Transom Dormer

The Transom Dormer has a horizontal band of windows running across the front roofline; the Gable Dormer has a single peaked dormer projecting out of the roof like a small house. The Transom delivers more interior daylight (typically 4–6 transom windows in a row vs. 1–2 dormer windows) and a cleaner, more modern look. The Gable Dormer is more architectural and traditional — better next to a farmhouse, more visually broken up. Both have a 6-pitch roof, so there’s no loft space under the dormers themselves — the dormers are for light and curb appeal. A 4-foot loft can be added at the gable ends as an upgrade on either model.

A 12×16 Transom Dormer typically gets 5 transom windows across the front, totaling roughly 35–40 sq ft of glass area — dramatically more than the 8–10 sq ft you’d get from two standard sidewall windows on a comparable Workshop. The windows sit high on the wall, so they wash the entire interior in even, indirect light all day. North-facing customers (artist studios, photographers) love this orientation because there’s no harsh direct sun ever.

10×16 (starting at $6,135 in LP SmartSide) is the most-ordered Transom Dormer — it’s sized right for a backyard art studio, yoga space, or lit storage building without entering the larger-permit territory. 12×20 ($7,480) is the second-favorite when buyers want extra floor space for a desk plus a couch. Below 10×16 the transom band shrinks to 3–4 windows and loses some of its visual impact.

Not under the dormer itself — the 6-pitch roof doesn’t leave enough headroom there. However, a 4-foot loft can be added as an upgrade at the gable ends of the building, away from the dormer. That’s where we put lofts on all dormer models. If you need a full usable loft across the entire building, step up to the Hi-Wall Barn or Dutch Barn (gambrel roofs with more loft volume), or the Portable Two Story for a full second floor.

Yes — every Transom Dormer up to 14′ wide ships fully assembled from our Parkesburg, PA shop on a specialized trailer. The transom windows are pre-installed at the shop. 14-wide Transom Dormers can also be delivered fully assembled — we handle the road permit and pilot car ($7.50/mi one-way). The transom window band requires careful handling during transit — we use pad-wrapped corner protection to make sure no glass is stressed during the trip. Your access path needs to be at least 2 feet wider than the building. The Shed Mule fits through most gate openings, but the building must clear every fence and passage — if it won’t fit, you can remove a fence section or go with an on-site build (30% surcharge). The Mule also can’t handle very steep hills or heavy mud.

Probably yes. The Transom Dormer starts at 8×12 (96 sq ft) and goes to 14×48 — anything 10×20 or larger crosses the 200-sq-ft threshold and typically needs a zoning permit in PA, NJ, DE, and MD. If you’re using the building as a habitable studio (with electrical, insulation, climate control), you’ll need a residential building permit regardless of size. The dormer-style roof can also occasionally trip an HOA architectural review even when the township doesn’t require a permit — worth a quick call to both before ordering.