A transom fills the opening above a door. On a porch, it lets you keep a practical door height while using the space above for ventilation through screen or daylight through glass. The wood frame stays in place; with removable inserts, you change the screen or glass within it.
Consider the whole opening when choosing a layout. A transom can span the door alone or extend across a door-and-sidelight arrangement. Its vertical divisions can line up with the framing below, connecting the separate pieces visually without making every panel identical.
Storm glass and screen choices above the door
Removable screen and storm inserts allow the transom to change with the rest of your porch entry. Fiberglass mesh is standard. High-visibility, No-See-Um, pet-resistant, aluminum, and copper bronze screening offer other choices for the view and conditions at your porch.
Storm glass options include clear tempered and Low-E glass, with acid-etched, glue-chip, and selected decorative choices available by design. Removable inserts have white or bronze frames. Fixed glass is also an option when ventilation through the transom is not needed.
Think about access as well as appearance. If you plan to exchange inserts seasonally, consider how you will reach the transom and handle the panels for changing or cleaning. Our team can help you plan the arrangement before you finalize the size.
Solid wood made for the surrounding entry
We handcraft our screen and storm transoms from solid wood with mortise-and-tenon joinery. They can be supplied separately, framed with a jamb, or included in a complete pre-hung screen and storm entry system. For an existing opening, the measurements and frame details help determine how the new transom will fit.
Plan the wood and eventual paint or stain alongside the door below. Our standard African Mahogany offers natural beauty and durability, while any alternative species should suit the porch’s exposure. Transoms arrive unfinished, with guidance for sealing and finishing all surfaces before installation. The wood and insert-frame color can coordinate with the rest of the entry.
Complete your porch entry
Start with a transom design above and customize its dimensions and inserts online. Browse screen and storm doors and coordinating sidelights to plan the opening together. For the surrounding porch bays, our porch enclosure panels provide fixed screen and glass sections made to size.
Our craftspeople are available to help with the layout and measurements. If you are looking for a glazed transom between indoor rooms or above a main exterior door, explore the other transom collections for those applications.
Unsure if this the style you’re looking for? Visit our Door Buyer's Guide to Architectural Styles.
