Build Dormers

Remember the days when almost all two-story houses in the United States utilized dormers? Dormers are used to add available space on a house’s second floor. Up to this day, some builders still use dormers to give living areas on second floors additional space. If, by any chance, you wish to have more living space in your cozy attic, you will most likely want to entertain the idea of creating dormers to give your attic optimum usable space.

There are several points to consider in terms of construction materials and style when building dormers. This is because dormers inevitably will change your attic’s interior configuration, and alter the external look of your home. Dormers are capable of doing this while adding more space that you need. But of course, all this will depend on the how the construction and the style are carried out.

The University of Buffalo’s Illustrated Architecture Dictionary distinguishes several styles applicable to dormers and the particular architectural styles where they are appropriate to match with.

Hipped Dormer

One is called the hipped dormer. Its specific roof style defines it. A hipped dormer will resemble a roof that has four sloped sides. A hipped dormer can be found installed in homes that have the unique styles of Neoclassical, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Classical Revival, Federal, Arts and Crafts, Greek Revival, Renaissance Revival, Georgian Revival, and Prairie styles.

Gable Roof

The second style of dormer is called the gable roof. This is a type of a pitched roof that has a gable at both ends. This gable is set to be a part of your attic’s wall which is just below the pitched roof’s end that is formed in a triangular shape through the room’s sloping line.

Arched Dormer

The third kind is the arched dormer. This dormer varies in shape; it could be a horizontal flat arch or a sharply pointed one. The round arches are specifically fit for Italian Renaissance Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Italianate architecture. Gothic or poi arches are set to achieve Gothic Revival architecture. Elliptical arches or the Baskethandle looks best to imitate and create the feel of Beaux Arts and Italianate styles. Tudor arches, which are visibly flattened Gothic, are great for having Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival styles. And last but not the least are the Syrian arches which are found in the Shingle styles and Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.

Pedimented Dormer

The fourth style of dormer is called the pedimented dormer, which appears as a triangular gable that is over a window, portico, or door.

Eyebrow dormer

The eyebrow dormer, the fifth type, is a low one, placed on the roof’s slope with no sides.

Through-the-cornice Dormer

Lastly, the through-the-cornice dormer is one that projects it from a sloping roof placed on top of the wall.

There are several processes followed when adding a dormer. Certainly, adding a dormer is not an ideal project which you could do yourself over the weekend. So, it is very important on your part to learn about the impacts of dormer construction before you finally decided if you could handle such project without any help from anyone around. You should first know that you will be altering your roof’s line, which will definitely affect and change the rain water flow, as much as it could also alter the position in where your roof will hold and keep the accumulated snow’s weight. To put things in better perspective, this task will make you cut a hole in the roof and insert a window in it. Given the complexity of this project, a great understanding of roofing detail is critical because a poorly done construction job may result in leaks and trigger water damage inside your precious home.

However, you should realize that going solo in such project may not be 100% possible, as there are some necessary tasks that only skilled and trained people could handle. These tasks are hanging drywall, adding insulation, installing windows, finishing the roofing, painting, and etc. Also, you would need to gain the approval of your local homeowners association and other concerned groups before you jump start the building process. A number of rules and regulations, as well as building codes will depend on your locality. Therefore, you have to obtain building permits from the local government concerned and make the necessary arrangements for home inspections. You also should check the required materials by the home-building authorities to be appropriate to the frame’s construction.

Now that you have a great background on the types of dormers and the needed permits, the next thing you should master is the way to build your dormers. The first step you need to take is to determine the exact location in your roof and cut the holes. Then, you will build the dormer frame. We have to remind you that this will be a very complex process as it will require some precise framing cuts.

After the first two steps, your siding and roofing must now be installed. The siding could be in wood form but may also come in hard plank, stone, brick, or even in a vinyl. Then, your appropriate and preferred windows will be placed.

Finally, your interior work can start. The installation of walls, insulation, flooring, and ceiling could commence. But this step is best to be done if your plan includes building other interior components like window seats, storage areas, bookcases, built-in desks, and etc. When everything else is in place, tasks like painting, laying the wallpaper and the carpet, as well as other finishing touches will be advisable to do.

As you may have realized, building dormers are set to become your home’s living space that is a lot lighter, bigger, brighter, and more functional. The most important thing to note when doing such project is that it will not matter if you do all of the work alone, or if you hire a professional: careful, meticulous work and great attention to your designated building codes will give you a new room to enchant and improve your family’s lifestyle.