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N E I G H B O R H O O D
B L O C K
ADJACENT HOMES
S I T E
• What are the current zoning l imitations? • Do the existing homes follow the current zoning setbacks?• What are the overall lot characteristics?• What is the predominant facade material facing the street?• What is the predominant roof pitch, type and material?
• How are homes set on their lots? • Is there an obvious pattern formed by heights of existing homes on the block?• Are there dominant architectural features?• Are the garages attached? Detached? Is there an alley?• What are the dominant landscape features? Where are the street trees located?
• Home types: • Ranch • Two Story • Cape Cod • Split Level • What are the approximate roof pitches?• Where are the adjacent homes’ garages and driveways situated?• What is the dominant lot orientation?• How are the homes situated on their lots? Close to the street? On or near the lot setbacks?• Are the views open to the backyard?• What are the landscape features?• What are the building materials used on adjacent homes?• What types of roof lines do the homes have?
• What is the width and depth of the lot?• Where does the proper ty sit on the block?• Is there alley access?• What are the unique features of the proper ty?• Are there any site conditions that affect the project’s height, setback lines, garage and driveway placement?• Are there landscaping challenges?
Identify patterns around your homene of the fi rst and most important steps in
remodeling or expanding an existing home in an
established neighborhood is to look around, learn,
and understand the existing patterns and character
traits that can offer design cues for your project.
You are responsible for the future of your own
neighborhood. Developing a detailed awareness
of the neighborhood, the block, and the adjacent
homes surrounding your site will allow you to
better understand how to address the conditions
and challenges that you may encounter.
O Each city has its own zoning ordinances that
regulate what and how owners might remodel
or build on their property. Within these zoning
ordinances, common building setback criteria
are usually established that regulate how close to
any property line a building might be. Consistent
setbacks, roof pitches (the slope of the roof),
eave heights, and building materials are a few of
the qualities that give a neighborhood a cohesive
character and create a visual appeal from the public
streets and sidewalks for all to enjoy.
• Gabled roof front stoop (6' deep x 10' wide)• One-story, rear-yard addition
• Gabled and shed roof front porch • (6' deep x 20' wide)• Two-story, rear-yard addition
• Gabled roof front stoop (6' x 10') eave overhang (2.5')• One-story rear addition• Two-story rear addition
Match slope of existing roof1 Match eave line2 Match existing size, shape and proportion of windows3Tips for all remodeling projects:
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M A S S I N G , P R O P O R T I O N A N D S C A L EG 0 2
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Addition no widerthan the exisitng house is deep
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1
Addition no longer than the existing house is deep
Addition no higher than existing ridge. 1
Offset 1'–3'
Additionno longer
than wide
Addition half as long as existing
is deep
1
Addition less than half the width of theexisting home
Match existing height
Addition less than half the depth of theexisting home
2
1
Addition no longerthan the exisitng house is deep
Addition no wider than the exisitng house is deep
Covered rear porch opportunity
2
1
Open space
Addtion no longerthan the exisitng house is deep
1
2
3
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Once an understanding of the neighborhood, the
existing site and the home is attained, the most
fundamental aspect of adding on to an existing home
is the massing of the addition relative to the existing
home, its site and its neighborhood. Although zoning
ordinances may only regulate building setbacks from
the property lines, building to all the setback lines
usually results in a structure that is too big for the site,
• Gabled roof front stoop (6' deep x 8' wide)• One-story rear yard addition
• Gabled roof front stoop (8' deep x 16' wide)• Tandem garage and room addition
• Shed roof front porch (8' x 16')• Two-story bedroom addition• One-story rear addition
creates many rooms without exterior windows, and
leaves little open space for rear and side yards in
particular. Even though many additions cannot be
seen from the front (more specifi cally, the street and
sidewalk) it is important to be mindful of what your adjacent
neighbors look at either through their side windows or back
door, and how daylight and fresh air fl ow through their yards
as well as yours.
No longer than existing
home is deep
• Gabled roof front stoop (6' x 8')• Rear-yard addition• Add light wells
• Shed front porch (16' x 23')• Tandem garage and living space addition• Add light wells
• Combination gables/shed front porch (6' x 23')• One-and-a-half story rear-yard addition• Add light wells
Match slope of existing roof1 Match eave line2 Match existing size, shape and proportion of windows3Tips for all remodeling projects:
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M A S S I N G , P R O P O R T I O N A N D S C A L EG 0 2
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Space gabled dormers away
from end.
