Framing A Shed Roof Dormer

Because they can be much wider than gable dormers shed dormers can provide more headroom and therefore more usable space.

Framing a shed roof dormer.

If you feel that your house has little natural light you could think about creating a dormer with shed roof which will certainly help. To correct a slight dip in the floor we established a benchmark height with a laser level and nailed 2x6 squash blocks to the sides of the existing floor joists. Cut the shed dormers opening with a reciprocating saw. You ll also need good equipment for working up high an extension ladder roofing brackets and scaffolding see roof safety.

Shed dormers are an efficient way to gain more space. 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. Wide depending on the size and length of the existing rafters. Building a 20 ft wide shed dormer doesn t take much more effort than building a 4 ft wide version.

On the roof using the pilot holes drilled in step 1 snap the lines that will denote the opening in the roof for the dormer. Framing a dormer with shed roof is a difficult process but if you take your steps correctly you will be able to handle the job effectively. The end wall of a shed dormer carries the load rather than the sidewalls. Recently completed in march 2016 this project wasn t quite as straight froward as it may look in the video.

They also give you more bang for the buck. The shed roof rafters are fastened to the other side of the header. Framing the dormer with the dormer roof raised and supported we cut away the part of the original roof that was still in place leaving the exposed ends of the floor joists. Purchase your materials including wood windows and any other specialty.

However the width can be increased with properly sized and engineered support framing. Schedule your project considering that the roof will be wide open and the work may last an entire day. There is generally no load bearing issue when the end wall is framed directly over the exterior wall of the first floor. Create a layout that incorporates the details of the project such as slope headroom and exterior appearance.

This framing option is usually best for dormers up to 6 ft. Framing a shed dormer is a simpler process than building a gable dormer.