Looking for roof designs for my floor plan

[Rookie65]

I did read it, and there was no mention of you copy and pasting. Just that it only took you ten minutes to do this with no design skills. So get your stories right and things might go easier for you. And don't edit it, as we've seen the post. If people have contacted you about wanting to help you, count yourself fortunate, and use them for their free information before they get wise to your motives. Since you wanted an apology from me, here it is; I'm sorry you don't get it. 

[Renerabbitt]

4 hours ago, Plainwacky said:

Don't people read??

Well you're certainly unpleasant. I did read, and you used DJP as an example of someone willing to give you their work for free, which is what my comment was about. I dont particularly think that the intent of you mentioning him had anything to do with paying him a compliment, but rather indicating that you wish more people would do as he had done, give you things for free. What free thing are you going to offer someone in return? It's such a peculiar mindset to have, that you might even ignore my previous post illustrating that this mindset truly hurts your fellow person and their livelihood, costing them time that they need to make a living.
Here's my free advice, hire a designer that knows what they are doing.

• You have an undersized laundry room that is 50 feet away from the closest bedroom and requires walking by an entry and bar area to get to it
• Your entry closet only has part of its storage accessible by its service door
• Your bedroom 3 bed is centered on a view of a terminating closet wall and deck nook
• Water closet below staircase is likely a code violation for clearances
• Your hallways are a gauntlet with no natural light and far too narrow
• The view from the living room to the extended bedroom halls will see a partial door instead of potential niche or art display
• Your bed 2 looks like its using a bypass 36" door, leaving just 18" nominal access to maybe a 4 or 5 foot closet
• Your primary bath has a separate enclosed water closet and 3rd sink?
• You want your guests to go to the bathroom by your entry door?
• Your spans, especially in the garage, are beyond allowable common lumber spans, just adding large and unnecessary costs. There are in fact a number of design conditions that will add cost whereas an experienced designer could mitigate those costs. Talking 10's of thousands of dollars wasted here.
• The reason your roof is difficult because your architectural design is causing very specific issues on managing structural tie-ins while considering water runoff, such as your 2nd story deck juxtapose to what looks like a bay window music room.

I would take a guess that you started from someone else's design and tried to conform it to your needs. 

I have no doubt that you will find someone hungry for work to work with, maybe they can take some of these notes and work through the problems. Though I think I would sincerely scrap this existing plan. It has very little flow or feng shui, and I'm not trying to show bias here, this really needs some better consideration.
Houzz Design dilemmas is known for people willing to give free e advice and design by committee but you will also run into similar takes on your approach for soliciting free services.
Freelance designers are typically measly 3-10% of a project cost, and you are trying to cut corners by circumventing a reputable designers typical fee structure and retainer whereas that same professional designer could've, on this project alone, turned your $1000 initial retainer investment into an immediate savings of $10K on that garage all while still giving you what you want. The approach you're taking instead is one of seeking out the hungriest designer available, and the most cost prohibitive. So within a few short paragraphs within this thread we see that you don't value many of our communities long standing experience an knowledge from many hours and years of experiences dealing with other similar posts.
Of the places to cut costs on a project for a substantially sized new home, designers would not be my first corner to cut.

[glennw]

I am not going to waste too much time on this.

I really just want to make one point.

Whenever I design a building I don't finish the floor plans and then try and plonk a roof on it.

The roof is designed along with the floor plans to produce a wholistic design.

 

[Gawdzira]

I just cancelled my Netflix subscription. Thank you all for your contributions.

[Plainwacky]

1 hour ago, Renerabbitt said:

Well you're certainly unpleasant. I did read, and you used DJP as an example of someone willing to give you their work for free, which is what my comment was about. I dont particularly think that the intent of you mentioning him had anything to do with paying him a compliment, but rather indicating that you wish more people would do as he had done, give you things for free. What free thing are you going to offer someone in return?

Thank you...you just proved my point that all I have been asking for is some ideas, which you provided. And I'd be willing it didn't take you much time, cause it was obvious to me you have experience. 

But unfortunately, you blew it, by brining Dave into the conversation and claiming I'm asking people to work for free just like Dave...which is not true! 