Double width of existing windows.
Width equal to or greater than widened dormers
Align with eave of front dormers
Center on windows
1
Maintain garage door recess
Add column or brackets
Maintain some distance from corner of home to corner of porch
Align with dormer eavesAlign with exterior wall
2
1 Matching gabled dormer on “ends” of house
Shed dormer infill between dormers
No wider than existing house is deep
Maintain garage door recess
Add column or brackets
Match front dormer
3
2
1
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3
Addition no longer than existing house is deep
No higher than
existing ridge.
Covered porch
1
Addition no wider than existing house is deep
Addition no higher than
existing ridge.
3' x 5' egress light wells
with full height windows
1
3
Maintain space between garage and
orking from the top down (that is, the
roof), these simple guidelines will allow
you to create a massing for additions that
will respect your neighbors while maximizing the
opportunities for windows and daylight.
The lot size and shape shown in these examples
are fairly common to these house types – leading
to the assumption that there is no room for
additions in the side yards, and that current zoning
regulations would not allow an encroachment into the front
yard setback except for an open air porch or stoop. W
• Gabled roof front stoop (4' x 7')• Widen front gable roof dormers• Shed dormer in rear
• Shed roof front porch (6' x 27')• Widen front garage roof dormer• Expand garage attic floor space• Rear gabled roof addition and shed dormer
• Gabled rood front porch (6' x 10')• Widened front gabled roof dormer• Expanded garage attic floor space• One-and-a-half story rear-yard addition• Rear gabled roof dormer and shed dormer infill
E X T E R I O R A P P E A R A N C EG 0 3
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Match existing roof slope
Align tops of windows and doors
Add horizontal mullions
Match eave line
Match windows in size shape and proportion
(Additon in background)
Provide slight recess from existing wall
Match existing roof slope
Match existing roof slope
3/4 high casement or hopper windows over kitchen counter
Recess new addition from existing house so that new eaves butt into side of home
• Add a front porch (with or without railing)• Add shutters• Add flower boxes• Replace windows
• Add rear addition
• Gabled/shed front proch• New front door with sidelights• Add shutters, new windows with muntins• One-story rear-yard addition• New door and matching window trim
New decorative brackets
Line up with windows below
Recess new addition from existing house so that new eaves match up
• Gabled front porch with bracketed eave• New front door and sidelights• Add shutters, new windows with muntins• Two-story rear-yard addition
nce the massing of the addition is determined
and fl oor plans laid out, it is important to
review the design cues from your neighborhood
and the existing home to create building elements
that are not only compatible but also enhance the
appearance found in the hidden qualities of its
structure. Much of this has to do with how the new
addition(s) relate to the existing house in terms of
height and shape, and then the size and placement of
doors and windows. For instance, columns should
look like columns — not fence posts or a pole barn
— using at a minimum size of 6' x 6's instead of
4' x 4's).
The goal can be simply stated: “Make it look like
it’s always been there and enhance the inherent
qualities of the existing house with quality materials
and details.”
As part of replacing exterior materials, consider the
longevity and durability of the existing materials
as well as possible replacement materials. One of
the valuable qualities of post-WWII housing is that
much of it contains high-quality materials such as
brick, hardwood fl oors and cedar siding.
Retaining these original high-quality materials
rather than replacing them with substandard
materials will reduce the long-term maintenance of
your home and increase its long-term value.
On the other hand there are also some post-WWII
materials which have not withstood the test of time
and need to be replaced as part of the renovation
process. In choosing replacement materials
consider short-term and long-term maintenance
issues along with cost. A good approach is to
think of using high-quality, durable materials as
an investment in the future. You will be able to
recapture your investment either through reduced
maintenance costs or in a higher resale value.
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F I R S T S U BU R B S C O A L I T I O N : U P DAT I N G P O S T- W O R L D W A R I I H O M E S
E X T E R I O R A P P E A R A N C EG 0 3
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Line up eaves
Add brackets
Light wells and taller windows
Match existing roof slope
Add windows on “garage” side for light and appearance.
