This is one ugly roof. And this is from a guy who used to be a roof-cutter, and loves cut-up multi-hipped roofs. But this thing is just over the top, ostentatious, and just plain ugly. The picture doesn’t do it justice. Its really a lot worse in real life. Enough so that I pulled over and took a picture, just so I could post it here and vent my feelings!
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 1/14/2008 2:16 am by Huck
Replies
Doesn't look too bad to me. Nice and clean!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
-Truman Capote
I knew someone would say that. Take my word, it looks like cr@p in person. I mean, it has like 12 gables, and a weird balance of hip and gable, and one roof (kinda behind the tree) that's like a half a hip on a gable, that doesn't match anything nor have any reason for being.
edited to add: OK, you might not agree, but I think Forrest would understand!
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 1/14/2008 2:52 am by Huck
LOL!
The only reason I said it is because I cannot see the picture. I may not be able to see it because I am at work and they have a tendancy to block things. But when I looked at your thread, it doesn't show a paper clip like there is no picture.
If indeed there is a pic, I am blocked.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Bumfuzzled. Here it is.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I can see it now!
That looks like a leak waiting to happen.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
On the one hand, not so bad. However, the two gables facing you in the picture (behind the tree as you say) look totally useless and unecessary. I agree, it looks like you could have simplified it a bit.
But the archi and designers are telli...er giving the buyers what they want.
Job security for the roofers if they get lots of c--p built up as most HOs wouldn't get up there to clean.
I've seen many "styles" like this and thought they looked too busy and cluttered. Kind of like a two or three story entryway on a 3000/4000 sq.ft. house. More out of place, wasteful and showy than tasteful.
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home....aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Yeah, sure - go ahead and pollute my computer just so you can vent!
;)
I didn't mind roofing thgat stufff. but what I hated was the GCs who acted shocked to learn that the roofing labout would be twice what it is for a comparable sized straight roof rancher and try to chisle me down
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I like it...
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Those attic dormers make it top heavy.
Huck,
I could make comments about beauty being in the eye if the beholder and that sort of thing.. but the truth is that as land becomes more valuable houses will be built vertically rather than horizontally as in the 50's.
Elaborate things are being done to bring the eye down so tall houses don't seem unwieldy.
Mentally eliminate all those roof lines and put a simple gable end roof on it. Simplify the rest of the house too so you have a straight and clean rectangle..
sure be simple to build wouldn't it? But wouldn't it seem wrong? Too tall?
That's all that is being attempted here.. Fool the eye.. put a bigger house on a smaller lot..
breaking up the roof line is a great thing, but it should be done intelligently, one major goal to shed water away from entrances
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
People have debated good design and beauty through the ages, so yeah, you're entitled to a differing opinion. I posted this picture because its neither good design, nor beautiful, to me. Your mileage may vary. With a good design, everything has a purpose for being there (form follows function), and no one aspect of the design jumps out at you.
Of course, all you have is a little picture to go by, I've seen the monstrosity in person. You have to really look close at the picture to get everything that's going on with that roof, the weird placement of nearly identical sized gables crowded almost on top of each other, the way they mixed a mansard wraparound with hips and gables in an unnatural looking combination, the overall gaudiness of the roof plan.
All I can tell you is that I was just driving down the street, minding my own business, when I looked at this thing and said "Wow, that is so hideously ugly that I have to take a picture, in case they post one of those Ugly McMansion threads again."View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Huck,
In case you are under a false impression I too think it's ugly as sin.. likely to leak and prone to rot..
I just understand why an intelligent person would sit down and design something like that.
I think it's a perfect match for what the front view of the house must be like, prominently displaying the garage doors to welcome the world <G>
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"We Live" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kuBgh0VCqI&mode=related&search
And Annie Ross's "Twisted" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqivrCIRGo&mode=related&search=
Calm down there buddy.
Someone loves that house. They think your choices suck.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I knew you'd be around to tell me that, sooner or later.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I just always wonder what America would look like if we weren't allowed to choose the style of housing that we like. I'm also somewhat empathetic to the person that lives there. How would you feel if that lady, who loves her house and thinks it's special, found your thread on the internet? You would be devastating to her. Frankly, from that pespective, it didn't look ugly. It was involved. It had a lot of roof angles but it wasn't offensive. The straight on view might tell a different story. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Blue,
I'm sorry to disagree with you and side with Huck but in this case I have to. To me that roof smacks of some's good, more's better, and too much is just starting to get fun.
Or complexity for the sake of complexity.. I mean I understand they were trying to take the apartment building or mini skyscraper look out of it. However in doing so they lost any cleanliness of design. That is required for good design.. even Baroque design has a certain straightforwardness to it that this house lacks..
This is Queen Anne meets split level ranch
Disagreements in design tastes are nothing new. I respect your right to find my tastes distasteful and only ask that you honor my tastes by not being insulting when you speak of them. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Blue,
If I've offended you I apologize.. I certainly wasn't trying to be insulting I was trying to be descriptive.
