What is dormer

Style: MLA. English Language Learners Definition of dormer. Kids Definition of dormer. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Love words? Need even more definitions? Just between us: it's complicated. To avoid water leaks, we recommend using a roof membrane such as EPDM , which is water-resistant.

With any type of flat roof, you'll also need to provide routine maintenance to avoid any expensive repairs. Hipped dormers are typically installed on hipped roofs, which slopes from all sides of the building. These dormers feature three sloped planes which shed water easily and help prevent any leakage from entering the home. Though hipped dormers are a little more expensive than others, they also offer a more striking appearance.

Image source: This is Carpentry. These curved dormers are primarily designed for aesthetic reasons and help increase your home's curb appeal. Eyebrow dormers don't provide any real additional space to a room, but they do bring in a decent amount of light. Because these dormers are curved and have different shingles than the rest of the roof, water leakage is possible.

Eyebrow dormers are custom-made and can be expensive, costing more than a traditional skylight. Image source: Best in American Living. Similar to gabled dormers, pediment dormers have a triangular shape with two sloped planes. However, their major difference is that pedimented dormers extend out from the roof and typically appear in a row.

Some pedimented dormers can be used in doorways, supported by pillars, and provide shelter from the rain. While arched or barrel dormers feature a striking appearance, they typically don't provide as much additional space. This type of dormer is smaller in size but does let in a good amount of natural light with its larger, vertical windows. Image source: Home Stratosphere. Instead of extending away from the building, wall dormers extend the wall, creating more additional space for a room.

They feature two sloped planes which are integrated with the main roof, separating the eave lines, preventing any water leakage. While they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing dormers, they are cheaper and easier to install. On the dormer, the flared roof helps shade the windows, a boon when dormers face south or west in regions where summers are hot. Intricate corbels support the overhang of the roof.

Pedimented dormers are similar to gabled dormers, but they incorporate details rooted in classical architecture. In ancient Greece and Rome, buildings often had a row of columns across the front. They supported a horizontal beam that held up a triangular wall, known as the pediment, that was under the roof peak.

On pedimented dormers, molding emphasizes a similar triangular shape. Vertical molding on either side of the windows stands in for columns. A shed dormer visible behind the peaked roof on the house shown here has a roof that slopes in only one direction, toward the front.

Many freestanding sheds have roofs that look similar, hence the name of this style of dormer. Fit into a steeply pitched mansard roof, this shed dormer sits almost flush with the surrounding slates.

Mansard roofs are similar to hip roofs except that each side has two parts: a steep section near the walls and a barely slanted section toward the middle of the building. This creates an attic that's fully usable, so it's probably no surprise that dormers often are found on mansard roofs.

On a hipped dormer, the roof slants back as it rises, and this occurs on the front as well as on the sides. Hipped dormers, not surprisingly, are often found on houses where the main roof is hipped as well. This style of dormer is common on houses in the Prairie, French Eclectic and Shingle styles. This style of dormer features three slopes on the roof. They can be larger or smaller, depending on the proportions of your house.

Also called barrel dormers, these get their name from the rounded roof. They do allow additional light in and make a stylish statement on the outside of the home.

The tops of these dormers are also round but are narrower in height than arched top dormers. They have no vertical wall space. You also run the risk of snow piling up on the flat roof, which could cause structural damage and leaks. A smarter choice over the flat roof dormer style, this design features a sloped roof for the rain and snow to run off onto the main roof.

This style of dormer extends all the way out to be flush with the edge of the main roof. To add more space inside!

Also called inset dormers, these have a flat area beneath the window. They serve well as fire exits, but the water that pools on this flat area may be a problem. Just make sure the lip of the window is well above the floor of the exit to avoid any leaks. These can have any style roof and be larger or smaller, depending on your needs.

The distinguishing feature is the flat area outside the window. This type of dormer looks like a pyramid extending from the roof with windows on all three outward facing sides. It allows for the more light to enter in and is good for indoor gardens. The least common true dormer is the pedimented dormer. It extends beyond the roof the house and is supported with extra pillars.