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Sidelites and Transoms: Enhancing Commercial Spaces

Commercial door with sidelights and transom

Commercial spaces are often designed with practicality and functionality in mind, prioritizing features such as durability, security, and accessibility. However, as businesses strive to create welcoming and inviting environments for their customers and employees, aesthetics are increasingly becoming a key consideration in commercial design.

One feature that can greatly enhance the visual appeal of commercial buildings is the addition of sidelites and transoms to doors. Both can serve as functional and decorative elements, adding natural light, ventilation, and style to commercial spaces. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at each of these features and discuss some tips for choosing the right design for your commercial space.

Sidelites

Sidelites are the narrow, vertical windows that are often installed on either side of a door. These windows can be an excellent way to enhance the aesthetics of your commercial space, while also providing additional natural light and ventilation. Here are some tips to help you choose the right sidelites for your commercial doors:

  1. Consider Your Privacy Needs

While sidelites can provide additional natural light, they can also compromise the privacy of your commercial space. If you need to enhance privacy in a particular room, consider choosing a design that incorporates frosted or opaque glass. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a design that includes a blind or curtain to help maintain privacy when needed.

  1. Focus on Energy Efficiency

Sidelites can also impact the energy efficiency of your commercial space. To maximize energy savings, consider choosing designs that use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or other energy-efficient materials. These features can help to reduce heat transfer, keeping your building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

  1. Think About Security

While sidelites can be a beautiful addition to your commercial doors, they can also make your space more vulnerable to break-ins and theft. To enhance security, consider choosing designs that incorporate reinforced glass or other security features. You may also want to consider adding a secondary security door to provide an additional layer of protection.

Transoms

Transoms are the horizontal windows that are often installed above a door or sidelite. These windows can be an excellent way to enhance natural light and ventilation, while also adding a unique design element to your commercial space. Here are some tips to help you choose the right transoms for your commercial doors:

  1. Consider Your Ventilation Needs

Transoms can be an excellent way to improve ventilation in your commercial space. If you need to enhance airflow in a particular room, consider choosing designs that prioritize ventilation over aesthetics. These designs may include transoms with operable windows or other ventilation features.

  1. Focus on Energy Efficiency

Like sidelites, transoms can also impact the energy efficiency of your commercial space. To maximize energy savings, consider choosing designs that use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or other energy-efficient materials. These features can help to reduce heat transfer, keeping your building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

  1. Think About Design

Transoms can also be a great way to add a unique design element to your commercial space. Consider choosing a design that complements the overall style of your building, while also incorporating decorative elements or patterns that reflect your brand identity.

Sidelites and transoms can be an excellent way to enhance the aesthetics, functionality, and security of your commercial doors. By considering your specific needs and preferences, you can choose a design that enhances your brand identity, promotes better health and well-being for your employees, and attracts customers to your business. Whether you opt for sidelites, transoms, or both, these features can be a simple and effective way to upgrade the look and feel of your commercial space. Contact CDF Distributors today for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 12, 2023
Wayne Foreman

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