Dormer Progress report

The project is built and is a huge sucess! The upstairs famly/playroom is almost 6' deeper and had great light and a view to the park. It will make a good master suite later. The smaller windows light the 2-story stairwell and the entry is updated. The owners also took the opportunity to upgrade to Hardie plank siding, extended eaves and new windows, and promise that the pergola will come!
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The previous posting referenced a dormer project. It has evolved a bit,with the simple goal of expanding the upper floor leading to an awareness of how important the entry is. The new roof meant we had to redo the entrance, so we are enlarging the roof, keeping the simple shed look, and adding a pergola across the front.

This references a classic front porch, and enhances the impact of the entrance. It also keeps it open for landscaping while shading the south facing windows.

The window pattern above reflects the spaces behind: the awnings are over an open shaft for the stairs, while the double-hungs are in the playroom, tons of light and a great view to the park across the street.

Since we are replacing the roof anyway (which started this whole thing!) we are also adding overhangs to the gables, part of a little style change from the basic ranch that we began with a neighbor (the green craftsman buglaow on the Residential Design page).

There are some structural challenges to this type of addition, notably the floor must be adequate or beefed up,and adding this dormer to the existing rear dormer meant either a massive ridge beam or a smaller one with posts. The solution depends on the layout of the house.

So, a simple idea has plenty of challenges, but plenty of benefts as well. Keep in mind that things are rarely as simple as the basic idea seems to be, but then, with some thought, the rewards can be just that much greater!