In post #9...I specifically said this...
I was working with a person I found on this forum, for years...his name is David Potter...great guy and very helpful. Prior to entering in an agreement (paid by his hourly rate), he sent me some ideas on different designs (much like you just did), and when I selected one, I would ask him how long it would take and charge to do the design, and after he finished, he'd send me an invoice, which I had no problem paying! 

I ALSO said...there were times Dave would create a video and show me how to do something, and I'd ask him, "how much do I owe you", and he would respond saying, "don't worry about it...it only took me 5-minutes"!  Again, this clearly shows I wasn't expecting him or anyone else to work for free!! I don't work for free...well, actually sometimes I do help a person in need if I can.  

This isn't telling everyone that Dave worked for free and I expect someone do to the same...far from the truth! 

I could have taken anyone of your ideas and said, "Good catch....how much time would it take and charge me to make it right"? And we'd be off and running.

As I said, Dave and I worked together for YEARS, and he helped me with my design; and in the process he made A LOT of money. A smart and wise designer/contractor would think...hmmm...here is this guy sitting on 4-acres in the SF Bay Area, planning to build a huge house...I'm going to jump on this! Dave saw this as an opportunity and grabbed it, unlike some of you dummies spending time insulting me, writing in BIG BOLD CAPS, chest pounding while holding up your credentials', clicking "dislike" on the POST...as if this is going to benefit you...what poor business sense. 

And lastly, what I find so disturbing about some of the people on this forum is; what kind of person clicks "dislike" on a POST from a person willing to help me? I find that so disturbing that that some people are so full of anger that they punish someone that is willing to help...I feel sorry for people that have so much anger. 

Regardless, contrary to what has been said, this POST wasn't a waste of time; it allowed me to weed out the dummies and people I wouldn't want to work with!

For all the smart contractors/designers that see an opportunity here...feel free to message me and not get sucked into this drama. 
 

[Joe_Carrick]

PW, If you spent 1/10th the time figuring out different roof designs as you have with this thread you would have dozens of solutions.  At least a few of them would be good.

 

But maybe NOT 

[Plainwacky]

17 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

• You have an undersized laundry room that is 50 feet away from the closest bedroom and requires walking by an entry and bar area to get to it
• Your entry closet only has part of its storage accessible by its service door
• Your bedroom 3 bed is centered on a view of a terminating closet wall and deck nook
• Water closet below staircase is likely a code violation for clearances
• Your hallways are a gauntlet with no natural light and far too narrow
• The view from the living room to the extended bedroom halls will see a partial door instead of potential niche or art display
• Your bed 2 looks like its using a bypass 36" door, leaving just 18" nominal access to maybe a 4 or 5 foot closet
• Your primary bath has a separate enclosed water closet and 3rd sink?
• You want your guests to go to the bathroom by your entry door?
• Your spans, especially in the garage, are beyond allowable common lumber spans, just adding large and unnecessary costs. There are in fact a number of design conditions that will add cost whereas an experienced designer could mitigate those costs. Talking 10's of thousands of dollars wasted here.
• The reason your roof is difficult because your architectural design is causing very specific issues on managing structural tie-ins while considering water runoff, such as your 2nd story deck juxtapose to what looks like a bay window music room.

 

Allow me to address your idea...

* You have an undersized laundry room that is 50 feet away from the closest bedroom and requires walking by an entry and bar area to get to it
The reason for this is so that a person can go right from the garage and put their dirty clothes into the laundry room. This isn't an "issue", this is a design choice. Plus, I have a dog shower in the garage for my two black labs; and it will be convenient to dry them off and throw the towels into the laundry room. 
* Your entry closet only has part of its storage accessible by its service door
This is true...my prior versions all have double doors there. When I recently made a change, I deleted the double doors...and forgot to put them back 
* Your bedroom 3 bed is centered on a view of a terminating closet wall and deck nook
Don't understand what you are saying here.
* Water closet below staircase is likely a code violation for clearances
There is plenty of clearance as shown below. The IRC states there must be a minimum of 6ft 8in of headroom above a toilet. I have 7ft 5in


