Need help deciding on dormer style!

4 years ago

We want to add dormers to the gambrel roof and we're torn between two dormer styles.

1. Our leading option is to add two gable dormers where each would be centered between the two windows to the left and right of the front door. This would match the roof line on the far left and right of the house and I think it would be the most architecturally pleasing.

2. The other option is to add a big shed dormer along the width of the gambrel roof. I've read that when designing dormers the windows should be spaced to line up with the windows on the first floor. If we did this, I think it would look oversized for the house and detract from the first floor.

3. Are there other options?

Featured Answer

Andrew Rosen
Original Author

4 years ago

Wow! Thank you, I really appreciate the photo shop work :)

We spoke with our contractor today and they explained that if we did a big shed dormer like this, then it would cost close to $100k. They would need to basically take off the roof and replace the rafters and ridge beam with because the older 2x6s wouldn't be up to code and bear the weight of a big shed. We're trying to keep this project under $40k, so I guess that forces our hand for gable dormers. I think we may try to got for wider gables with double windows so it better matches the dormer on the right side.

I agree the shed would make the inside feel nicer, but I can't justify the extra cost.

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Comments (8)

PRO
PPF.
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
We want to add dormers

Why?

What would the dormers look like?
kandrewspa
4 years ago
I vote for option 1. You're right about option 2 being top heavy. Someone did this not too far from where I live (I used to drive by it all the time) and it looked horrible. I think they were going for the function of it inside. Would the new dormers be the same width as the existing one? If they're smaller the house will be lopsided. Although it already is . . . Maybe some of the people on this forum who are talented with photoshop can show you what this would look like.
Andrew Rosen thanked kandrewspa
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oberon476
4 years ago
I prefer a shed dormer with a gamble roof, but another option would be a gambrel dormer rather than gable.

Have you googled "dormers for gambrel roofs"? Plenty of pictures of several different style options for you to compare to see what you like.
Andrew Rosen
Original Author
4 years ago
I started off by googling and it seems the most common was a shed dormer to match the roof style of a gambrel house. We drove by a bunch of houses in our area and saw some good looking houses with gable dormers. I haven't seen any gambrel dormers in person, so I'm hesitant to get those. Driving around more today and I'll keep an eye out. Thanks for the suggestion!

That's a good point about it being wide enough to somewhat match the dormer on the right. I'll keep that in mind
palimpsest
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I removed the tree first, to get a good look at the house: It may be the photo but I don't think the windows on the right and left have equal space between them.
Andrew Rosen thanked palimpsest
palimpsest
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I think I would do a shed; I don't think you want a bunch of triangles marching across the top, because the house is pretty asymmetrical. It does not necessarily need to be this size, I just selected something.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
4 years ago
If you didn’t already have the gable dormer on the right I’d vote for 2 or 3 gables. But since that is already there I’d do the shed. The house I just sold was very similar and I had the 3 gables. If I were building that house again today I think I‘d do the shed. The 3 gable windows did bring a lot of light but didn’t do much for functionality inside.
Andrew Rosen thanked Annette Holbrook(z7a)