Minimum Roof Pitch For Dormers

These are the windows that seem to stick out from the face of a roof.

Minimum roof pitch for dormers.

This type of dormer needs a roof pitch shallower than that of the original. However you can only use this pitch with built up roofing or specialized. Pitched roofs can also be used to incorporate roof lights angled in a specific direction or dormer windows. You should have at least an 8 12 pitch for it to look as if it belongs.

Roof dormers add light. Minimum roof pitch the minimum pitch for a roof is 1 4 12 which translates to 1 4 inch rise to 12 inches of run. This image shows a relatively shallow roof pitch of 15 degrees. It would end up looking very long and awkward.

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. That pitch is too shallow to hold the shape of the dormer. Dormers are wonderful spots for a reading nook kids play area dressing area and other uses where extra light is a bonus. A shed dormer on the other hand is usually had on homes with a roof pitch of at least 8 in 12 or steeper.

The loft space would be much larger with a roof pitch of 45 degrees.