You’re not looking to uproot your family. You like your neighborhood, your schools, your commute. But your house feels smaller every year, and the attic is just sitting there collecting dust and heat.
A dormer changes that. It adds usable square footage where you thought there wasn’t any. You get headroom, natural light, and actual living space without touching your property line or dealing with a full second-story addition.
Most Merrick homes are Cape Cods or Colonials built in the 1950s and 60s. Those attics were never designed to be lived in. A shed dormer or gable dormer opens them up. You can finally use that space for what your family actually needs—a third bedroom, a master bath, a quiet office, or just somewhere the kids can spread out.
And it’s not just about space. Dormers improve ventilation, reduce that musty attic smell, and make your home feel bigger the moment you walk upstairs. If you’re planning to stay in Merrick long-term, this is one of the smartest moves you can make.
We have over 40 years of experience working on Long Island homes. We’ve handled dormer installations, first-floor renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels, and full extensions across Nassau County.
We know Merrick. We know the housing stock, the Town of Hempstead permitting process, and what works on a Cape Cod near the water versus a split-level three blocks inland. We’ve seen every attic layout, every roof pitch, and every “we didn’t know that was up there” moment.
You’ll talk to the same people from estimate to cleanup. We answer the phone. We text back. If a pipe freezes at 3 a.m., we show up. Our crews keep the site clean, and we don’t disappear halfway through the job.
We’re licensed, insured, and bonded across Nassau and Suffolk County. We’ve been doing this long enough to know what matters—and it’s not just the framing. It’s showing up when we say we will and finishing what we start.
First, we come out and look at your attic. We measure the roof pitch, check the framing, and figure out what type of dormer makes sense for your home and your goals. Shed dormers add the most space. Gable dormers add character and curb appeal. We’ll walk you through the options and what each one costs.
Once you’re ready to move forward, we handle the permitting with the Town of Hempstead. That includes zoning approval, building permits, and any inspections required along the way. We don’t start until everything’s approved and you know exactly what’s happening.
Then we get to work. We open up the roof, frame the dormer, install windows, and tie everything into your existing roofline. Depending on the size, the structural work usually takes one to two weeks. After that, we finish the interior—insulation, drywall, electric, whatever the space needs to be livable.
You’ll have dust and noise while we’re working, but we clean up every day and keep disruption to a minimum. Most dormer projects take three to five weeks from demo to final walkthrough. When we’re done, you’ll have a finished room that feels like it was always part of the house.
Ready to get started?
Every dormer installation includes structural framing, roofing, siding to match your existing exterior, windows, insulation, and interior finishing. We handle the full scope—no subbing out the roof to one guy and the drywall to another.
In Merrick, most homes need a shed dormer to maximize floor space or a gable dormer to add architectural detail without a huge footprint. Shed dormers are the most common because they give you the most usable square footage. A 100-square-foot dormer typically runs between $8,000 and $20,000 depending on finishes and how much interior work is involved. Larger projects that include a full bathroom or custom built-ins will be closer to $30,000.
We also handle dormer repairs. If you’ve got an older dormer that’s leaking, sagging, or letting in drafts, we can rebuild or reinforce it. A lot of Cape Cods in Merrick have original dormers from the 60s that were never flashed properly. Water gets in, insulation fails, and you end up with rot in the framing. We see it all the time.
Because Merrick sits low and close to the water, we pay extra attention to waterproofing and ventilation. Your dormer needs to handle humidity, nor’easters, and everything else Long Island throws at it. We build for that.
Most dormer projects in Merrick cost between $8,000 and $30,000 depending on size, type, and how much interior finishing you need. A small 25-square-foot eyebrow dormer might run $2,500 to $6,300 if you’re just adding light and curb appeal. A larger 100-square-foot shed dormer that adds a full bedroom or bathroom will be closer to $20,000 to $30,000.
