i am building a detached garage about 40' from my house and was wondering what you all would recommend for roof pitch. The house is 5/12 but the garage is going to have a 12' ceiling and i am worried that the 5/12 on a tall building might look kind of flat. can anyone recommend what they would do?
roof pitch
- Thread starter vinces34
- Start date
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
If it isn't attached or right next to the house it really doesn't matter. If it was right next to the house or attached I would match the 5/12 pitch.
Jess
Well-known member
I have 2 buildings 32x40, one with 12' walls and the other 16'. The trusses are 7/12 pitch and the peak on the tallest is 29' up. It makes it pretty tall, even in between the large fir trees. I needed a steeper pitch to clear needles and other litter. In my area, zoning allows for 30' max, so going steeper wasn't an option. As others have suggested, if its going to be close to your house, and the gables will be viewed from the same side, then go with 5/12, otherwise do what looks the most pleasing for your situation.
My house is 12/12 and my garage (with a 12' ceiling) is 5/12. I did the garage with 5/12 because it was quite a bit less money to do it and I had no plans to ever use the space for storage or to put a room up there. I was a bit concerned that 5/12 would look flat, but I think it came out looking fine.
My buildings are probably close to what you're looking to do (in terms of distance apart) and the different pitch doesn't look bad at all.
If your garage is a bit further back from the road (compared to the house), you might not really notice the difference in overall building height because of the building further back will appear to be a bit shorter compared to the front one.
My buildings are probably close to what you're looking to do (in terms of distance apart) and the different pitch doesn't look bad at all.
If your garage is a bit further back from the road (compared to the house), you might not really notice the difference in overall building height because of the building further back will appear to be a bit shorter compared to the front one.
rburke65
Well-known member
I think that the difference between a 4-12 and a 5-12 is huge to the eye. Look into the difference between the cost of the 2 trusses. Sometimes not that much.
matt_i
Well-known member
I would at least make an accurate sketch or cad drawing of the basic wireframes to compare.
bczygan
Well-known member
Welcome to GJ.
Please put your location in your profile.
It's impossible to make a judgement without more information.
Lot layout, photos of the house, lot, showing grades and proposed location would help.
Personally I like a 12/12 pitch to shed rain and snow more easily.
Some things to consider:
40' is fairly close unless there are great grade changes and landscaping to visually separate the house and shop.
There are 2 main methods when building buildings on the same lot. One is to match the design so they both seem part of one whole. The other is to make them completely different.
I tend towards the first one, when the functions and uses allow the spaces to be similar in size and volume for both buildings.
I tend toward the second when there is a big difference between the volume and bulk of each one.
Actually there is a third way. Each can take some design elements from the other to connect them visually. This method is harder to do well.
What are the planned uses for the shop building, and what size and volume will be required for the building, to accommodate them?
And what are your zoning constraints? That may be the determining factor for height.
Also note that a 12' wall will look a lot different than the house, unless it has a first floor that is way out of the grade level, or sits on a rise. There are things you can do to camouflage a tall wall like that though.
On the photo example above, I would have matched the pitch on the house because the garage is the same height, it is close to the house and it matches the house in color, garage door and wall lights. I also would have carried the beige up into the gable end, like the house, instead of the grey color. It's visually jarring that some things match and some don't. I might have also turned the ridge the other way and added a dormer.
Bill
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matt_i
Well-known member
A 10/12 or a 12/12 is very nice to look at but you will Pay the roofers when its non-walkable.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Some roofers I know actually like a steeper pitch as long s they have roof jacks and walk boards. They can stand straight up or close to it compared to a lower pitch roof.
As far as the OP......I would go with a 5/12 to match the house. At 12' to the square, it is going to look a little tall anyways. I have a 4/12 pitch on my house, and when I built my addition, I put a 4/12 pitch on it and I have 10' walls. I don't so much notice the roof as I do the taller garage doors. Plus there are areas that break up the vast wall space. On one side I have no windows at all and a very large 36' long wall, but I also have a bumpout behind that, and that is where the eye is drawn to.
If you go with 12' to the square, possibly add a small overhang over the garage doors to bring the height of the roof down. This will make the building not look so tall. Wrap the smaller roof around the side and over the man door. This will keep weather off of the doorways, and lower the looks of the complete garage.
Oops....almost forgot....Welcome to Garage Journal. And like said above, if you would, add at least your state into your profile. No need for a city, but a state really helps to answer some questions that pop up from time to time. Besides that, you may just have some fellow GJ members that are close to you. I've met some very great friends on here in person and we have some get-together's a few times a year. You may just be close enough to join in.
Again...Welcome!!!!
And pics. We like pics!!!!!
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Cyberbear
Well-known member
All my roof pitches are 5:12. They look good and can be worked on w/o fear of you or materials sliding off.
faralta
Member
I found that choosing an 8/12 pitch and adding a loft was the cheapest storage space, per sqft, you can build.
If it's a basic garage, a box with a roof, I would probably use something similar. If you're doing a completely different design, I'd let that dictate the pitch of the roof.
rburke65
Well-known member
I did an 8-12 on my 32'x56' with an attic truss.....as said very inexpensive additional square footage.
padroo
Well-known member
There isn't really much difference in height between a 4/12 5/12 or a 6/12.
Eliminating tall wall panels like you see on two tone pole barn sides will break up the look of a tall wall.
It is an optical illusion.
Eliminating tall wall panels like you see on two tone pole barn sides will break up the look of a tall wall.
It is an optical illusion.
Falcon67
Well-known member
I went 5/12 to make lumber fit with minimal cuts. The house is 6/12 and you really can't tell much difference IMHO.
dfiler2
Well-known member
I did an 8/12 to match the house and for storage above the garage, but you see many home and garages with different pitches. I do think the 5/12 would look fine with the height and would probably look better than with a 4/12. Oh and if you get a roofer who can't walk a 5/12, find a different roofer.