If you’re thinking of changing your front door or are planning to build a brand new house, there are plenty of ways to create a fashionable and attractive entranceway. The front door is the first impression people get of your home. Suppose you’re looking for ways to improve the appearance of your front entrance, boost the curb appeal and let more light in Sidelights and transoms could be the perfect solution. In recent times, many homes in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex have used transoms and sidelights in their entranceways. They can also get seen in numerous older, historic houses across North Texas. In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of transoms and sidelights, the options available, and whether they can become part of an already existing entranceway, as well as their pros and cons. We’ll also give examples of the most appealing entryways we’ve seen using sidelights or transoms.
What Exactly Are Sidelights and Transoms?
The windows surrounding your front door are known as sidelights and transoms. Transom windows are horizontally placed above the door, while sidelights are located to your door’s right and left sides. These options can transform your front door into a focal point in your home. The added light from the sun makes your home appear spacious and warm, which is a significant benefit should you ever decide to sell your house.
Sidelights
Sidelights are vertical windows that aren’t operable and get placed on either side of the doorway. The size of the door, certain homes feature only one or two sidelights while others, naturally, are entirely unlit. Sidelights come in various styles, including 1/2 lights, 3/4 lights, and entire lights, depending on the size of glass you’d like. They are an excellent way to add interest and enhance the look of the entranceway, giving it a grand appearance.
Transoms
The structural support that separates the door frame from the windows above it, referred to as “transom” windows, is directed at a transom. It gets located above the door frame. Transom windows can get found in various forms and styles that differ from the manufacturer. The most popular choices are arched, rectangular, and square-shaped windows. When placed on top of entry doors, windows usually get fixed. Older houses with transom windows above interior doors may have awning windows designed to provide ventilation.
What Are Your Pros & Cons?
Pros
Transoms and sidelights provide some benefits. As was already noted, they offer a lovely curb appeal and improve the appearance of your property’s front door, exterior, and interior. The glass adds more light, makes your home appear more spacious, large, airy, and welcoming, and brings attention to the additional decorative elements inside. Sidelights also increase the visibility of your exterior by allowing you to see more windows, especially in a front door made of solid or obscure glass. Properly maintained and installed sidelights and transoms can improve their value to the house. If you’re replacing your front door before deciding to sell your house and you have the space you need to surround your front door, these upgrades can increase the value of your home.
- New aesthetics for the interior and exterior
- More natural light for the interior
- Greater visibility outdoors
- Increase the value of your home
Cons
There are some disadvantages when you add glass to your entryway. The added light might not be suitable for everyone. A bright interior surrounding the front door could draw attention to a dull foyer or other areas that require attention. Still, it might not be within your budget for the foreseeable future. The improved visibility can get achieved in two ways. Although you might enjoy a better view of the people at your door and a more enlightened perspective of street views, pedestrians could be able to see into your home in the dark. Depending on the style, window blinds and curtains might not be the best option. However, this issue could get solved by using obscure glass. Other things to consider are the extra work involved in cleaning the extra glass and the higher security risk. Sidelights could create a security risk, making it easy for thieves to break in by smashing the glass to access door locks.
- The additional light may draw attention to any defects
- Privacy is a concern
- Additional glass for cleaning
- Security Risks
We hope you’ve found the article inspirational and gave you an idea of what you should consider when planning the installation of transoms and sidelights. If you’re ready to give your entranceway a fresh look, Windows Hamilton is a full-service business located in Hamilton that specializes in doors and windows. If you’re looking for more information, Contact the Windows Hamilton experts at (289) 975-4020 or email at sales@windowshamilton.ca for more details regarding windows.