Does anyone know of any resources for building your own transom windows? I need to build about a dozen transoms for my interior doors. Any books or plan illustrations out there? Norm Abram, are you reading this? :-)
FIrst thing you'll need to determine is if you have load bearing headers over the doors......older houses did, but they also had 9-10' ceilings so they could get a transom up there, and still have room for the support header.
Once you get past that, you need to decide if these will be deadlites that don't open, or operating type transoms.
Non-operational transoms shouldn't be too hard to build IF you have some advanced woodworking skills...you're basically going to have to make a rough opening much higher than a normal door, then build new jambs with a mullion between the door top and the transom....then case the whole thing and set glass in the transom space.
Operating transoms will be a bit harder, and you'll have to come up with a source of hardware like is used for awning type windows unless somebody still makes the old transom type with the crank rod that comes down the side of the door casing so you can operate the window. Or you might pick up some if you're around where they are wrecking old houses with transoms.
Sounds like a lota work to me......
.... isn't hard. http://www.aresource.com/transom.html is just one of many online sources. Go there, click and see all the hinges, pivots, chains, handles, locks and etc.
My suggestion: Any architectural salvage yards by you? If yes, check and see what they have. Buy one and copy it - but to your dimensions, or just photograph a couple to get ideas and maybe take some rough measurements. If no, Andy has perfect solution for making fixed lites - but operable ones can be made with jamb pivots (they're easy to install - some are surface mounted with screws to the jambs, others need simple mortising first) and proper placement of stops, 1/2 on inside, 1/2 on outside.
Design tip: My relatives own apartment houses in Brooklyn NY with transoms and nearly all of them have jamb pivots with pull chain locks up on the header.
Hi. I'm interested in transoms as well. Did you get yours worked out? Found a source for hardware to open and close operational transoms http://www.deabath.com/Hardware/Transomop/transomop.htm
I'm wondering why I can't find operational transoms available anywhere. They work great for air circulation, are still recommended by several green house building organizations, and high ceilings are in vogue now. Why no transoms?
Any resource help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Hi. I'm interested in transoms as well. Did you get yours worked out? Found a source for hardware to open and close operational transoms http://www.deabath.com/Hardware/Transomop/transomop.htm
I'm wondering why I can't find operational transoms available anywhere. They work great for air circulation, are still recommended by several green house building organizations, and high ceilings are in vogue now. Why no transoms?
Any resource help would be GREATLY appreciated.
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