House Building in Redan, GA

The roof is the largest single surface on most houses and the one that takes the most weather, yet its design often gets less attention than the kitchen. While a new house in Redan is still on paper, settling the roof shape, the framing method and what happens in the attic below it affects the structure, the mechanical layout and the look of the finished house.

Here is what to think about from the ridge down to the bedroom ceilings.

Choosing a roof shape

A gable roof is simple to frame, sheds water well and is easy to ventilate. A hip roof slopes on all four sides, protects every wall with an eave and tends to handle wind well, though it leaves less open attic at the ends. Most houses mix the two, and every valley and every spot where a roof meets a wall needs careful flashing, so a busy roofline adds cost and more places for leaks.

Pitch matters as well. Asphalt shingles need at least the minimum slope listed in the manufacturer’s instructions, and low-slope sections over porches or bays need a different roofing material. A steeper pitch creates more usable attic space but adds material and makes the roof harder to work on.

Trusses or rafters, and when they arrive

Engineered trusses come with their own design drawings, span wide rooms without interior bearing walls and go up quickly. Their web members leave little open attic unless attic or bonus-room trusses are ordered. Site-built rafters suit vaulted ceilings and rooms tucked under the roof, but they need ridge beams, ties or other details to keep the walls from spreading.

Trusses have a lead time, and a large set may need a crane or boom truck to lift them, so the site plan should leave room for that equipment near the house. Once set, a truss should never be cut or notched in the field; any change goes back to the truss designer.

Carrying roof loads down to the foundation

Roof weight travels through rafters or trusses into walls and beams and finally into the footings. Girder trusses, which carry other trusses, create concentrated loads that need posts and sometimes larger footings beneath them. A heavy roofing material such as tile or slate calls for heavier framing from the start. Metal connectors that tie the roof framing to the walls keep the whole assembly together in strong wind. The framing and foundation plans should show where each of these loads lands.

Ventilating and insulating the attic

There are two common approaches. In a vented attic, insulation lies on the attic floor, outside air enters at the soffits and leaves at the ridge, and baffles keep insulation from blocking the soffit vents. In an unvented attic, insulation is applied to the underside of the roof deck so the attic stays close to indoor temperature, which helps when ducts and equipment live up there.

Either way, the ceiling below should be air sealed before insulation goes in. Top plates, electrical boxes, plumbing and wiring holes and the attic hatch are the usual leaks.

What goes in the attic

Air handlers and ducts in a vented attic sit in summer heat, so they lose energy even when insulated; the ducts should at least be sealed tightly and well insulated, or kept inside the conditioned envelope. An air handler up there needs a safe path from the hatch, a light, and a drain pan with a shutoff switch in case its condensate line clogs. Storage platforms should be raised above the insulation rather than pressing it down.

Openings, fixtures and the roof deck

Many lighting and plumbing fixtures end up connected to the roof or attic. Plumbing vent stacks, bath fan ducts, the kitchen hood duct and any skylights each need flashing where they pass through the roof, and every hole in the ceiling below needs sealing. Bath fans should vent all the way outdoors, never into the attic. Combining vent stacks where the plumbing design allows reduces the number of roof penetrations, and recessed lights under the attic should be rated for insulation contact and airtight. After the roofing is on, a check of flashing at walls, valleys and chimneys before gutters are hung catches problems while they are easy to reach.

Building in Redan: the county office

Redan is in DeKalb County. Permits, plan review and inspections are handled by the DeKalb County Planning and Sustainability Department. Before construction begins, ask the department which permits and inspections a new house on your lot will need.

Frequently asked questions about roofs and attics

Is a hip roof or a gable roof better for a new house?

Each has strengths. A gable roof is simpler to frame and ventilate and leaves more usable attic at the ends. A hip roof slopes on every side, shelters all the walls with eaves and tends to hold up well in high wind, but it takes more framing. Many houses combine both, and fewer valleys and intersections mean fewer places to flash.

Should HVAC ducts be placed in the attic of a new home?

It is common, but a vented attic gets very hot in summer, so ducts there lose energy even when insulated. Alternatives include keeping ducts inside conditioned space in soffits or floor trusses, or insulating the roof deck so the attic itself is conditioned. If ducts stay in a vented attic, they should be sealed tightly and well insulated.

Who handles building permits for a house in Redan?

Redan is in DeKalb County, and permits, plan review and inspections there are handled by the county’s Planning and Sustainability Department. Contact that department before work starts to confirm which permits and inspections apply to building a new house on your property.

Start from the top

Ready to sketch out a house in Redan? Call 404-409-4448, tell us about your lot and the style of house you are drawn to, and we can arrange a visit and explain how the written estimate breaks down the roof, structure and finishes. For other projects, see our remodeling services in Redan, or read about building new homes in Georgia.