Building a shed dormer on an existing roof is a fairly simple home improvement project, especially if you already have experience working with wood and other construction materials. The first step in building a shed dormer on an existing roof is determining the location where you want to add it. Sketch out your roof plan, making sure to note exactly where the dormer will go and how it will fit into the overall design of your home.
The shed dormer shed roof is essentially a simple extension of the main roof, with gables coming off each side. This design looks great on a classic country house or Tudor-style home and provides extra living space in your kitchen, bedroom or lounge. As with all roof extensions, be sure that you have enough headroom to walk under the dormer windows before you start to build.
A shed dormer is a great way to transform your attic or second-floor storage room into usable living space. But, if you’re not experienced with this sort of work, it’s important that you pay attention to detail and follow the instructions. If you don’t do it right, you’ll end up with a wonky-looking dormer that might leak and could even endanger the structure of your home as well as its occupants. So here’s how to build a shed dormer correctly:
Create the subfloor.
To create the subfloor, you’ll need to first cut the plywood into three equal pieces. To do this, use a circular saw to cut through the sheets of plywood. Then use a hammer and nails to secure each piece of plywood to each joist (you may have already pre-attached them). Finally, use some 3″ screws to attach the subflooring onto each joist.
Create the wall frames.
To create the wall frames, you will need to know how to frame walls. The first step is to make sure that your walls are square. You can do this by measuring from corner to corner at both ends and marking where each measurement lines up. If the measurements match up perfectly, then your wall is square! If necessary, you can use a framing square or carpenter’s level to make adjustments until your corners are perfect 90-degree angles.
Next, make sure that your walls are level by measuring from top corner to top corner across the length of one side and marking where each measurement lines up on either end of that side; then measure again along another edge and mark where those two marks meet in the middle (see diagram). If they don’t line up perfectly yet again adjust using shims as needed until everything matches perfectly across both sides. This ensures that every cut goes exactly where it should every time without relying on any guesswork or making expensive mistakes later down the road!
Then check whether they’re plumb (straight up) by taking two measurements—one on either side—and marking them against each other; if these measurements don’t match up exactly once again add more shims until everything lines up correctly before continuing with cutting any lumber pieces out for construction purposes later down road too which would definitely not be fun if had already been done incorrectly earlier so just don’t make same mistake twice please.
Install the outer walls.
The first step is to install the outer walls. The walls will be built on the ground and then lifted into place by a crane.
You need to make sure that the wall studs are straight and level before they are lifted into place. Use a carpenter’s level to check each of them individually, as well as all four corners together. Use 2x4s for studs and top/bottom plates, with 2x4s on each side of corner joints (for example, two 8-foot sections plus two 4-foot sections). Drill pilot holes through sheathing nails before driving them into place; this will prevent splitting or breaking when you hammer them in later.
Frame and install the windows.
- Frame the windows.
Measure and mark the size of your window opening on a piece of plywood, then cut it out with a jigsaw.
- Install the window sashes and trim pieces around them, making sure to leave a gap for caulking in between when you install each piece (this will make caulking go faster). Caulk all around the outside of your window frames with silicone caulk before installing any trim boards or siding, as this will help hold everything together and prevent leaks from occurring over time if water gets behind them (it’s also better looking than having gaps).
- Apply shingles to your roof panels as needed as well as soffit/fascia boards along each edge that meets another surface such as walls or other parts of roofs (you may want these surfaces trimmed depending on how much taper you want between surfaces).
Cut and install the roof panels.
To install the roof panels, you’ll need to cut each one to fit the roof. To do this, you first need to measure and mark the length of your roof line. Once you have that measurement, use a measuring tape and pencil to mark where each panel should be placed along the entire perimeter of your shed dormer.
Next, use an angle guide (available at any hardware store) or some other means of making sure that your cuts are square in order for everything else on this project to go smoothly. Then just cut out each individual panel using a circular saw or table saw (or whatever kind of power tool works best for what kind of material is being used).
Once all four sides have been cut out, it’s time for installation! First place two corner pieces against one another so they make an “L” shape at each joint—this will create reinforcement points during installation so they don’t sag over time due to weight load from snowfall during winter months when anyone living nearby might want a place where they can park their car off street level but still keep them safe underneath protective metal sheets rather than having them exposed directly underneath sunlight which could cause paint jobs on exterior walls being damaged by UV rays emitted from sunbeams shining through clouds passing overhead every day throughout summertime months before autumn arrives again when leaves start falling off trees due into fall temperatures dropping too low below freezing point
Install the siding, soffit and fascia, with a focus on keeping them square to each other and to the framing below. The most difficult part of this is installing the 1×4 top piece, also called “frieze board,” so that it fits squarely to the roof’s edge and square to the side edge. After everything is installed, it may need some minor trimming to fit flush with each other.
This stage is a little more difficult than installing the siding, as you will have to work around the framing that’s already in place. With this in mind, it’s important that you pay attention to how everything lines up and make sure that both sides are square with each other and with the roof.
The most challenging part of this step is getting your top piece, also known as “frieze board,” so it fits squarely to the edge of your roof and squares with one side edge. If necessary, trim any excess length from either side so everything fits flush together.
Paint or stain all surfaces.
- Prepare the surface. Before you begin to paint, wash the shed and its roofing material with a high-pressure washer. If you don’t have access to one, use a garden hose and blast it down from a distance of about 20 feet away. This will remove dirt, dust, spider webs and other debris that might interfere with proper adhesion of the paint or stain you’re using.
- Choose your paint or stain carefully: You want something with good coverage so that when it’s time for touch-ups down the line (and they will happen), there isn’t too much work involved in removing those patches where no shine shows through—or worse yet, where some kind of fungus grows! All paints come with different qualities but make sure you choose one that won’t peel off during bad weather conditions like rainstorms or snowfall so make sure it’s rated for exterior use before buying anything else like brushes or rollers which should also be made specifically for exterior jobs just like brushes themselves would need handles made out of materials that won’t rot over time due to moisture exposure either.
It pays to do this right.
When constructing your dormer, it is important to be sure that the roof has been designed to support the added weight of the dormer.
Once you have ensured that your roof is strong enough for a dormer, then you can begin installing your foundation. This will be laid out on top of an existing subfloor with 2x4s spaced 12 inches apart and then filled in with concrete blocks arranged in a similar pattern. If there are no restrictions against heavy loads on the existing structure, consider adding posts and beams as well as plywood sheathing along the inside face of each wall before pouring concrete into them (to prevent any water infiltration during construction).
Once this has set up enough to hold its shape, frame in all four walls using 2x6s or larger lumber if available depending on local code requirements. Holes should be cut into each corner where they meet adjacent frames so they can receive fasteners (either screws or bolts) securing them together tightly without splitting wood fibers further than necessary during installation process later down line when installing windows or other components near these areas where additional strength may be needed due to increased load bearing capacity from being closer towards center point rather than closer towards outer edge where less stress will exist due to smaller amount material used per square foot area occupied by its size dimensions compared against outer edges which require twice amount surface area depth since both sides must support equal weight load independently from one another even though only one side actually bears most weight load pressure directly through center point axis line drawn straight outwards from center point position at ninety degree angle relative orientation angle direction perpendicular alignment angle rotation orientation angular rotation position trajectory arc (as measured from point A through B along axis line extending outward beyond limit distance perimeter edge length dimension measurement limits).
Final words
Well, that wraps up our guide on how to build a shed dormer on an existing roof. We hope you found this helpful. As we’ve mentioned multiple times throughout, the most important part of building a shed dormer is taking your time and doing it right. This will save you from having to do costly repairs in the future. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your shed dormer project.
