount blinds on a Baltimore rowhouse?

Only if you have adequate depth in the frame — roughly 1" for vinyl mini or 1½"–2½" for faux wood. Most original brick rowhouse returns are too shallow; outside mount on the trim face is the standard workaround.

Do you ship to Philadelphia and DC?

Yes — custom-cut blinds ship nationwide from Texas. Provide clear delivery instructions for rowhouse addresses with limited front-door access.

How is this different from the NYC pre-war guide?

Pre-war NYC stock emphasizes walk-up apartments and co-op rules. Mid-Atlantic rowhouses add bay-window groups, heavier brick returns, and row-specific historic districts — same mounting discipline, different opening shapes.

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