If you live in a home that is less than two full stories, like a Cape Cod or Craftsman style home, any room hidden under the ceiling may contain less usable floor space. While the house’s style can be charming, much of the second-floor space may not be usable. If you are looking for ways to increase usable space, consider adding a roof dormer or a skylight to your home. Adding a small skylight can generally increase usable space, bring more light to your home, and add interesting design detail to your home’s exterior to enhance curb appeal.
Although you can lift the whole roof, it is a huge project with a high cost that damages your home. Skylights offer a more affordable solution that can add the square footage and headroom you are looking for. A skylight elevates part of the room, increasing the headroom and opening up a previously uncomfortable or unusable space. While adding skylights and skylights can brighten up space, they don’t increase the usable space like a skylight.
Let’s explore the different styles of dormer windows, take a look at the approximate costs and benefits they add to the living space and appearance of your home.
An Affordable Solution: Skylights
Adding one or more skylights to your home area where you need more height, space, and light is an affordable solution. A skylight is a protrusion built into your existing roof that raises part of your roofline. Some of the considerations for adding a dormer are the same as for roof elevation. You will need to work with your contractor to plan and plan your project carefully. This should be done conveniently (adding a skylight in the dead of winter may not be the best idea). You will need to clear the space and seal the area to keep dust and dirt from the rest of the house.
That said, skylights are a good option, and as a bonus, you can choose from several variations. Your loft-style choice can enhance your home’s exterior appearance, add the space you need, and enhance your living space. These are the three basic types of dormer windows, along with a few variations to consider.
The Gable Roof Dormer
When you look at the sideline of a house’s roof, the triangle formed from the eaves to the top is called the gable. A gable dormer mimics this shape: a triangle that begins at the eave, but is at the front or rear of the roof, is narrower than the end gable and does not reach the Mountain peak. Sometimes a gable dormer will start above the eave with a short roof span below. A “variation” of this design is the niche skylight.
Gable Variant: The Niche
The niche is a variation of the pediment, but it has sidewalls that make it look like a niche on the roof. Because the roof of a dormer follows the roof of the house up to the eaves, it creates another set of sloping walls in the interior space. A niche avoids this problem thanks to the inclusion of sidewalls. This creates an alcove-shaped interior space with full headroom between the side walls.
If you are ready to speak to an expert today about adding a roof dormer to your home contact GAMCO Remodeling at 631-587-2266
