Thanks everyone! I met with the builder. He verified the pitch is 5:12 and stated the roof is pitched like that because that's the style of roof on a modern styled home. I understand that. It's just not what I was expecting.

He's offered to raise the entry way and the area to the right 2 feet to give the house some height which is what @ suezbell recommended. I'm thinking of taking him up on it but can't be certain it won't make it worse as someone on this thread suggested.

Well...currently your house is well organized and consistently designed.

Raising the entry way risks changing the house into McMansion Hell, with clutter, clutter, clutter, and a top heavy facade. For explanation and visuals, go to: https://mcmansionhell.com/post/148619538551/mcmansions-101-front-entries

My advice is you are much too worried about something insignificant, which will disappear once the house exterior is complete.

Be very cautious about any sort of changes which change the organization and consistency of your current construction.

Yes...I know...it's your house and you can do what you want. Of course you can.

Just don't raise the entry 2 feet without going to the web site in the link above and doing some critical reading.

Good luck with your project.

@ Virgil Carter Fine Art I really want to believe you...that's it's nothing to worry about but there is simply no way of knowing from where I'm at today. It could end up being fine...it could be that every day I drive up to the house I hate the roof. It's a big risk with a lot of money so I want to try to make the best decision I can.

As for the look of it (thanks for the article. I read it.), I'm hoping it will end up looking similar to this picture without the obstruction at the top. The builder stated he would put an oblong window there. I asked the builder if it be a structural issue removing the those two areas and redoing them and he assured me there wouldn't be. If that's the case it boils down to my preference. Thanks for your input. I sincerely appreciate it.

I understand how bothered and uncertain you are. And it is certainly your preference. You asked for comments.

Best wishes on your project.

Your house will not look like the last photo posted because you do not have those large overhangs and your walls are higher than that house’s. The front overhang on that portico looks to be almost 4 feet. The taller you make your walls, the shorter your overhang/ roof will look.

Don't do it. It will look like a frankenstein entry.

This thread has been very interesting and informative. I'm in the camp of "those who never thought about or questioned roof pitch in their entire lives." So, placing my opinion at the bottom of the heap where it belongs :) --I really, really like the 5:12 roof you have now--and that is coming from a person raised in traditional suburbia forever. Once the frieze or fascia boards, or whatever they are called, are painted to match the roof--its going to be stunning. Your neighbors will be the ones wanting to rip off their roofs and start over.

My question to the architects - in a subdivision setting like this, is it normal for the finished first floor height, relative to the street, to be known well enough in advance to create a more representative model? I can't tell you the number of clients I've had where they've unexpectedly gained or lost a walkout basement, or suddenly there's 11 steps up to the front door. It's gotten to where I won't start the design process until the foundation is in and framing has started. It kind of feels like no one knows where on the Z axis these homes are going till the first concrete truck shows up. Even on totally custom builds on the customers' lot. The job we're currently on was supposed to be slab on grade and whoopsie, now you have a partial basement.

To answer @Revolutionary Gardens, we start by having the site surveyed after we have determined the approximate location of the house. The design is still very schematic at this stage. We go out with the surveyor and flag the area we want, usually asking for 1’ contours only in the area immediately around the house and major landscape elements. Then we have 2’ contours beyond that—this gives us some topographic context but saves a little money on the survey. Then we work with the landscape architect to establish FFE. It’s complicated and it takes a lot of time. And it’s not something that the average client is going to value. But there is nothing like seeing a house that is sited just-right. Sometimes we will tweak things during the design process. Drawings and models are theoretical. The best designs address the site from the beginning, and throughout the process.

My question to the architects - in a subdivision setting like this, is it normal for the finished first floor height, relative to the street, to be known well enough in advance to create a more representative model?

We always get grades everywhere (floor and garage slab in green, topo and spot grades in black) Of course maybe that's suburban DC. Possibly out in the "boonies" it's less so.

