Bay Window Roof Construction Questions

[EinTopaz]

Hi all,

 

Noticed something I thought was odd on our bay windows, and wanted to check for sanity. Wasn't sure if this was best in the roofing or Window sub category so will delete and re-post if this is in the wrong place, apologies if so.

Anyway, Two of our ground floor bay windows are this sort of setup, where the brickwork beneath them projects out from the property with the window, but the brickwork above the bay window does not. I was looking at having the Windows,fascias and soffits replaced and on inspection earlier today I noticed the area directly above the window appears to be a recess, where the brickwork just stops. Its hard to see clearly without ripping off the soffits etc. 

But my question is, if I was to remove the soffits and fascias and all the little 'roof' section above the bay window here, if it was 'built' properly should I expect to see a lintel on the inner skin and the rest just solid brick work? Or is it correct to have a big recessed void between the brickwork above where the baywindow is? Tried to draw what I'm describing on my phone on the image below. Red is where the bricks carry on, blue void.

 

 

 

 

Cheers 

 

Ged

 

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

The entire brick facade (either side of the bay and above) are as one.

 

That’s how the upstairs brickwork is defying gravity. 
 

The first floor joist probably carry on and protrude out through gaps in the brickwork, like fingers, which forms the structure that makes the canopy.

 

Other option is that there’s just a timber framework fixed to the brickwork, like a tent frame, and the downstairs bay forms some of the structural strength. 
 

A lot of these types of arrangements often used hardwood

window frames to bear loads, and then they got cut out and replaced with uPVC, and then these show signs of failure associated with weight bearing on them (which they can’t cope with).