Why Do Old Houses Have Windows Above Doors

Though offering utility in their implementation.

Why do old houses have windows above doors.

Like many older homes one of the key period pieces in our home is the transom windows that still exist over most of the house s doorways. Those panels of glass you ll still find on old homes are called transom doors. They admitted natural light to front hallways and. Transoms historically were used to allow passage of air and light between rooms even when doors were shut.

The windows above doors are called transoms or transom windows they served two purposes. Transom windows the ages old above the door architectural elements are back in a big way. Ventilation is why you ll even see these over interior doors. Since heat rises transom windows were installed above doorways to allow heat to escape in the summertime.

For two they open to allow air to circulate particularly warm air that rises while maintaining privacy. When you have an interior hall with little or no window space of its own these bring in light from the rooms either side of it as do the glass doors in my own house to the downstairs hall which had no windows at all originally. Expert advice from bob vila the most trusted name in home improvement home remodeling home repair. Their main purpose was to let in natural light in the front hallways and interior rooms before electricity became the norm.

In winter not all rooms had a source of heat in them so the transom window would allow a. 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. For one in the days before widespread adoption of electricity they allowed more light into individual rooms while maintaining privacy. Old houses didn t have air conditioning and therefore have vastly more windows to help keep the structure cool on muggy summer nights.

Many second front doors on homes particularly bungalows lead from the front porch to the master bedroom. This way couples could open the windows and doors turn on a couple fansand enjoy a cooling breeze. Strictly a utilitarian feature of historic architecture transom windows were used to both allow additional light into or out of a room and to allow easier passage of heat or cool air to flow between rooms.