* Your hallways are a gauntlet with no natural light and far too narrow
The main hallway from the living room is over 4ft wide. The bedroom hallway is 44in wide. These are hardly narrow. I agree there is no natural light in the hallway unless the bedroom doors are open, but that's true of many hallways. this to me isn't a big deal and would be hard to impement.
* The view from the living room to the extended bedroom halls will see a partial door instead of potential niche or art display
This was actually intentional so a person sitting at the bar cannot see directly into the main bathroom/toilet. Also, it makes it easy to tell a person where the bathroom is..."straight down the hallway". To me this isn't a big deal -
* Your bed 2 looks like its using a bypass 36" door, leaving just 18" nominal access to maybe a 4 or 5 foot closet
The closet is 7ft 4" wide and 3ft 4" deep;...with a bypass door of 4fT 6in. I"m not seeing an issue here, but perhaps I'm not understanding what you are saying. 
* Your primary bath has a separate enclosed water closet and 3rd sink?
There is no 3rd sink...what you are seeing is a towel rack. There is no separate water closet...there is a linen closet. 
* You want your guests to go to the bathroom by your entry door?
The entry door is not in the correct location in this plan. It's actually further away (towards the front of the house). This is just a powder room and makes it easy to get to from the bar/living room. I could get rid of it and expand the bedroom, but I like having a bathroom close to the garage and not having to walk through the house from the garage to go use it. There are many designs with a powder room off the front entry....it's not uncommon.
* Your spans, especially in the garage, are beyond allowable common lumber spans, just adding large and unnecessary costs. There are in fact a number of design conditions that will add cost whereas an experienced designer could mitigate those costs. Talking 10's of thousands of dollars wasted here.
I agree and this is an area I don't have experience with and why I need someone to help me design the roof. A structural engineer will address these issues. 
*The reason your roof is difficult because your architectural design is causing very specific issues on managing structural tie-ins while considering water runoff, such as your 2nd story deck juxtapose to what looks like a bay window music room.
You are correct, it's a bay window music room - The reason for the bay window was to be able to have a good visual of the front/door while playing as I won't be able to hear the doorbell or knocking. As I said, I don't have the experience when it comes to roof designs, and I need to find someone to help me with this design that Dave and I were working on. This is why it was so ridiculous for someone to suggest that I "just go online and look at designs...only YOU know what you want". What an ignorant comment and really shows a lack of insight and understanding. What I want and what is possible are not always possible. 

Again, I appreciate hearing your ideas, and this was all I was asking for. I wanted to hear people's ideas to see if I could find someone as helpful as Dave that could pick-up where he left off. It's too bad that people had to distort what I was asking for by claiming I was asking people to work for free, which was complete BS. Does anyone really think Dave worked for free?? Give me a break.

As I said, if Dave and I didn't have a good relationship, or he felt I took advantage of his good nature, do you think he would instruct his son to call me when he died? That in itself says it all. 
 

[Plainwacky]

12 hours ago, Joe_Carrick said:

PW, If you spent 1/10th the time figuring out different roof designs as you have with this thread you would have dozens of solutions.  At least a few of them would be good.

 

But maybe NOT 

I get where you are coming from...but I find it perplexing that people think that an individual such as myself, with very limited experience, can just whip-up a plan and come up with solutions.

I consider my plan a step slightly above drawing it all out on a napkin. It's a concept design...and I need to find someone that can take my concept to an actual design; and for me to do that, I first need to know what a person's experience is, what ideas they have, and their personality...of which many who have posted here, I'd never work with. 

I'm sure any contractor/designer or other professional will agree, it takes YEARS to get proficient! I'm smart enough to know my own limitations and when I need to hire a professional. Also, don't have the time to lean all this stuff...and even then, I know I would fall short cause I haven't spent years (or even days) in the field pounding nails building houses!

Regardless, this thread generated a lot of views, of which people messaged me saying, "I have some ideas and willing to help you" and requesting me to send them my plan. Very different tone than many people that have posted on this thread. I'm picky in who I want to work with, and this thread has allowed me to weed out many. 

