Attic Dormer High Snow Load

These photos were taken by roxie baldwin in 2002 at mirror lake on the medicine bow routt national forest.

Attic dormer high snow load.

If the dormer is built above living space rather than over an attic or if you re converting attic space to living space then it provides much needed natural light. The load path needs to flow into the rafter next to the dormer side wall. This was the cause of the long standing interior moisture issues. In the case of heavy snow and ice during the last bad winter that s even more ponding water than usual.

In heavy snow areas where you might get 5 or 6 ft. Load path roof dormer the load path from the dormer flows down the side wall. Of snow you should upgrade to the 50 lb. However the side wall does not extend to the floor in this area.

If this rafter is supporting the dormer roof it should. In practice i found when a building only has a single valley on one side of the roof the unbalanced snow ussually governs. One reason may be that the current unbalanced snow load provisions for gable roofs is much higher then what was required by some codes in the past. Underestimation of snow loads can result in premature failure high maintenance costs resource damage and in some cases safety issues.

Of snow on the roof a 90 lb. Dormers are wonderful spots for a reading nook kids play area dressing area and other uses where extra light is a bonus. It is something you have to pay attention to in areas with snow. Accounting for snow loads in certain climates constructing roof dormers is relatively straightforward in both original design and renovations.

Proper roof ventilation and high r value roof insulation is essential to minimizing ice dam formation. Summer and winter photographs of the same building. However only a single rafter is placed here. And the extra heat is not just a summer concern come winter hot attic air can melt snow on the roof during the day only to refreeze when temperatures drop overnight creating ice dams that lead.

When the roof was snow and ice covered that part of the roof would melt faster causing water to pond which was then wicked up by the dormer structure. Snow accumalates in valleys and may be a major design concern. Roof dormers add light. Homes in non snowy areas usually come with 20 lb.

Shed dormers are easier to waterproof and shed snow better than gable dormers.