Transom Windows

{{Infobox
|title = Transom Windows
|image        = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Transom Windows]]
|header5 = Other Names:
|data6   = Replacement Transom Windows, Door Top Windows
|header7 = Description:
|data8   = Windows designed for installation above entry doors or other windows. They match the style of the door or window below.}}

Transom windows are small windows which are installed over a door or atop another window. They are often included in spaces where a window or door meets another  architectural element. Transom windows can function as a conduit between the door or window below and the eaves or ceiling above. They personalize individual rooms while imbuing the room with a sense of openness. Replacement transom windows add height and style to an opening into which an operable or non-operable window has already been installed by adding an element of an additional window. 

== Placements ==
Transom windows are an appropriate window option for almost any room in the house including living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and home offices. These [[Replacement-Windows|replacement windows]] are often installed in a large window opening to break up the window design and create a more elaborate style. 

Transom windows are frequently included as component windows in a [[Bay Windows|bay windows]] or [[Bow Windows|bow windows]]. They can add light to a conservatory, pool room, porch or garden room.  

Transom windows may be installed high up in a wall near a particularly tall ceiling. Other options include installation of a transom window at a relatively low height such as above a low-placed window or door. Transom windows may also be installed in a recessed alcove which is built above a door or window or flush with the wall over a recessed door or window. 

A unique placement option for replacement transom windows is above interior doors to improve air-circulation and to bring more natural light into hallways.

== Options ==
Transom windows are available as venting and non-venting window options. Non-venting transom windows may be installed above an operable window where additional ventilation is not required. Conversely, venting transom replacement windows may be included above [[picture windows]] to add ventilation. Transom windows add light to a room and frequently catch the late afternoon light when the sun is beginning to set or the morning light as the sun rises. 

Operable transom windows are generally those hinged at the bottom or the top of the sash -- [[hopper-windows| hopper windows]] or [[awning-windows|awning windows]]. 

== Shapes ==
Transom windows are available as fan-shaped windows, half-rounds, square-shaped and rectangle windows. 
Transoms expand the view as seen from the house.

== Sizes ==
Transom windows may include small windows measuring as low as 12 inches in height or width. Larger transom windows are also available which can measure up to four feet in height or width.

== Designs ==
Transom windows may be built with one interrupted glass pane in any shape or size or may include mullion bars which divide the window into panels. Additional design options include patterned or etched glass panes. When carefully matched to a room's architectural design replacement transom windows will expand the sense of interior space while allowing light to flow deeper into the home’s interior. 

== Benefits ==
Transom windows are useful in separating the framing of a door or lower window from the architectural design of the eaves or ceiling above. Operable transom windows can add ventilation to a room and all transom windows will increase the amount of light that streams into a room. Transom lights may diffuse light for a functional and an attractive look. 

== Energy Efficiency ==
An energy efficient replacement transom window can increase the effectiveness of a room's overall thermal insulation. Transom windows are installed above a window or door where the room's heat rises. If the window's weatherseals, framing materials and glazing provide superior thermal resistance, a well-insulated transom window can prevent heat loss and contribute significantly to the home's energy performance. 

Homeowners should check a transom window's U-Rating before making the purchase. This rating, determined by the National Fenestration Ratings Council, provides information regarding the potential for a window to gain or lose heat and to transmit sunlight into the home. 

One of the most important variables in determining the U-Rating is the window's framing. Different types of framing materials offer different levels of thermal insulation. Prices for these materials varies widely as do the pros and cons of their use. Homeowners who purchase Energy Star replacement transom windows are eligible for tax rebates and credits which, together with the energy savings, create a cost-effective window option. The United States Department of Energy notes that windows that carry a U-Rating of 30 or under will save a homeowner between seven and fifteen percent of their energy costs annually and homeowners will be able to recoup the additional purchase cost of the replacement transom window within four years. 
  
=== Framing Materials ===
There are four main types of framing materials used in the manufacture of transom replacement windows. These include metal frames, metal frames with a thermal break, non-metal frames and non-metal frames which are thermally improved. The framing properties influence the total window performance of a replacement transom window. 

==== Aluminum ====
Aluminum window frames are durable, light and strong and can be easily extruded into complex shapes needed for window parts. The anodized and factory-baked enamel finishes of aluminum frames provide a sturdy and low-maintenance window alternative. Aluminum windows readily conduct heat causes heat loss and condensation which can be problematic in a cold climate. Better insulating aluminum frames answer this challenge with a thermal break which splits the frame components into interior and exterior pieces and joins them using a less conductive material. 
Lead transoms are often used as ornamentation but do not offer effective thermal insulation. 

====Wood and Wood Clad====
Wood is a favored framing material because of its appearance and its traditional inclusion in home design. Wood-framed windows perform well but wood frames require annual maintenance to prevent warping and rot. Homeowners who do not anticipate painting their windows yearly can buy wood clad windows whose exteriors are clad with a treated vinyl or aluminum covering, offering thermal insulation together with weather resistance. 

==== Vinyl Frames ====
Vinyl frames are a hybrid plastic frame which are versatile and provide good insulation and resistance to moisture. The surface is maintenance free though laminates, such as wood veneer, are now available. Vinyl framed windows are dimensionally stable and resist degradation from extreme temperatures and sunlight. 

==== Composite ====
Wood/polymer composites are extruded into window frames and sash members and provide a stable window alternative with quality structural and thermal properties. These composite windows resist moisture and decay and can be stained, painted or textured. The composite windows are manufactured using a blend of sawdust and wood scrap together with recycled plastics. 

==== Fiberglass ====
Fiberglass is a glass and fiber mixture which produces dimensionally stable windows. The air cavities of a fiberglass window are filled with insulation to reduce convection exchange. The material is exceptionally strong and can support triple-glazed windows. Fiberglass windows offer a high level of thermal insulation and resist decay or rot due to time or weather elements.

=== Glazing ===
To reduce solar heat gain and increase the window's resistance to heat transfer homeowners should investigate the options for energy efficient transom window glazing. Transom replacement windows that offer superior glazing options include those with double or triple panes and those with a spectrally selective Low E (low emissivity) coating. 

==== Low-E ====
Low-E coatings are microscopically invisible coatings which are applied to the window before it leaves the factor. It offers a significant reduction in solar gain with a minimal loss of visible light. Homeowners can enjoy clear and unobstructed views through a window with a Low-E coating. Using a Low-E coating can also reduce fading of carpet, fabrics, artwork, paints, wood and other furnishings which are otherwise exposed to excessive sunlight. 

==== Multi-Pane Windows ====
Many window manufacturers offer multi-pane windows which prevent heat transfer by helping to maintain a room's temperature. Multi-pane windows include gaps in between the window panes which are filled with insulating gas or air. This provides additional insulation that increases the window's thermal properties. Multi-pane windows include double pane and triple pane windows. Industry observers advise people who live in extreme climates to purchase triple pane windows for necessary protection.  

== Accessories ==

=== Screens ===
Operable transom windows include a screen as part of the window order. Screens clip into the side of the window opposite to that of where the window opens. The screens remove for easy cleaning. 

=== Grilles ===
Transom replacement windows may include a grille, either one installed in between two of the window panes or a removable screen that can clip in and out for cleaning purposes. Grille patterns that are popular for transom windows include grids, equal light patterns, divided light patterns and custom patterns.

[[Category:Replacement Windows]]