AboutRichard 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 five-person 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, Past Editor of SPLASH (a CAD program), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Boy Scouts of America
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Richard Taylor Architects Looking for great Luxury Home House Plans? Try ours at RTA Plans.
Question I want to add a gabled portico (with the same pitch as the roof on the house) to an existing brick colonial (2-story) with an existing porch. Are there any special considerations for attaching this structure to the brick wall? [Of course, the front end of the portico will be supported by 2 columns]. My main concern is providing enough support where it meets the building. Thanks much.
Answer Hi Joe - thanks for your question!
You've got three ways to do this:
1) Attach a ledger board (aligned with the rafters) to the brick veneer with masonry anchors or "tap-con" screws. That'll give you a solid wood base to attach the porch roof structure to. It will work, but unless it's a very small porch I don't recommend it.
2) Remove some of the bricks and fill the openings with treated lumber blocking that is thru-bolted to the frame of the building. Attach your ledger boards to the wood instead of the brick veneer. A more difficult to build approach, but it puts the load on the frame instead of the veneer.
3) Build pilasters against the wall to support the back end of the roof. The pilasters should be 1/2 columns that match the full columns at the other end, and should be anchored to the brick veneer, but should bear fully on solid structure below (don't just hang them off the brick). You can still use the anchored ledgers for the roof structure, but with the pilasters installed they won't be carrying all the weight of the porch. I think this is the best looking option also.
Hope this helps,
Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com
