Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 7/21/2009

Question
I have an additional question to the two that I have seen posted on additions to mobile homes. My question is about maintaining the ceiling height, my hope is a 12' x 32' running parallel. If I come out the back of my home the low edge of the pitch is at my new addition entrance, so how can I add on and still get a 8' ceiling outside of the old part of the home and matching floor height? Also to add on what type of roof without putting too much weight on old roof?

Answer
Hi Liz, the rafter tails beyond the outside wall of the existing home can usually be trimmed back to the wall, this will allow your new addition walls to level out with the existing unit.  You will want to use a truss type of roof over the new addition and then just do a simple valley framing for the tie in.  The valley framing consists of putting down a sleeper (flat laid board) along each valley and tie your valley framing into the sleepers.   I hope this information helps, feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com