Hi,
I am in the process of putting an addition on my house. The addition is a screened in porch that will sit on an existing deck. The deck is attached to the house. I have done framing before, but on the structures that I have built I used trusses. I have designed the porch to have a catedral ceiling. I wil have to use rafters with a load bearing ridge beam. The size of the room will be 11’7″ by 12′. These are some of the questions I have:
1. How can I find the pitch of the existing roof and should I make the new room’s pitch the same? If not what pitch should I use?
2. What size lumber should I use for the rafters and ridge beam? I plan to use 2″ by 4″ lumber for framing the walls.
3. How should I cut(the angle of the cut and how I figure that out) and attach the rafters to the ridge beam?
4. How do I figure out the size and angles of birdsmouth cuts on the rafter?
5. How do I figure out the size and angles of the cuts at the eave end of the rafters? How far over the wall should the rafter extend? I plan to use a soffit.
6. How do you figure out all of the cuts and placing of 2X sleeper’s in the “farmer’s valley” where the new roof is attached to the existing roof? That would include the cut of the ridge beam and rafters.
7. I plan to take up the deck boards and use the existing joists of the deck to support the porch. At some point I may add base board heating. Does anyone have any ides of what type of floor to put in? As of right now, I am going to put in screens in the window openings. I am making all of the window openings standard sizes so that at a later date I can put in windows instaed. Can anyone suggest what type of screens and screen latches to put in? Can I build them myself and does anyone know of plans or instructions of how to build them? Is it cost effetive, in the long run, to build them myself?
I have some books that show how everything goes together but doesn’t tell you how to calculate all of he angles for the cuts or lengths of the boards. If anyone knows of some “How To” books or articles that lays everything out for you and shows you how to calculate all of the angles and cuts I would appreciate it if you could let me know about them.
Thanks
NewToThis
Replies
Fro all of your carpentry questions, you would be best to buy a book.You obviously need more help than a few threads on an internet forum will be.
But the bigger question is: When this deck was built, was it built on the kind of foundation that will hold walls and a roof? Most are not. And if that is the case with your deck, you should not "convert" it to a screened porch. It will sag, and maybe even sink.
If you don't know the answer to the foundation question, you should not proceed.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Hi,
Thanks for the advice. I will check into to foundation question. And, I would like to buy a book. But, know one in my responses, save one has suggested one. If I could get some positive responses I would appreciate it. I have built houses from the ground up. The foundation, the rim joistes, the floor joists, the floor sheating, the walls, the roof, the facia, the soffit and the siding. If you think of any articles or books I would I would appreciate it.NewToThis
Taunton published a book by Larry Haun, titled something like "Build your house" and it's about building a Habitat for Humanity house, with all the details. Check the Taunton site and buy a copy.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Hi,
Thanks Ed. I will buy the book and read it.NewToThis
The best way to proceed is to ask around, get some recommendations from folks you know as to who might be a good carpenter/contractor, and then hire them so that you wind up with a safe and handsome product.
"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
You want to pretend to build a screened in porch on top of the deck.
So that later, you can finish enclosing it and make it a room.
You have no idea even how to calculate something as simple as the existing roof slope.
It sounds like you need the coloring book version of the book Ed Hilton has suggested, yet you think you can do all this on your own.
Yesmaam makes a good point as well. Especially given the fact it looks like your ultimate goal is to enclose the "screened in porch" and make it an addition on the house. It most likely does not have a foundation that will support what you want it to support.
I'll call Taunton tomorrow, and see if they can get to work on a coloring book for foundations...
---
I know this sounds harsh. It is not my intention to bash you, but to wake you up.
Pay somone to give you a real design. Get a permit. Take the deck apart and start with a good foundation as you should.
You can still follow your original plan, to save money. In other words, do a porch first, then enclose as you can afford it. But don't skip the foundation, and don't try to fool the local officials.
If you can't afford to pay someone to do what you don't have the first clue about, yourself, then you can't afford to pay the fines. And you won't be able to pay for the damages when your experiment fails and/or hurts someone.
