When renovating homes, most people want the best bang for their buck. What adds a boost in value to your property for the lowest cost? Perhaps you want ideas to increase the livable space of your home, but you don’t want to build out an entirely new addition. What is the cheapest price you can get per square foot? One way you can upgrade your home is with a finished basement. But maybe you don’t have a basement. Or maybe you desire to increase natural lighting in your house. Many families who love their existing homes prefer small additions rather than more expensive renovations. An average dormer expands a home’s usable space while staying on a budget. In this article, we discuss why your family may wish to upgrade your home with dormers.
What is a Dormer?
A dormer is an outcropped area of a roof. It increases the ceiling height in slanted roof areas of the home. Several different dormer styles available include Gabled, Hip and Shed-Roof dormers. Each increases sq-feet and adds light to a home. They are identified by their roof shape. 
Many refer to gable as doghouse dormers. These include a roof that peaks in the middle and descends on the sides.
Similar to gable dormers, hip dormers include a third side. This side is located on top of the window.
A shed-roof dormer reaches its lowest point in the front and slopes upward toward the back. Gabled dormers are the most popular dormer style option available.
Benefits of Adding a Dormer
Add More Space
If you want to save money and add square footage to your home, build a dormer. People use dormers for a variety of rooms. This can include a living room, bathroom, bedroom or even a closet. Homeowners can increase their space by about half a room with dormers. Many people add dormers because they consider their attic wasted space. By increasing the ceiling height, dormers make more attic space usable. Perhaps you live where you cannot add an additional story. Use your existing attic without violating building codes by adding a dormer. This allows the space to be utilized without adding another story.
Increase Lighting
Perhaps you desire to increased natural light in your home. Some options include skylights and sun tunnels. To learn more about these options, check out our blog about them. Dormers also increase natural light in a house. Dormers allow the possibility for window additions in areas where installing a window would not normally be possible. This is especially true with homes that also have gable roof styles. If you don’t need the added space, go with a small dormer. This increases lighting and airflow without much additional square footage.
Good Weather Option
Most dormer designs include steep-sloped roofs. This gives them better weather resistance. While all dormers can shed snow and rain from the roof, the gabled dormer sheds it the best.
Improve Curb Appeal
Adding dormers to your home is one of the cheapest ways to improve curb appeal and increase market value. Appraisers are always looking for visual appeal when they determine a home’s value. Some homeowners add a dormer simply to break up the monotony of the plain roof look. Dormers add variety to the outside of the home which home buyers like. When it comes to aesthetics, gable dormers win hands down. Simple to construct, gable dormers fit well with many house designs.
If you want to enjoy your home without a major remodel consider adding a dormer. The tips in this article hopefully helped you calculate the total costs of different projects you can do to increase the size of your home. When choosing to add a dormer to upgrade your home, you want to be sure it is done right. If it isn’t, it won’t last long. If you add a dormer and it’s not aligned quite right, people will notice. An incorrectly installed dormer can compromise the roof, leading to leaks or even a collapse. Be sure you hire an experienced contractor for your project. Contact Specialty Home Products to get help with your dormer installation. Our design team will make sure your home improvement counts to maximize your investment for years to come without having to move to a new house.