Victoria's Cottage- thoughts on these design mods

Started by MikeT, May 10, 2007, 10:40:25 AM

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MikeT

What do you think of a shed roof dormer over the loft side of Victoria on the side that does not have the bedroom addition?  Do you think it would look okay or would it look awkward?

Also, instead of a shed roof back porch entry into the kitchen, what do you think of a gabled porch that mimics the main roof line and runs the same way?

Just thinking about the aesthetic issues around these possible changes.  I would then look at the degree of difficulty and the cost/benefit considerations.

Thanks,
mt

jraabe

The Right Side Elevation (Sht 2) has a shed roof coming down for the kitchen pop-out. Several folks have extended that shed all the way to the front of the cottage (making a 20' wide Great Rm). You can do this by replacing the wall with a beam that carries the roof and loft load - this is along the same line as the 6x12 in the kitchen. That beam would be bigger and longer and needs to be sized for the local snow loads. The footing also needs to be bigger under the 6x6 post as it is now carrying many more pounds.

Doing a gable at the Rear Elevation over the porch would look good and could be extended more easily than the shed roof. Unfortunately it messes up the nice big window in the back of the loft (which is a required egress window for fire protection) so I have been unable to come up with a better solution than the shed. You might be able to get something to work better. Especially if you don't have a sleeping room up there and are not required to have an egress window.


MikeT

Thanks, John.  I was thinking (perhaps poorly) that a shed dormer could run from the peak of the gable and terminate right over the support beam that spans the area where the kitchen bumpout begins.  In other words it runs from the midpoint to 8 lineal feet toward the kitchen and then ends.  The kitchen bumpout would then continue as planned.

I have thought about continuing the bumpout wall all the way to the back of the great room.  I am not sure I am sold on it, but I am thinking of it. With my lot and the need to create that bumpout wall as a deeper footed retaining wall, it might make sense from an external soil retention perspective.   Ah choices.

I will tinker with the gabled porch idea.  I was also thinking of taking the shed roof, making it a porch for a widow's walk out of the loft.

Then again, I may just end up going with the fine design you have provided me and enjoy it.

More as things evolve....

mt

jraabe

I understand now - a shed dormer at the loft level. I had it down below. Yes, that would give a lot more space up top. If you went inward one or 2 rafter bays before starting the dormer, then the main roof would still read as the dominate form.

Draw it up in the section (for heights and slopes) and the right side elevation (for width) and you will get a pretty good idea of how it will look. It may not poke too high above the main roof plane.

MikeT

Here is a related tactical question:  If I did choose to change to a shed dormer off the loft, would I/should I take this revision to the county, just ask the inspector while on site ahead of time, or just do it?  My sense is that asking the inspector first might be the best way of proceeding, but I don't know.  Is there a rule of thumb regarding field changes?

mt


jraabe

Something at that level of change I would suggest reviewing with the inspector first. At the very least call the field inspector after the project is underway but before you have to have the roof structure approved.

PS - The narrower the shed dormer the less load will accumulate at the beams and posts below. You may need to change the depth of a beam or add a post so you don't want to find that out after the floors and walls are completed. :-/

silky

Just got my VC plans yesterday.  Mike T's shed dormer over the main part of the kitchen was one of the first things to pop into my head.

While I've been an engineer for over 30 years, I'm not truly a structural specialist.  When I look at the shed dormer, I only see a little bit of added dead load from the side walls entering the structure below.  The dormer roof and its live load (snow) will essentially be the same as the original roof.  What am I missing here?

While this is the kind of thing I would define as an addendum as early in project as possible.  I was thinking that for my puposes it may be best for me to get the simplest house complete (local ordinance requires project completion in 6 months, else they will contract the completion for you), then add dormers, 12 x 14 bedroom, etc in future years.  This is what my Dad did 50 years ago with the old homestead.

John Raabe

Not a bad idea Silky.  ;) (That's how my dad worked too. And he built some very sturdy houses.)

And I don't think you are missing much. Depending on the width of the shed dormer you might look at any extra point loads where the doubled rafters hit the floor. That might add a bit more than the standard uniform load to a point on a beam below.
None of us are as smart as all of us.