Roof Types / Dormer
Dormer
Structural roof projections that add space and light — but create multiple leak-prone transitions.
A dormer is a structural projection built out from a sloping roof, typically containing a window. Dormers add headroom, natural light, and character to upper floors and attic spaces. Common types in the Bay Area include gable dormers (with a peaked roof), shed dormers (with a single-slope roof), and hipped dormers. While architecturally appealing, each dormer creates a complex intersection of roof planes, walls, and windows that requires precise flashing at four to six transition points.
Why It Matters
Dormers are chronic leak sources on older Bay Area homes, particularly in neighborhoods with 1920s-1950s architecture. Each dormer creates four to six flashing transitions — where the dormer walls meet the main roof, where the dormer roof meets the dormer walls, and around the window itself. Over time, these multiple flashing points degrade independently, and a single failure can send water cascading into the wall cavity. Dormer leak repair requires a roofer who understands the full assembly — re-flashing one transition while ignoring adjacent aging flashing only moves the problem.
Dormer FAQ
Why does my dormer always leak?
Can dormer flashing be repaired without a full re-roof?
Need Dormer Work?
Schedule an inspection. We will assess your dormer and recommend the most cost-effective solution.