I am thinking of buying a a small house that needs a new roof – shingles, sheathing, and some framing. Since the second story has very low headroom I have decided to bite the bullet and raise the roof too. Been there, done that. I am very comfortable with this.
My question is in regards to the first floor ceiling height. The first floor ceiling height is 6′- 10″. Therefore, I would like to raise it. Knee jerk reaction method is to stub up a taller knee wall on the second story when I am raising the roof (keeping in mind the height of the new second story), raise the roof, frame the new second story and then demo the old second story joists. Seems pretty basic stuff. But wait….
Here’s the rub. I am guessing the house is not balloon framed. So the new second floor joists would not be within the original top plate, rim joist, and bottom plate assembly. I am worried that this assembly would behave as a hinge once the old second floor joists are demo’d.
I thought of sheathing the assembly with 1/2″ or even 3/4″ plywood/ OSB on the interior. This will have an impact on the sequence of demolition/ construction, ugh.
The new second level will be 1′-6″ higher than the existing level.
The new floor joists will span 1/2 width of the house – 24’/2.
The center primary would be supported by columns rather than a continuous wall.
BTW, I am concidering leveling the whole place and starting from the foundation but my head’s not there…yet. Money is more of an issue than time. I have to keep the budget tight as ….well, you know.
Any thoughts?