Lucarne or roof window?

You will have to choose from two options - a roof window or a lucarne. Dormer windows are inserted directly into the roof slope - at an angle. Their installation does not require serious intervention in the roof structure, but the quality of installation of the double-glazed windows will be critical.

Lucarnes are a special superstructure on the roof in which the window is located
vertically. Standard installation reduces the risk of leaks and makes window maintenance easier. Lucarne can beautify a home, but it will incur additional costs and changes to the roof structure.

Design Features

To build a hatch in finished house, you will have to dismantle part of the roof, build the side walls and the roof of the superstructure, and then lay the roofing pie. Lucarnes, arranged between a pair of rafter legs, are relatively simple to make and can be easily built into the roofs of old buildings during the renovation process. It is better to install a wider opening at the stage of designing a house in finished building To do this, you will need to cut out part of the rafter legs, and also use crossbars and additional fastenings, which will take on the load.

The easiest way is to build a hatch between a pair of rafter legs

Types of dormer windows:

1 - Gable 2 - Single-pitch 3 - Hip 4 - Arched 5 - Triangular 6 - Arched with a pediment in the plane of the facade

In complete isolation

Thermal insulation of the lucarne is usually made from mineral wool. The walls are insulated with a layer of at least 10 cm, a layer of up to 20-25 cm is laid on the roof.

To reliably protect the insulation from getting wet, you will also need steam and windproof films.

The vapor barrier is attached to the hatch structure with inside, a superdiffusion windproof membrane is mounted with outside to plywood sheathing. Connections between insulating films and tin roofing elements are carried out in a standard way for a roof - for an experienced roofer this work will not be a problem.

Lucarne between the rafters

The most simple design- lucarne located between adjacent rafters. In this case there is no need to change load-bearing structure roofs: the lucarne façade pillars rest with their lower end on the roof rafters, the upper end is nailed to the lucarne rafters - the shortened rafters of the lucarne. For the side walls, several short racks are installed. The width of such a hatch is limited by the pitch of the rafter legs, which, as a rule, is 60 or 90 cm. The window occupies the entire plane of the façade of the hatch. but has small sizes.

To provide enough light in the attic, several small skylights are often built in a row.

Lucarne on reinforced rafters

Bull's eye hatch design

Frame

After installing the front wall, diagonal strips are mounted on the roof rafters, defining the boundaries of the window; the volumetric frame of the window is formed using several successively smaller circles. In a simpler version, rafters diverging like a fan are installed, which are attached at one end to the jumpers between the roof rafters, and with the other resting on the front wall.

High art

For styling roofing material A rigid base of tongue-and-groove boards is laid on top of the frame. The traditional covering is ceramic tiles, flat or grooved. Beavertail shingles are best for this purpose because they are small and have no side grooves. Elements can be laid in a row (scales) or with bandaging of gaps (crown). Cement tiles are also used as coverings. wooden shingles and straw. The most difficult thing to finish a bull's eye is with asphalt or metal shingles.

There are many options for building roof designs. Most often, both in civil engineering and in the private sector, sloping roofs are installed for administrative and residential buildings. They have a number of advantages and are often equipped with dormer windows, which are quite possible to make with your own hands. Their shape and location may differ from each other, but they all perform the same functions.

Purpose

• Lighting of the under-roof space (attic or attic space).
• Its high-quality ventilation.
• In some cases, there is direct access to the roof for routine inspection and repair work.
• They often play the role of an integral part of the entire architectural composition, and sometimes as an emergency exit.

Modern dormers are not only small houses with their own walls and ceiling, but also have many other design options.

According to execution they are divided:

• with a flat, single or gable, hip roof;
• panoramic;
• attic (built-in);
• all-glass (“rooflight”).

The window itself may be various shapes: round, square, rectangular, triangular, oval. But, regardless of its design, during construction it is necessary to adhere to certain generally accepted standards. If it is planned to install a dormer window, then this should be taken into account at the stage of construction of the building.

