Making a dormer window on the roof with your own hands

Natural light is very important for life. So much so that natural light is one of the main criteria that distinguishes a residential space from a non-residential one. Therefore, in order to make living rooms under the roof rather than an attic, you need not only to insulate the roof and think through the layout, but also install windows on the attic floor. Moreover, you need to place windows on the roof wisely - where they will be most effective.

In order for sunlight to penetrate into the attic rooms through the windows on its own, without “accompaniment” in the form of moisture, snow and wind, you need to take into account a few simple rules. About them - below.

Definition of a dormer and its function

Dormer openings are installed in pitched roofs; they are made not only of the classic rectangular shape, but also triangular, trapezoidal, and round. Functional openings are more often found in private cottages and mansions, so increased attention is paid to their appearance and combination with the decoration and structure of the house.

Through gaps in the roof, the room is ventilated, the space is illuminated, and the area of ​​a small room visually increases. The absence of openings greatly reduces the usefulness and comfort of the attic space, making it separated from the outside world. The roof window significantly affects the proportional perception of the roof, so its design is thought out in detail.

Any idea why it's called that?

A dormer window in the roof is a translucent structure that is mounted directly into the pitched roof pie .
In the Old Russian dialect, the concept of “hearing” was interpreted as a “vent”, that is, an opening through which air enters the room for its further ventilation.

Thus, dormer windows significantly increase the air exchange rate in the under-roof space and affect the comfort during operation of the attic.

Why are they needed on the roof and attic?

Dormer windows are needed to achieve the following goals when operating an attic space:

• Providing natural lighting for the under-roof space during the daytime.
• Micro-ventilation of the room, ensuring the required air exchange rate.
• In some cases, these translucent structures are a convenient way to access a pitched roof if it needs to be cleaned or repaired.

Technical characteristics, as well as the set of basic functions, largely depend on the design of dormer windows, their dimensions, the availability of fittings, profile material and other important parameters.

Is it possible to close?

Owners of real estate properties who purchase finished houses on the secondary market often try to close dormer windows, which is not recommended, since blocking them has the following negative consequences :

• Accumulation of a large amount of thermal energy in the under-roof space.
• The formation of condensation on finishing elements, which leads to rotting of organic materials and the formation of mold.
• Violation of the frequency of air exchange - in the presence of an exploited attic, stagnation of internal air leads to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.
• The service life of the load-bearing structures of the truss system of a pitched roof of a house is reduced.
• Increased energy consumption, which is spent on artificial lighting of the attic.
• If it is necessary to penetrate the roof surface, an additional ladder is required.

In the event of the formation of a gap and depressurization of the circuit, followed by atmospheric moisture entering the attic, it is recommended to take measures to replace the seam material, but the translucent structures themselves should not be covered or removed .

Dormer window device

First, the window frame is determined. Whatever the shape of the opening and the design of the window house, the structure of the load-bearing frame of the hatch should not violate the integrity of the rafter system or weaken its strength.

Main elements of the device:

• front beams between rafters;
• vertical posts on rafter legs;
• purlins over supports;
• additional rafters from crossbars to ridge;
• window frame;
• lathing laid on the rafters according to the shape of the roof above the window opening;
• roof covering similar to the main flooring.

It is difficult to create additional clearance on the roof without interfering with the load-bearing roof frame, so civil engineers recommend erecting windows simultaneously with the construction of the house.

Let's sum it up

There should be a minimum number of windows in the attic, and all of them should be reflected in the design. Main types of attic windows:

1. Front-mounted ones are the best option (cheap, easy to install, reliable).
2. Lucarnes are a good choice if there are not enough gable windows to adequately illuminate the attic.
3. Attics are the worst option, unless the attic is planned to be converted into an attic in the future.

It is better to take plastic windows for gables and cuckoo windows. Dormer windows, on the other hand, are usually made of wood. If you have a large budget and durable roof coverings, it makes sense to use aluminum windows.

Varieties of roof slope design

The attic window has a roof, which is designed according to the general rules for arranging roof decking. The frame of the opening can be located in the plane of the slope and be inclined, but more often the window frame is taken out and placed vertically. For the resulting “birdhouse”, a roof of various configurations is made.