@Architectrunnerguy the most egregious examples of this have been in Fairfax and Prince William counties. I realize PW is the western frontier for DC peeps, but still :)

Well, it's been my experience that the approved grading plans are sacred. Of course that doesn't mean houses get sited with the best aesthetics driving the bus. That particular project is in Haymarket.

Well...this is one of the reasons many architects will say that architectural design begins with a thorough site analysis and initial design concepts derived from the site.

On the other hand, this is a concept apparently not understood by many consumers (look at the number of floor plans posted without a site plan).

And it's a concept specifically ignored by all the Internet plan factories who post designs as if every site is as flat as a sheet of paper.

Obviously, the OP was unaware of her site's characteristics and now is very concerned about the appearance of the house as seen from those lower elevations.

The requirement for a coordinated topo, civil grading plan that matches the building plans (including elevations) is a growing trend, but not universal, only required in my region in the municipalities that need mass grading on almost every build, but in the valley its often ignored.

Consumers, builders & designers are resistant to spending that $5K+ to get it together. I'm currently in a 12 step program after spending my own money to fix this one too many times. Many consumers with untrained eyes see a 5% slope as "flat and level" and ignore it.

I don't know if this will help you or not - but I LOVE your home. Absolutely love it.

I'm not a pro and I don't know squat. All I can tell you is that your home absolutely does not look like the typical tract built and I truly love it.

I honestly believe if you raise the roof too much, you're going to wreck the look of the house.

It's your money so obviously totally up to you. But some of what you posted for comparison looks like garbage to me, and I'd hate to see you throw good money at fixing a problem.......that isn't actually a problem. At least to this idiot anyway. :)

Thank you @ patriceny Your feedback as an observer is very valuable to me.

It's not just the roof pitch but the roof height that affects how a house looks in the real world as opposed to the elevation drawing. IOW, when the pitched roof shortly terminates in a flat roof, there's less roof visible. Which seems out-of-proportion to some viewers.

When the desire for high ceilings conflicts with municipal height limits, builders respond with flat mansard roofs or flat roofs. (Leave aside that the zoning masters retaliate with lower limits for flat-roofed houses.)

To the OP @homeowner -- I'm going to paste in a combination of three photos you've posted. The top photo is the original photo you posted of your home. The middle photo is one you posted that you said is "in the same style" that has a roof that appears taller. The bottom photo is another one you posted, that appears to be a similar floorplan (at least from the front) to your home, with a roof that appears taller.

Now, bear in mind as you look at these photos that the second photo shows a house taken from a distance further away than the photo of your house. Because you were standing (or sitting in your car) at a further distance from the house -- the house is a greater distance from the street -- you can see more of the roof. The house in the third photo is somewhat similar to the photo of your house insofar as distance from the photographer to the house, but the angle at which the photo was taken is different, thereby showing more of the roof.

I don't have any idea what's across the street from your house, but is there some way you can get to a point where you are a similar distance from your house as you were when taking the middle photo, to get a better idea of what your roof actually looks like?

@ worthy Makes sense but in this particular case the roofs are huge and really tall in that neighborhood.

Thanks for your post @ Lindsey_CA I understand what people are saying about the roof being built as designed, at least I think that's what you're saying. My concern is that when you look at it from the street the roof looks shorter than I prefer. I've looked at all the houses with my own eyes, in person from approximately the same distance. The other two photos have been confirmed at a pitch of 6:12. The home we're building is at 5:12. Some have said it's not the pitch, it's the eaves etc. I wanted a certain curb appeal that the house doesn't have for me. I've never been a fan of a really flat roof. Others here have said the love it and I appreciate the diversity in feedback.

This conversation is interesting to me though and I said this to the builder who told me if I were to stand in the backyard of the house across the street I would see more roof. My response to him was that doesn't do me any good. I see the house from the street, in the front. It doesn't matter what it looks like when I stand on a ladder...no one is standing on a ladder and when the house was drawn, lot, grade etc should have been considered. His response was that it was on the drawing and my response to him was there was no way I would have known what a 5:12 pitch was and the roof doesn't look that flat on the drawing. He agreed.