What to consider

The steepness of the slope

To prevent moisture from penetrating into the attic (attic) in the window area, it is necessary to ensure its natural drainage from the roof. Therefore, the slope must be at least 5 0 for flat roofs and 15 0 and above for pitched roofs.

When determining the steepness, it is necessary to focus on the climate in the place of residence (precipitation intensity, prevailing winds, location of the house). Therefore, you need to select the most compromise option.

Form

The most “profitable” is triangular. This configuration of the window opening is attractive because the “contact line” of the frame of the dormer window house with the roof is much smaller than that of a square or rectangular profile. This is where moisture is most likely to penetrate into the under-roof space. Choosing a triangular-shaped window significantly reduces the amount of mandatory work on waterproofing this problem area.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that this form of window opening will somewhat reduce the illumination inside the attic space. Therefore, it is advisable to place the façade of the window in line with the wall of the building.

Window location

Depending on the size of the roof, its configuration and the general architectural design, window openings can be located either on one line (horizontally) or in 2 rows (in checkerboard pattern). When determining their number, you need to take into account that experts advise observing the following condition: the total width of all openings should be more than half the length of the edge of the roof slope.

The distance from the attic floor to the bottom row of windows is taken to be 1 m. Let us consider the technology for constructing a dormer window using the example of a triangular profile.

Operating procedure

By analogy with the arrangement of the roof of the entire house, all necessary materials(steam and waterproofing, insulation). The line of contact between the frame of the dormer window house and the roof is additionally sealed with special corners, clamping strips, and the like. Self-expanding tapes, mastic compounds and various sealants are excellent.

Knowing all these installation features, you can build a dormer window of any profile. However, everything has its own nuances.

Windows, which have become popular recently, provide significantly more light. To install them, you do not need to build a separate frame, since they lie in the same plane with the roof of the house and are attached to its rafter system using special plates. But it is recommended to install them provided that the roof slope provides good stock water from its surface (about 15 0 – 20 0).

However self-production is inappropriate, since errors in calculations are quite possible. It is better to buy a ready-made plastic window and install it in place. This design is rotary, its axis of rotation lies in the horizontal plane and is located in the middle.

About 15% of all heat loss in any building occurs through windows. Therefore, when determining their sizes, it is necessary to make an “adjustment” for the climate and location of the building.

If a viewing window is installed on the roof of an already built house, then its frame is attached to the rafters. But YOU CAN'T MAKE INSERTS!!! Only staples, nails, overhead elements (metal strips, corners). Otherwise, the strength of the entire supporting structure will decrease.

Daylight attic room The higher the dormer window is mounted, the better it will be.
We should not forget about the need for high-quality preparation of wood - drying it and impregnating it with special compounds.

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How to make a dormer window on the roof: an overview of options and 2 step-by-step technologies

A beautiful dormer window on the roof is not only an effective element of roof design, but also a rather useful structure, because the more such windows in the attic, the better the natural light will be. Next, you will find out what types of similar structures are divided into, and how they differ from each other. And I’ll tell the DIYers about assembling the 2 most simple options with your own hands.

What types of dormer windows are there?

Whatever you say, a roof with windows always attracts attention. Initially, a dormer or observation window served exclusively for ventilation in the attic and as a convenient access to the roof. But over the course of a couple of hundred years, its functionality has expanded significantly.

Types of viewing windows

There are 4 types of roof window openings:

1. Window opening on the pediment between the roof slopes;
2. Dormer;
3. Antidormer;
4. An attic window built into the roof plane.

