1. Introduction
Every home requires an entrance, an entrance that protects the entry to your home as well as the privacy of those inside. But how does one find the perfect entry for this home? The answer is actually very simple: the perfect entry is one in which you feel both comfortable and safe, but one which suits your family’s needs. Front doors are our first impression of a home. It’s the first thing we touch and the first thing we see when we come home. Typically, it’s a pretty standard thing – a door for entry and exit. It can be fancy or plain, but it generally serves its purpose with not much thought. However, many homeowners care to tell you different – that a front door is one of the most important features of their home.
The installation of a new front entrance is a great way to enhance the overall look, feel, and value of your home. Front entrance doors are a huge topic. They come in various forms – doors with sidelights, double doors, those with transoms, and some in fancy hardwoods with intricate glass designs. For the sake of this time, we’ll take a look at the standard entrance with a 3’0″ x 6’8″ door and ways to improve upon it.
1.1 Importance of a Front Door
While the front door handles the flow of people in and out of the house, the front door with sidelights can become the showcase piece of the home. A good front door should be pleasing to the eyes, so it does not need any kind of embellishment. It should stand out, but not so much as to overshadow the other elements of the house. A front door can also be an expression of the homeowner’s personal style and tastes, and thus the variety of doors available, especially online, is quite staggering. Because of this wide selection, the front door can be a difficult thing to replace. With what the modern world and the business deal with the home front, the import of the door has been elevated. People these days like to make a grand first impression and there the front door has a big effect on the way the people will perceive the house. With the economy the way it is these days, it comes as no surprise that many are looking to add value to their house by taking on low-cost DIY (do it yourself) projects. One of the easier things that can be done to add curb appeal is to simply update the front door. Simply by doing this, a house can drastically transform from looking run down to having a welcoming entryway. With modern materials like fiberglass or steel, which can often mimic the look of wood, it is no wonder that more homeowners are choosing to splurge on an entryway. High-end wood doors can be another taste of grandeur. On top of the added aesthetics, the health benefits of getting more natural light in the home cannot be undersold.
1.2 Enhancing Natural Light with Sidelights and Transom
While making an impact on visitors is important, the functionality of a front door cannot be overlooked. One of the primary functions of any door is to move people and things from one place to another. By nature, doors are a barrier. They keep cooled or heated air in and uninvited guests or solicitors out. Another primary function of an exterior door is security. Since doors are a point of entry, it is imperative that they are strong. Most building codes require a good solid core door of either wood, fiberglass, or metal. This is because wood and metal doors are generally more maintenance-free than their hollow counterparts.
Any homeowner seeking the best in looks and functionality for their front door is now in the realm of custom doors. Custom doors are typically distinguished from pre-fabricated doors by design and construction. The most obvious is cost; custom door prices are significantly higher than those of pre-fabricated doors. In most cases, though, for the extra cost of a custom door, a homeowner is getting a door that is far more durable and more attractive than the pre-fabricated doors offered by the larger home improvement retail stores. This is because the construction of custom doors often includes higher quality woods or other building materials, and the workmanship is tailored to fit the door and the door frame rather than mass-production style machining. Most custom doors can also be matched with custom sidelights and/or transoms.
2. Types of Front Doors with Sidelights and Transom
Front door designs with sidelights and transoms can instantly increase the value and look of a home. A door that combines the quality of fine craftsmanship with the functionality of an entryway so that your home’s entryway will make a strong statement. There are many styles that can be created for your front entryway doors. The most common way to design a door with sidelights and transoms is to divide the door into two main parts. The first part is the entry door that is attached with sidelights and a transom can be inserted above the door or double doors. This option will have the maximum amount of natural light coming through. Now the second type of design is having your door pre-hung with sidelights attached to both sides. This is a very simple way to increase the natural light that is coming into your home. Nowadays, many new builds include doors that have two sidelights built right in. The second design is still an option if you are in the process of changing your front entryway doors.
2.1 Single Front Door with Sidelights
Sidelights come as a pair. They are narrow and usually found on either side of the door, though a transom pane can be located above the door. They serve as a decorative feature for the main entrance and also allow natural light to filter into the house, making it brighter and more cheerful. Homeowners can opt for textured or beveled glass for higher privacy. With a single front door, the sidelights are fixed and do not open. Removal of the existing door and frame is required to install a new pre-hung door unit. It can be a DIY project, but getting a professional to do it will ensure the best result and performance of the door. A pre-hung door unit for the front entrance tends to come with an entry door frame.
