13 replies to this topic

[Verlin Klassen]

I am trying to figure out a connecting roof between the existing and new roofs on this project. A simple shed roof is not a good idea because that creates a flat area on the already low slope roof. Is there a way to create a sloping roof? I tried using walls with sloped tops, but when I attached the roof edges to them it still created a level roof. I also tried a sloped beam at the peak and drawing roof planes. I could likely create something that would resemble what I am trying to do, but that really doesn't work very well.

Attached Files

•  connecting roof issue.jpg   106.28KB   0 downloads

[Keith Almond]

Use two beams spanning between the buildings - Put a roof on it with hips over the beams and intersects at each end.

 

 2025.11.05-21h23m41s.png   2MB   0 downloads

[Mark Petri]

With one being lower than the other you will want to have the beam offset match the lower roof or drop walls on top of the lower roof to match the height of the walls for the taller building.

[Verlin Klassen]

Thank you for the replies. The whole issue is that the lower roof is a very low slope and I was hoping to be able to do a roof where the side eaves and ridge are sloped. It is easy to put a roof straight across. I am trying to eliminate any flat spot where the connecting roof hits the lower roof and if I go straight across, it goes way to far up the lower slope before the 2 roofs meet. I don't want a gable on the lower roof either because that again creates a flat spot.

[Keith Almond]

As Mark said, if you put the beams at the top of the lower wall, you can adjust the pitch as necessary, even if it goes up to the lower ridge. You won't get any flat spots.

[Gary Wicklund]

I would suggest a flat roof below both roofs to avoid the issues if you have enough height, this also eliminates the need to disturb the lower roof.

 

Another option would be to extend the top chords of each roof till they meet at a flat valley, but I’m not sure what the distance between the buildings are and if that’s possible, also you would need a cricket if the flat valley gets to long.

[Mark Petri]

Unfortunately SoftPlan doesn't like odd roof configurations like sloped eaves. So, the way to accomplish that is to trick the system. You might want to do some extra math if you really want that look of sloped eaves between roofs. Builders might think it's crazy and resist. But, you could figure out the slope of the eaves, set beams up to represent them flat, build the roof on that set of beams with enough extension to get the ridge to meet the slop of each building's roof, model only the connector roof in 3D, save it as a symbol, then add it into your model and adjust the slope for what math you figured out. In most cases I'd do it in SketchUp instead as it is faster.

[Jason Bloomingdale]

Verlin, you might be able to do something where you make a beam that slopes between the two, acting as a ridge beam, then draw it as two different roofs, each with a mono-slope. I would say, though, that I'd have concerns that it's going to overwhelm the watershed where the connecting roof meets the low roof, since the secondary slope would take all of the water that reaches any part of the connecting roof and funnel it to the two places where the connecting eave meets the lower roof. You might be better served to let the intersecting roof stay level and just meet the low roof closer to its ridge, then slope the gutter back towards the higher roof or put downspouts dedicated to the connector on one side or the other.

[Mark Petri]

I'd still vote for dropping the eaves of the connector roof to match the lower building eaves, do a gable roof, and let it intersect the higher building side wall and roof wherever it does. That is the easiest and least invasive solution besides a low slope roof below both eaves.

[Keith Almond]

I'd still vote for dropping the eaves of the connector roof to match the lower building eaves, do a gable roof, and let it intersect the higher building side wall and roof wherever it does. That is the easiest and least invasive solution besides a low slope roof below both eaves.

 

That's how I see it too.

[Fred Dickson]

This is a simple way to do it.... 

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•  Two Roofs .jpg   22.74KB   0 downloads
•  Two Roofs 2.jpg   129.37KB   0 downloads

[Verlin Klassen]

Fred, that flat piece on the lower roof is what I am wanting to avoid. It still creates a flat valley at the bottom of the long low slope roof.

The wall height on the lower slope is under 7' but I figured out a way to do it with connecting walls just under 7' high, and a low slope roof that fits under the higher roof and goes on top of the lower roof. 

Attached Files

•  connecting roof solution.jpg   138.69KB   0 downloads

[Keith Almond]

You could do it the way Fred did, and add a SADDLE along the flat junction.

[Fred Dickson]

With a saddle 

Attached Files

•  Rooof with Saddle.jpg   146.81KB   0 downloads