Talk about bland rooflines. Suggestions on improving the roof appearance?
Obviously it needs new shingles, but I have also been thinking of:
1. tearing the roof off the garage and creating a cross gable there
2. putting a gable in for the front porch
3. increasing the overhangs & rakes
Another option might just be to have someone come in and tear off the old roof and put a new one on.
New furnace is going in a different location, so that ugly vent is going bye-bye. The rusty stove vent is probably also going. The front door & roof on the garage is also going (who puts TWO front doors on their house and no BACK door?!). One of my motivations for cross gabling the garage is the possibilty of adding on to the back of it some time in the future (and go from a rectangular house shape to “L” shape).
A friend suggested putting a wider porch across the front and just making a wide gabled roof for it. Possible, but there is a sewer cleanout just to the right of the middle window unit.
Ideas?
jt8
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” –Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/25/2006 2:35 pm by JohnT8
Replies
Why spend the money adding gables unless you're also adding useful interior spaces? The only exception for me would be the front stoop.
Instead, re-roof using a high-grade architectural shingle, and plant a couple more ingteresting-looking trees.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
whata wrong with it now ? There aint no blue tarps on it or nothin
what about going with dark greyish shingles^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
I'm with YesMaam27577 - Do something with the front porch, leave the rest alone.
the roof is what it is
i would look at a new porch. It's centered on the facade, do it up. Same with that little entry near the garage. Keep that one small, but treat it in a similar way (don't copy). Start an interesting dialogue between them.
Landscaping and a new walkway would help too.
You could go with a Hip roof.
You could increae the pitch.
You could add false dormers.
But I personally would add the gable roof over the porch, and the garage. That would keep my wife from complaining too much about the cookie cutter ranch roof.......
But I personally would add the gable roof over the porch, and the garage. That would keep my wife from complaining too much about the cookie cutter ranch roof.......
So in your opinion, less grief to change the garage gable and put a porch gable on... and extend the overhangs a bit, rather than just rip the whole mutha off and slap trusses on?
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
I agree with the others who said put gable roof over the front entrance. Make that the focal point.
I agree with the others who said put gable roof over the front entrance. Make that the focal point.
So widen the porch over to the lefthand window and do the gable that txlandlord pictured?jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
It depends on how much money you want to spend. And keep in mind that no matter what you do, it will still be a fairly plain and symetrical house (silk purse out of a sow's ear sort of thing). Seeing the other picture where they did put gables over the porch and over the garage--I didn't think that looked especially good.
Actually, I would tend to go with putting on a porch with a gable roof over it, but extend it to the right, towards the garage and provide a roof over a sort of long gallery (is that the right word?) type porch by extending the eves and changing their pitch to flatten them out a bit. Then you would have a porch from the garage to the front door. Unify things a bit and shelter the one window.
See attached. I did not spend too much time and it is not to scale, but is a suggestion that woudl take away form the plain jane look. It adds more (and I think the house needs more) than a gable over the Porch.
The original plan had been to rip off the front porch and add an entry there (slightly larger footprint than porch). If that had been done, we were going to have a gable over it with a smaller gable over the entry point. Very similar to your drawing.
I think the attached pic is similar to what you are suggesting too, except you're just extending the roof, not the porch?
View Image
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/25/2006 6:08 pm by JohnT8
Edited 8/25/2006 6:10 pm by JohnT8
Easier for me to picture 'em side by side (so to speak).
View Image
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/25/2006 6:16 pm by JohnT8
can you draw in a front porch railing^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
John,
Looks nice, but one concern. on the left
where the gable ends maybe make a little wider
so it doesn't bear over the window and allow
room for a nice column without obstructing
the view... Just a thought. But it sure does dress it up
and add a nice outside seating area.....
Mclaren
I like your rendering better than my 2D. The house does need some off symmetry (DBL gable) to help the looks. Landscaping would be a big help.
Your pic got me thinking about extending the porch over. Even with that pic I'd saved, I hadn't really considered that. Whichever method I go with, I want to maximize the bang for the buck.
So the two alternatives along those lines:
1. Rip out current porch, remove concrete slab there 2. put a new porch slab in extending the new porch to around the left edge of the left window. 3. Put a roof over it. 4. put rail in
or
1. Rip out the current porch 2. excavate & put in a foundation for an entry. 3. enclose the entry, etc,etc, etc. 15. Put a roof over it.
Option #2 has a lot more finishing required, but a smaller footprint. I'm not sure which one would be cheaper.
And as I mentioned in my reply to Rez, this is one of those "while you're at it..." deals. I would be inclined to discount the idea of an entry, but I've already got the whole house gutted, so I'm already going to have to floor, insulate, board, etc. So what is another few sq ft.... But it is thinking like that which will destroy your budget.jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
How much cash you got to drop on it ?
Since I see we might be serious.
