Dormer Roofs: Adding Functionality to your Second Story

A dormer roof is a built-in window structure that adds space and height in an upper story or loft area of the home. Dormer roofs can transform dark areas into bright, spacious living spaces. In simple terms, a dormer is a window installed into a sloped roof. The dormer extension has its own small roof. The word “dormer” comes from the same latin root as the word “dormitory” – its literal meaning is “place for sleeping”, which makes sense considering dormers are on the second story of homes!

Dormers can add style, symmetry and an interesting visual focal point to a home’s exterior.

The benefits of dormer roofs

While we know that dormers add a pleasing visual component to the roofline, there are some other benefits to adding a dormer to your design. They allow ventilation and natural light into spaces that would otherwise be dark and underused. The space provided by a dormer can provide an area for a small bathroom, bedroom or a cozy reading nook.

A dormer can even provide a new emergency exit from the upstairs bedrooms!

dormers come in many shapes

Dormers are typically designed to mirror elements of the home’s roofline. The very common gabled dormer with its two walls and triangular top are found on Craftsman, Tudor and various modern home designs. These dormers are connected to the roof with two valleys. They were a style made popular by Cape Cod homes in the mid-century.

Other styles include hipped dormers which slope back with the “hips” jutting out from a peak. The dormer resembles a hipped roof with four slanting sides meeting in one peak.

There are also barrel dormers with a rounded top and shed dormers that feature a single roof plane joining the roof at the top. Shed dormers work well with different sized windows and are most common in Bungalows and Craftsman homes.

ROOFING CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PLANNING DORMER INSTALLATION

Because dormers are extensions from your roof structure, they are susceptible to damage from harsh weather and age like the main roof of your home. It is important to inspect them regularly for damage. Your roofing professional will check the roofing materials, the flashing and caulking.