After we call the attic - attic, it turns out that here there is a place for creativity, and what else. The fact is that the window is at an angle, which means that it is much more turned to sunlight.
Well, and the roof, which claims its rights to the rules for the design of such a window. Hence the whole science associated with these attic windows.

Versions

What is the name of the window in the attic - dormer, dormer or birdhouse - the essence remains unchanged. It is subject to increased requirements for strength, akin to the requirements for the roof.
A bit of history
The appearance of attic windows was preceded by a whole detective story that developed in several European countries:
- first, the kings of the Old World drove their subjects to live literally under building roofs;
- then the French architect Mansart (hence the "attic") decided to legalize this dwelling architecturally as well, it was still under the French kings;
- and already in the middle of the 20th century, a Dane with an ordinary Scandinavian surname Rasmussen decided to equip the attic with a window, which very quickly found its adherents.
Requirements
With those skylights that are located on the vertical part of the roof ridges, everything is clear - there are no special requirements in it. If you do not take into account the size, these windows are no different from the usual vertical windows in the rooms.

Now we are talking about windows on a pitched roof.
These windows are constantly exposed to external natural factors - rain, snow, hail, sun - hence the special requirements for reliability:
- dimensional accuracy is required;
- the frame must have increased rigidity;
- the entire structure must have high thermal characteristics.
Helpful advice!
Considering such requirements, choose the masters for installing skylights very carefully.
Not every supplier has sufficient experience in this matter.
Be sure to first get acquainted with specific examples of the work of the proposed artist and only then draw conclusions.
Installation
First you need to familiarize yourself with the scope of work.

Design
Structurally, a roof window is very similar to a layer cake, so do not be surprised, this approach is the best way to protect from the weather and provide rigidity:
- A - roller shutters or awnings, after all, you can’t do without additional external protection, it is she who will take the hail;
- B - salary, this window is not an icon, of course, but in some situations only it will save. The type of salary is determined by the material of the roof - smooth, made of tin or copper, or wavy, made of metal tiles, ondulin and other newfangled modern options. Passions around the type are associated with the desire to make the window protrude as little as possible above the roof surface.
Thus, the salaries are:
-
- for smooth sheets with a zero wave;
- for soft bituminous tiles - a wave of no more than 8 mm;
- for materials with a wave of no more than 16 mm;
- for materials with a wave of not more than 30 mm;
- for roofing materials with a wave of more than 30 mm;
- well, and, finally, for materials in which the wave is very large.
- C - the highlight of the program itself - a roof window;
- D - hydrothermal insulation circuit, without such an element, not a window structure can do, which will have to deal with high humidity and protect it from it;
- E - curtains or blinds, this is already an optional addition;
- F - internal slopes, and what window without them.

Work progress
After you have determined the number of windows needed in the attic and their dimensions, indicate their location from the inside - 2-3 cm more than the width of the window on each side and 10-15 cm above and below. .
And then:
- we select the salary according to the height of the wave of the roofing material;
- we cut out the waterproofing, as always, leaving a margin, but for such windows not less than 20 cm;
- we remove a section of the roof or even cut it out;
- if necessary, remove interfering rafter sections;
- from the bottom we nail a mounting beam 50 mm thick from the crate in 8-10 cm;
- we fix the lower edge of the insulation to the beam;
- we attach the upper edge of the insulation to the upper crate;
- lateral insulation reserves go out;
- then comes the fastening of the frame;
Helpful advice!
And here you have to make a gap and send the frame installation wizard to the instructions.
The fact is that there are quite a lot of attic window frame designs - Velux, Fakro, Roto.
The installation principles of all, of course, are largely similar, but there are a lot of differences, which only a consultation will help to understand.
- when the frame is installed, brackets are attached to it - the lower ones are very reliable, and the upper ones are not tightened, they will be needed to align the entire structure;

- thermal insulation is attached to the upper part of the frame;
- from below, the thermal insulation is attached to the mounting beam - only after that the frame enters the window reception;
- we install the sash and adjust the ideal tightness of its fit using the upper brackets;
- now we finally tighten the brackets, including the side ones;
- the turn comes to fix the side exits of the waterproofing to the frame;
- into the side openings roofs install insulation;
- from above, we install a drainage gutter (and again we have to talk about the design features of each window model and refer the wizard to the documentation);
- to protect against leaks, we “unfold” an apron around the window - we fasten it to the frame, mounting beam, rafters and the upper crate, we wind the edges under the crate;
- from above, the apron should go under the gutter.

Helpful advice!
We do not recommend using mounting foam for additional sealing of the roof window joints.
Only special sealants are suitable for this.
Install the slopes inside only according to the rule: the lower one is vertical, the upper one is horizontal, only this will ensure better circulation of warm air from the radiator.
conclusions
Here they are, not at all simple, attic windows. Most importantly, always keep the installation instructions for your model handy.
There are a lot of little things, some do not require special insulation, and some even use double insulation. Some have ventilation flaps, and most allow you to change the attachment points on the sides and thus the degree of future opening.

Be sure to watch the fascinating additional video in this article, where you will find a lot of interesting things for yourself, primarily among the design solutions for attic windows.
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