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need help designing shed dormers

lisafromvermont

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

we bought an 1864 post and beam house and want to add 2 shed dormers upstairs to create more space (and light) the exterior span is 27', and my husband wants two 9' shed dormers with 4 ft in between. how does this ratio of dormer to roof sound? also he thinks we should begin the dormer at the current ridge line, which would give is ~ 3/12 pitch. the current roof pitch is 8/12. any thoughts? i'm concerned about the exterior aesthetics, he is more concerned with maximizing head room upstairs (he is 6'1"). we're looking for a win/win :)

thanks!
lisa

Featured Answer

User

9 years ago

If you want to get past the ''thinking'' stage, hire an architect. No one in internetland can meaure the ceiling height that you have or inspect the existing joists, HVAC, or any one of a dozen site specific issues that will impact whether or not this very expensive to impossible to do project can move forward.

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Comments (12)

lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago
here is a photo that includes the addition on the right side.
renovator8
9 years ago
The most important dimension is the span of the existing rafters. Without that its difficult to say if shed dormers are appropriate. If the existing ridge and ceiling joists are not already sized for the new loads, you might consider tearing off the roof and building a new second floor and roof.
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lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago
excuse my ignorance of proper lingo, but what dimension are you looking for? the length from ridge line to front line of roof? or the distance from the front to the back of the house? the rear of the house already has the roof bumped up, and has a 3/12 pitch. we are planning on replacing the entire front roof and ceiling joists. thanks!
User
9 years ago
Hire an architect.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I can't imagine the guys who built that house sized the ceiling framing to support a second story a hundred and fifty-one years later. You're going to have to kill the patient to save him. You may have bought the wrong house.
lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago
there is already a full second floor, we just want to add dormers to give a little more head room and light. we've talked to a couple of builders who don't see a problem with it structurally, i just wonder about the look of it from outside and proportions.
bry911
9 years ago
So for what it is worth, I am with Sophie on this one. You need an architect.

My first thought is there is no way this house will support any dormer on the front. I think any dormer that will add meaningful space is going to overpower the house. I really don't see a way to put any dormer on the front of the house without an architectural redo, and honestly that seems a bit like throwing good money after bad. Let me remind you that I am right every time, that I am not wrong. So having said all that, it may just be my failure to visualize your plan and it could end up looking amazing.

If it were me and I wanted the room I would add in a large shed dormer across the back of the house. These are pretty acceptable architecturally and they add a lot of meaningful space but they also really elevate the scale of the remodel.
GreenDesigns
9 years ago
Doesn't look tall enough to be a legal habitable space and comply with modern insulation requirements. Might take ripping off the top and adding a second floor to cure that. That would be more than cost prohibitive to do.
lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago

considering this style of dormer instead. does this seem like a better fit?
lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago

here is a photo of the entire house . seems to be a similar roof/pitch to mine.
lisafromvermont
Original Author
9 years ago

one more angle

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