Tim
Don't get outta character. You're here for your 'bang for the buck' knowledge/experience ;)
We aren't TRYING to dump a bunch of $$ into it, but it is going to take a chunk of change no matter what. But just think, "most bang for the buck"jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
That was more of a point than a question so I WAS running true to form.
Actually it depends on the floor plan whether it deserves an up grade .
Master bath adjoing bedroom or down the hall?
Walk in closets? Must be one to two in the master bedroom.
2 full baths ?
I probably missed somthing .
Tim
Actually it depends on the floor plan whether it deserves an up grade .
Master bath adjoing bedroom or down the hall?
Walk in closets? Must be one to two in the master bedroom.
2 full baths ?
It is a complete gut. I'm keeping some of the internal walls, but all the drywall, subfloor, electrical, plumbing, BA, K... all gone.
It previously had a 1/2 ba as a MBA (converted closet), but I'm rearranging it so that the MBA includes a shower, vanity, toilet, jet tub(or soaking). The old utility room (in the middle of the house) is becoming BA 2. BR2/MBR strip closets have been combined into a new utility room (which will also allow me to ADD a freaking BACK door).
Closets are a weak point in the redesign. Part of opening the houseplan up a bit zapped some closets. And then the new utility room killed a couple closets. Which is why there is some merit to the idea of putting an entry on the house rather than just a larger porch. An entry would allow me to add a nice sized coat closet.jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Keep it up. Just keep it up.
Yer gonna end up living in the place if you keep doing everything to it.
Cardinal rule in old houses use to be to let the house decide what to do.
Yer going to end up building new.
be a cautious soul
AN HONEST MANS PILLOW IS HIS PIECE OF MIND.
-Laumonster '06
Keep it up. Just keep it up.
Yer gonna end up living in the place if you keep doing everything to it.
Cardinal rule in old houses use to be to let the house decide what to do.
I've got a REALLY bad, "while we're at it..." habit :) It is like trying to walk by that 80% off clearance item... On this one I won't outbuild the neighborhood, but I could very well end up out building my budget.
I think this is the point where I'm obligated to say, "I can stop ANY TIME I WANT." LOL
Yer going to end up building new.
Shoot, I'd be a LOT further along if I'd built one from scratch. The vast majority of the time I've spent on this one has been removing crap or replacing crap.
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/26/2006 3:42 am by JohnT8
Forgot to attach another pic on that one. A pic of a few of the neighbors. It is a comfortable neighborhood in a small town. Most of the houses on this street are newer than the one I'm working on (which is around 30yo).
The grey house in this pic is the second plainest house on the block after the one I'm working on. Otherwise the other houses in the pic are typical of the street.
View Image
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Edited 8/26/2006 3:17 am by JohnT8
And by the by, did you ever go back and buy that pile of 'stuff' at Lowes?
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Whats with these wide azz posts of yours that dont fit on the screen?
I hope you got it goin on where ya know how to work it out .
I gutted one just like it and didnt come out . I still have it .
Thats a lot of money to dump into a house like that.
Tim
Edited 8/27/2006 6:21 am by Mooney
get a bigger moniter...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
He probably has it set at old lady resolution.
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
great level older..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thats a lot of money to dump into a house like that.
Lotta time and $$. I wasn't able to haggle it into a Mooney deal, but it was OK. Basically it cost what a new lot and foundation would have cost in that area.
Keeps me busy and out of trouble.jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
Intentionally waited a day or two before going back to buy some Graceice&water shield. Luckily the wood was gone.
Apparently someone saw it and offered $300 at half price for the warped wood. One born every minute. Glad someone wanted it more than me.
be only pennies on a dollar for that stuff
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. A bird sings because it has a song.
Edited 8/27/2006 3:05 pm ET by rez
Ya see, you win either way. Either you get a good deal or you saved money :)
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
I think landscaping, sidewalk replacement, and new shingles would make a major improvement.
But even skylights or a fake chimney would improve that roofline.
I like your thinking, but my problem is that I don't have a landscaping gene. Also don't have a color gene. Don't do well at either.
But you're right, this one is going to need the landscaping spruced up.
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
I say extend the front porch with an Arch beam entry and add two smaller cantilevered arch gables over both windows.
I tried to attach a sketch from microsoft word but it won't down load.
Just and idea though.
Howie
Boy is that house square! Round things help squares. How about a simple round portico porch with some very simple round columns and a very low gentle cover. The roof should become dark brown or dark green. Tear out the skinny walk and pour a series of offset rectangles about 4 or 5 feet wide to break up the pathway line. (People should be able to walk two abeast to any entryway so granny can get there with someone on her arm). Landscape the front with round headed trees for shade. A round shrub in front of the corners but away from the house will knock the corners down and soften the look. Go with soft mounded up areas for landscaping to break up the sea of grass. (plants do better a little above grade). Trellis up the white area to the right with a very nice arbor and put vines on it to break the line up there. Tough house to fix.Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities- Voltaire