Can a transom be removed from a door frame?
I’m in search for a double french door with side lights, and being frugal/cheap I hit up craigslist. I’m installing it in a wall that is a big size, i’m not set on a min or max size, so I checked craigslist, found a couple nice ones. One in particular has a rough opening size with a transom on the top of 10′, without according to the person’s measurements is 8’6″. So can a transom be removed from a french door without much harm to its frame or structual integrity?
Andrew
Replies
Generally, unless the transom was a separate addition, the side jambs continue from the floor to the top of the transom. So to cut down the frame you'd have to disassemble it and reinstall the head jamb on the cut down side jambs. Doable but requires some woodworking.
Andrew
Should be now problem. Most of the heads are let into a dado in the longer jamb. You might not need to disassemble it to do the cut just above the head. Remove the doors and transome light (if you can), prop up the jamb (get it up off and parallel to the floor) so you can cut straight down. Use a circular saw and have at it. You can also use a hand saw or jig saw. The quality of cut is not that important, but you do want to make it clean especially at exit. Trim will take care of the rest.
Remember to use care and proper technique so you don't do any damage to yourself or the unit.
Some of the transoms I've seen are fastened to the base unit with corrugated fasteners. They can be a bear to pull out, and can pull the wood apart.
But it can be done.