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Hint: If you go ahead anyway, then when you have your illegal adition built, don't hound Mongo for instructions on how to paint it. LOL
Are we there yet ?
Think it's a regular fooling around? Considering all the DIY vs. Pro debates that have been going on latley?
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Expert since 10:00 a.m.
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Hadn't occurred to me.Definately a possibility.LOL
Are we there yet ?
Refers to a 2x4 as '2" by 4" lumber'.Can't calcuate pitch, but... "Framed structures before, but used trusses"."Designed" a "catedral ceiling", wants to know about rafters and ridge beam.Etc...Uses a lot of terms that belie the simplicity of the questions otherwise.Kinda looks that way.Ok, who is having us on ???
Are we there yet ?
They aint having me on. It seemed pretty obvious it was an amateur hoaxter.
Expert since 10:00 a.m.
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Larry ...I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Oh, Ed . . . Nooooo ! Don't wake the BEAST ! It's been too good, too long !
Greg
So long I forgot his last name, but I do remember his brothers name.....just can't bring my fingers to type it........it's like putting a curse on yourself.American Tradition
Trim Carpentry Co.
Hi,
I do plan to do it the right way. I will get the proper permits and and get it inspected. There will be no short cuts. NewToThis
Very good.I am still finding it difficult to believe you are for real. If you have indeed "built a house from the ground up", then it would be almost impossible for you not to know how to do something as simple as figuring out a roof pitch, or any of many other very simple questions you have had.Do you mean you were a laborer on a job or two ? Or that You paid someone else to build them for you, and you swung a hammer a time or two ????Either you are making claims about what you have done that are not true, or are distorted... Or you are a regular having us on.Just in case you are for real though...I would suggest you start with this book.http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070779.asp Building AdditionsYou will learn all the basics you'll need to know, to plan your addition efficiently. And you'll have at least the basic information that you'll need, to understand why you do one thing before another, etc.Get the next two books, to learn what you will need to know about foundations.http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070635.asp Foundations and Concrete WorkWorking with Concrete http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070667.aspGet these books to learn the basics of building, http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070285.aspmeasuring marking and layout, http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070464.aspRead all those and the questions you have asked here will have been answered.For futher education, go to the top of any of those pages I linked, and you will find a search box.Type in the subject you want to learn about, like your beams, or your headers, etc, and do a search. You will find a whole slew of different books to give you exactly the homebuilding knowledge you seek.Good luck.
Are we there yet ?
I suppose this new addition will later hold a hot tub too.....
Hi,
No, no hot tub.
Hi,
I have done everything that I have listed. But, I am not a full time builder. I work summers building houses. I have layed out walls and constructed them and done other layout work. In my experience, we have never had to cut rafters(except one) because all of the houses have had trusses. The lookouts were put on by the crew that installed the trusses. They were ordered and built per the architects specifications. Plus, it has always been new construction. We knew the pitch of the roof. I have cut end (barge) rafters, but again we knew the pitch of the roof. That is the only time I have used a framing square on a house. Believe it or not we do it. And the houses are inspected and pass inspection. I have never done a addition. I appreciate all of your input and time involved in answering my postings. I will purchase all of the books you have recommended and will read them diligentlty. I will make sure that I understand all of the ramifications before beginning construction. I am glad someone brought up the issue of the foundation. I will address this issue diligently.Thank You,
NewToThis
Nah, never mind. He spells too well !
Greg
>> He spells too well!And doesn't foam at the mouth when you poke him.
Do NOT forget screening UNDER the deck boards...
Skeeters just LOVE that cool place and come up between the floor boards!
Been there.. Did That!
Hi,
Thanks Will. I will remember your suggestion.NewToThis
Think they did a show on this one, might even be on DVD?
http://www.hometime.com/Admin/shopsite/p_7129.htm
Hi,
Thanks for the reference. I'll look into it.NewToThis