I have what is probably a very simple (or dumb) question. We have a small Cape style house, and due to the slope of the front roof, the bedrooms upstairs have a bit of sloped ceiling.
Well, in the master bedroom, on the wall towards the front of the house, there is a vertical wall of about 4.5 feet, and then the slope which matches the roof line. No problem there.
However, in the other bedroom on the front of the house, there is a 2.5 (or less) vertical wall, and then the sloped part begins, basically making it impossible to walk near that wall without bumping your head. Behind this wall is a crawl space (which I have checked out, although it is a tight fit).
So, to the problem/question–is this crawl space necessary? Can I move the vertical wall out (like that in the master bedroom) so this room would be bigger (and more useful)? Why is there a crawl space there at all? It isn’t like it would make much sense as storage (since we have both a full basement and plenty of attic space).
Thanks.
Jeff Nichols
Replies
Hard to understand what you are saying. If you move the wall out into the room, it makes the room smaller with the 4,5' high wall and makes the crawl space larger.
If you take the wall out entirely, it eliminates the crawl space and the floor of the room gets larger but the room doesn't get any maore useable. A dormer is the solution to getting more space in a cape upstairs.
Ok, I'll try to clarify. Yes, I mean move the wall towards the front of the house (not further into the room).
As I mentioned, in comparison to the master bedroom, without the crawl space the room is bigger--we can put a bed agaiinst the front wall (even with the sloped ceiling) whereas in the other bedroom we can't.
I guess my main point is, do I need the crawl space? It won't make the room any bigger, but it will make it more usable.
And thanks for the tip on the dormer--we would like to do that eventually.
Jeff
I can only read this the same as Piffin did...........got a picture? There are fast carpenters who care..... there are slow carpenters who care more.....there are half fast carpenters who could care less......
As a home inspector, I see a lot of capes. Moving the kneewal toward the eave will not gain you any useful space, will not make the room seem bigger (maybe the opposite, actually) and will look extremely goofy (although that last one isn't on my HI checklist {G} - frankly, I think the short kneewall you already have is fiarly strange - I see that every now and again and wonder.)
As you noted, the room space near that 2.5' kneewall is essentially inaccessible, already.
Consider moving the wall into the room and putting in cupboards or drawers into the space behind the kneewall.
And, finally, yes, you want that crawlspace so that you can get down to the other end in your yearly condition and maintenance survey, to make sure there are other leaks or problems.
I do wish I had a picture of this situation, as I'm not explaining it very well.
Okay, if I start out at the same point in each room (from just inside the hallway that connects each) and start walking towards the front wall (front of the house), in the master bedroom I will hit my head after about 4-5 steps. In the other bedroom I will hit my head after 2 steps.
Does that make more sense?
So in fact, I would gain more useful space if I could walk into the room the same distance, and actually put furniture against the front wall (like we can in the master bedroom).
And as to checking yearly the condition, I can't do that on the master bedroom side, as the crawl space is only about 1/2 of the length of the house.
Thanks for the help and suggestions. Maybe I can get a picture of it (or attempt a drawing of it).
Jeff I think that you better go outside and see if the rooflines are the same for both rooms, or is there a change in either the pitch or height. If you move the kneewall out, in order to help you also would have to raise the roof, which is what you are running into now. Maybe I'm as confused as the rest, but I think you are missing some info, is the house wider on one end, or the roof steeper?
Good luck and let us know what we missed
Dan
Come on Jeff, its been a long time now and my curiosity has reached the peak of my capacities. What the heck is going on with roof line/wall height question?
I'll never know if my opinions are worth the electricity if nobody replies, and I seem to be killing threads on a regular basis. I just can't take a hint, I guess.
Dan If mistakes are to be learned from, how come I'm still so dumb!!