Let's look at them in more detail:

• Pediment windows mainly characteristic of gable roofs and broken mansard structures. This is the simplest type of viewing windows. The gables, in fact, are a continuation of the end parts of the external walls, and the arrangement here is no different from installing a regular window;

• Dormer- these are windows extended beyond the roof, a kind of superstructure on the roof. This type viewing structures are considered the most common. This is due to the fact that the superstructure does not take up the usable area of ​​the attic; moreover, it, albeit slightly, adds this area;

• Antidormer unlike dormer, on the contrary, they are recessed into the roof structure. Their installation is a little simpler, but the big problem is the installation of reinforced waterproofing, because rain pours into this depression almost unhindered. It makes sense to install anti-dormers in the lower slopes of broken attic roofs;

• Arrangement of flat roof windows considered the latest in fashion. The principle is simple - a finished window structure is cut into the plane of the roof slope. The boom in such windows is also due to the fact that they can be embedded into a finished roof without serious disassembly of the roofing pie.

There is also such a thing as lucarne. In lucarnes, a vertically located window and the wall of the lower floor are in the same plane, the bottom of the structure actually rests on the wall.

Types of designs

Now let's talk about types of structures. If you look at architectural delights and popular names, then there are several dozen types of structures. There is no point in trying to tell about everyone, because each master claims to be unique. Therefore, I took the most common directions.

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Single-pitch. One of the simplest options, where the roof of the structure is actually a continuation of the roof of the main slope, except that the angle changes slightly.
	Gable design. Here we see a standard gable roof in miniature, and the structure of the rafter system in the large and small versions is absolutely the same.
	Triangular window. This window is also a type of gable roof. The design differs from the previous version only in the absence of side walls; everything else is mounted in a similar way.
	Hip roof. Typically used in vintage styles. Installation is more difficult than a classic gable, but it looks elegant.
	Arched dormer. The construction of spherical arched roofs has always been a troublesome task, so I do not recommend you to equip them with your own hands, without the appropriate skill.
	Bat. A new trend in modern architecture. Soft and smooth shapes look great on roofs with a relatively small angle of inclination, but this type of structure also requires professionalism in installation.
	Clerestory. The skylight looks very impressive, but such structures are very rare in private houses.

Self-assembly options

It is advisable to plan and arrange dormer windows at the stage of assembling the roof truss system.

If the roof is completely assembled, but you are determined to make a window in it, my advice to you is to call a professional.

A few words about standards

When constructing such structures, according to the law, one must be guided by GOST 1250681, as well as SNiP II-26 and SNiP 21-01, but these standards are relevant for the construction of administrative buildings. As for private houses, almost all the instructions written in the documents are more advisory in nature:

• In particular, it is not recommended to install a dormer window in the roof plane closer than 1 m from the gable wall;
• If the roof slope angle is less than 35º, then it is better to limit yourself to a window on the pediment;
• In cases where several windows are installed in a row on one slope, the distance between them must be at least 800 mm;
• The lower cut of the window frame should be at a distance of 1 m from the attic floor.

Normal natural light is ensured if the window area is 14–16% of the floor area in the attic. But according to regulations, the area of ​​windows should not exceed half the floor area in the attic.

Option No. 1: the simplest single-pitch design

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Framing the structure. The first to install a rectangular frame in the rafter system of the slope: Rafter legs that get in the way are simply cut to the width of the opening; Then horizontal bars are placed on top and bottom. For these purposes, it is best to use the timber from which the rafter legs are made.
	Support racks. The extreme vertical posts are made of 2 bars. One bar is nailed to the side of the rafter leg, and the other is placed on the rafter leg, plus the bars are fastened together. TO vertical posts horizontal roof rafters are nailed. The angle of inclination of the rafters should be from 5º.
	We knock down the frame. The rest of the frame is knocked together, as shown in the diagram on the left, from the same bars. It is not worth installing intermediate posts and upper rafters too often; a step of 50 cm will be enough. Don’t forget, you still need to lay insulation between these bars, and each block is a cold bridge.
	Roof frame. Since our roof is flat, the roof frame is made reinforced, from 2 rows of cross strips. The lower support frame under the window can be mounted as desired; I recommend raising the window above the roof by at least 100 mm, this way you will protect it from snow and water.
	Sheathing the frame. For external cladding OSB or waterproof plywood with a thickness of 10 mm or more is used. To insulate the main roof, dense slabs of mineral wool are usually used. Framed observation window The vapor permeability of the insulation is not so important, so foam plastic or EPS can be used here. The roofing material used is the same as on the main roof, and the side walls can be sheathed with galvanized iron and painted in the color of the roof.

