Roof overhang

[wewiserangers]

Planning out a 32x50 shop. It will be near my home and I want it to look nice.

What is a nice looking amount of overhang on the roof. I don't like the no overhang look. My home is a ranch style with 3' of overhang.

 

[phred]

I would recommend matching the roof pitch and overhang of the house. I personally like large overhangs.

 

[mogandave]

I would recommend matching the roof pitch and overhang of the house. I personally like large overhangs.

When you say match the overhang, do you mean scale it or not? I like a large overhang as well.

 

[acer66]

I would recommend matching the roof pitch and overhang of the house. I personally like large overhangs.

This.

 

[jack stand]

Wall height has an effect on the appearance and proportions of an overhang.
If you have a 32' gable and it's starting on a 12,14,16' wall height and you put a matching gable overhang of say 16" that's on the house (large for any colonial rooted architecture) it's going to be very unremarkable on the shop gable. Scale and proportions are critical to dress up a big building and help to disguise its size.

 

[wewiserangers]

I'm not necessarily needing to match the house. I just want it to look nice. Not just like a boxy machine shed. What would be a standard overhang? 12' walls with maybe a 7/12 or 8/12 roof pitch.

 

[nadogail]

What is the opinion of your Architect?

 

[Innovate1]

I would say minimum of 16". That's what I did on my 30 x 40 with 14' walls and 6/12 roof. It's not very big for the height of the building but I think it looks fine. That gives a decent amount of vent area if using vented soffit panels. Also gives space to tuck some lights under the overhang if you want. Other than that it's mostly what you think looks good. Maybe sketch up the outline to scale and decide what looks good to you. My house has about 8" and wish I had done more - that's what the architect put on the plans and I didn't think about it until it was too late to change.

 

[mike93lx]

I'm not necessarily needing to match the house. I just want it to look nice. Not just like a boxy machine shed. What would be a standard overhang? 12' walls with maybe a 7/12 or 8/12 roof pitch.

I think a standard build would have it in the 12" area, maybe 18".

I think I would go at least 2'

 

[Innovate1]

What is the opinion of your Architect?

Fair question but they just do what is the industry trends or what they think looks good so I would take that with a grain of salt.

 

[WisJim]

On the south side I calculated the amount of overhang that shaded the windows in summer and allowed sun in them in winter.

 

[Zeke]

What is the opinion of your Architect?

Not all jobs require an architect. Or is even desired. Certainly not for a small shop building unless it some sort of work of art, a historically compliant building, or just complicated in general like dormers and cupulas.

I always suggest building models. Computer models will rule out some mistakes and a scale model, even if just painted cardboard, will show up others. Another good thing about models is that you make the roof removable and then start filling out the space with model cars, lifts, benches and tool boxes. Not to mention any significant machines, like where to put a table saw.

No criticism intended but are you going to pay an architect for that service?

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

I'm not necessarily needing to match the house. I just want it to look nice. Not just like a boxy machine shed. What would be a standard overhang? 12' walls with maybe a 7/12 or 8/12 roof pitch.

I’d go with a “standard” 12” soffit. The other thing to consider is framing cost- going with “oversized” soffits/overhangs requires longer lengths of rafters (or trusses)- plus all the other materials to finish the detail. Also, don’t forget the gable (if you have gables)- running a barge rafter for overhang and those details. Like Queen Anne returns or bird boxes.

That small detail of an overhang can snowball very quickly if you don’t know, or don’t take all the other things into consideration.

 

[Innovate1]

While you are thinking about overhangs you should also consider raised heel trusses if you plan to heat and cool the place. Provides for a bit more insulation and room for ventilation at the walls.

 

[jrsavoie]

Make sure the soffit panels are well attached. They were a little slack on my 2' overhang and they rattle in the wind

 

[jack stand]

I just built this, it's 20" in the gables and 40" at the eave. I wanted to keep the siding as out of the weather as possible and the eaves I want the snow away from the walls so I can plow it away without shoving and rolling door operation. The sidewall is about 12' and the roof pitch is only 3/12.
This is primarily for my sawmill.

I wasn't "shooting" for any special look, strictly a utility building and the described utility of the overhangs, but it turned out pretty pleasing to the eye.
That's 40' across the gable end and 38' the other way.

 

[johnharris]

With the 32 x 32 garage I finished earlier this year I just matched the house and did 18" overhangs. The pitch is 7/12.

Having 6" seamless gutters installed I first nailed on sub-fascia boards onto the fine cut rafter tails. Sub fascia boards are bevel cut 2x4s. I wrapped the 1 x6 fascia boards with aluminum but still threw on oil based kiltz before installing them. Previously owning a gutter company I've had to replace hundreds of rotted facia boards.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Up to 24" looks good, once you go over that it looks like it should be a covered porch.

 

[chad215]

my red iron building has 24" eave and 6'-0" gable overhangs and I'm glad I did it. Keeps a lot of the rain from coming in my 12x10 roll up door.

 

[jives]

My house and separate garage are 18". Shedding water, better look. When you start going 24" or so it becomes more of a style, e.g., prairie style and you may have some mismatching between house and garage.

 

[Joemctag]

On the south side I calculated the amount of overhang that shaded the windows in summer and allowed sun in them in winter.

Smart. Also, your east and west side windows can receive a lot of solar heat even with great overhangs. Could use shutters or blinds there if that’s unwanted in summer.

 

[Jeff C]

Standard around here is 12”. My opinion is go with a minimum of 16”. 12” looks too small to me.

 

[Zeke]

Up to 24" looks good, once you go over that it looks like it should be a covered porch.

Nothing wrong with a covered porch in my book. I think a lot of cabins have a little extra overhang. That sawmill building pictured above reminds me of a cabin.