I have a decorative dormer on the front of my ranch style house, with the peak of the dormer roof extending perpendicular to, and level with, the peak of the main roof that runs the length of the house. I have soffit vents in the eaves on the front and back of the house, with a ridge vent along the peak of the roof. However, my living room, located directly below the decorative dormer, extends to the edge of the roof, i.e. no eaves/no soffit vents. The dormer also has a ridge vent along the peak, but no other means of circulation, i.e. no soffit vents, no access to the attic or outside, it's just dead space. I notice that snow melts on the roof of the dormer first, flows down, and then, unfortunately, forms ice dams at either end where the dormer roof meets the gutters. I was told by a home improvement contractor that what I need to do is put a gable vent on the face of the dormer which runs along the front of the house. Does this sound like what needs to be done to bring the temperature inside the dormer to that of, or less than, the rest of the attic, so that I can try to reduce/eliminate the ice dams I am currently getting?
Also, I have tried to look for directions for installing a gable vent, and what I have found involves building a frame within the existing studs in which the vent will fit. Since there is no access to to the inside of the dormer, I don't see how that will be possible in my case. How then can I install a gable vent?

Well,by the sounds of it,you'll need to cut in from the outside of the unit with a sawsall.

Cutting with a long enough blade to 'feel' the studs inside(more resistance)then cutting the opening to the exact size you need to install the vent.

Framing can be done from the outside ,through the opening, and then the vent installed like a normal vent.

I think I can see how one can build a frame from the outside, as long as I don't have to reach too far in with the hammer to nail up the planks. I'm not exactly sure about "feeling" the studs as I cut, though. If I center the vent below the peak, and find that a stud sits inside the opening I need to make, how can I install the vent there? Yet then I have already started a cut in the face of my siding and wall. Would I be better off using a good stud finder to locate them first and then plan my opening? If you detect ignorance of simple carpentry in my responses, you are not being deceived. Thanks

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Originally Posted by phdhub1

I think I can see how one can build a frame from the outside, as long as I don't have to reach too far in with the hammer to nail up the planks. I'm not exactly sure about "feeling" the studs as I cut, though. If I center the vent below the peak, and find that a stud sits inside the the opening I need to make, how can I install the vent there? Yet then I have already started a cut in the face of my siding and wall. Would I be better off using a good stud finder to locate them first and then plan my opening? If you detect ignorance of simple carpentry in my responses, you are not being deceived. Thanks

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No reaching in,cordless drill and screws work wonders versus a hammer and nail.

If you are cutting the siding,you will feel the stud inside with the increased resistance on the blade,Hard to describe,easier with practice.

Say, if you were cutting through the center of the face and run into a stud, you'll have to frame the opening either around the stud, or eliminate the stud,and make a frame to fit the opening.The new vent shouldn't be able to contact the stud inside the siding.

Truth be told, I would place the vents on the side of the dormer, not the front.

I hope this isn't too confusing, I am tired tonight and am explaining things a little to lengthy.

Ken

If you can get to the back side of the Dormer in the attic, just vent it into the attic.