Altering roof on a small addition: insane, or doable?
As part of an interior gut-remodel of a small addition on the back of my 1922 bungalow, I'm wondering about the feasibility of completely changing the style and slope of roof on the addition. This addition, which I bet started life as a porch, has been tacked on with no regard for the bungalow's rooflines and it drives me absolutely insane. And besides the aesthetic problem of the mismatched rooflines, the current roof offers no shade at all for this south-facing room.
What I'd like to do, if it were possible at reasonable cost, would be to change this roof to a shed or hipped roof with deep overhang, to get both shade from the sun and some shelter from wetter weather on the back of the house. I'd have the new roof angles at least play nicely with the original roof.
Am I out of my mind to contemplate a completely new roof structure? Is that a tens-of-thousands-more type add-on to an interior remodeling project? If I am out of my mind (and budget), I'd think about adding awnings and just try to ignore the horrible clash of roof slopes, though it really makes me grind my teeth every time I sit out on my patio and look at the back of the house.
I'd originally been thinking that I hate this addition so much that I'd just tear it off and start from scratch with a new addition, but since it's basically sound, it seems silly to commit to excavation and a whole new foundation if I could achieve what I want without doing that. I'm assuming that changing the roof, even if expensive, would be cheaper than a new room on a new foundation.
Thoughts? Thanks!
(Cross-posted from the Old House forum for additional perspectives)
Comments (8)
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Comments (8)Hi, I still would like to hear from anyone who has done or knows anything about this kind of roof extension remodel, that is adding three to six feet to the front of a house by simply continuing the existing roof line down and out and building underneath it. The existing front wall would be removed and replaced with a double set of heavy lvl beams supported on end by posts or perpendicular interior walls, with the load transferred to the existing 12 inch cement block wall and 20 inch concrete footing. The new ceiling and roof would be stick framed with 2x4's and 2x6's , tying the ends of the existing roof trusses and the sides of the new lvl beams to the new outer wall. I'd build a new 2x6 framed front wall on a new poured footing and block wall up to grade. I believe I can figure out all the construction except the lateral stability of the new ceiling and roof section. I'm concerned because the top of the new front wall would be 2 to 3 feet lower than the bottom of the heels of the existing roofing trusses, and I am not sure what kind of lateral forces would act on this structure. As for aesthetics I believe an extended sloped front roof would probably look better than 3 high cross gables that start at 16 feet over the driveway and 12 feet over the front steps, that may look too high. I also do not want to cut back two large trees that overhang the front of the house, including a 200 year old burr oak. On the inside the sloped front ceiling is far from ideal but still acceptable, as I would still have a 9 1/2 foot high ceiling in the foyer, 6 foot ceiling in the living room and 5 ' 8" ceiling in the bedrooms. I recently saw a 2 million dollar new construction home in Edina Minnesota with 5' 8" sloped bedroom ceiling that looked great. With smaller rooms with windows that look down into a yard lowered windows can work. I understand no one without seeing my precise plans can tell if they are doable, but I would like information in general if something like I propose could be done. I bought this foreclosure home two years ago, and since have peppered the city building officials with so many questions that I thought I would try to seek more information from others before I talk to them again....See MoreHoping for input on addition(s)/ new layout
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6 years agoLinda, yes. A few years ago I had a complete overhaul done of my back yard to create user-friendly (shaded) places to sit and walk. (And you can tell how I feel about resale concerns from my Persian Violet garage!)
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