Had a dormer put in last fall, and honestly, it changed the whole vibe of my upstairs. I went with one of those pre-fab kits (can’t remember the brand, but it was mid-range price-wise), and the crew had it in within a week. The extra headroom is great, but what surprised me most is how much brighter and less stuffy the space feels now.
One thing, though—the insulation around the new window isn’t quite as tight as I’d hoped. There’s a bit of a draft on windy days, which is kinda annoying after spending that much. Anyone else notice this with their dormers? Did you DIY or go pro? Wondering if I should try to fix it myself or call the installers back. Curious if this is just “normal” or if I got a shoddy job.
Not sure I’d call a draft around a new dormer window “normal,” especially if you paid for pro installation. I get that pre-fab kits can sometimes be a bit off in terms of fit, but a good crew should’ve sealed everything up tight. I actually did my own dormer a couple years back—took way longer than a week, but I obsessed over every bit of insulation and flashing. No drafts, even in the dead of winter.
Honestly, if you’re noticing airflow, it’s probably not just your imagination or “how it is.” Could be they skimped on spray foam or missed a gap with the vapor barrier. I’d lean toward calling the installers back before trying to fix it yourself. If you mess with it, they might blame you for any issues down the line. Plus, you paid for a job done right.
It’s wild how much difference a dormer makes, though. Mine turned a cramped attic into an actual usable room. But yeah, for what these things cost, there shouldn’t be any cold spots...
I hear you on wanting a tight seal, but sometimes even with pros, you’ll get a little draft around new framing—especially if the house settles or the original roof isn’t perfectly square. Did they use low-expansion foam around the window itself, or just batt insulation? I’ve seen crews skip the foam to save time, and it makes a noticeable difference. Also, was the trim caulked inside and out? Sometimes what feels like a “draft” is just cold air radiating through the framing if there’s a thermal bridge. Not always a simple fix, unfortunately...
Yeah, I’ve run into that too—sometimes you do everything right and there’s still a little draft sneaking in. I’m with you on the foam; it makes a big difference compared to just stuffing batt insulation in there. One time I had a window where they skipped the foam and I could literally feel the cold air on my hand. Caulking inside and out helps, but if there’s a thermal bridge, it’s tough to totally fix without tearing things apart. Sometimes I just throw a heavy curtain up in winter and call it good enough...
Caulking inside and out helps, but if there’s a thermal bridge, it’s tough to totally fix without tearing things apart. Sometimes I just throw a heavy curtain up in winter and call it good enou...
Title: Letting More Light In: My Experience Adding A Roof Bump-Out
Funny you mention the heavy curtain trick—I did the same thing in my attic bedroom for years before I finally tackled the drafty window. Ended up pulling off the trim and found a gap big enough to stick a pencil through. A little low-expansion spray foam did the trick, and it’s been way more comfortable since. Still, I get what you mean about not wanting to tear things apart after paying for an install. Sometimes it feels like these “quick fixes” are just part of old house life…
