Architecture/dormers

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Expert: - 9/29/2007


Question
I am adding a 30 foot wide by 26 foot deep garage onto my 44 x 28 foot colonial. The garage will also have a bedroom above it accessible from the main house. I don't know whether to put in 2 or 3 five foot dormers on the garage. I am leaning towards three 5' dormers spaced 4 feet apart with 3.5 feet on either end because I want it to look fancier rather than simple and plain, but I don't want it to appear crowded and leave people thinking - "Should have only added 2 dormers". Can you advise me?

Answer
Hi Nancy - thanks for your question!

On a garage that large, 3 dormers would be fine - as long as they don't get too big!  Two dormers might have the opposite effect; it might look like too little on a vast expanse of shingles.

Size the dormers to be just large enough to hold the window you're using (only one window per dormer).  And since it's a bedroom, be sure to use the proper egress window - your window supplier will know what you need.

Finally, don't use the same depth of overhang on the dormers that the rest of the house has - that's a common mistake that makes the dormer roof look like an awkward hat sitting on top.  Consult a book on Williamsburg homes to get an idea of the proper proportions for Colonial dormers.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com

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Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

Experience

I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

Publications
Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.

Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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