Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220118
SECTION: FALL HOME PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO 1. ROGER
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It was ideal for us," John Edwards said.
Like the rest of the rooms in the 30-year-old house, the bedrooms were enormous. The only problem was, there were just two of them - not enough for a family of five.
The house had a beautiful, big, unfinished attic with attractive dormer windows in the back, but the only access to it was through a pull-down stairway in the kitchen. And although the ceiling was high enough to turn the area into liveable space, John Edwards said, it wasn't enough to create the large, comfortable rooms they wanted.
"It was just good for storage," he said.
So, the Edwards' decided to raise the roof.
"It was the only viable option," John Edwards said.
Within days of their closing on the house, contractor Charlie Coulter of Coulter Construction was on the job. Using plans supplied by Balzer & Associates, an engineering firm, he went about altering the original hipped roof to make way for two bedrooms and a bathroom.
The Edwards' chose to remain in their old home while the work was going on. Although Coulter and his crew were easy to work with, John Edwards said, "it would have been hard to live here while it was being done."
Luckily, Cathye Edwards said, there was little rain and a record-breaking warm spell during the two and a half weeks in January and February when the house had no roof at all. As involved as it was, the project was finished by May.
Instead of following the original roof lines, Coulter and his crew set the addition and the new roof a few feet back from the wall of the house, rather than flush with it. They did this so that the new second story wouldn't appear overwhelming from the outside, John Edwards said.
The new design was built with two roof levels, each with a small gable in the middle, to create vaulted ceilings in the two new rooms. The addition was first finished with wood, but was later covered with vinyl siding when the wood began to show damage from the weather.
Because the roof was raised, the original chimney also had to be built up. The portion of the attic over the kitchen was left as it was to serve as storage space, and the original roof lines can be seen there.
When it came to providing access to the new rooms, it took a little thinking, Coulter said. The best place to build the stairs was in the large foyer near the front door, but as big as the space was, it still could not accommodate either a straight stairway or one with a turn and a landing.
Then, one of Coulter's workers came up with the idea of moving the front door out a few feet onto the flagstoned porch. It worked wonderfully, and also provided the Edwards' with a brand-new closet under the stairs.
The stairway was finished in hardwoods and leads to a hallway on the new second floor, the ceiling of which slants with the pitch of the roof. A bathroom and the two bedrooms, used by Dabney, 16, and Jack, 19, open off the hall, where there also is an access panel for the air-conditioning/heating unit.
In Jack's room, a large palladian window lets in plenty of light, and the vaulted 8-foot ceilings add interest to the design. The lower casement windows open onto a view of the yard and a patch of woods. Both rooms are illuminated by track lighting.
Dabney's room is slightly smaller, and has access to what is left of the old attic, which the family uses for storage. It is the only storage space in the house, and although Cathye Edwards said she is delighted with the results of the remodeling, her only complaint is that "we didn't leave enough attic."
The floors are so well insulated, she said, the kids can play their stereos without being heard downstairs.
"I don't go up there a lot," she laughed. "I don't bug them."
While the house was being worked on, the Edwardses also had Coulter make a few more changes, including adding recessed lighting for the new foyer, and paneling and bookshelves in the den; altering the fireplace there; and creating a new door leading from the garage to the laundry room while sealing up an old one that led into the kitchen.
The work ended up costing around $65,000, but for the Edwards the price was well worth it.
"We'd do it again if we had to," John Edwards said. "We like the neighborhood. It has a nice sense of community."
by CNB