Log Home Dormers Provide Added Space and Let In More Light

You’ve seen them on the fronts and rears of home roofs but may not know what they are called. They are dormers that look like little framed windows on the second floor. They are boxed-in windows with their own roofs that stick out from the main roof.

This style of roofing can be traced back to the 1500s in Great Britain. Immigrants brought the idea to the American colonies in the 1600s and the fashion has stuck with us. There are numerous styles from which to choose, but four remain the most popular for log homes, log cabins, and homes in general, including:

Gabled Dormers
Shed Dormers
Hipped Dormers
Eyebrow Dormers

Let’s take a look at the four favorite styles of dormers and their benefits for your log home or log cabin.

Styles of Log Home Dormers

Four styles of dormers persist as the favorites for log homes and log cabins. Each is distinctively different from the others and has its followings, including:

Gable dormers are the most popular style for log homes and log cabins as well as all other styles of homes. If you have three or more, you can make the central one larger than the side gables to accent the entrance to the home. This approach also provides an eye-pleasing look in the roofline. They generally have a steeper slope than shed dormers.
Shed dormers are the second most popular option, especially on the rear side of the house. They come with a shallower pitch than the rest of the roofline and have a flat top. They are easier, faster, and less expensive to construct compared to gable dormers. Shed dormers can provide more headroom than gable dormers and are handy when more second-floor space is needed.
Hipped dormers look like gabled dormers except they look like a hipped roof on top of a house. What sets them apart from gabled dormers is the three-section roofing with a front-facing section. Although they are generally used with hipped roofs. They can be used with any roof or home style.
Eyebrow dormers are the least seen of the four styles. They stand out because the dormer uses a curved roof section that resembles a raised eyebrow. They are more time-consuming and expensive to build and mostly used with shingle-style homes. Eyebrow dormers add a unique flair to the second story without requiring much floor space below them.

Benefit 1: Log Home Dormers Provide Added Space

A benefit we can all appreciate is adding more space in a room on the second floor. Although it may seem like a small thing, dormers create enough space for:

Bedrooms
Reading Areas
Play Rooms
Home Offices
Small Bathrooms

Adding a dormer on the second floor is like finding hidden space with potential. Most of us can use more space with a window, especially if we have a growing family. Dormers can be created with the initial construction or added after construction is complete.

This style of roofing can be traced back to the 1500s in Great Britain. Immigrants brought the idea to the American colonies in the 1600s and the fashion has stuck with us.

Benefit 2: Increased Airflow

Dormers come with windows that allow fresh air to enter rooms whether in a useable area or an attic that otherwise would be blocked by the roof. Second floors naturally heat up more than ground floors and a cross breeze is refreshing.

More airflow is desirable in most climates during the spring and fall months when furnaces and air conditioners are not running much. Fans in windows can pull cool air in or used as exhaust fans to pull air through the house.

The additional circulation can help reduce indoor pollution and heating and cooling costs. When the weather turns cold, close the windows to keep the heat in. This large shed dormer has multiple windows for more airflow and light.

Benefit 3: Log Home Dormers Let in More Light

Another benefit for your log home is creating more natural light. You get more than with just windows on the ends of rooms on a second floor. You can double or triple the amount of light that makes rooms seem more spacious. A bonus is reducing the need for more artificial lighting.

Additional lighting makes any area seem more livable and useful. If you are an artist or hobbyist, you can appreciate natural over artificial light. You can also enjoy the changing amount of light as the sun moves around your log home.

Benefit 4: Increased Curb Appeal

Our last benefit to enjoy is adding more curb appeal to your log home. You can enjoy the dormers now as well as adding more curb appeal for the buyer when it is time to sell. Dormer rooms are desirable features that dress up a log home and add a rustic appeal to any size house.

It is not unusual for dormers to add 10% or more to the equity gains of a log home. This timeless design stands out and is often the first thing people notice about a log home. Consider the benefits of dormers for new home construction or a remodel.