Extending a Hip Roof

[[email protected]]

I want to cover the area behind my garage (next to the house) to put in an outdoor kitchen. Architect wants nearly $5 grand to draw up the plans. He says I should extend the garage roof up and back to cover the area (to maintain the integrity of the structure). The garage is attached to the house and has a hip roof. How tough is this to do? I've tried to attach a pdf depicting the current and what I think the future design would (kind of) look like to avoid the architect's charges. Any thoughts?

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Framing a roof to match into the existing would not be hard for any experienced framer, but maybe 9 out of 10 carpenters could not do it.

You need to set the wall height exactly the same as the rest of the house, and then insert the hip rafter. The rest is pretty straight forward. If you don't need any real design work done, finding a decent engineer could save you money. Depending on how the Building Inspection process is carried out in your area, you might not even need an engineer, just a carpenter with design/build capabilities.

Most Inspectors today do want a stamped drawing however. I would be looking to pay somewhere around 900 to 1200 dollars for such a drawing. In reality, there is about three hours work there, and it isn't rocket science. In a case like this, I might strip the roof and run sheathing up over the existing sheathing to smooth out the transition.

Or not.

 

[kbs2244]

Get a good general contractor to do the job.
One with “engineering” in the Co. description.
They will have the construction expetise and someone on staff to make up any needed drawings.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Truss company. It's all they do. They'll give you a contact for the guys to do the job.
General contractors, for the most part, are perfumed meatheads that write checks, yap on the phone looking for materials on the cheap, and get real craftsman to give estimates and do the actual work. "Windshield carpenters" as I always called them.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks DD! I didn't think it would be too difficult for an experienced carpenter to extend the roof up and out. There is another area of concern I have. The house is a 30 by 50 quad and the existing garage roof is directly next to half of the quad. The roof on the other half is 8 inches higher than the garage roof and the roofs do not currently intersect. The eaves on the garage and house are 18" and 24", respectively. Extending the garage will cause the roofs to join. The question is, should the roof extension section of the garage end up at the same height as the house? I'm guessing yes. If so, should the eave on the house be eliminated where the 2 roofs will intersect?

Another area of concern: Since the extension of the garage roof will intersect with the house roof, a modification will have to be made to the house roof (a valley?) to allow for runoff where the 2 roofs meet. Should the sheathing on the existing roof be removed where this new valley (?) piece is added to allow for ventilation? Or will putting a vent on the plywood wall used to enclose the valley (?) provide enough venting for the small addition to the house roof?

I hope my questions make sense. Thanks for the help!!!

 

[kbs2244]

I recommended a good general contractor.
If they describe them selves as "engineering" that means they have an employee with an engineering degree on staff.
That means they are a substantial outfit.
Not a semi-retired carpenter.
These outfits do serve a propose, and major construction projects is where they come into play.
I am all in favor of DIY, but sometimes the best route is to call in the pros.

In this case, you are dealing with a multi-unit dwelling.
That means all kinds of codes and inspections.
And that means it is time to call in the pros.