Chatham homes and adding space upstairs
Chatham Borough and Chatham Township are among the most sought-after addresses in Morris County, with colonials, Tudors, and Capes on tree-lined streets. Renovations here are about adding space and value to homes owners plan to keep for a long time.
Colonials with walk-up attics
Many Chatham colonials have a walk-up attic with a real staircase. With a dormer or two for headroom and egress, that attic can become a bedroom, office, or playroom.
Tudors and steep roofs
Steep Tudor roofs in Chatham often hide a lot of usable attic. A well-placed dormer can turn it into a bedroom suite without changing the character from the street.
Chatham is Cape Cod country
Chatham has a large stock of 1940s and 1950s Capes, built for a young family and now too small for most. A rear shed dormer is the most cost-effective way to add bedrooms and a bathroom here without giving up the yard.
Chatham pricing
A finished rear shed dormer on a Chatham Cape typically runs $105,000 to $170,000 with an upstairs bathroom, reflecting the finish level typical here. Gable dormers run $18,000 to $32,000 each.
Build a planning estimate with the dormer cost calculator →
Permits in Chatham
Dormers in Chatham need stamped drawings and a building permit from the Chatham construction office, and some projects also need a zoning review for height or bulk. DMF coordinates the architect and engineer, files everything, and represents the project at a zoning board hearing if one is needed.
How a Chatham project runs
- Site visitWe measure upstairs, check framing, stairs, and zoning.
- Concept & priceA sketch of what's possible and a written price range.
- Design & permitsArchitect, engineer, zoning check, and building permit.
- BuildRoof off and dried in within days; finished in 10–16 weeks.
- FinalInspections, certificate of approval, walkthrough.
What neighbors say
“The projects went pretty smooth, they are very honest and fair, punctual which most important now a days.”
“The pricing was fair and competitive compared to other quotes that I have gotten. They gave me a step by step outline.”