Types of structures:

• flat covering;
• single-pitched quadrangular roof;
• gable quadrangular;
• semicircular;
• triangular;
• trapezoidal panoramic;
• glass lantern.

The auditory openings are located in the end wall (gable), sometimes the dormer in the roof is placed above the roofing plane. Antidormers (recessed form) are installed inside the roof.

Flat

These types of coverings above the window provide maximum light and ventilation to the room. For flat coverings, an additional water drainage system is installed, which is subsequently combined with a common drain.

You can easily arrange a flat roof over a window yourself:

• an opening is cut in the roof;
• frames are adjusted according to the project;
• arrange the roof structure above the window;
• cover the flooring along the lathing.

When designing, the height of the ridge, the degree of ventilation and illumination are taken into account. Pay attention to the proximity of the boiler pipe outlets and the outlets of the general air conditioning system.

The work on the device involves a wooden beam with a cross-section of 50 x 100 mm, which is installed in the rafter structure at different angles.

Quadrangular lean-to

The slope is made in the shape of a trapezoid, rectangle or square, and the size of the window opening is determined depending on the purpose of the rooms and the required degree of lighting. According to GOST standards, the area of ​​windows in attics should be in the range of 1/6 - 1/8 of the floor area.

Before installing a pitched roof over the opening, the integrity of the main frame is checked. If it is damaged or the load-bearing elements are worn out, installation of the window should be delayed until the rafter system is repaired. It is possible to cut out part of the rafters to increase the distance, but then you need to redistribute the load to other beams by installing additional purlins.

The slopes above the opening are correctly connected to the inclined plane of the main roof; metal aprons and galvanized linings are used.

Quadrangular gable

This type is the most common because the relatively simple design fits seamlessly into any type of roof.

When building a quadrangular deck with two slopes, the following requirements must be taken into account:

• the device is allowed if the roof slope is from 35°;
• roof superstructures are located at a certain distance (0.8 - 1.0 m) from the external load-bearing walls of the building;
• the minimum size of swinging sashes is 0.6 x 0.8 m, window opening - 1.2 x 0.8 m;
• the height above the floor of the room is not less than 1 m.

The gable roof above the hatch increases the area of ​​the attic due to its extension. The slopes can follow the slope of the main roof if the window is on the pediment.

Semicircular

This type of ceiling over the skylight looks original and is popularly called a bat. The roof is made semicircular, and under it there is a window of the same configuration or a round frame is placed.

The waveform above the light hole defines the different subgroups:

• smooth wave line - bat;
• steep wave with an oval window - bull's eye;
• combined type - bat, with a curved pitched roof.

The main roof is continued in the flooring of the dormer opening and looks like one whole.

A round window in the attic looks beautiful, but is rarely installed due to complicated installation. Such frames are made with one or two hinged sashes or fixed double-glazed windows are installed. The latter type is rarely used, because There is no way to care for the outer glass.

Triangular

Windows of a triangular configuration are framed by slopes with a steep slope or made flat; openings are placed on the roof or placed on the pediment. In this configuration, there are no side walls, so the issue of saving materials, as well as insulation and waterproofing, is easily resolved. The shape of the opening reduces the flow of light into the attic, so triangles are placed less frequently or there are several of them.

Triangular types are in harmony with gable roofs, but are not always combined with hip, semicircular or hip roofs. They install frames with the configuration of cut off corners, while the overall triangularity is preserved, but in fact such a window can have 4 – 6 corners. To open the sashes, a tilt-and-turn mechanism is often used.

Panoramic

Designs of this type provide a large view and illuminate the interior space as much as possible. The roof most often has a trapezoidal shape with a straight section of considerable length. Windows are made without side walls; low fences are made of wood or lined with bricks or foam blocks.

To install lathing under the roof deck, you need to make a solid base using chipboard panels and waterproof plywood. Panoramic windows under the roof are installed in greenhouses, winter gardens, billiard rooms or attic swimming pools. The disadvantage of viewing frames is that due to the large area, heat is lost and there is a danger for small children who live in the attic. For protection, the openings are framed with bars.

