what were transoms used for

What were transoms used for? Transoms

historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut. They make perfect sense in row houses, which typically have long, narrow floor plans with windows only at the front and back.

Full Answer

What is the purpose of transom windows?

Transom windows over most of the doors in our 1880s row house are important to its authenticity. Transoms historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut.

What is a transom in a row house?

Transoms historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut. They make perfect sense in row houses, which typically have long, narrow floor plans with windows only at the front and back.

What are the different types of transoms?

The mechanisms for working transoms were diverse in their construction and styles. They include bottom-hinged transoms with latches and chains that had a long pole to pull the latch open; side-hinged transoms that opened like doors; and top-hinged transoms with fixed lifts that could be hand-operated.

What is a transom rod?

• a long rod that serves as the operating mechanism and extends from below the clasp to near the top of the transom. • the supports that mount to the wall at the transom’s midpoint and top connection and which allow the rod to move up and down.

When were transom windows used?

14th CenturyTransom Windows date back to at least the 14th Century and were a popular feature in 19th Century and Victorian (1837-1901) homes. The transom style window is also found in Georgian architecture (1714-1830) and Colonial Revival (1880-1955).

Are transoms outdated?

Though transom windows fell out of fashion in the 1970s and 1980s, homeowners now are rediscovering how they can add a distinctive touch to a space—not to mention a little more natural light.

What are transoms house?

In architecture, a transom is a transverse horizontal structural beam or bar, or a crosspiece separating a door from a window above it. This contrasts with a mullion, a vertical structural member.

Why did old houses have windows above doors?

Transom windows are those panels of glass you see above doors in old homes, especially those built in the Mission or Arts and Crafts styles. They admitted natural light to front hallways and interior rooms before the advent of electricity, and circulated air even when doors were closed for privacy.

Are transom windows a fire hazard?

Transom windows on entrance doors that are left open can let in more than wind and rain: they can contribute to fire and smoke spreading rapidly within a building.

Why is there a window above my bedroom door?

Historically, operable transom windows above doors played a role in the heating and cooling in a home. Operable transoms have sashes that can be opened or closed to help regulate the temperature in a room when the door is closed.

Why is it called a transom?

The term was used as far back as Middle English in the 1300s, having come from Latin transversus (transverse) via Old French traversain (set crosswise). The stern of a boat is typically vertical. It can be raked such that there is an overhang above the water, as at the bow.

Can transom windows open?

Yes, you can! As we said, transom windows that open are much rarer now since they are no longer needed for ventilation. However, if you want one that opens, it is still possible.

Why is it called a transom window?

Transom windows are named as such because they are located over top of a window or door's transom– this is the beam that separates the top of the window or door from the rest of the wall. Consequently, transom windows can come in many different shapes, styles and designs, but retain the name due to their location.

What are coffin doors on a house?

Many colonial homes in New England have a feature called the Coffin Door. This door had only one function: allow easy access to the front parlor for the coffin containing the remains of a recently deceased member of the family. The door is also known as the funeral door, the casket door, or the death door.

Why do old houses not have closets?

Closets were uncommon in the 18th and 19th centuries because people would have to pay a tax based on the number of rooms in their house. Closets were considered a room for the purposes of this tax, making your closet the most expensive room in the house!

Why do old houses have 10 foot ceilings?

Because it was (sometimes) more efficient. In warmer climates, with no A/C systems, a high ceiling allowed hot air to rise, leaving a (slightly) colder one at the people level. It was specially useful for the last story of the buildings to provide insulation from the heat radiating from the ceilings.

How long do transoms last?

On to fabricating the replacement transom: Most, if not all wooden transoms in smaller boats are made of plywood. From the looks of the transom in this boat, I would estimate a typical transom will last about 20 years or so before they need to be replaced.

How much does it cost to have a transom replace?

How much to fix a wet transom. Repairing a transom is a laborious exercise that can range from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the vessel size construction and tradesmen used for the task. There are many techniques in placing a transom.

How much is it to replace a transom?

