Ever since I heard about the ban of roof overhangs*** after the S.Cal wild fires I have been thinking of whether an integration - or annexation - of my 4' wide overhangs would be feasible. The Jan 2008 floorplan proposal (swapping public and private) already does a bit by taking the LR roof overhang over the garage and making it into a corridor.
A first thought is that it would be a great way of getting Nana doors (?) - simply building out the floor and finishing off at the edge of the overhang with the bi-part, n-fold window wall.
The problem is of course the posts - they are between the current windows. Would it be odd to have a row of posts 6 feet apart and 4 feet from the windows. I am not 100% convinced that the integrated space would be really useful, at least not on the window/view side: it would be hard to furnish this narrow strip. If the living room space stays with its current function, the "strip" on the garage side could be either corridor to a new room on the NE side, or a mini library - or both.
Focusing only on the south side AND only on the Eastern "box" that has the tall ceiling (assuming that the Western "box" will be completely rebuilt), what is the cost-benefit equation of annexing the space under the overhang?
+ added 108K resale value (using avg. sf value of $750 and 36x4 sf)
- costing $XX in new foundation and basic framing
0 neutral in cost of new windows and doors since I would need to replace anyway
+ easy accessible space to use for installation of convection heat
- not easy to use the new space
- "break" in flooring, assuming the old oak floor is worth preserving
- new sun screening may be needed, like a new louvered (adjustable?) - see for instance here
*** I think I have learned that it is vented overhangs that are banned, not the ones I have. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to think about changing them since they do give the home a certain dated look.