Is this project a custom house for you on property you own?

Or is this a builder's spec house for which you have put a deposit?

It's clear you do not like the house despite explanations and recommendations.

If this is a builder's house I suggest you discuss how you may get your deposit returned.

It appears you will never be happy in this house.

@ Virgil Carter Fine Art It might appear that way but I disagree with you. I came here asking for input on what others think. The mind is tricky. Sometimes what you perceive might not actually be what you're seeing and I've learned to seek counsel from others in moments like this. Not that I'd let anyone decide for me, but the opinions of others lets me know I may not be perceiving this accurately, especially since the brick's not there or the landscaping. I asked for others opinions because I wanted them and they've been valuable to me.

People have different approaches to life. What works for one may not work for another. It's difficult to apply what you would do in a particular situation to what someone else would do. Not to mention it's difficult to do without knowing all the details of someone's situation.

It sounds as if you're saying, you'd move on. I appreciate your perspective as well as all the people who took the time to comment, share their opinion and expertise. That's exactly why I posted it here...to get information to help me make up my mind.

No...I'd certainly wait until the exterior was complete before making a decision, as I earlier said.

My impression of your position, from all you have said, is that the house is simply not acceptable.

Good luck, whatever your decision.

Here is a picture of my roof. I'm standing about 35' away. As mentioned above my eave overhang is 32" wide but the roof pitch is the same as yours; 5:12.

I like your eaves @cpartist. Very Frank Lloyd Wright. The eaves do make a difference...it gives the appearance of more roof. I asked the builder about the eaves and he said they're 12 inches. Perhaps that's why it looks odd to me. I have learned so much this past 24 hours about roofing. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this in order to help "a friend." Thanks also for cautioning me against the Frankenstein entry. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

The homes shown by others with lower pitches are a different style than yours.

The 6:12 pitch on the hill is from a perspective further away and closer to floor level, which adds height to the look of the roof.

Why don't you humor the crowd with the builders rendering and vision? Homes at this stage are skeletons without grading or landscaping.

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I never had a rendering. I was told to drive by another house the builder had built, which I did, and then I was given plans from the architect. The roof on the house I viewed has a roof at 6:12. I assumed the roof on the house we're building would have same/ similar look and height. The blueprint is deceiving. It doesn't look like a low pitched roof even though it says 5:12. As I told the builder, I had no idea what 5:12 looked like or I would have said something.

He offered to raise it two feet and many here advised me not to do it. I was afraid of making a bad situation worse so I passed on his offer. He says it will look fine as is. I'm still nervous.

No elevations?

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor Thanks for your response.

If you're asking if I was shown a 'sketch' basically of what the house would look like, the answer is no. I know the builder's work and was very familiar with some of the homes he'd built in the area. He told me the house we were building would be based off of another house he'd built that I was very familiar with. The architects drawing looks very similar to her house, no problem there, with the exception of the roof. I made the incorrect assumption that the roof would be the same pitch as hers (6:12) but the roof on the house we're building is at 5:12. It was on the drawing but I had no idea what it meant. The roof on the drawing looks like a normal roof. You can't tell it's 'modern' etc. It looks like a normal roof.

So...no. I have no other pics other than the blueprints if that's what you're asking.

Blueprints usually are a set including floorplans, elevations of each side (4), electrical, foundation, plot, roof at a minimum. sounds like you have a single page.

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I have a very large about 6 pages document with details on exterior, roof, construction materials, floor plans for each floor, plumbing details, some details on what's allowed contractually etc. I call it the architect plans but that might be incorrect. The side, back, front elevations are there but as I said, you can't tell from the drawing that the roof is a low pitched roof...at least I couldn't. I posted a pic on Oct 12 if you scroll up.

A photo of the page showing the front exterior (aka front elevation) might have changed the discussion.

The roof pitch is on that elevation. You can tell the difference between pitches when shown side by side.

The elevation drawing will show the intended finishes, whether masonry will thicken the columns, whether it will look like the low pitched photo of another home you liked, etc.