[Renerabbitt]

16 hours ago, Plainwacky said:

But unfortunately, you blew it

I’ll shoot you as straight as I can because I do find this thread to be humorous in a way that is not condescending toward you, despite the tone of this thread. Experience is at the forefront of the responses you are receiving here. It should be clear to most that there is a high likelihood you started your work from someone else’s plans—which means you're already violating most reputable designers' codes of ethics, if not outright breaching AIA proprietary work product laws, and possibly even copyright laws.

Because if you had actually purchased someone’s plan, the contract would almost certainly stipulate that any modification to that plan must go through the original designer. Which means the second you made this post—without even putting words to paper—most of us here could already tell it was a red flag.

You didn’t invent this song and dance. We’ve seen it so often that there are entire legislative bodies developed for the sole purpose of preventing it. This should, at the very least, be illuminating for you—we saw you coming from a mile away. So when you show up bearing the gift of “show me your work,” it’s really not a stretch to assume you might do what we already suspected you did earlier… steal our work.

You mentioned receiving private responses. That doesn’t surprise me either. There are always going to be folks in Facebook groups or design forums willing to bypass ethics for a buck. They’ll message you privately so they don’t get called out publicly the way you’re seeing here. I could probably name a few of them—it's that common.

I genuinely wish you could see this from our side. It’s not that you, as a person, are offensive or beyond redemption. I’d probably share a drink and a laugh with you in another setting. But your approach feels very familiar—and not in a good way. It’s the kind of behavior that reminds professionals of difficult clients we’ve all dealt with. It's not personal—it's procedural. And to be candid, yeah, it feels a bit like someone who’d cut in line. You probably get along well with other line-cutters. (No judgment—I’ve done it too, haha.)

Now, regarding your layout: I’m not trying to rain on your parade, but the design needs a lot of work. Post it on Houzz’s Design Dilemmas forum and you’ll hear similar feedback. I’m not trying to compete with you—I’m genuinely trying to help.

No one wants their kids running through the house naked form the mudroom across the way. Your laundry is 83' walking path to your primary closet. Whoever is doing your laundry is going to need a rolling laundry cart 
A reputable designer would shift the floor plan so that we aren't seeing a partial door down the hall. Typically we consider all points of transition in travel and build a design that entices you into a space, draws you toward a place of intrigue inviting warmth and/or discovery

In terms of hallways, if you have no natural light then we would start considering length of hall, and any hall that is a gauntlet of doors is really only tolerable at 8' of length on a 42" or 48" width, so we would either reconfigure to avoid a long hall or substantially change the width or start working with plate height levels or other methods to create less of a gauntlet. Your hall is something like 25-30' long? This would be a reason for reconfiguring acccess to just cut that length of hall down
Again please dont make me poop by the front door as a guest, just imagining going number two at a home get together when someone is leaving and I have to say good bye with the nice waft of bathroom air
Have you ever tried to get into a 5' wide 24" depth closet through a 24" opening?
Glen said it best, when we are designing a new home, we are considering the roof along side of the layout of the home, not as an afterthought. I don't know what part of the Bay Area you are in, but this home was designed with timber trusses in mind for the main vault, an architectural feature that is egregiously expensive to procure in the Bay Area. You'll likely be switching to scissor trusses instead but at some point at the size of this home and size of that vault, depending on the zone (maybe zone 1) you're going to run into our building height restrictions 
 

Since you mentioned you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area. That brings an entirely different layer of code requirements into play that many online designers simply don’t know. California operates on the California Building Code (CBC), which includes a variety of strict adaptations:

• CALGreen

• Title 24 energy compliance

• Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) standards

• County-specific codes that vary even within the Bay Area

For context: the five major Bay Area counties—San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Contra Costa—each have their own amendments to the CBC. That’s in addition to floodplain restrictions, solar mandates, and regional environmental requirements.

By contrast, some states like Texas or Arkansas are still operating under codes that are three or even four code cycles behind California. That means their designers may not be up to speed on requirements we consider foundational here. An e-designer who mainly works in those regions may unintentionally steer you toward non-compliance in California.

In short: designing a home in the Bay Area is not like designing one in suburban Houston or Little Rock. You need someone who understands our code cycle and local AHJ expectations.

Happy to help further if you’re open to constructive feedback. But please understand—when you start a conversation the way you did, you’re walking into a very informed and cautious room.