It is not uncommon to see houses that have undergone remodeling----they all do sooner or later. What intrigues me more are the ones that were remodeled so soon after construction that they may have been more of a change in direction at the time of construction as opposed to remodeling later. One such house was built in 1907 and the change of roof design either was a change in design at the time of construction or close enough afterwards that the materials were from the same time period. From the exterior the home looked normal---just a standard Gable type house very common for the time period. When inspecting the attic it was very clear that the roof used to be a "hip" style roof. The diagonal framing that runs from the top left of the picture to the bottom right side of the picture used to be the original hip rafter. There used to be some vertical supports for this hip rafter but they had been all removed so that someone (more recently) could install attic flooring for storage or whatever. This makes for a springy roof, but was surprisingly barely noticeable when walking on it. Steep roofs will be a little more forgiving of this kind of structural compromise----but it will still need repairs Here is a picture of what the house might have looked like with a hip roof. Even with the lousy artists rendition I vote for the gable look. This next house----a much more modern one-----23 years old, underwent a similar transformation, and again I could not determine whether it was post construction or changes decided upon at the time of construction. The framing changes were again apparent in the attic----while the exterior looked completely normal as shows in the current day picture. Had they not made this change, the following picture shows what it might have looked like. Houses with combination Gable-on-Hip designs are very common----and either look can be very attractive. These changes in direction have more to do with personal preference than anything else----and are for the most part just a “curiosity.” Charles Buell
Seattle Home Inspectors, ASHI Home Inspector, Structural Pest Inspector, Charles Buell Inspections Inc, Seattle, WA
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Thats some interesting re-designing. I think I like the new look best.
I never though of a hip roof as ugly until you pointed out that it really is not nearly as attractive as a Gable. So I'll make sure all my homes have a good looking Clark Gable roof.
Lizette, I agree
Tammy, hips can look OK---just depends on the house----or the woman;)
Charles, you did some nice art work again with those pictures. I assume you made the changes! I still want to learn all that stuff!
Barbara, yes---just some quick sketching stuff----didn't want to spend a lot of time with it---just enough to get the point across.
Charlie,
Good job of getting your point across there. Even Nutsy says that was A-OK
Hip, Hip, Hooray! I'm feeling quite hip today! Okay, so I am being a wise... Cool renderings if I say so Charlie B...
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What jumps out at me is the second houses general design. Would not see that style out here in CT. Almost every newer house out here is a colonial or some slight variation of that design. Your drawings do get the point across very well.
Steve---now there is a compliment:)
Michael---thanks
James, yes the gable on hip design does seem to be a West coast thing.
Mr Charles,
While many of your posts go right over my head, I think I like this one.
Nutsy
Nutsy, you "think?" I guess there is a first for everything:)
With that nice garden nearby, I am surprised more roofs aren't butterflies!
Jay, I am happy to say I don't see many of those out here.