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Building a Home

Sunroom...which roof should we choose?

16 years ago

I posted this in remodeling, since it's a room addition, but haven't received much response, so I thought I'd try the mecca of design knowledge/advice here.

We're adding a sunroom onto the back of our house (the room with the chimney going out the top in the photos below). We're trying to decide whether to make it a hip roof, which matches more with the style of the rest of the house, or a gable roof, which seems more open facing the back yard. We're on a large lot overlooking a lake, and not too many people would see it from the side view. Here are elevations of our 2 options:

Here are the front and back of the house now.

And FWIW, here's the floor plan of the addition. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. Ignore the note that says "master bedroom."

Comments (6)

sue36
16 years ago
Just based on exterior looks, I prefer the gable. The hip seems odd at the top.
jsepul
16 years ago
I personally disagree. I would go with the hip roof. It makes the addition seem like it is original to the house.

While you have some "peaks on your front elevation, you don't have any on the rear. This makes the hip roof seem more logical for the rear. If you are seeking to "open up" the room to the backyard, why not add some skylights?

Skylights are a great way to let sunlight in. They help bring warmth in during the winter. In the summer, you can close the shades or keep them open and let the sun in. Sunlight really makes a space feel larger.

If you are worried about them leaking, then you need to find another contractor. Skylights if done properly by a good contractor, will not leak. If one right, they are just an continuation of the roof. A glass shingle if you will. The skylights of the 80's are no more. They are much different now and are made of newer more "space age" materials.

See the link below for a good article on skylights. adding them now will be much cheaper than adding them after.

Here is a link that might be useful: With new materials and proper installation, skylights can save energy, lift moods
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lyfia
16 years ago
I would prefer the gable as it looks better to me with the chimney and ties in with the turret roof.
persnicketydesign
16 years ago
Another vote for gable. I think that it will tie the front & back together nicely and accentuate the turret.
lmarletto
16 years ago
I vote for the gable roof too. I think it looks better from the angle that most people will see it. It also leaves room for a palladian window if that appeals to you. In terms of relating to the main house roof, historically, small additions often had simpler roofs than the main one, so I think the gable actually looks *more* appropriate.
weedyacres
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all your advice. We're leaning towards the gable because it'll allow us to have a (slight) cathedral ceiling and a window above the slider. The palladian (I assume that's the triangular shaped ones) or eyebrow are more than we want to spend, because they'd have to be custom sized, but we'll likely do a 2-foot transom to make it even more open and light.

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