Option number 2: triangle

The triangular structure is installed at the stage of arrangement of the main rafter system. Although our final shape is triangular, the exit opening is made in the same way as in the previous version, rectangular.

Next, a vertical face truss is installed, with the edges of the triangle extending beyond the main opening. The top of the truss should be flush with the horizontal beam of the opening.

Simultaneously with the installation of the front triangular truss, the ridge beam is installed. It connects the floor beam of the opening with the vertex of the triangle and is located strictly horizontally. IN in this case 100x50 mm timber is enough.

After this, a triangle is arranged on the roof plane. You need to connect the ridge beam attachment point in the opening to the edges of the face truss. The rafter legs of the window frame will rest on these bars.

After covering the front truss with OSB sheets or waterproof plywood, a small frame is stuffed on the sides for the “overhang” of the roof. On last stage everything is covered with sheets and you can begin installing the roofing, insulation and finishing.

Conclusion

The assembly options that I talked about can be improved and changed as desired, for example, when you combine the first and second options, you will get a full-fledged dormer with gable roof. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, or ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

Greetings, dear readers!

Construction term for important detail roofs called “dormer window”, according to explanatory dictionary Dalia means an opening prepared “for hearing.”

Is not precise definition functional abilities of the window with the definition “auditory” suggests that Vladimir Dal, of course, was a writer, ethnographer, doctor and very educated person, but had nothing to do with construction.

If he were a builder, he would give a different definition to this element, which is installed on almost all pitched roofs and is not at all intended for the unhindered penetration of sound waves.

Why and how dormer windows are installed correctly, you will learn by reading this article.

Dormer window - what is it?

A window opening in a roof slope, in which a vertical frame is installed, closed at the top and sides, is called a dormer window.

Initially, such a window was conceived as a way to ventilate the under-roof space, but over time it became one of the elements of the roof structure that can simultaneously perform several functions.

To add a “zest”, to revive and decorate the roof of any house - this is one of the purposes of a dormer window acquired over many years of its use.

Changing its appearance and its dimensions, the window began to evoke different visual associations and received many original names: “bull’s eye”, “frog’s mouth”, “pike window”, “gnome’s house”, “bat”.

When houses in densely populated cities could no longer accommodate all their residents, they had to look for a way out: how to expand the living space. And it was found interesting solution This task is to arrange attics in the attic spaces.

Simultaneously with the arrangement of the attic space, another one appeared near the dormer window. important function- serve as a source of natural light.

Thus, as a result of all kinds of additions and changes, an ordinary “birdhouse” on the roof has become an architectural and structurally necessary part of the roof structure and the room under the roof.

In the future for high-quality execution dormer windows of all the functional duties added over time, they began to be installed in certain areas of the roof space, which are located in the southern direction.

When a dormer window is installed in an ordinary non-residential attic, and its main purpose is to ventilate the space under the roof, then instead of a frame, a simple ventilation grill can be inserted into the opening.

It allows the dormer window to cope as much as possible with the responsibility initially assigned to it.

As a result, there are no such negative phenomena in the attic space as:

• condensate, which it turns into warm air, penetrating under the roof from the lower floors and cooling sharply in the under-roof space. In the absence of proper ventilation, this phenomenon not only has a detrimental effect on the roof, but can have a destructive effect on load-bearing structural elements and significantly reduce their trouble-free operation;
• formation of fungus and mold, which at comfortable conditions They may well find a way and move into the room located under the attic. Sometimes residents of the upper floors of residential buildings long time are trying to deal with black spots in the corners and under the ceiling in their apartment, without finding the real reason this phenomenon. But installing a dormer window can help them completely solve this issue - for additional access of fresh air to the under-roof space.

