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13 - What is an Attic Dormer?
from: SelfHomeImprovement.comA dormer is a construction element used to add space to many attics. Dormers are building elements that are often added to the attic areas of homes in order to expand the amount of space available to the homeowner. Adding a dormer to an attic is a way of adding a window into the attic, as well. The following paragraphs will provide useful facts and information about dormers and what they can do for an attic.
From the outside of a house, a dormer can appear as a protrusion on the slope of the roof. The look of the dormer is polished off with the addition of a window. The dormer window usually matches the same design as the other windows found in the house, adding to the look of the house, as well.
Whether you are having your new home built, or if you have purchased an existing home, a dormer can help expand your attic, and add visual interest to your house. Having a dormer installed can give your house the appearance of having an extra floor, and all it requires is attic space, as well as a sloped roof. In addition, because a dormer has a window, it will provide natural light to your attic space that would have otherwise been relatively dark.
While some homeowners have a dormer installed to expand the space in their attic, others concentrate more on enhancing the outside appearance of their house. This process involves placing a prefabricated dormer into the correct position on the roof. When this type of dormer is installed, no physical changes are made to the actual attic area. The false dormer is only attached to the surface of the roofline.
Sometimes false dormers are placed near the top of the roofline in order to mimic the effect of skylights inside the house. By doing this, a homeowner can achieve this look without having to flatten out any section of their roof or without making any major alterations to the outside of the home. However, smaller attic dormers can cost you around the same amount of money as the false dormers can. In addition, a smaller attic dormer will add a considerable amount of natural light to your attic, also giving off the appearance of skylights, and provide you with more usable attic space.
There are a few reasons that homeowners decided to have a dormer installed. Some want to increase the usable space in their attics, while others are more concerned with the outward appearance of their homes. No matter what reason you may choose to have an attic dormer installed in your attic, you will not be disappointed. A dormer is a relatively inexpensive way to increase the value of your home, enhance it's outward appearance, and give you more space in your attic.
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