Good for spreading fire, if that sort of thing bothers you.

doc5md,

That would be nice but we'd have to break into the foundation - big money.

worthy,

Confused?

I wouldn't consider the extra expense worth doing. It's not like you'll be seeing outside while working out and for the small amount of daylight you would see I don't think it is worth it by the time you spent the money on the glass doors etc. Just install good lighting in the gym which you'll need anyways since there won't be as much light coming through due to the angles involved anyways.

That is my concern as it relates to how much light will fill the room - for example will it be too diffused? I'm estimating additional cost of $500.

Its interesting what indirect light can do. My stairwell is lit up just from daylight upstairs - closest window is a side-lite from the entry way - its the lowest light level of the day as well. Surprised how much it still lights up this space. I closed the door behind me so that the egress window light wouldn't influence the lighting. Ignore the photo bomber!

I'm skeptically of how much indirect light you will get filtered through the translucent closet doors, and then up past clothes and horizontal shelf, and finally through clearstory above. Light is magic, but too far?

If it is safe to do, I would do it. I like adding quirk and light wherever I can. ...and since this is a guest room, I would consider black grid & clear glass on the door and transom.

Oh should have mentioned the layout would be shelf and pole at typical waste height . Transom at about eye level and then another shelf above the transom. So the closet is still functional - although it won't be used as a full time bedroom.

I'd have to research light transmission through frosted glass. Reeded glass could be another option.

Probably not as much light will filter into the bedroom as you may think.

What will filter into the bedroom is the noise from the TV on the shared wall.

And what will quickly spread is fire from one room to the other.

Worthy, how is this idea materially different or more unsafe than other interior windows (transom or not) or french doors?

David · More Info

I guess it does get a little fiery in the bedroom!

Holly in your example I would have done all drywall with a solid wood door. Don’t forgot the fireproof door sweep.

@worthy Please explain your comments - this country hick doesn't understand what you are talking about

Drywall contains gypsum which will only burn and extremely high temperature therefore it is somewhat fire resistant

But yes a transom would be the least of my worries between these two spaces maybe if there was An active kitchen next to the bedroom versus a gym would it be a concern - Or wait maybe internal combustion from overworking?

Yes, the fire resistant bedroom assembly is now open to other rooms and any other activities or risks that entails. Wiring shorts can happen in any room. I have built a number of essentially open-plan homes--except all the bedrooms are separate.

What always bothered me was building homes with no basement egress windows because the owners didn't want to spend money for that. But oh, those granite counters! (Perfect for burial monuments.)

Cannot ignore the photobomber. Photobomber is just too adorable! :P

Drywall is fire resistant because of the time it takes the fire to vaporize the large water content of gypsum. If its fire - resistant drywall, it has fibers in it that help it remain in one piece.