Can you show us some example pictures?

would love to see them as well

Since you asked for opinions, you may want to consider that, since the ridge lines are perpendicular to one another, no one can ever compare the pitch of the two roofs simultaneously. It will certainly be possible to see that the two ridge lines are either at different heights or the same height. Any experienced framer can make a pitched roof of whatever pitch, so that should not be a consideration. An 8:12 and a 6:12 are both common pitches. I'm not sure I've encountered a 6.75:12 before--that, in itself, calls for a great deal more time and effort (and expense) on the part of the framer. Is there some special reason for such a specific pitch? Are you trying to keep the ridge below a certain height? Good luck with your project.

Thanks everyone, I am attaching the front elevations below. (if they look familiar my wife Mary posted these before).

Virgil, I agree that having the ridge heights match would be much better.

The reason I have such strange pitches is that I need to keep the internal attic height below a certain level so that it is not counted as livable space. (btw I think I wrote down the wrong slopes but they are 6.5:12 for the main roof and 7.25 for the front gable). It seems with everyone using roof calculators cutting the rafters for a strange pitch shouldn't be that difficult.

I should also add that these gables are purely decorative like a large cricket so that should make the gable at least easier to build.

It seems the best thing to do is to specify the main pitch and then explain in a note that the front gable ridge should match the main ridge line. Putting in 7.75:12 +/-. I think specifying the exact front gable pitch is risky.

I think by having the gable over the garage you are making the garage have equal importance to the main part of the house.. Without the gable over the garage our eye first focuses on the main part of the house and not the garage.

A especially since they are only decorative.

Hi CP, I just wanted to thank you personally for all the help you've given to Mary and I. It's been very much appreciated.

As for the dormer, Mary is definitely sold on removing it and has been lobbying hard for it. I see your and her points but I think it gives the house a little more balance and interest. The debate goes on. C'est La house building.

no it actually makes it unbalanced because of the garage. Do an experiment Close your eyes, then open and look quickly at the elevation. Which part of the home does your eye go to first? Now try it with the version Mary and I prefer.

My eye goes to the center on both versions.

my eye goes to the left on the one without the gable. Is there a reason you are so "hot" on having lots of gables?

To my eye, the house without the gable looks a little too close to a 60s split level with a large gable on the left and a ranch on the right. In this case a raised ranch on the right. With that said I still like the look of the house either way so given Mary's persistence I'm sure she will eventually wear me down.

thanks CP:)

To my eye, the house without the gable looks a little too close to a 60s split level with a large gable on the left and a ranch on the right. In this case a raised ranch on the right.

Can you post a photo os this 60s split level that you are seeing? I don't see it and perhaps showing what you are seeing can help others understand your issue and offer other suggestions.

ok, cover your eyes

no your house still looks NOTHING like the split you are showing. Shall we start with the different porch? or the different roof pitch?. But if you'd like once my back is better I can go into my town and show you lots of builders specials where they added gable upon gable to "impress" potential buyers.

Well, I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I see it more as comparing a McIntosh to a Fuji but Mary certainly has better artistic skills than I so like I said, Im sure she will have her way. You don't have to take pics of those houses but thank you for the offer. However would you mind providing the approximate address and I could see them on zillow.

Back to the roof pitch question (although I'm with cpartist and your wife Mary), from the street you will not have this view. From the street the higher pitched gable in the front may prevent you from seeing the main roof at all... think about that.

And on the gable issue...

Look at the where your gutters will be required with that garage gable, and think about the sqft of roof that center gutter will handle. I had a gutter like that once, and because of where it dropped, it went underground to sewer. I didn't want a deluge of water running down my driveway, especially when it may freeze and become a skating rink. Let me tell you that gutter was a complete PITA over time. It clogged, repeatedly, overflowed. I had water then running under the sofit and against the top flashing of the upper windows, then leaking IN through the windows. I had the gutters professionally cleaned and blown out four times a year, caulked the flashing, re-angled the gutters to spill down and away from the house... the darn things just clogged up again. (and there were no nearby trees except one cedar maybe 40 ft away high enough to drop anything). I had to hang out of an upper window one night with a spaghetti grabber and scoop part of a bird nest out of the "eyebrow" or "muttonchop", jamming the handle down into the drop portion to make the water go down as it was pouring into a bedroom.

Not fun.

Without the gable you can run the gutter at the very end of the house, thus diverting any issues to somewhere 1) more accessible 2) away form windows 3) not prone to attract nesting birds 4) aren't forced to tie-in to the sewer location to avoid ice-rink driveway and soggy lawn.

I will see if I can find them if I can remember the street name

Zillow is only showing the lots or I am doing something wrong. I will message Mary with the street name and city.

btw every house in that small development went gable happy. I love gables but sometimes less is truly more

Rachel. that sounds like a nightmare. Though I think the situation is a little different with our design in that the small roof over the garage would catch the rain from the above roof and would be able to carry it to the right. In our city we have to send all rain water to a dry-well anyway so we wouldn't have an issue with water flooding the driveway. With that said, with or without the added gable, that corner will get a lot of rain and the gutters need to be sized appropriately and probably have a leaf guard over it. Thanks for pointing that out.

CP no worries if it doesn't show up on zillow. btw we like our gables up here in Mass.

In our case a leaf guard didn't help because the clogs were from needles. Anyway... just food for thought.

{PS. MY house I'm currently building commits all the gable sins... ;)

I sent Mary the street name and city.