Raising garage roof

[jollyjerry]

How difficult is it to raise a garage roof to accommodate a lift?



This house just got listed in our market. I'm curious if it's possible to raise the roof for a lift. Any have experience with this? Paperwork, costs, other considerations?

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[readhead]

Of course you can raise the roof. Just bring money. The biggest issue I see is thoughtful design, especially for that house.

 

[ddawg16]

about 1 lb of C4 should do the job

 

[jollyjerry]

about 1 lb of C4 should do the job

Yep, problem solving.

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[fourjeepin]

I think popping the garage roof up above the roof of the house would actually improve the look of this house. I would go up just a few feet and keep the same slope.

I can't help with a cost estimate. I'm sure some folks here could if we knew what part of the world this house is located.

 

[memphisnate]

Love that mid century look!

Does the garage roof connect to the house or is it independent? Hopefully independent.

Any idea how high you would need to lift it? 1 ft? 3 ft?

 

[duke5572]

I think popping the garage roof up above the roof of the house would actually improve the look of this house. I would go up just a few feet and keep the same slope.

I can't help with a cost estimate. I'm sure some folks here could if we knew what part of the world this house is located.

I think that would look pretty cool, too.

I'm a residential construction contractor, which means two things: 1) I might be able to ballpark a decent number but 2) there's no way I'd do it on the basis of one photograph.

I'd need a lot more information. Raising the roof but maintaining the same slope would create a wall on the house side that would then need to drain effectively to the front or the back. How do you accomplish that without modifying the original roof? Same theory applies for the addition of almost any kind of roof (gable, hip, etc.).

Secondly, without more information it's impossible to know what exactly a roof-raising would entail. It isn't as simple as tacking a bunch of cripples on top of the current wall and slapping a roof onto them.

This isn't to say it can't be done; but it isn't gonna be cheap, and there's a decent chance you destroy the character of what is a handsome little home.

 

[davejo]

You could lower the floor, AKA service pit

stealth garage

 

[jollyjerry]

Thanks for the detailed replies. The home is in the bay area. We're not buying until next year but saw several of these Eichler style homes.

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[DougWil]

Adding wall height on an existing wall creates a hinge point in the wall.

It is not easy or cheap to increase wall height, if you are going to comply with the building code.

 

[matt_i]

I would not do it because of this: consider what I think is a single-pitch roof plane. By raising the wall between the garage and house, you have just created a V-shaped area that's going to effectively double as a small pond. This goes against almost all building design for the last 1000 years or so which attempts to shed water from the roof by gravity.

Also, consider potential resale value of the investment, people would be buying this house for the architectural elements....that you are about to throw out in the name of function...

 

[tthornto]

It can be done, and it could even look good. I think for it to look right you should maintain the same roof slope and add windows above the garage door too match the windows on the front of the house. To actually achieve that look however may take a good architect and a creative engineer. Because where it looks like a window should be is exactly where the header normally is.

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[Voi]

It can be done, and it could even look good.

I think so too, it's just a matter of what will be the easiest weak point to deal with.

One option is the turn the slope of the garage roof the other way and make a butterfly roof. There are actually two of them here in my town, much to my surprise. I assume it could be done in the Bay area if it works here in the Black Hills.

This is the only picture I could find. Bad example since the garage is detached but I thought it showed that the design could potentially look good.

 

[jollyjerry]

Pretty cool photo. If I did change one of these styles, I would consult an engineer and an architect. Resale is a good point, but I'm tired of apartments and working in the street. Just want to enjoy a space.

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[bczygan]

Check your zoning rules first.

 

[rayra]

Save a lot of headache and expense NOT picking the flattest roof design out there with the intention of having a lift.

You could readily raise it, but do it as a post design and turn the entire perimeter into glass / skylight. The intersection with the exiting roof will just have to be properly guttered. And kept clean of debris. And a little bit of creative plumbing could make that an easy chore too.

 

[bczygan]

Man I HATE a flat roof.

Let me say that again...I HATE a flat roof!

You can raise it fairly easily.

I prefer a 12/12 pitch. Rain and snow and dead bodies dropping from the sky, all roll off more easily.

Bill

 

[jollyjerry]

Man I HATE a flat roof.

Let me say that again...I HATE a flat roof!

You can raise it fairly easily.

I prefer a 12/12 pitch. Rain and snow and dead bodies dropping from the sky, all roll off more easily.

Bill

Ha! I think they are popular around this area because there is neither rain nor snow. Dead bodies... I dunno?

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[bczygan]

Ha! I think they are popular around this area because there is neither rain nor snow. Dead bodies... I dunno?

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Well then.........

Please put your location in your profile.

If that's the case, it's easy to do.

One way is to jack up the entire wood framed structure and add a masonry wall under it. Headeres would be need to be installed and reframing done, to lower windows and doors.

Or you could add on to the height of the wall after jacking up the roof. You would need to add full length studs to tie existing and new framing together, so look for one where no interior finish or insulation has been installed.

You could also raise just a portion of the roof by installing two beams and headering them off, to create a cupola. This could have windows to provide additional light. My parents designed and built a house like that in 53-54. Kitchen was in the middle of a flat post and beam roof, so the cupola gave it height and light.

Bill

 

[Onewolf]

Well then.........

Please put your location in your profile.

Bill

He said he's from the 'bay' area. I assume he means the Bay of Fundy. Or maybe Bay of Pigs.

If he's from the bay area of kalifornia then he's F'ed.

 

[rburke65]

Where is " in this area" at?

 

[jollyjerry]

He said he's from the 'bay' area. I assume he means the Bay of Fundy. Or maybe Bay of Pigs.

If he's from the bay area of kalifornia then he's F'ed.

Yep, looking in Peninsula and South Bay of California. 1.5MM doesn't go very far here. Basically cry myself to sleep.

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