Project Description
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This was a vertical addition to a house a few lots south of Lake Michigan. A city ordinance requires new roofs to be perpendicular to the lake to help improve views opposite the lake, and because the city wants boaters and beachcombers to see gable roofs. The house and original roof were oriented parallel to the lake. For the new roof to run perpendicular created a structural challenge, solved by framing the roof with flat I-joists parallel to the roof slope to transfer loads to the exterior walls, eliminating the need for beams to support traditional rafters.
Little work was planned for the main house level, but of course removing the roof meant that timing of the construction had to be just right. Unfortunately this builder was very incompetent and far more rain and snow infiltrated the house than should had. They took off the roof and THEN questioned out structural approach, but eventually accepted it and proceeded but not before stopping for two rainy and snowy spring months. Fortunately for final details the original builder was let go and a lot of issues corrected. Floors had to be refinished due to the water damage.
All photos of the interior are of the upper level addition. The original chimney we intended to keep and extend had to be redone also as it was improperly installed. One enters the upper level through an office from a stair in the existing vaulted ceiling kitchen. A door leads to the vaulted ceiling master bedroom with the north wall filled with windows facing Lake Michigan, and the south wall having doors to the master bath and closet. The master bath has an open Roman Shower. A small roof deck provides a great view to Lake Michigan over adjacent houses.
The final three images show the existing house and construction: the street side front, the unusable finished attic, and the last photo being a view of the gable roof framing during construction, showing I-joists parallel to the roof slope with furring below for drywall.
