The location of the eave overhang or soffit will be determined by the roof slope and width of overhang. You need a wall section to properly dimension the windows.

There is and 18" overhang at 8:12 pitch.

I think the code requirement is minimum 18" from the floor to the window sill before you need to look at tempered glass so you might want to confirm that. We have 6' windows 2' off the floor with 1' left above the window on our 9' ceiling levels.

Thanks for the information. I am certain that we don't want to add cost by needing tempered glass. I think we should probably go with the 2' off the floor unless there is a problem with the soffit location then 18" should work.

Before deciding that safety glass would be required in your window read the actual code requirement. It has nothing to do with the interior stool height and the dimensions you are using might be the rough opening frame sizes anyway.

If the code is the IRC, safety glass is required in a window when the bottom edge of the glass is less than 18" from the floor, AND the top of it is more than 36" from the floor, AND the glass is larger than 9 s.f., AND there is a walking surface within 36" (horizontally) of the glass.

I'm not going to draw the wall section to determine the soffit height; I meant that you or your architect needs to do it. I can't imagine how a building could be designed without a wall section.

JDS - I wasn't aware that supplying the overhang and pitch implied that I was asking you to draw the wall section. I do have the blueprints with the wall available but with my limited knowldege I supplied the information I thought was needed. I'm learning as I go.

Virgil - when going over the plans with both our builder and architect, our builder questioned the window placement (16" from floor to sill). Her reponse was that she thought it was better lower because when looking out of the windows you would be able to see more of the ground since it is so elevated with the exposed basement.

In further discussion with both my husband and our builder, we've decided to stay with the architect's decision for the windows. We will trust that she designed this for us and that we will be happy with the results. Thanks for the conversation. Hopefully my questions weren't too beneath this forum. All of these decisions are a lot to take in and consider for a novice like me.

Ajoy22, all questions and comments here are worthwhile. Certainly, there's a lot involved in design and construction of one's home, and it can be hard to deal with many of the issues which may arise. This is why a brief conversation among owner, architect and builder is often a good idea. Experienced designers and builders usually have good reasons for what they recommend, but there are times when an ooops slips in. It's always better to have a discussion over an issue, than to stew over it and wait too long to deal with it. Good luck with your project!

And to another point, I value all questions because it helps me (and I'm guessing a lot of other folks) learn.

Thanks for that. I suppose I was sensing some condesention and was feeling a bit sensitive to it. I guess I should get thicker skin or maybe stick to lurking. I've learned a lot over the past year from browsing through other people's questions. :)

My wife had a garage built before we were married. I showed the builder sketches of how I wanted it to look with 24" square awning windows. He installed 48" gliding windows. I showed him the sketches again and he told me it wouldn't look good. In hindsight, I should have had him fired right there. There are several problems with the construction the garage.

Virgil gives some very good advice.

"JDS - I wasn't aware that supplying the overhang and pitch implied that I was asking you to draw the wall section."

That would have been the only way I could find the height of the eave from the floor without which no one could have answered your original question. It would have been easy to draw but I was not in my office and that information should have been on the drawings.

The people who get the most out of this forum are the stubbornly persistent ones who thank everyone and keep asking questions until they find the answer they need. I don't think you ever told us the height limit of your window.

@ dazureus, what height interior doors did you use with your 9' ceilings?