Some homeowners have installed a single front door with two sidelights because the opening is wide enough. They find it easier to move bulky furniture in and out of the house. Long-term savings can be seen as the entry of natural light serves as a substitute for electrical energy during the day. The heating of sun rays may be undesirable, and low-emissivity coated glass will act as a filter to block the heat while allowing light to pass through. UV coating, on the other hand, will protect your furniture and floor coverings from discoloration.
2.2 Double Front Door with Sidelights and Transom
Finally, the contemporary double doors and sidelights with transom are a very attractive and modern choice for discerning homeowners. This type adds clean lines and symmetry to the home. Coming in many different wood species and sleek styling, contemporary doors are always unique and make a definitive statement on the home. The hardware is also very unique and clean-cut. The sidelights and transom are also available in the contemporary style with blind or drywall returns. This adds a very modern touch to the look, though some people may like the additional glass to allow extra lighting in.
The double front door with transom and sidelights adds immense style and character to the home. The doors can come in a more traditional, elegant style, with carvings at the doors and color matched with the sidelights and transom, enabling an old European feel. Glass comes in many different textures and colors, and the decorative bar inserts between the glass panes can add a very unique and personal touch to the door. This particular style can be made to be very ornate and custom. With the double doors, it is possible to get a 2-way or 1-way door system. This type of door is quite common in older European style homes.
Firstly, a double front door with sidelights provides an elegant, symmetrical look. It has several different styles, such as half glass or full doors, with two ways to see the one next to the door. Another style comes with different possibilities, such as doors with one sidelight per door, and one over-door transom light, or two sidelights and one large over-door transom light, and many other combinations.
2.3 Craftsman Style Front Door with Sidelights and Transom
Adding elegance and style to your entryway, Craftsman style front door offers long-lasting beauty and exceptional quality. This particular style is modeled with the quintessential American Craftsman era design. The Craftsman door is basically the emblem of simplicity and elegance. You can choose from either solid doors or doors with glass features. In the case of the latter, the glass is usually designed using the sticking and wood of the door. This allows you the option of replacing the glass at a later date with many different types of decorative glass styles. Craftsmanship of these doors can be seen in the usage of engineered stiles and rails, which further prevents warping because of varying climate conditions.
The intriguing glass work and sidelight/transom combinations are available in many different sorts of design. All of them are designed for the maximization of natural light while providing privacy from neighbors and passerby. All have been triple glazed with black caming. You also have the option of clear or other simple glass types for a truly custom door. These doors come in either 6’8” or 8’0” heights and many different door widths to fit your needs.
3. Benefits of Front Doors with Sidelights and Transom
When considering sidelights for double doors, remember that the overall light from both the sidelights and the door can eliminate the need to use the door in the dark, which can be a security hazard. If you are satisfied with the current light in the entryway but want to add a stylish and functional decoration, consider a transom above the door. A door transom is a great way to extend the entryway and door with a unique and appealing architectural feature. It is the door equivalent of a window above a window, with a range of designs that fit different door types. A standard door transom is simply a small window and window frame installed above the door, though there are several ornamental designs ranging from frames to half circles to a full half-moon window. High-quality door transoms are typically customized to fit a specific door and are often built along with a door and sidelights. Like sidelights, a door transom adds emphasis and offers a way to make a dimly lit entranceway more inviting for guests.
Sidelights are usually windows that are fixed parallel to a door to provide light to the entryway. They are available in a variety of styles and materials, from glass block to stained glass to mirrored, offering both privacy and light. If you have solid double doors with no way to bring light into the entryway, sidelights are an easy and cost-effective addition, adding flair and attractiveness to the house.
Front doors equipped with sidelights and transoms offer a unique touch that sets them apart from normal entrance ways of homes. Entry doors with sidelights are great ways to not only let more light in but also add a sense of beauty and grace. Traditionally, sidelights were thin windows that ran along the sides of double doors. They have now evolved to include any slimline door that is fixed adjacent to a door to allow light to adorn an entryway. Light is crucial in terms of safety, house accessibility, and security. Entry doors that are well-lit are more welcoming for guests. Installing sidelights on the entry door is a good way to ensure that a caller is at the door and not at the front room looking through a window to make a decision about announcing their visit.