There is another meaning in installing a roof element called a “dormer window” that does not lie on the surface, but has special meaning for the reliability of the roof structure and its operation in strong winds.

Only a flat roof is not subject to air pressure.

All single-, double-slope, and also broken protruding roof structures are built with the expectation of providing decent resistance to wind loads.

If left unattended, the wind load factor can destroy the roof, gradually creating vibration and weakening the supporting structure.

Destruction can also occur simultaneously when, due to the high speed of air flow, a vacuum of air is created outside the building under the roof. How stronger wind, the greater the pressure difference outside the roof and under it, and this in some cases ends with the entire roof lifting, like a balloon taking off.

The installation of a dormer window in the roof is designed to counteract this scenario - at first glance, an ordinary ventilation opening, but in fact structural element, taking into account the complex laws of physics.

It is this window that is the valve that, if necessary, will operate and relieve the under-roof space from excess pressure.

Even if the dormer window is closed not by a ventilation grille, but by a glazed frame, then air flow is more likely to squeeze out the glass than to have a destructive effect on the roof itself.

Technology for installing a dormer window on the roof in the video:

Design features of a classic dormer window

A standard dormer window is a design rectangular shape, which is an additional roofing superstructure. Its purpose is to, without allowing precipitation to enter the under-roof space, to provide access to fresh air and.

daylight

A conventional dormer window is installed in the space between the rafters so as not to disturb the supporting structure of the roof. If it is necessary to ensure greater air access, it is possible to install several dormer windows in the spaces between the rafters in one row or one above the other. A classic dormer window looks like a glass window frame with ventilation holes around her, covered ventilation grille

in the form of blinds. If the window is small, then, as a rule, it is closed only with a ventilation grill. Often this type

window openings

combines the function of doors for free access to the roof surface if the building is not equipped with a fire escape. For the attic space, a difference of about 5-10 degrees compared to the air temperature outside the building is considered optimal. Temperature values ​​that differ in

big side

, will be fraught with the formation of condensation on the internal structure. And this, in turn, may require the use of special materials that can withstand high humidity.

• Such troubles are dealt with by installing dormer windows, which come in different shapes and design features. The most popular are: single-pitched. One of the longest used and structurally simplest auditory roof structures. The roof angle of this window should be about 15 0. An increase in this size is permissible only if the roof itself has a significant slope. If this rule is not observed, water may flow in at the junction of the main roof with the roof of the dormer window, which will require

• additional measures for waterproofing this area; gable. Just like lean-to roofs, they have been installed on roofs since the Middle Ages. This is confirmed by many

historical monuments

Visually, the two slopes on the roof of this window look like a complete architectural form and do not require any additions.

The materials for the side and front gables of the dormer windows can repeat those with which the façade of the building is finished, but they immediately take on the appearance decorative element, if their exterior decoration is made in contrast with the facade decoration.

Dormer roofs, unlike gables, are usually covered with the same material that covers the main roof.

Why is there a window on the roof?

If you look at a dormer window from the street, the answer to the question of why it is on the roof comes by itself: in many cases, to decorate the overall appearance of the building.

The builder will explain the need to build a window practical use, citing several purely technical arguments as proof.

A person living under a roof in an attic will talk about the comfort that a dormer window creates. In particular, it will tell you about the daylight and fresh air coming through it, and most importantly, about the opportunity to look at the world from a point of view other than through the windows below.

A building with original dormer windows becomes different from others that do not have such an element in their design.

Here we can draw an analogy between buildings and people - some hairdresser will transform his client so much with an elaborate hairstyle that his own mother will hardly recognize him. A dormer window on the roof, just like the bouffant on a fashionista’s head, can be one and only.

