How hard would it be to “raise” the roof on a 18’ X 20’ buildi
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Hi Carol, I would honestly be pretty leery in trying something like this but if I were to try it this is how I would do it. You will need to separate (cut the roof) from the walls. You could do this with a recriprocating saw run around the outside top edge and inside top edge. From there I would rent tall floor jacks and get lots of helpers. You will want to raise the roof slowly and evenly on all sides. Then you can build new walls to accommodate the new height of the roof or add to the top of your existing walls. GOOD LUCK!
First would be to draw plans of all the structural studs every 16" on center, headers over doors and windows with jack and king studs supporting roof and floor plates, any foundation present, and have a structural engineer check to see if that building can support a second floor. All these are building requirements to code. Then you have to check with city planning department to see if your town allows mother-in-law cottages before you start as you will need a building permit.
You could download a CAD program to help you make your plans.
Ophs and forgot, you need two points of egress in the building, the front door, and either a back door or an egress window.
But there's an important structural issue you need to address first: you can't simply add a new wall ( a knee wall) on top of the existing walls. Doing that creates a "hinge" between the new and existing walls - and that's a very unstable structure.
Instead, the walls have to be made taller from the bottom up. One way to do that is by installing new, taller wall studs alongside the existing studs. Another method is covering the existing wall and new knee wall with full-height plywood sheathing to eliminate the hinge.
Either way, you'll need the help of a structural engineer to make it safe.
A guest house??? What will they do for a bathroom, etc.? I think you need to do a lot more than raise the roof to make it into a guest house.
The foundation may not hold additional height. Check you r local building codes as well.
I wonder if simply adding 2x12s all the way around th top of all of the walls would work? I‘m not sure how high you wanted to raise the roof, but that might work. If you wanted it higher, you could make frames from 2x4s with cross pieces for added strength and attach them to the top of the walls and then put the roof back on? I’m just guessing here, but it seems like that would work.
what about sewer for shower and kitchen water?
There is a small drainage field behind that could handle shower and kitchen run off. Honestly, they could all shower in the house, and we would only need a chemical toilet for any night time needs. It is really to provide extra sleeping space. But by making it akin to a mother in law suite we can use it for Air BNB rentals when not needed by family.
Your zoning commission may prohibit doing any or all of this work - you may not be allowed to build any higher close to the property line or be allowed to make any structural changes to existing structures at all. and a structural engineer and a gas/plumbing inspector & electrical inspector are going to be needed too. And Air BnB rentals may be prohibited in your area but the board of health also has codes you'll need to meet.
Hi! I would consider if your foundation is sufficient for the extra weight load. I would also find out about local building and zoning requirements. Good luck!