Building An Attic Dormer

Dormers and attic remodels homeowners typically add dormers as part of the process of transforming the attic into a usable living space.

Building an attic dormer.

That s because they let in more light and improve ventilation. Drive nails up through the roof at the corners. Use a plumb bob to transfer the inside edge of the walls to the underside of the roof. Cut the top plates at an angle equal to the roof pitch where they attach to the main roof.

For the room to be considered habitable under building regulations more than 50 per cent of it must have a ceiling height of 2 2m says structural engineer thomas o connor of occ engineering. Adding a 15 foot shed dormer to accommodate a new 15 by 15 foot bedroom and 5 by 7 bathroom in the attic costs an average of 49 438 as of 2014 according to remodeling magazine. If the dormer is built above living space rather than over an attic or if you re converting attic space to living space then it provides much needed natural light. However there are other dormers including gable dormers that people sometimes prefer.

Roof dormers add light. You can locate the dormer s top plate elevation by measuring up from the attic floor. Framing a dormer refers to the first and most important step in constructing an upper level addition to your home. As architectural styles have shifted architects and builders have invented more ways to build dormers.

Build up the side and front walls by installing corner studs and a doubled 2x4 top plate onto the bottom plates doubled rafters and the sill. When building a dormer an addition that comes through the roof to create a higher ceiling and more interior space you remove an area of the old roof and build the new structure. Dormer roofs are the little rooms that project from a roof and allow more space and light in the top floor or attic. Here are 12 different types of dormer roofs and their history.

Mark the dormer wall layout on the attic floor and make sure the dormer walls are square with the exterior wall of the house. You will need to choose a size of dormer that fits well with your house draw up a plan and get the required building permits. Dormers have an average return on investment or recouped value of 65 70 percent. Whether you re expanding a cramped attic into a bedroom office or playroom if you have any carpentry experience you can accomplish this home renovation goal yourself.