Timber dormer
Short answer
A timber dormer suits houses where matching existing joinery matters, where the owner plans to stay 15+ years, or where maintenance access is good enough to keep up paint cycles. On exposed elevations, Western Red Cedar or Accoya are the safer choice over painted softwood.
Look and feel
Timber gives a softer profile than PVC: real shadow lines on the cladding, deeper window reveals and finishing options that match older houses. Most listed-building and conservation-area decisions go more smoothly with timber than with plastic.
Lifespan
- Structural lifespan: 50+ years if kept dry.
- Painted softwood cladding: 25–30 years with full repaint cycles.
- Western Red Cedar cladding: 40–60 years untreated.
- Accoya cladding: 50+ years with factory coating.
Choosing the wood
Painted softwood is cheapest and easiest to repair locally, but needs the most attention. Western Red Cedar is dimensionally stable and naturally rot-resistant; it ages to silver-grey if left untreated, which some owners love and some don't. Accoya is acetylated pine — almost rot-proof, very stable, and accepts factory coatings that last 10–15 years.
Best fit
- Older houses where matching existing joinery matters.
- Conservation areas and listed properties.
- Owners staying 15+ years who value repairability.
- Roofs facing south or west where premium wood is justified.