3.1 Increased Curb Appeal
It’s a fact: an entryway without architectural charm can detract from the beauty of an entire home. But add a sidelight or transom (or two) to a front door and the result is remarkable.
You needn’t look far for proof. Nancy Dalton, a designer in Fredericksburg, Virginia, was facing a challenging interior practicality issue. The foyer in her 1970’s fixer-upper was dark and claustrophobic, with only a single small window on one wall—one that peered out onto a secluded cul-de-sac. The foyer’s lack of light was not the only problem; although the Dalton’s house was one of the larger models in their housing development, the interior doors were only 80″ tall—another factor contributing to the confined feeling of the space.
After devising plans to change the doors to a more appropriate six-panel style, Dalton became interested in the idea of using transoms and sidelights due to the effect they have on interior doorways—regarding aesthetics as well as light distribution. “How this could change our foyer,” she says. “And eventually, my husband and I decided that it was worth it to take out the existing door unit and experiment with the idea.”
3.2 Enhanced Security and Safety
Many homeowners are concerned with the vulnerability of glass panels installed in entry doors. Front doors with sidelights and transoms might appear exposed to potential break-ins due to the glass feature, but with recent developments in door construction, the high lock stile on these doors keep them as secure as any other entrance door. Security concerns make many be reluctant to install glass doors, yet with a door sidelight this often outdated concern need not apply. With sidelights, often matching the door system in both style and number of glass panes, safety and security need not be compromised and the benefits of this type of door and entrance system far outweigh the possible concerns. The possible colours available in UPVC match a full range of entrance doors and front doors meaning many homeowners may gain the security and thermal benefits yet maintain the style of door they prefer.
Fiberglass, a strong and highly energy efficient material is a recent innovation in the door/sidelight and transom system. During installation the sidelights and transom are installed as a single unit with the door, reducing potential leak areas often created by multiple part installations. The sidelights and transoms are often compression fit into the rough opening and the door itself then fit into the sidelight and transom frame. High quality composite doors and sidelights can be found at a similar price to hardwood systems, while providing far greater thermal efficiency and requiring much less maintenance. Often the fiberglass door, sidelight and transom combination represents the most energy efficient choice available in a glass panel door system and would be the smart choice for those concerned about heat loss in their home.
3.3 Improved Energy Efficiency
The most energy efficient sidelight and transom units will incorporate triple-glazed doorglass with three panes of tempered glass. The space between each pane is filled with a moisture-absorbing desiccant and the air is removed to create an airtight space. This process, known as airless glass, is the sole method used to prevent doorglass condensation. As an additional energy saving benefit, the airless space in the triple-glazed doorglass acts as an insulator to prevent heat and cold transference into the home.
Wood-edge construction is one of the most energy efficient doorglass options available. In this process, the decorative glass is set into a perimeter of specially designed, patented composite material. The entire assembly is then fit into the door. The result is a door system with the most authentic wood door appearance, yet the durability and energy efficiency benefits only fiberglass or steel door units can provide. This will not only improve the efficiency of the door itself, but it also helps to eliminate door component separation – a common occurrence in wood doors which allows the decorative glass to eventually slacken and air and moisture to filter in between the glass and the door.
The sidelights and transoms are typically constructed and installed as fixed units, and are excellent ways to increase light in the home without sacrificing security. Unlike traditional clear glass, decorative doorglass designed specifically for entrance doors is very energy efficient. The efficiency comes from the construction of the units and the materials used.
3.4 Added Architectural Detail
Architectural detail is the secret ingredient that sets a front entrance apart. It’s the crowning touch, the final flourish that transforms a plain front door into a distinguished entry. Thus, front entry detail presents the perfect opportunity to begin developing a story for the entire house. And, not only does entry detailing set the stage for the entire style of the home, it also adds substantial value. In fact, for many housing developments, simply one upgrade from a standard door to a stylish door with added detail for one in every five houses has proven large enough to set these homes apart and create better sales.
The most effective way to create visual interest above a front door is to introduce a window or series of windows, within an architectural configuration known as a transom. A transom window is a window above a door or another window, and usually hinged to a horizontal crosspiece or frame which allows it to open.
Sidelights, which are vertical windows flanking a door, will further enhance a home’s entry by creating framing and symmetry. Sidelights and a transom together will certainly transform a plain door into a grand entry statement, one that will be more proud to invite guests through and one that will stand out in the memories of visitors and passersby.
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