New roof going on garage question............

Hi all. It's been too long since I've actually signed on. I could give a million great excuses though. Anyway, I'm gonna have the roof done in my garage (future practice room) and I've lurked enough to know the basics and own Rod Gervais' book (just so you know). ;-) Is there anything I should know before the new roof is put on? I don't think it'll be too extreme. Probably some perimeter repairs (my roof base is made up of 1 x 6's...built in the '40s) and your standard Pabco Laminated Roof Shingles. I'm wondering about venting though. As it stands, I don't think there's a single vent up there. Since this was planned as a garage, I'm willing to bet that the builder didn't vent it because he knew it would be used that way. Now, however, with my box-in-a-box plan, this venting idea should come into play, no? And a vent being a way to the outside world......if the sound follows suit?? Well, you can see where I'm going with this. I'd love some advice if you have it. Many thanks! -Aaron

http://www.buildingscience.com/doctypes/digest Be sure you click thru all the links on the left - there are many articles regarding your issue. I'm also building in a detached garage in Houston and I found great recommendations.

"Is there anything I should know before the new roof is put on?" What style of roof framing are you talking about? Typical code approved venting for a roof in general requires soffit (overhang) venting, gable end or hip venting, depending on the type of framing your build has. Ridge venting may not be part of code but is a good idea if you have a situation that you cannot get a good flow of air to the entire attic area. Ask your roofers what is most required from them to get a job completed in your area.

Thanks for the replies. In regards to this pic: If one was doing a box in a box and the inner box was not touching the outer one, wouldn't the actual roof (in the picture) be acting as a 3rd leaf? The box within the box would have its roof, and then there'd be some space (a few inches) and then there would be the floor of the attic (the insulated part of the picture), and then the dreaded 3rd leaf?? (The actual roof?) Just curious. Thanks.

Yes it is.

xSpace wrote:

Yes it is.

What's the preferred method to deal with this? Something along these lines?

That design will work, but the roof will still have to be vented and your interior leaf is now closer to the openings that let sound in. It is one of the places folks agonize here about. Often it is one of the areas you live with. If your interior leaf and your second leaf are of a substantial mass, then the thinking is that the exterior roof decking and the distance allow the room to minimize the three leaf effect.

Hmmmm.......glad to know I'm not the first to agonize over such a decision. At the peak of the "dreaded 3rd leaf" (i.e. the roof), it's about 5'10". Obviously though, the slope would require that it also has low spots. :-( I'd imagine that the 2nd leaf would need to be pretty beefy. How nuts are people going with this? I could go real nuts.........

You have to look around and get a feel as to how nuts someone may go. It is common to apply two 5/8 inch sheetrock on a ceiling, with an approved way to decouple the mass from the existing framing member and carry the load. But it is not uncommon to live with what you have. Walls stood up and joists placed directly on these walls that can carry the load is another option. This is the three leaf with a room in a room design. Usually the issues are multiple when constructing room in a room in a residential environment as it applies to code, home owners insurance, fire safety, etc. This is why the best builds get designed by those that can run interference on these issues and address them before they become a problem to you.