This course will guide you through the drawing and developing of eyebrow dormers. We will explore the different shapes and styles of dormers, as well as groin vaults. We will also learn how to develop sheathing shapes for curved surfaces. In addition to these things we will draw and cut a model using basic tools. The course will be three days long.

The first day will be spent exploring the different forms of dormers and practicing the drawing process.

On the second day we will all draw model projects and begin cutting.

The third day will be spent finishing our models and looking at groin dormers.

The goal of this course is to enable the carpenter to visualize, draw, understand and create curved roof surfaces as they intersect pitched roof planes.

Skills

• Draw curves so that they interact with each other cleanly.
• Develop valley curves and bevels as they relate to the pitched roof planes.
• Develop the roof sheathing shapes on a curved surface.

Tools Needed

• Large compass (12 inches or bigger)
• Tramell points
• High quality colored pencils.
• Framing square.
• 3 ft. or 4 ft. straight edge.
• Jigsaw
• Block plane

Skills Needed

Good knowledge and experience in roof framing, as well as moderately precise drawing skills.

Instructor Billy Dillon is a co-owner and carpenter foreman for South Mountain Co. a resource conscious design/build company located on Martha’s Vineyard. Billy attended and graduated from a union apprenticeship in the late 1970s. While in school, he worked for a large union framing contractor. Billy went on to start his own framing company with a partner who was also a great teacher. In the mid 1980s, bored with the tract home building, slam-bang world, Billy moved to Martha’s Vineyard to work for South Mountain Co. The company’s unique structure, design/ build, as well as being employee owned, has been a great place to learn and expand skills. His passion for roof geometry and drawing inspired the study of eyebrow dormers and the drawing system.