Attic Dormer Framing

Wall dormers aren t surrounded by roof as most dormers are.

Attic dormer framing.

It depends on the type of your roof frame. You ll also need good equipment for working up high an extension ladder roofing brackets and scaffolding see roof safety. Except for this feature though they span the full range of dormer styles from arched top to shed roof to hip roof. The elegant and regal biltmore estate in asheville north carolina exemplifies the 19th century mansard roof dormer on a chateauesque style large home.

Trusses are considered a superior method of framing a roof because of the additional support. Framing a dormer refers to the first and most important step in constructing an upper level addition to your home. 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. Misconceptions of stick framing.

Wall dormers are found in houses of many styles including gothic revival romanesque and mission. 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. Even a more modern building with a mansard roof likely will have dormers sometimes both wall dormers through the cornice and roof dormers. You can still add a purely decorative make believe dormer to a truss framed roof but not a real dormer.

Ironically though it s the rafters that provide a better environment for an attic conversion because of the clear space. If you have trusses it will be next to impossible to reconfigure them to allow for clear space. In this drawing board article designer michael maines shares his general guidelines for shed dormers then describes three variations on the shed dormer style. Instead as their name implies they rise from a wall.