Over time fashion trends This element of the roof structure was not ignored either. The ornate dormer windows, into which residents of cozy attic spaces looked out three hundred years ago, have been replaced by inconspicuous dormer openings in rapidly constructed houses of the last century.

But fashion and freedom of thought are now making themselves felt again with the appearance on the roofs of many private houses, seemingly a thing of the past, “houses for a gnome” and a “bull’s eye” look.

Our time has not been able to wash away the patina of centuries from dormer windows, except that it has added a few changes in the form of double-glazed windows in the frame and automatic closing of the window in case of bad weather.

But for the attic space not equipped for housing, the dormer window remains exactly the same and performs the same functions: maintaining the performance qualities of the roof structure and the material covering this structure.

The principles of installing dormer windows on a roof with a cold attic in the video:

Types

The definitions by which dormer windows are classified correspond to the visual characteristics of the roofs installed over a particular opening.

For example:

• flat roof. It is used mainly for purely technical purposes and does not affect the appearance of buildings. The angle of inclination relative to the main roof ranges from 5 0 to a maximum value of 15 0;
• the roof is pitched. Very similar to flat, but differs in the angle of inclination, starting from 15 0 and increasing in parallel with the increase in the slope of the main roof;
• gable. In addition to the mandatory functions, it also has architectural significance for the appearance of the building;
• hip roof. A type of gable roof, with a cut front slope located at the same angle as the main roof;
• triangular roof. Minimal daylight source;
• glass roof. Designed to provide maximum access of daylight to the attic;
• semicircular roof. The famous "bull's eye". Stylish option, differing from all others not only in its attractive appearance, but also in the significant cost of the work on its construction.

Acute dormer window

A dormer window with a triangular or, as it is also called, a “sharp” roof can often be found on buildings of historical value.

The main task when installing windows with such a roof is to ensure that they are not too large or too small in relation to the total volume of the roof. Their sides should have the same angle as the main roof. If these conditions are not met, the triangular window will look like a foreign fragment on the roof.

Another condition for matching acute-angled windows general style buildings is the correct location for their installation. They must be on the same axis with the façade windows located below them.

The advantage of these dormer windows over other options is that they can be located at a higher level.

Another advantage of acute-angled windows is the simplicity of waterproofing the junctions. Since the roof covering of the window is connected at a straight angle to the main roof, their joint is designed as an internal connection on ordinary sloping roofs - internal and external.

Installing triangular dormer windows does not significantly increase the volume of the attic space, and this factor is their main disadvantage.

Design features of the installation

There are no clearly defined rules and strict instructions for installing a dormer window. The main requirement relates to maintaining the rigidity and reliability of the entire roof structure.

Installation location depends on individual requirements the developer and the aesthetic perception of the entire appearance of the building.

Before drawing a dormer window on the plan, it is important to decide what function it will have to perform - aesthetic or practical. The choice of window shape and size largely depends on this decision.

If you install two dormer windows at a close distance (less than one meter), then it will be difficult to install a roof covering between them.

IN winter time Windows located nearby will contribute to the formation of snow bags, which will negatively affect the waterproofing of window junctions and will cause an increased weight load on the main roof structure.

Dormer windows that serve only purely technical functions are usually installed without disturbing the structure in the space between the rafters.

When it is necessary to install a dormer opening in the place where one or more rafter legs are located, then changes are made to the design of the main roof based on calculations related to snow and wind loads. In this case, reinforced rafter legs are necessarily added under the side walls of the dormer window.

How to expand the attic space

Setting up a living space in an attic under a roof is quite simple - just insulate the walls and roof. However, there is a certain difficulty in how to provide access to a sufficient amount of daylight into the room and at the same time at least visually expand the attic space.

