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Hi,
I want to install some interior transom windows above 4 interior doorways and was wondering if any of you have any photos of such or know where I could find some on the web, just for ideas. Two of the doorways do not have doors and two will. The two with doors will be openable. Thanks.
Jon
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Replies
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Jonnie,
I built mine from poplar that I used for the jamb materials and then purchase tempered glass for the window parts. It MUST be tempered since it is above a doorway. Its better to have a million little fragments of glass fall down on someone who slams the door than a few big point pieces.
The wife is having stained glass panels made that we will insert on the inside of the glass.
Mike
*I'm planning to build the windows myself with either Oak or Pine. I have the window design itself, but I'm more curious about different styles of encasing it. Particularly, I'm curious about the header between the doorway and the window. I've seen some that were single units window and doorway where you have the door jambs and top header of the same width to fit the wall opening, but just a 2x4 type header between window and door. The other idea would be to frame it in two separate pieces, encasing them both the same way, and having a moulding piece run between them, as if you took an existing door with moulding and slid the transom in above it and then ran trim around it as well. I'm just fishing for ideas and have had little luck finding photos on the web. Thanks.Jon
*The ones in my old house are probably typical: door jamb runs all the way up 8', then there's like 3 head jambs---top of 6' 8" door, 3 inch space then bottom and top of transom. Space between trimmed to match everything else.
*Jon, The way you mentioned in two separate pieces is the way I did it. My main point of concern was that there was enough space between the top of the door and bottom of the transom to accommodate two pieces of identical casing (door toptransom bottom) so it looked like it was thought out and not just jammed up there.Mike
*If I am using a post-and-lintel style of trim, I like to run the side casings all the way up to the top of the transom light, and fill in the space with a board a little thinner than the side casing. For example, 1x4 side casings, 5/4 x 4 head casing, and 1/2" x 3 or 4" for the piece between door and transom light. Makes for a more unified appearance.
*Hey Jon, are you doing this to be able to keep an eye on your kids when they become teenagers ? You know, the old mirror on a stick trick...b : )
*Sounds like they are made both ways. Anyone have a digital camera? Do your windows open? I didn't mention that two of these will be non load bearing walls which i feel pretty comfortable cutting open. The other two are load bearing and will likely require some stud replacement. In those, building it as one unit would be simpler. Also, all the walls are different thicknesses as some have lathe board underneath the sheet rock and others don't, so I've put this job off a little while.I haven't thought about the spying possibilities, that opens up a whole new realm of ideas... Thanks guys..Jon
*btw.. here's a photo of the "before" shot. I was thinking about placing the transom casement flush with the top of where the top moulding strip is. Then maybe another set of rosettes at the top, or if that doesn't look right, take out the ones atop the door...
*You've got an optical illusion going in the upper corner there.
*I really shouldn't tell you guys about this, since this is one of my trade secrets, but...If you go to eBay today, there's a guy who bought out an old time hardware store and has three separate lots of transom latches for sale. These are new old stock, unused originals. Each of these auctions are ending this afternoon, so if you're interested, get there today. These are the real McCoy, and there is nothing cooler than NOS hardware.SHG
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Hi,
I want to install some interior transom windows above 4 interior doorways and was wondering if any of you have any photos of such or know where I could find some on the web, just for ideas. Two of the doorways do not have doors and two will. The two with doors will be openable. Thanks.
Jon
Interior transom windows
Check out the photo gallery at transomsdirect.com You can see a bunch of different transom designs and trim details that look good with them. Operating hardware can be found at vandykes.com