Need Roof Advice

[robynliz]

:?: Hi,
How are you doing? I am having a small building structure built on the side of my property for the purpose of doing art/ storage/ relaxing. I am only allowed to have 1 1/2 stories and maximum height of 15' to the point of the ridge of the roof. I need to know which roof design( Mansard vs. Dutch Colonial vs. Barn ) would maximize my building/storage/ livable space on the second story of this structure.

Any advise is greatly appreciated!
ROBYN

[Cole]

15' is not going to give you alot of head room if you do 2 stories. If it is even possible.

[Dragon]

2 story and only 15 feet elevation allowed?

Well lets see. Minimum 6" lost for first floor if poured on flat ground that slopes away from the structure on all sides. Minimum 12" lost for second floor. 6" lost for roof if flat.

13 divided by two is about 6.5 feet on both floors with a flat roof.

[Tom R]

I wouldn't consider a 15' ridge a 1 1/2 story. Maybe 'sink' the floor, to get max usage.

[Cole]

,to get max usage.

That is what i was thinking. :wink:

[Joe Carola]

Robyn,

You said off the side of your property. Is it up against your house?

What are the dimensions of the building?

Around here 15" is max to the top of the ridge for garages and that doesn't give you two stories it just gives you storage space above the ceiling joists no way you will walk up there.

Joe Carola

[mjpliv]

We have the same by-law here. It prevents people from building garages with living space over them.

[robynliz]

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your speedy replies. I really appreciate all your input. To be more specific, the building I wish to have constructed will not be against my house and the dimensions are 25' wide x 30' long. any idea of which roof design will maximize my storage/livable space on the second story of this 1 1/2 story structure? Mansard vs. Barn vs. Dutch Colonial? Pros and cons of each design?

Thanks in advance,
ROBYN

[Dragon]

With a 15' elevation limit we fail to see how you are really going to get any space out of a second story regardless of roof design. Maybe some storage but that is about it.

[Cole]

I agree with Dragon. 15' is outrageous!!! With it being 25x30', that seems like alot of room to work with, but with that height limit all u might be able to salvage is storage on top of joists

[Joe Carola]

Robyn,

If you ran the rafters the 25' way and put a gable roof you will see in blue that you have less storage space. If you run the rafters the 25' way and frame a Gambrel roof you will have more storage. You will see a lot of sheds built with a Gambrel Roof because they give more storage.

If you don't like that you can always frame a Flat Roof with a 15" wall in the front and a 14'6" wall in the back going the 25' way but you can't use roof shingles.

Joe Carola