Dormer Side Surfaces

The side surfaces of the dormer can be processed in different ways. One option is to enter walls, which can then be opened in the model area 'Wall construction' to define posts, cladding, etc. Another option for less complex constructions is to enter timbers directly in the dormer support structure. The options there are not as extensive as in the wall construction, but these timbers are provided immediately when using a template and adapt instantly to the new dormer dimensions and shape.

With the selection list at the top of the dialog box you can choose existing settings. Using the disk icon you can save the current setting under the same name or a new name. Via the management icon you can create new settings, also by adopting existing settings, or modify or delete existing settings. See 'Save settings' in the 'General Help' manual.

Using the rocker at the top edge of the inputs you can switch from one component to the next. This allows an arbitrary number of components to be defined in the side surface. The two numbers on the rocker indicate how many components have been entered in total and which component is currently displayed. The first number always indicates the number of the current component and the second number indicates the total number of defined components.

First you enter the material and dimension of the component. For the upper and lower (or front and rear) end, a connection can be set. The available connections are 'cut', 'tenon' and 'T-joint end plate'. With T-joint end plate you can connect the components to an end plate including a bore at the purlin, the main roof rafter or the corner post (depending on the rod direction).

With the next field you can shift the components in depth. The reference is the base purlin. The options are 'flush front', 'flush back', 'centered' and 'value'. With 'value' the components can be shifted from the centered position relative to the base purlin. A positive value shifts the components backward and a negative value shifts them forward.

The 'rod direction' allows the components to be created in three different orientations. The options available are 'parallel to main roof rafters', 'vertical post' and 'horizontal rail'.

Depending on this orientation the spacing is measured differently, as can be seen in the illustrative images.

Because you can enter any number of components and each component can have a different orientation, the sequence of the timbers plays a decisive role. The components are generated in the order in which they were entered in the dialog box. The component that is generated first (e.g. vertical post) runs through and is connected at the top and bottom to the next components (e.g. base purlin and main roof rafters). The next component from the side surface (e.g. parallel to main roof rafters) then begins with its lower end and is connected at the top to the next component. That may then be the vertical post. If the 'create band' option is enabled, the second component does not end at the first component; instead a second piece is generated on the other side of the first component.

If the components (especially the vertical posts) do not terminate at their lower end on a main roof rafter, the lower end is limited by the entered orientation. The component is automatically extended until the component terminates at the top side of the set orientation.

For symmetrical dormers the components are always generated automatically on both sides of the dormer. The triangular dormer is not a symmetrical dormer, and therefore for this dormer type you can specify on which side the respective component should be generated.