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Roof Design Dillemma

Socal_homeowner949 | Posted in General Discussion on April 3, 2019 01:23am

Hi all, 

I am planning a “to-the-studs” remodel a dilapidated beach house in Southern California.  There is a second story addition from the 1980s that has a horrendous roof line.  The roof is a traditional gable roof, with the long axis facing the beach.  However there is an unusual hip on the street side, and a 4 foot eave on the south side over a balcony.  The non-hipped end has a 7 foot eave which I’m trimming down to 4 feet already.  The other 2 sides are 1 foot eaves.  

This is extremely asymmetric and unsightly where the hipped roof meets the 4 foot south side eave.  

Due to the insane zoning laws here, my only two options are to cut off the eave for a clean, symmetric 1 foot eave all around, or leave it as is.  My aesthetic instincts are crying out to chop it off, but I know that a robust 4 foot overhang on the south side will be great for ensuring great weather and sun protection.

Reply

Replies

  1. Socal_homeowner949 | Apr 03, 2019 01:28am | #1

    Be advised, the current schizophrenic siding and windows will be replaced with uniform board-and-batten, and the rectangular 2nd floor window will be replaced with 2 symmetrically arranged windows with better proportion. The garage door is getting widened to the full with of the first story. So the only asymmetry remaining would be the 4 foot eave.

  2. junkhound | Apr 03, 2019 05:42am | #2

    Leave as-is.

    Entire building is lacking in any type aesthetics, why try to put lipstick on a pig?

  3. User avater
    Sawdust_Steve | Apr 03, 2019 08:29am | #3

    Your project is crying out for an architect to help re-design. It is a bit of a pig but if you are going back to studs there is no reason it cant be dressed up.

    Have you considered removing the hip roof and going with a flat EPDM roof?

  4. User avater
    Mike_Mahan | Apr 03, 2019 02:57pm | #4

    Leave the roof configuration as it is. But....where the overhang is not symetrical change material. Make the roofing glass, canvas or something to set it off. If possible cover the whole deck. You can probably give it the look of midcentury modern, which is experiencing a major revival in costal Calif.

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