The biggest cost drivers are the size of the dormer, whether you’re adding plumbing or electric, and what finishes you choose. If you want hardwood floors, custom trim, and high-end fixtures, that adds up. If you’re keeping it simple with carpet and standard finishes, you’ll stay on the lower end.
We give you a fixed price upfront after we’ve seen the space and talked through what you want. No surprises, no change orders unless you change the scope. Most homeowners in Merrick see a return of 40 to 50 percent on a dormer addition when they sell, and in the meantime, they get the space they actually need.
Yes. The Town of Hempstead requires a building permit for any dormer installation, and depending on your lot size and setbacks, you may also need zoning approval. We handle all of that for you.
The permitting process usually takes two to four weeks. We submit the plans, coordinate with the building department, and make sure everything’s approved before we start work. If there’s a zoning board meeting required, we’ll let you know what to expect and whether you need to attend.
A lot of homeowners try to skip permits or hire someone who says they can do it without one. That’s a mistake. Open permits show up in title searches when you go to sell, and closing them after the fact is expensive and complicated. We pull permits on every job, and we don’t start until they’re in hand. It’s the right way to do it, and it protects your investment.
Shed dormers are the most popular choice for Cape Cods in Merrick because they give you the most usable space. A shed dormer runs along the back or side of the roof and opens up the entire attic floor. You get full headroom, room for furniture, and enough space to add a bathroom or walk-in closet.
Gable dormers are smaller and add character to the front of the house. They’re great if you want more light and ventilation but don’t need a ton of extra square footage. A lot of Cape Cods in Merrick have one or two gable dormers on the front and a larger shed dormer on the back.
The right choice depends on your goals and your roof. If you’re trying to add a full bedroom or master suite, a shed dormer makes the most sense. If you just want to brighten up the attic and improve curb appeal, gable dormers work well. We’ll look at your home and talk through what fits your layout and your budget.
Most dormer projects take three to five weeks from start to finish. That includes framing, roofing, siding, windows, insulation, drywall, and interior finishes. Smaller dormers that don’t require plumbing or electric can be done in two to three weeks. Larger projects with a full bathroom or custom built-ins may take six weeks.
Weather can slow things down, especially in winter. We can’t frame a roof in a rainstorm, and we won’t leave your house open overnight if there’s a nor’easter coming. We plan around the forecast and make sure your home stays protected while we’re working.
Permitting adds time upfront—usually two to four weeks before we can start. Once we have approvals in hand, we schedule the work and stick to the timeline. You’ll know exactly when we’re starting, what’s happening each week, and when you can start using the space.
Yes. Most dormer additions return 40 to 50 percent of the cost when you sell. If you spend $20,000 on a dormer, you can expect it to add $8,000 to $10,000 to your home’s resale value. But the bigger benefit is that you get to use the space while you’re living there.
In Merrick, where the median home price is around $890,000, buyers expect finished attics and extra bedrooms. A Cape Cod with two bedrooms and a cramped attic is harder to sell than one with three bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. A dormer makes your home more competitive and more functional.
Even if you’re not planning to sell anytime soon, a dormer is one of the best ways to add space without moving. You’re already paying property taxes on the square footage under your roof. A dormer just makes that space livable. And in a market where bigger homes are overpriced or too far from the water, adding a dormer lets you stay where you are and get what you need.
Yes. We match your existing siding, shingles, and trim so the dormer looks like it’s always been part of the house. If your siding is discontinued or hard to find, we’ll source the closest match or suggest a complementary option that blends in.
Most homes in Merrick have vinyl siding or cedar shakes, and we work with both. We also handle any fascia, soffit, or trim details to keep the roofline clean and consistent. If your roof is older and the shingles are faded, we’ll talk through whether it makes sense to replace the whole roof at the same time. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t—but we’ll give you an honest answer either way.
The goal is for the dormer to look original, not like an add-on. We take the time to match materials, align the roofline, and make sure everything ties in visually. When we’re done, most people can’t tell where the old house ends and the new dormer begins.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Merrick
