Attic Dormer Framing

Framing a dormer refers to the first and most important step in constructing an upper level addition to your home.

Attic dormer framing.

The elegant and regal biltmore estate in asheville north carolina exemplifies the 19th century mansard roof dormer on a chateauesque style large home. 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. The roof and ceiling can be attached to the same member steep hip roofs can be constructed easier by stick framing last minute changes can be made one piece at a time with the framing to construct half stories built into the roof that have large dormers or shed roof style openings out of the roof. It depends on the type of your roof frame.

Building a dormer requires a tool belt loaded with all the basic carpentry tools plus a few extras a circular saw reciprocating saw framing square and 2 and 4 ft. A stick framed roof with an attic has room for adding a dormer while a truss framed roof doesn t have any attic space to add a dormer to. Even a more modern building with a mansard roof likely will have dormers sometimes both wall dormers through the cornice and roof dormers. Instead as their name implies they rise from a wall.

In this drawing board article designer michael maines shares his general guidelines for shed dormers then describes three variations on the shed dormer style. Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space. Wall dormers aren t surrounded by roof as most dormers are. If you have trusses it will be next to impossible to reconfigure them to allow for clear space.

Dec 7 2015 a shed dormer can be the best way to add space to a one and a half story house but not if it s designed poorly. Misconceptions of stick framing. Except for this feature though they span the full range of dormer styles from arched top to shed roof to hip roof. Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support.