Match existing windows scale, size, and proportion
Match existing roof slope
Add a decorative window
Align windows
Match existing roof slope
Match existing roof slope
Match existing roof slope
Match existing roof slope
Match existing wing window shape,size, proportion
Keep dormer at or below existing ridge line
Maintain existing roof line
Single-hung window allows daylight into garage without losing wall space or privacy
• Add a front shed porch• Add decorative brackets to second-story overhang• Add deep light wells to basement windows• Add one-story rear-yard addition• Add shutters, new windows, with muntins• New matching door and window trim
• Add a third story • Add a third story• Add a gabled front porch
Match existing roof slope
Match existing eave line
Match new front dormers
Align tops of windows
Match windows in size, shape, proportion
Provide at least single-hung windows into garage
Front gable dormer
Acceptable
Rear shed dormer (line up with front dormer)
Rear gabled dormer which matches front with shed roof in between
Rear shed addition (keep back from end wall same distance as front dormer)
Preferred
Less desirable
• Add a tandem garage with roof-top garden above• Expand garage attic for living space above
• Add gabled front porch• Add sidelight to front door• Widen front gabled dormers• Add new windows, trim
• Add a tandem garage with second floor above• Expand garage attic for living space above
• Add shed front porch (with or without railing)• Add double sidelight to front door• Widen front gabled dormers
W I N D O W S & D O O R SG 0 4
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USE SAME WINDOW & WINDOW PANE PROPORTION(Diagonal lines are same angle, or height/width = the same number)
First floorwindow
Second floorwindow
Bathroom window
First floorwindow
Second floorwindow
Bathroomwindow
Align all heads
Window head (flush or overhanging side frame)
Side frame
Window sill(Flush or extended beyond side frame
Align all heads
3 over 3 6 over 1 3 over 1 1 over 1
4 over 4 Awning Casement Two double-hungs “mulled” together
TYPICAL WINDOW MUNTIN PATTERNS
TYPICAL CLASSICAL WINDOW PROPORTIONS(Also contemporary)
Narrow trim or “brick mould”2-panel door
(flush head trim)
6-panel door
(overlapping head trim)
4-panel door
Match window pane proportion and size if possible.
Glass door with panel below (matching fixed sidelight)
TYPICAL TRADITIONAL PANELED DOORS (Style and rail with or without glass)
10-panel door
6-panel door
3-panel door
Full glass door
TYPICAL “CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL” PANELED DOORS(Style and rail with or without glass)
Typical double-hung
Typical awning window
Typical casement window
Two windows “mulled” together
USE SAME WINDOW PANE SIZE; VARY NUMBER OF PANES HORIZONTALLY
Traditional 6 over 6 muntin pattern
Window sill extends beyond side frame
Head trim flush or slightly overhanging side trim
Side frame same width as head
TRADITIONAL WINDOW TRIM SHAPES
ne of the most important elements in improving these post-
WWII homes is getting the details right. Whether the existing home
has window trim and mouldings, or the traditional styles found on some
Cape Cods, respecting the qualities of existing styles or enhancing them
with new windows and trim consistent with the original patterns of the
house is important. What follows are a few simple guidelines on how to
O develop windows and doors of consistent size, shape, and pattern to fi t
within the character and style of the existing house and neighborhood.
When developing window sizes and shapes for bedrooms, be
mindful of widths and heights required by building codes to provide
emergency fi re exits.
P r o p e r t y L i n e
Fr o n t - Ya r d S e t b a c k
R e a r - Ya r d S e t b a c k
U t i l i t y E a s e m e n t
P r o p e r t y L i n e
R e a r S e m i -D e t a c h e d
R e a r A t t a c h e dS t r e e t - S i d e Ta n d e mS i d e E x p a n s i o nFr o n t A t t a c h e d R e a r D e t a c h e dw i t h C a r p o r t
R e a r D e t a c h e d w i t h A l l e y
R e a r D e t a c h e d w i t h S h a r e d D r i v e w a y
R e a r D e t a c h e d w i t h F r o n t D r i v e w a y
A D D R E S S I N G T W O - C A R G A R A G E I S S U E SG 0 5
common problem with the post-WWII house
types is the modern expectation of a two- or
three-car garage. Many were built with one-car garages,
if any, and little or no room on the side to add a second
“side-by-side” stall. Several solutions address that
problem in varying ways to meet your needs.
Garage additions should comply with zoning setback
requirements, be appropriate to your own house and
backyard, and be respectful to the neighborhood.
Garage doors should be set back from the main house
façade, where possible, and should be proportionate to
the existing house. In many cases, using two single-
doors with exterior trim or siding between them, instead
of one double door is recommended. Three-car garages
are most likely disproportionately large to the rest of the
house, rear yards, and adjacent lots.
D E TA C H E D O P T I O N SG 0 5 C C
TA N D E M O P T I O N SG 0 5 RA
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