Transom windows cost an average of just $140 to $300 to install, which includes the cost of both materials and labor. These accent windows are considered to be low cost and can add natural light as well as resale value to your home.

Can you fix a rotten transom?

Repairing A Rotted Transom One method is to use a product like Git-Rot from BoatLIFE. This two-part liquid epoxy fills and restores the dry rot inside the wood using capillary action to penetrate it without drilling it full of holes. You can inject Git-Rot directly into the wood for more thorough penetration.

Why do transom windows open?

Typically, transom windows were configured in a way that would allow a person to open them when they wanted to let heat flow between rooms, or to allow the creation of a draft to cool the home. The mechanisms to allow opening of transoms were fairly vast in their construction and styles. There were bottom hinged transoms with latches and chains that had a long pole to pull the latch open, side hinged transoms that opened like doors, and top hinged transoms with fixed lifts that could be hand operated.

Can you open a transom?

Fully open, the transom allows a decent amount of airflow. Once we have our new vestibule configuration, we'll be able to open the outer front doors, keep the inner door closed, and open the transom to get a nice cross breeze going through the house.

What are the mechanisms of a transom?

They include bottom-hinged transoms with latches and chains that had a long pole to pull the latch open; side-hinged transoms that opened like doors; and top-hinged transoms with fixed lifts that could be hand-operated.

Why are transom windows important?

Transoms historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut. They make perfect sense in row houses, which typically have long, narrow floor plans with windows only at the front and back.

What is a long rod on a transom?

The most common type uses a long rod to operate a lift mount bracket attached to the transom sash. Restoring an existing transom is fairly straightforward, provided the window is in good condition and you have all the operable parts.

How to make a transom window operational?

To make a transom window operational, the goal is to install it so that the window can be opened to a 30-degree angle or so. That’s enough to allow airflow without making the window hard to open or close. Bringing light and air to the vestibule, this restored transom window and operator are at the row house entry.

What is missing in a transom?

Sometimes essential pieces of the transom operating mechanism are missing. Several companies sell reproductions as kits, but if you are buying a salvaged transom, make sure all the parts are there. Missing lift hardware is sometimes available through salvage dealers and online vendors such as eBay. Santantonio believes that old transom lift hardware is among the rarest items to survive in today’s old homes, as parts are fairly delicate, and many original lifts were damaged and removed over the years.

When were transom windows used?

Transoms have been used above front doors and picture windows since the late 1800s as “an expressive way to create unique architectural details,” said architectural historian Amanda Gierke in a 2016 Baltimore Sun article.

How do transoms work?

In architecture, a transom is a transverse horizontal bar that separates the door from the window that sits above it. It can also be a crosspiece above the doorway that allows for plenty of natural light. Ideally this would fill your entryway, alleviating the necessity for much additional lighting in the area.

Why do old houses have windows above doors?

Transom windows are those panels of glass you see above doors in old homes, especially those built in the Mission or Arts and Crafts styles. They admitted natural light to front hallways and interior rooms before the advent of electricity, and circulated air even when doors were closed for privacy.

Do transom windows add value?

Although transoms have grown in popularity recently, it's because newer homes are built with higher ceilings that allow for their installation. They date back to the 19 th century so there is no reason to think that installing a series of transom windows will do anything other than increase the value of your home.

Are transoms out of style?

Transom windows have been around for a long time – they were already appearing in buildings in 14 th -century Europe. They went out of fashion for a while but a now making a big comeback as a practical and decorative element in modern architectural design.

What were transoms used for?

Transoms historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut. They make perfect sense in row houses, which typically have long, narrow floor plans with windows only at the front and back.

Are transom windows outdated?

Though transom windows fell out of fashion in the 1970s and 1980s, homeowners now are rediscovering how they can add a distinctive touch to a space—not to mention a little more natural light.

What style houses have transom windows?

Transoms are windows set above the pediment of a door or another window and can be found in many different style homes – from Victorian mansions and shingle style cottages, to modern glass houses.