Frenchy, no need to apologize. You didn't offend me at all. The comments would be offensive to the lady of that house but I'm okay with that too. I find a lot of modern stuff butt ugly and I hate most round stuff too. I think timber framing is a waste of lumber. I don't like stucco that much. I hate boring one story ranch roofs with low slopes. I hate wide overhangs. I hate overhangs on hips that aren't uniform all the way around. That house might be horrible from the front. From my perspective, it didn't offend my senses. Maybe I've lived too long in McMansion land. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I think timber framing is a waste of lumberWHAAAA??A timber frame with SIPs vs. a conventional stick built home. Add up all those 2x4 and 2x6 walls, floor joists, rafters collar ties ceiling joists. Sure a complete SIP home uses less lumber then a timber frame and if the exposed heavy timbers are not to your tastes then fine but waste of lumber? I think Ted Benson's head would spin to read that. http://www.bensonwood.com/
MFournier,
I think what Blue was complaining about was the style of a timberframe compared to his choosen style.. Not the amount of wood required to build one.
Remember, we are voicing opionions about style here. You see timbers and swoon, I see waste. I have not compared the board foot requirements to construct each, so my observations are based on my gut feeling, not scientific data. Even if the science proves my observations wrong, I might still "feel" like it's a waste of lumber.Which type of structure uses the most lumber? Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I still like that roof senario..
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!!!
To be honest I do not know the data ether but I bet someone at Bensonwood does. They claim that responsible natural resource management practice is at the heart of Bensonwood's corporate philosophy. I sure do not think a timber frame is the MOST ecologically sound building since a complete SIP home uses much less lumber (or trees) then ether a conventional 2x frame or timber frame. Maybe Ted Benson will read the tread and reply?
"They claim that responsible natural resource management practice is at the heart of Bensonwood's corporate philosophy. "
Well of course they do. What do you expect? Do you think there marketing plan would say things like "we use more trees" AND "we only use OLD GROWTH FORESTS"? Which of course they do. Where do you think you can get a 15 x 15 inch timber?
Marketing man, marketing.
Agian who cares. We will grow more. Unless we just continue to let the stuff rot in the forest.
Sounds about right - philosophies are just someone trying to justify their own emotion based thoughts. And make it seem like they really thought about it.
Philosophies are like policies, - "it's not our policy Mr. JHOLE"
So if I go type up a random thought on Microsoft Word, and adopt it - it can become either a policy or a philosophy.
Please.
I use it backwards now - tell my bank that it's not "our" policy to do business their way - before they tell me.
You should see the look on their faces.
It's all BS. Until some sucker buys into it.
I'll wait here for "the expert" to chime in. HAA!Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
I am with you. I think it is M who should add up all those 2 x 4s. What is the infill between those timbers?
The infill is an insulated panel no 2x4s.
Not to mention, who fricken cares? Six to one half dozen to the other. 2 x 4 .... 12 x 12 ? Whatever. We will grow more. THe facts are more wood rots in the woods than is ever harvested. I know the greens are having a fit. Most zealots can't handle reality, just they crusade of mythology. It makes them feel empowered, not to mention superior to everyone else.
Blue,
This is my gut speaking and I don't have anything to back it up. But I suspect that carefull use of timbers and SIP's would yield the strongest frame and least use of wood..
To use less wood you would have to build an ICF home.. However I don't know where that falls in the green scheme.. I mean the foam is an oil based item.. concrete needs a lot of energy to collect it and build with it, but the end result would be extremely durable and energy efficent..
Frankly wood is green.. I mean wisely used it's renewable.. it creates oxygen in growing and provides home and food for things that Ma nature tends to like..
And . . . AND! Don't forget, Timberframe homes cost a ton less than any other construction method! Really! Consult the expert. He will be along shortly. I'm just say'n . . .
Well the frame is costly and I did not say it was cheaper? just not a waste of lumber. And Maybe a expert will be around soon but that is not me.
I did not say you said it was cheaper. I was poking fun. Good all frenchy says it is the cheapest form of construction. Of course he is not backpeddling faster than a twister. LOL.
The thing that bugs me is the silly collum on the second floor holding up a corner of a roof projection. If they had to have support they should of thrown a porch up there.
If the owner's shellac the roof it probably won't leak ;o)Jeff
Relax Jim, that is just frenchy to a T. He can't help it.
I'm also somewhat empathetic to the person that lives there. How would you feel if that lady, who loves her house and thinks it's special, found your thread on the internet? You would be devastating to her.
Oh man, you do know how to make a fella feel bad, dontcha? Now I'm mean to little old roof-loving ladies. Yeah - but then she'd read your posts, and with a tear of joy in her eyes she would know there are still special people out there. View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
That was funny! Sorry about that guilt trip. LOL.Okay...carry on. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I dunno - they might be sitting in there burning incense to whatever gods they worship hoping somebody will hurry up and take it off their hands before the bank comes and repoes it...;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
those dormers are as deep as hallways-- i don't understand why they did that instead of giving the house a full-fledged 3rd floor...?
ahhh- i get it- jim lives there!
Edited 1/14/2008 2:41 pm ET by msm-s
What an absolute waste of material and labor.
I don't understand why builders or architects think this looks good.
It's no different with interior design work. It seems that all that anyone knows how to do anymore is throw more cr*p onto the canvas of design thinking that it looks good.
Classic design, clean simple lines. Doesn't need to be more complicated than that.
sully
This roof bothers me because I can imagine the owners paying a lot of money for a second layer of shingles. When the time comes for a complete roofing job, I'm glad I'm not the person who owns the house, I'd have to sell it to pay for the new roof.
My other thought is the house looks like additions were added on a whim instead of planning how the whole house and roof would look.
MissD