Installation in the roof plane dormer window partially solves the problem - transmits light and Fresh air. But this is a partial solution to the problem, since the actual volumes of the room do not increase, but remain within the same contours limited by the roof.

The design of a large-sized dormer window allows you to install in its front gable the same (in size) window as on the facade of the building, increasing the height of the projection in the room under the dormer to the height of the ridge of the main roof.

When enough large sizes– the height to the ridge of the roof and the distance from the central axis of the building to its side wall, the opening built into the roof for a dormer window may well be a separate house for its residents.

When increasing the internal living space, we must not forget that this may negatively affect appearance building. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the proportions between the dimensions of the main roof and the dormer window installed on it are maintained.

Dormer window configurations

The architectural style within which a certain building was built is not limited to the foundation and facade. As a point set in any business, the same point in construction is the roof installed on a building. Its outlines should not violate the general idea of ​​the architect. Therefore, many creators grandiose projects spiers or domes are installed instead of a roof.

You can play with the external perception of any building by adding to the roof different shapes projections in the form of dormer windows.

This solves two problems at once:

• technical. The solution that is necessary for long-term and trouble-free operation of the roof structure and covering;
• aesthetic. Without a solution, the construction of modern buildings is in principle impossible.

Located in a certain sequence, in correctly chosen places and with dimensions that meet certain proportions even the most ordinary single-pitched dormer windows can look like a decorative fragment of the interior.

With a pitched roof

Flat roof windows are the most simple form from dormer windows installed on roofs.

The slope of the single slope above this window is not much different from the slope of the roof itself.

Windows of this type are most often installed on already finished roofs, because their installation does not require insertion into the supporting system. It is enough just to cut out part of the sheathing together with the roof covering between the rafters.

An insufficient slope of the flat roof of a dormer window, if it is covered with tiles, can cause snow to accumulate on its surface and water to drain poorly.

This drawback can be eliminated by replacing the coating with a more suitable one, for example, metal tiles or profile sheets.

For drainage, conventional semicircular or square gutters are used.

With a gable roof

Windows with a gable or semicircular roof require special attention in the approach to their installation.

The opening for a gable dormer window, as a rule, cuts into the structure of the main roof and can significantly affect its reliability.

The location of this dormer window may have special connections depending on the purposes that the window should serve.

If this window is a technical exit to the roof surface, then its location in the attic space should be at a free access height. Window with gable roof

• can be designed in different architectural styles:
• with or without gable projection;
• with or without cornice overhang;

The best option for the appearance of a gable window is when it has one window opening on the front gable, not separated by partitions.

Several small windows make the dormer too bulky.

The process of installing a dormer window into a finished roof

The first step is to choose the optimal installation location. If a mistake is made and the window needs to be moved to another location, it will be extremely difficult to seal the opening in the roof. Having decided on the installation location, you need to pay attention to the location of the rafter legs in this place. The best option

will not touch the rafters at all.

But if the distance between them is small, and the dormer window is wider in width, then it is imperative to take steps to insure against subsidence of the roof plane.

Before and after the place where the rafter leg will be sawed, you need to install reliable supports.

They can be dismantled only after the dormer window installation process has been completed.

Then you should consider how and with what material the cut opening can be temporarily protected from precipitation.

If the marking has been carried out and all safety actions have been completed, you can begin to dismantle the sheathing and material covering the roof. To avoid downtime and inconsistencies in the process of installing a dormer window, builders should have a draft of the future in their hands before starting work finished product

and all materials necessary for work.

Technology for installing a Dolmer dormer window on the roof of a house in the video:

How to apply

• On buildings built in our country, four types of dormer windows are most often found. This: With flat roof
• , the slope of which does not exceed 15 0; with gable roof
• , the slope of both slopes of which must correspond to the slope of the roof; gable roof
• – a gable option with an additional slope starting from the ridge and lowered to the front gable; semicircular roof

with an arched front gable.

There are no strict restrictions on the use of covering materials for these roofs, but there are recommendations.

