What Is A Dormer On A Roof?
What Is A Dormer On A Roof?
A dormer in architecture can be defined as a structure that protrudes from a sloping roof and contains windows. Dormers can also be referred to as a “hip-roof” or simply an “aperture.”
It is a vertical window that extends from a sloping roof and is typically used to light a bedroom. The phrase stems from the Latin word dormitorium, which means “sleeping room.”
Dormers can be found on the face of a wall or high up on the roof, and their roofs can be gabled, hipped, flat, or with a single slope.
Dormers in modern times are typically used to provide light to attics or other areas of a home. However, their original purposes included allowing heat radiation from a fireplace into an adjoining room, serving as an ornamental feature, and, more commonly, providing additional living space.
Dormers have been around for thousands of years; some of the earliest surviving examples can be found in Roman buildings.
How Much Does A Shed Roof Dormer Cost?
Dormers for sheds typically cost $75 to $120 per square foot. This dormer style is ideal for adding square footage to a room and increasing space in a compact home. They can be constructed to cover a specific feature, such as a small window, doorway, or chimney.
They are available in various styles and sizes and can be used with other angled dormers for increased architectural interest, especially when they are clustered together.
The most common material used to build a shed dormer is shingles, the most cost-effective option. However, metal roofing is also a viable and durable alternative that could save you money in the long run.
The cost of installing a shed dormer depends on the size of the dormer and the type of roofing material you decide to use. Here are some factors that can affect your total dormer installation cost:
1. Size:
The size of your dormer can determine how much it costs to build as well as how many materials are needed to complete it. For example, the cost of a small dormer that is ten feet high may be less expensive than a large dormer that is twenty feet high.
2. Materials:
If you decide to use metal roofing instead of shingles, you will save quite a bit on your dormer since it is more affordable.
However, keep in mind that if you want the roof to last for a long time, metal roofing may not be the best choice since it can rust and deteriorate over time, causing leaks.
Rusting can also occur when shingles are exposed to snow and ice during the winter months due to melting water pooling around the base of your home.
3. Location:
If you decide to install a dormer on the side of your home, it may cost more because you will have to find extra space for the structure. For example, a roof dormer in the front of your home may cost more since there is no space for a second story.
4. Exterior and interior design:
If you want your dormer to match any other architectural features in your home, it may cost less to hire an architect or an engineer to design it.
Since they will take into consideration what material must be used, how many windows need to be included and where they should be placed in relation to the house.
5. Location of your home:
Because of how a dormer is built, it can increase the height of a roof, leading to problems with other parts of your home.
For example, if your roof line is already taller than the rest of your home, adding more height may cause structural damage to other areas like a porch or window overhangs.
