Replies

1. 
   TLE_ | Jan 20, 2002 11:26pm | #1

   *
   The same profile as you have now only (obviously) enlarged. It can most likely be done with an irregular truss design that bears on the new extended wall and the original front wall with some hand framing in between to fill in.

   Terry

1. 
   Tommy_B. | Jan 22, 2002 04:11am | #2

   *This sounds a bit odd to me. To gain that much space it would probably work better to go up than to have a 40 x 36 box with roof on it.A reverse gable with a porch roof to one side and some dormers would be and option, but anyway you look at it it will be a lot of roof with the opportunity of putting living space there.With ranch houses it makes a lot of sense to go up versus out, there are some trade offs for sure, but it is possible to do without disturbing too much of the first floor.There are a lot of sources of information for doing this type of remodel, and I'd be happy to elaborate if your interested.

1. 
   Nic_ | Jan 22, 2002 07:39am | #3

   *HI Tommy,This could be something I might be doing in the near future, so if you have any more information I would be interested.Thanks,Nick

1. 
   Greg_Richard | Jan 23, 2002 05:20pm | #4

   *Tommy B.I'm planning a similar project and would love for you to elaborate on your sources of info.Many thanks!

1. 
   Ooze | Jan 24, 2002 02:37am | #5

   *Sounds like my house to a tee. Rambling ranch with a gabled roof, hipped on the ends, toss in a dropped ridge and a broken hip or two and the framing options become mind boggling. I've decided on the tried and true shed dormer across the back to make a 350 sq ft master bedroom/bath addition. I had first looked at other options such as ripping off the entire roof and framing a steeper pitch. This would have allowed me to gain more usable living space while keeping the house in harmony with the rest of the neighborhood. The obvious drawback is cost- after I asked a few local masons the cost of continuing the brick veneer up the new gable ends and taking the massive three flued Erie sandstone chimney up the required four or five feet, it proved to be too much. I settled on the dormer and less space. With a new dormer(s) or a new roofline, you don't lose any real estate ,(your yard), and the cost of foundation work is eliminated.

2. 
   Marty | Jan 25, 2002 06:40am | #6

   *I'm are also contemplating an addition to a too-small Palo Alto ranch, but the only real option is going up. I'm interested in thoughts about roof line, but also on the unique concerns about putting a second floor on a house that wasn't built for one. With 16" oc studs in first floor and double headers at top, anything else I should consider before laying on second floor joists? Also, to get more headroom on a narrow lot, I'll probably need to add 3-4' side walls. Logic tells me that rafters will want to spread these walls out. What rule of thumb for rafter/collar ties is needed here? (I noticed both these short walls and collar ties in the Oct/Nov 2001 article on framing, p61.)