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I posted the front elevation from the blueprint earlier in the discussion. To me, with an untrained eye, I couldn't tell it was a low pitched roof. It probably looks perfectly normal to you as a contractor but I had no concept of what a low pitched roof shows up as on a blueprint. It's unfortunate and I'd warn anyone in this situation, look at the roof pitch and understand what that means, ask lots of questions or hire a consultant.

Even when I look at the drawing now, knowing that it's a low pitch roof I still can't tell. The roof rises a good ways above the brick on the drawing and I assumed it would do the same when the house was built. Builder didn't think to communicate it and I didn't know to ask.

Something else that I think exaggerates it and others have commented on the grade, is that the house is so close to the street, If it was further back and you could see it in one glance it looks much longer and the roof seems to work a bit better, but because it's so close too the street and the side entry garage blocks the rest of your view, you have to view it in two separate 'chomps'. If you pull up to the door, with the rest of the house being obscured by the garage, that flat roof seems somewhat out of proportion. If you pull further down and look rearward, it seems to make more sense. Buyer beware, lot, grade, placement are just as important as the blueprint.

When measuring roof pitches by inches per foot each additional inch increment raises the angle of the roof a little less. In other words, the difference in angle between 11" and 12" per foot is about 2.5 degrees but the difference in angle between 2" and 3" per foot is about 4.6 degrees.

Therefore the increments in the lower range of pitches are more dramatic than the increments in the upper ranges. As you drop below 7 in 12, you need to consider using half inch increments and hipped roofs should be steeper than gable roofs.

I provide my clients with a 3D model not because they need to understand the design but because I need to understand it.

You posted a photo of the front elevation, not the drawing from which you have referenced. The drawing will show you the actual intent, and maybe a better idea of how it will look finished. The drawing is from straight on.

A photo of the unfinished home exaggerates the issues because the grade, the landscape, the lack of finish materials, any eave treatments, etc. All are missing from the photo, but important to the discussion.

If you wear high heels, the roof will look steeper.

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor I posted the front elevation from architect's drawing on October 12. Perhaps I'm confusing the terminology. I posted it in the discussion on October 12. If you scroll up you'll see it or click on 'homeowner' and view the posts. I don't have access to the photo from this location or I'd post it again.

RES 3d Sketches I wish I'd had a 3D rendering. I didn't think I needed one because there was and actual house, already built that I had seen with my own eyes. Nothing against the builder, he's a great guy, but I'm old school and I think we now live in a world where everyone is in such a rush to do things and make money that sometimes things are missed. Customer service becomes more of an afterthought when you're in a hurry, etc. To me...a satisfied customer is the best marketing strategy.

Mark Bischak, Architect Thanks for the levity, Mark.

My apologies, found it. Like it.

Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor

does it look like the average consumer would know that is a low pitch roof? I think the plans are misleading. Someone explained it earlier. I think it was @User that stated there are plans for the builder and then there are drawings for the consumer. Boy!

Wishful thinking. No matter how great the sketches, the 3d renderings, the walk thru is, there will always be a large portion of consumers who cannot visualize until completed... AKA "Show n Tell"

While frustrating, its a fact. I spend a lot of time as a counselor.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor

I'm not a contractor or builder but a low pitch roof is a fairly specific taste. I would have made sure the customer understood and had an appreciation for it. I think he assumed because it worked on a two story house he'd built that I'd like it too on a ranch. It happens. It's a simple misunderstanding. But I tend to live life a little more cautiously. I rarely make assumptions. As you all say...measure twice and cut once. What's done is done but it's tainted how I feel about the process. I'm not as excited as I probably should be. I'm more in wait and see mode. Once the brick is there, I'll be able to tell.

Thanks for your contributions to this discussion. Everyone's comments have been invaluable to me.

Are we all invited to the house warming party?

Yes...All are invited!

And sure hope for those of us who can't make (lol) you will post some pictures! Wishing you all the best!

I will stand on the roof of my car.

I will stand on the roof of my car.

You're already plenty tall... Shouldn't need the car at all.