Transoms and Clerestories for Rooms With Little Wall Space

A transom does one job: it puts a strip of glass above a door or a larger window so light can pass where a full sash cannot, and the figures kept at austin new windows le mistral houston show how often that small strip rescues a dark hallway. In Austin, TX bungalows around Hyde Park, Clarksville and Bouldin Creek, the walls are short, the lots are tight and neighbors sit close, so a new window high on the wall often does more than one at eye level.

What a clerestory is

A clerestory is a row of windows set high on a wall, usually just under the ceiling or in a raised section of roof. It brings in daylight without a view in from the street. In a bedroom the clerestory keeps the privacy that a regular window would take away. In a hallway or a bath the same high strip lights the room and leaves the walls below clear for cabinets or towels.

Framing a high opening

A high opening is still an opening, and it needs a header and a sill plate like any other. In a house with an eight foot ceiling the header may sit almost against the top plate, leaving a small gap. The unit is usually a short awning or a fixed picture window, a few inches to a foot and a half tall. Short heights mean a shallow header, and the framing is quick work once the wall is shored.

Ceiling height limits

Eight foot ceilings leave little room for a clerestory, so the glass may be only fourteen inches tall. Nine and ten foot ceilings give more. Over a door, the transom is limited by the header of the door itself, and an old door frame may need to be rebuilt. A vinyl window or a wood window in a short size is easy to order. A clad window with a wood interior suits older rooms.

Glass and the afternoon sun

High glass on the west or south side sees direct sun for hours. Double pane insulated glass with a low e coating cuts the heat passing through, and a small unit has a modest effect on the room. On the north and east, the glass can be clear to let in the most daylight. A transom that opens, such as an awning, also lets hot air out near the ceiling.