Anyone out there with a suggestion as to the balance or proportion for a turret roof. This fall I’m adding on a new dining room that will be a 11′ diameter surrounded with tall casements. This will tie into the existing 5/12 pitch roof on the back side. I don’t want it to look squatty or spindly. An architect friend offered little help except to say “play with it”. If it was framed to a 12/12 pitch it would reveal to the street out front a 6′ point above the ridge. Anyway any ideas to the proportions, diameter verses height.
Edited 7/21/2003 6:28:48 PM ET by Bob
Replies
I think your friend was right. Just play around with it on paper till you find something you like. I think any turret roof you put in is probably going to look a little out of place. I don't know what style your house is but turrets were a popular feature of Queen Anne style houses. Most Queen Annes featured roofs of at least 12/12 pitch. I'm not sure any turret is going to look "right" on a house with a 5/12 pitch. Every new "reproduction" house I've seen in my area looks terrible. The roof pitches, eaves, exterior trim est. is all wrong. The houses are built with no sense of proportion what so ever. I think your best bet is to draw a scale drawing of your exterior and sketch something out that you think looks good. Then take the measurements relative to the scale of your drawing to get your pitch est. good luck!
PS Just a side note, I did see an article in an issue of Old House Journal were a guy in California added a turret to his existing house, and it looked really good. You may want to search for the back issue. It was probably at least a year ago that I saw it. I have the issue buried here somewhere if I can dig it out I'll get back to you on the month/year.
I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!
Edited 7/21/2003 8:33:32 PM ET by Manroot
24/12 on an 11' diameter with a 22' wall.
Excellence is its own reward!
That looks good! My only concern for him was that it may clash with the main roofline of the house because it is only 5/12.I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!
There are a few turrets in this town, and none of them are the same ptich as the rest of the house, or make any attempt to match heights, except the newest one, where height is regulated by the permitting authority.
It's SUPPOSED to look different, fer cryin' out loud! See how a 5/12 makes it look like a prison gaurd tower or a silo down the road from Boss' house. I mean, it's SOOOO Faux midwestern.
;).
Excellence is its own reward!
While I agree that there is a risk in mixing styles. I am not one for the normal way. This turret will be for the rear yard view. While the two pitches will vary greatly I feel they will compliment. The house is a bungalow/ranch style now. One idea was to keep the same pitch and so the turret would be low, giving almost a tear drop shape look with the tie-in to the existing roof. The photo shows the back of the house. To the right of the french doors would be the addition. The drawing shows the minimal turret, I am wanting to elevate the pitch to allow the top of the turret to be about 2 feet above the chimney. My simple cad won't allow me to raise the pitch. If this still sounds like a dumb idea let me know. My skins thick.
OKnow I understand. Not a real turret. Nothing wrong with way you have drawn it.
But you could make it one and connect with a cricket to the rest of the house.
Excellence is its own reward!
Now I see what you're getting at! Thanks for the pics. I think what you've got there looks fine. When you said turret I thought you meant a true 2 story turret. I think what you have will look fine with the style of house you have.I don't understand! I cut it twice and it's still too short!
Bob,
This is a Turret that I framed with a 14' diameter and a 21/12 pitch. The main roof behind it was a 9/12 pitch.
Joe Carola
Very nice, yes this is more like I meant. And I did mean to connect low using a cricket. I am sorry I didn't use the term because I was afraid it would be confusing. From the looks of these responses I am among experienced craftspeople. Thank-you
Nice post like it