Dormer doors open up a whole new way to access hidden storage space in your home. These attic access doors serve a highly functional purpose without detracting from the aesthetics of your home. Solid core, pre-hung, weather striped doors make attic access a breeze.
Why choose dormer doors?
Our dormer doors, featuring solid core, MDF door slab are perfect for keeping unwanted elements such as pests out of your home and to keep your attic storage easily accessible. These rot proof, weather-stripped doors can be custom fit to any opening in your wall.
What is a roof dormer?
For centuries, windows have been known as "the eyes" of a dwelling. Like a chimney, roof dormers are not part of the roof but stick through the roof.
What is an example of a dormer window?
The windows breaking through the Mansard roof are some of the earliest examples of dormer windows. Even a more modern building with a Mansard roof likely will have dormers—sometimes both wall dormers (through the cornice) and roof dormers.
How do I customize my dormer door?
Customizing your door is as easy as letting us know the dimensions of the opening and a few other details such as whether you want raised panels and the direction of swing. We then go to work with your custom order and ship you a fully assembled dormer door that you can install quickly and easily.
What is the door to the attic called?
Call it a scuttle, trap door or attic hatch – every attic needs an entrance, and often it's merely a square opening in the ceiling.
Can you open an attic from the inside?
Attic doors can definitely open by themselves.
What is a hatch attic?
The attic hatch, or scuttle hole, is a removable panel in the dry-walled ceiling, located in a closet or hallway. To insulate an attic hatch, you need weather stripping, rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation.
How do I get access to my attic door?
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What is a scuttle hole?
A scuttle attic is an attic space accessed by a small hole in the ceiling. The hole, along with the panel that covers it, is called a hatch. Because the term ''scuttle attic'' refers to the opening rather than the attic itself, you might also see it called a ''scuttle hole'' or an ''attic hatch.
How do you walk in the attic?
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What kind of door goes between house and attic?
Most attic doors come with the house, but changing the type to suit the homeowner's preference is usually an option. The simple attic hatch, also called a scuttle hole, is quite common in homes. It is a removable part of the ceiling that is typically in the shape of either a rectangle or square.
Should I leave my garage attic door open?
It is generally not recommended to keep your attic door open unless your entire home is naturally ventilated and not air-conditioned. Even in those instances, it may be better to simply open the windows on either side of the attic and keep the door closed.
Are attic stair covers worth it?
Purchasing an attic stair insulation cover can help with saving energy and minimizing moisture problems in your attic. Around 50% of a home's energy is used to either heat or cool indoor air, so if you don't have proper insulation for your attic stairs, you'll be losing quite a bit of unnecessary energy.
What are attic stairs called?
An attic ladder (US) or loft ladder (UK) is a retractable ladder that is installed into an attic door/access panel. They are used as an inexpensive and compact alternative to having a stairway that ascends to the attic of a building.
How do I make my attic livable?
If this is your first remodel, consider hiring a professional to help you convert your attic.Clean Out Your Attic. ... Wire the Attic for Electricity. ... Build a Subfloor. ... Insulate Your Attic. ... Install Drywall and Ceiling. ... Paint Attic Ceiling and Walls. ... Choose and Install Attic Flooring.
What is attic scuttle?
Basically, a scuttle attic is a hole in the drywall ceiling that leads to the attic with a small attic access panel that covers it. Our small little attic access panel would technically be referred to as a scuttle attic.
What is a dormer on a roof?
What Is a Dormer? A dormer is an architectural window feature that appears to pop out of your roof. They can either blend in or stand out from the rest of the home, depending on the time you use to frame them and whether you cover them with the same type of material as the rest of the roof.
Why do you need a dormer?
Adding dormers will increase the cost of building or remodeling your home. In general, it’s more cost-effective to add a dormer when you’re building the structure new. At that point, the design of the dormer is included in the plans for the roof. Adding it later means somewhat changing the structure of the roof and the interior wall space.
What is a flared gable dormer?
The flared gable style is a gable dormer with the peaked roof extending over the sides of the dormer. This provides more shade for areas that get a lot of sun. This type of dormer is more aesthetics and view than letting light in. 3. Hip Roof Dormer. This style of dormer features three slopes on the roof.
What to do with a bedroom on the upper floor?
If you have a bedroom on the upper floor, you might want to add a dormer to look out of and view your landscape. This is a particularly strong selling point on large properties that feature fields, a pond, or a wooded area.
What is the least common dormer?
The least common true dormer is the pedimented dormer. It extends beyond the roof the house and is supported with extra pillars. It’s generally used to add more light into a grand entryway of a home rather than add any living space on an upper story.
Why is my window colder than the wall?
That’s why when you touch a window in your home during cold weather, the window is colder than the wall next to it. If you live in a region with a cold climate or pronounced winter season, adding a dormer will raise your heating bill and make the room with the dormer feel colder.
Why do you need dormers in your attic?
The first reason is to allow for the entrance of more sunlight. If you have bedrooms or an attic on your highest floor, adding dormers can make these rooms seem more open and full of light.
What is a dormer window?
Located on the sloped side of a roof, a dormer window brings natural light into an attic, loft, or any room with a vaulted ceiling. This type of window sits vertically in a framed structure that juts outward from the pitch of the main roof and features a little roof of its own above the window. Dormer windows are often associated ...
Where did the word "dormer" come from?
The word “dormer” comes from the French “dormeor,” which means “sleeping room.”. Dormers have an even earlier predecessor, however: an architectural feature called a “lucarne” that first appeared the 12th Century Europe. Lucarnes—tall, narrow roofed projections—were often found on the tall spires of Gothic Cathedrals.
What is interior framing?
For this reason, interior framing, such as alterations to the interior rafters or trusses ( alterations that must be cleared by a structural engineer), is often done first, and then the contractor constructs the exterior frame of the dormer on the surface of the roof.
What is sheathing on a dormer?
Sheathing (the plywood that covers the framing studs) is attached to the outside dormer walls and over the rafters of the main roof at the same time. The next step is the installation of a vapor barrier wrap over the sheathing on the vertical walls of the dormer.
How many planes are there in a dormer?
Hip dormer: A hip dormer features three roof planes, one on each side and a third parallel to the front of the dormer. All three planes slope upward and meet at a common point at the peak of the roof. Shed dormer: This dormer has only one roof plane that slopes in the same direction as the slope of the main roof, but with a much shallower pitch.
What type of roof do dormer windows come in?
Dormer windows are often associated with Colonial, Greek Revival, and cottage-style architecture, but they can be found on virtually any style of house that has a sloped roof . If you’re considering dormer windows for a new house construction or loft conversion, keep reading.
What are the pros and cons of a dormer window?
PROS. Interior illumination: Attics and lofts are naturally dim without a window to brighten the interior. Increased living space : The interior area behind a typical dormer window can be used as a sleeping or reading nook, or serve as a spot for a dresser or bench.