• They are as follows:
• It is advisable to cover a flat roof with materials that allow water to flow freely at a slight slope;

in cases where the slope of the slopes is sufficient for good drainage, they should be covered with the same material as the main roof.

Window openings in dormer windows (both rectangular and arched) are installed in the same way as on the facade of the building - strictly horizontally.

Purpose

Many residential and industrial buildings with a roof that has a common slope have dormer windows installed.

The space under the roof can be used for arranging a room there or for purely technical purposes - maintenance of the rafter system and roof covering.

Depending on the purpose of the attic space, approaches to choosing a dormer window specific in shape and functionality change.

The functions that the dormer window performs include:

• room lighting;
• constant flow of fresh air;
• possibility of access to the roof surface;
• decorative design of the building.

The main part of the dormer opening is the window itself, which can be:

• round or oval;
• square or rectangular;
• triangular.

The shape of the window does not affect the reliability and design features.

Window contours are important only for the aesthetic perception of the architectural integrity of the building.

Slope slope

Providing the correct slope of the slopes and protecting problem areas where the dormer window meets the main roof from leaking is the main task when designing and installing it.

If the roof area of ​​the dormer window is large, provision should be made for water drainage using gutters.

It is best to additionally waterproof the junction of the walls of the dormer window with the roof, and also install a valley there, and the lower one must extend a few centimeters beyond the main roof.

The slope of the slope for a flat roof should not exceed 15 0. In other cases, the slope must be selected relative to the slope of the main roof.

Roben dormer window installation in the video:

Window outlines

If you choose a dormer window based on simplicity of design and practicality, then a triangular or acute-angled shape meets these criteria better than others.

This configuration has a small line of contact with the roof, which significantly reduces the severity of the problem of possible moisture penetration under the roof.

When choosing a triangular-shaped window for installation, you should know that it gives the least effect of illumination of the room, and increasing it to eliminate this drawback will negatively affect appearance building.

How to best position

In order not to disrupt the visual design of the building, architects can arrange the dormer openings in one row along a horizontal or vertical line. Or they can scatter the windows chaotically or in a checkerboard pattern - there are practically no restrictions on placement.

The only condition is that external beauty does not create inconvenience for those who may have to use dormer windows from the attic space.

If we take this aspect into account, it is advisable to place the windows at a distance of about one meter from the attic floor.

Procedure for installing a dormer window

When installing different types Dormer windows have some features inherent in the design of a particular type of window, but there is no fundamental difference in the order of the actions performed.

However, the order itself must be strictly observed:

• draw up an accurate plan for the location of dormer windows, taking into account all the features of the main roof. Make a drawing of the window with an exact indication of all overall dimensions;
• if necessary, you should determine in which places the safety supports should be located, and install them before starting work;
• cut an opening in the roof for a window according to the dimensions indicated in the drawing;
• strengthen the opening with horizontal beams, attaching them to the ends of the cut rafter legs;
• strengthen the rafter legs, on which the sides of the dormer window rest - they will bear the entire load from the cut rafters;
• after lining the opening around the perimeter and creating a rigid base, you can begin constructing the selected type of dormer window;
• the further procedure repeats the procedure for installing a conventional roof with mandatory vapor and waterproofing and installation of an appropriate insulation system;
• in front of the device exterior finishing areas of the walls and roof of the dormer window should be carefully waterproofed, connecting to the base of the roof.

Before installing a dormer window, it is advisable to calculate the cost and need for its installation. Perhaps installing a regular dormer window will solve all the issues regarding lighting and ventilation, and besides, it will probably cost less.

If the decision is made in favor of a dormer window, then you need to choose its shape wisely. Because an attractive-looking arched window called a “bull’s eye” will cost its future owner a price equal to installing several windows of simpler contours.

You can find out what optimal shape of a dormer window to choose for each specific case by systematizing the data presented in this article.