Glass

They are called lanterns because they let in a lot of light; such large openings are integrated into the roof plane.

By design they are:

• flat, not protruding above the surface;
• convex lanterns in the shape of a dome, hemisphere, pyramid.

A window frame, which is usually durable, fits into the rafter structure and is fixed to the structural elements of the main floor. For filling they used to use simple polished glass, now they use acrylic or install polycarbonate.

Most of the lantern area is solid, but there are hinged doors that are driven manually or using a remote control (electric control with a drive).

Summer greenhouses

For a summer greenhouse, a single-chamber plastic double-glazed window is suitable. You can also use cold aluminum profiles and thin glass. A special feature of the operation of this design is the absence of night frosts. So, with planting seedlings, you will have to wait until the heat is stable if the greenhouse is made of single-chamber double-glazed windows and is not heated.

Automatic window opening is optional in the summer model. You can ventilate using a regular window.

Accommodation options

The classic form of installation is the configuration of the superstructure in the form of a house, and the drawing is calculated so as to satisfy the lighting requirements of the room. The dormer window on the roof can be gable or single-pitch. They are glazed or installed with roller shutters, or blinds are used.

According to the standards, the temperature difference between the street and the interior is 5 - 10°. If the difference is greater, systems are installed in the structure of the walls and roof of the house to prevent condensation.

Several such gaps are made in the spaces between the rafters so as not to cut out the load-bearing elements of the roof structure to install windows and not to change the structure of the beam system of the house.

Single-pitch

A roof with a slope of more than 15° creates an additional flow of rainwater towards the window. Shed roofs above the window are placed so that it is possible to organize the flow of water into receiving funnels outside the eaves or inside the building. The slope is made of such a size that its slope does not affect the volume of the room, but at the same time there is a reliable drainage of precipitation outside the canopy.

The slope of the window slope is made somewhat less than the steepness of the main roof of the house. Design is carried out by drawing the project on paper to scale so that the dimensions of the lean-to window are combined with the dimensions of other facade elements. The slope affects the number of battens for sheathing and the volume of roof decking. For soft rolls, a slight slope is used, but a continuous sheathing is performed.

Gable

Such openings are placed between the rafters so as not to disturb the structure of the rafter system. A ridge element is placed above the window to organize the correct junction of the two slopes. Inclined surfaces can be different in quadrature and have different slopes from each other. The upper part of the window awning can be domed or tent-shaped.

The base of a gable window can be located in the plane of the roof or be placed at a distance of up to 0.5 m. In the second option, additional reinforcement of the beam structure of the house will be required. If there is an exit from the dormer gable window, an observation deck is constructed, which is made in the form of a small balcony with railings.

A roof over an opening with two slopes requires more construction costs than a single-pitch structure.

The best manufacturers of roof windows

Window systems from the following manufacturers have won a good reputation among users:

1. Velux. The Danish company specializes in the production of wooden windows. High quality wood, antiseptic impregnations and multi-layer varnish ensure the durability of the systems. All products are equipped with ventilation valves, two- and three-level seals. The windows performed well in different operating conditions.
2. Roto. German quality of plastic window systems. Roto products are unrivaled for arranging damp attic spaces. The profiles are resistant to moisture, the frames do not lose their original appearance, and do not require tinting or periodic treatment with antiseptics.
3. Fakro. The Polish company produces windows from different materials, and accordingly, the pricing policy is very diverse. The profiles are supplied in standard sizes, so the architecture of the existing house must be taken into account.

The issue of making attic window systems with your own hands must be approached carefully. To perform high-quality installation and maintain the reliability of the roof, all technological requirements must be observed. An important point is competent calculation and choice of window location.

Standards and nuances when designing

SNiP 11.26-2010 contains instructions for installation, location, and organization of ventilation.

Installation technology is limited by the following rules:

• the rafters framing the window opening must be double, as they carry an additional load;
• auxiliary purlins should not cut into the body of the rafter legs; their ends are fixed with steel plates;
• the frame is protected with moisture-resistant plywood;
• The pediment of the window is made vertically, the correctness is checked with a level or plumb line.

