Saltbox Roof Extension

Their attractiveness traces to the desire to make a two story building function as a one story building to reduce the tax bill.

Saltbox roof extension.

Thus avoiding the higher taxes. Actually the saltbox shape evolved organically from the need for additional. That s a simple low cost solution that can tie in well with the main house. However instead of sloping to the same length one side reaches all the way to the first.

A type of roof where all four sides come to a point at the roof peak. There is a wonderful story about the queen s taxation of homes by how many stories they had so the ingenious colonists kept one story in the back. The saltbox originated in new england and is an example of american colonial architecture folklore holds that the saltbox form was popularized by queen anne s taxation of houses greater than one story. Saltbox roofs look like a patched gable style roof with two sides sloping outwards from a central ridge.

Since the rear of the roof descended to the height of a single story building the structure was exempt from the tax. A type of roof with asymmetrical roof faces. The asymmetry produces one facade that is two stories high dropping to a single story. The workhorse of colonial america the familiar saltbox is a building that features a long pitched roof on one side similar to the lid on a salt storage box.

Heralding from the new england regions circa 1600 s the saltbox has a wonderful heritage that extends back to the beginning of our country. A saltbox roof contains a gable at each end. It has the upper ridge at the peak 2 slopes on each side and the added characteristic of one side s slope being noticeably longer. Extension on either side that is boxed off from the walls.

The pitch of the extension s roof complements the original building creating a sense of harmony between the two elements. This type of roof is popular for areas with cold weather conditions providing a stable design that deals well with rain and snow. While the extension features a modern steel structure and a large amount of glazing the roof features stone slates to provide a sympathetic nod to the original cottage. If you re adding to the gable end of the house the side wall that goes up to the roof s peak it s fairly easy to extend the existing roofline over the new space says curt schultz a realtor architect builder in pasadena calif.