Architecture/raising a roof

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Expert: - 11/9/2008


Question
  Hi. I am looking to attach my house and garage via an addition. The problem is, the garage roof is about 4' lower. I am looking to raise the roof of the garage to meet the height of the house. The garage is built of cinder block with a wood roof. Most of the work will be done by me. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated.                         thanks, jason

Answer
Jason - thanks for your question!

You don't necessarily need the roofs to be the same height to attach them with an addition, as long as you have the headroom you need.  The new roof can be the same height as the house, and simply connect to the garage roof above the fascia.

You'll have to work with the garage roof framing a bit, but it's a lot easier than raising the roof!

If you want to raise the roof of the garage, you'll need to build a kneewall on top of the existing wall.  You can do that with concrete block to match what's there, or you could frame a short wall on top of the existing block.

Raising the roof can be done by jacking it up and supporting it on cribbing...then build the new wall and lower the old roof down on it.

On larger jobs the roof is raised with a crane - a lot easier and faster, but fairly expensive.

Hope this helps,

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com

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Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

Experience

I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

Publications
Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.

Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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