According to the standards, window houses must have walls whose height starts from 1.2 m. The frames of the vertical side railings rest on the ceiling purlins located under the opening. A distance of 0.8 m is allowed between adjacent dormer boxes; narrower spaces contribute to the accumulation of snow in the gaps.

Selecting the right glass unit

Double-glazed windows for a greenhouse are several sheets of glass connected into one “cage” by a metal frame. Dry air is pumped inside the bag. Due to it, the profiles retain heat perfectly.

For different greenhouses, double-glazed windows with different numbers of chambers are recommended:

• single-chamber (2 layers of glass fixed by a frame) - for summer;
• two-chamber (2 air chambers, 3 layers of glass) and three-chamber (3 chambers, 4 sheets of glass) - for insulated winter ones.

There is no point in buying, for example, a 5-chamber PVC profile. It is too heavy and unreasonably expensive. A two- or three-chamber is quite enough.

Making a dormer window with your own hands

First, remove part of the roofing at the place where the window is inserted. The workplace is organized by installing scaffolding or scaffolding. Work to strengthen the truss structure can be carried out from inside the attic. The installation of beams and racks is checked instrumentally.

Work order:

1. cut off the beam for the lower base along the length of the frame of the auditory opening plus 20 - 25 cm, attach it to the floor so that it protrudes beyond the support beam equally on both sides;
2. place corner posts with a height greater than the size of the window by 15 cm, each nailed to the reinforcement beam and the lower support;
3. the upper purlin is fastened to the racks with nails, the lower beam is mounted in the same way, and the racks are leveled;
4. For the window sill, take a block, which is fixed in the undercuts of the side posts with a depth of 1 cm, it is additionally fixed with pads.

From the roof side, three ceiling beams are installed with a gap of 40 cm to the side ceilings, then the structure is sheathed with sheets of moisture-resistant plywood. They install the roofing deck, install the ridge, valleys, and install flashings.

How to install a salary

They begin to install it from the bottom up. First of all, the lower apron is installed, then the side parts and the upper edge, and finally the lining.

The installation of flashings from each manufacturer has its own peculiarities, so you must use the instructions. So, Roto products have a rubber seal on the frame, and the frame is placed under it. Fakro window products do not have a sealing element, and the frame is attached directly to the frame, and covered with additional parts on top.

All elements of the flashing are joined and then attached to the frame and sheathing. The lower apron is fixed to the roof covering from above. To install roofing material, a special element must be attached to the flashing. At the end of the work, the sash is hung and the protective coating is removed.

In order to seal the joints between the frame and the opening, you should not use polyurethane foam; you should use only special sealants.

Greenhouse prices

Warm plastic double-glazed windows are 30-35% cheaper than aluminum ones. There are many greenhouse diagrams on the Internet that will help you calculate exactly how much material you will need. Used double-glazed windows help save a lot of money. In this case, it is important to find a suitable greenhouse design

Although many manufacturers make double-glazed windows specifically for greenhouses. Approximate prices: for a three-leaf window made of polyvinyl chloride 1800x1200 with an energy-saving single-chamber double-glazed window you will have to pay 8-9 thousand rubles. A three-chamber double-hung window 1400x1400 costs an order of magnitude more expensive - 20-25 thousand rubles. You will also have to order window units with doors. Here is the cost per m² in the table:

In addition to double-glazed windows, you will have to spend money on drip irrigation, soil heating, heating radiators, etc.

Prices for ready-made turnkey greenhouses

Double-glazed greenhouses are often ordered turnkey. Naturally, this costs more than installing it yourself.

To glaze a greenhouse on a turnkey basis and save money, look for companies without intermediaries. Manufacturers usually reduce the cost of their products and services. You need to find out exact prices by phone or use a calculator to calculate the cost of glazing.

Turnkey glazed construction means purchasing profiles, delivery and assembly on site from one company. You don't have to look for a team of installers. In a turnkey greenhouse, you can install automatic window opening.