Extending carport rafters

[oifla]

Hello all

Long time lurker, first time poster.

We have a carport that is annoyingly just narrow enough not to allow us to park both our vehicles under it. The span of the existing rafters is ~13'6" from the house wall, where they are anchored, to the bearing wall pictured below:

If I could relocate the bearing wall at the end of the rafters (to just under the gutter in the picture) I could squeeze both cars in without much trouble. The problem--and there's always a problem with stuff like this--is that most of the rafters do not continue past the bearing wall. That is, the little overhang that is visible in the pic (between the bearing wall and end of the roof/gutter) are shorter pieces nailed in between every few rafters. In short, most of them are 'dummies' (there's probably a term to describe those but I don't know it) and only a few rafters span the whole way.

So, the question is: can i double up on the existing rafters and/or reinforce them in some way that would allow me to move the bearing wall further out? Thanks

 

[6t7gto]

Is that wall on a footer?
Are you in a freeze/thaw area?

 

[oifla]

Is that wall on a footer?
Are you in a freeze/thaw area?

Hello. Yes, there is a cinder block wall below the framing that is visible in the picture.

 

[Nowater]

Lots of questions. Will the local authorities allow you to move the wall? If not, then everything else is academic. Check building and zoning. Do you have an HOA?

It may be easier to rebuild the entire roof based on what you called "dummies."
Sounds to me this may be a job to hire out.

 

[oifla]

Lots of questions. Will the local authorities allow you to move the wall? If not, then everything else is academic. Check building and zoning. Do you have an HOA?

well, i'm not really planning on asking for anyone's permission. it's a move that affects nothing really, the roof will be exactly the same size and nobody will know where the wall was... it's really a minor difference (assuming it can be done correctly) to move the wall over a few inches to improve the clearance. that is, as long as it continues to be structurally solid.

It may be easier to rebuild the entire roof based on what you called "dummies."
Sounds to me this may be a job to hire out.

well, i'm not so sure so i'm asking here (for starters) yes, the 'dummies' are a problem, we'll see... but you are right, it may be easier to rebuild.

 

[oifla]

The biggest issue is, even if you could just simply move the wall to the end of the beams/rafters/joists, you are effectively increasing the span of the beams between supports. This weakens the entire roof structure noticeably and possibly significantly depending on how overbuilt it is now (if at all). Many carports are not built to correct codes to begin with, so you might very well be creating a lot more problems than you are solving.

yes, i understand, and i agree about extending the spans. the one thing my idea has going is that the new roof will be much lighter than what's there now and the structure won't have to work as hard because of it.

I don't mean to be rude to the OP, but the fact that you are saying this is a "move that affects nothing really" shows how little you really know about what you are wanting to do. There are many things that would be changing, and none of them would be changing for the better in terms of strength.

i understand. you are being a little rude calling me ignorant but when i said it changes nothing i didn't mean structurally but i was thinking in terms of the usual things the state and county care about (i.e. square footage). from the air my carport will look exactly the same. i understand structurally the change is significant and hence my question here.

If the OP is going to do this anyways whether people recommend it or not, I would suggest that you at least add angled supports like the ones shown in my attached picture for each and every rafter. They will help to reduce the new longer rafter span back down to something closer to what it originally was. It will not guarantee it, but it will help some to prevent against future roof collapse from the roof being weakened too much.

again, i think you mistook what i was saying. my point is that i dont particularly feel like pulling a permit and asking the county for permission on what (in terms of the work anyway) will be a relatively minor project. assuming the extension of the rafters can be done, i will not be moving electrical or doing anything major, etc. that impacts the things they care about (i.e. taxes) and the carport will be pretty much the same size but with just enough room to park two cars instead of one and a half like it is now.

 

[Playwme]

What's the roof made of? Personally, I'd remove the fascia board down the side, slide complete new rafters in, build a wall underneath in the place where you want it to go, then remove the old wall and rafters. Maybe step up a thickness on the rafters for a bit of extra strength.

I fully agree with leaving any authority figures out of the excercise as well. It's not that hard to build a structure like that that exceeds code. Why waste money on admin.

 

[ATC]

yes, i understand, and i agree about extending the spans. the one thing my idea has going is that the new roof will be much lighter than what's there now and the structure won't have to work as hard because of it.

You live in Indiana. Indiana gets snow. Sometimes lots of it.

Snow is heavy

 

[bczygan]

Anything structural requires a permit. Even a header for a skylight. A qualified person could install one properly, but permits make sure that unqualified people do it properly.

A couple of questions.

What is your setback?

Is it a flat roof?

What are the design loads?

Unless you know that these questions need to be answered, and have the answers, you are not a qualified person. The permit process is there specifically to help you proceed without mistakes. In addition, it is there to make sure things are done in a standard way, so future owners know what they can expect to find.