My House

Adding Onto My House

New additions to 19th- and early 20th-century houses should be designed as secondary elements or wings that preserve the integrity of the main body of the original house. Additions should never be bigger or wider than the house itself or you’ll wind up with a “McMansion” where the proportions and scale of the traditional house are lost, and the house feels too big or over-scaled for its setting within the neighborhood. Additions may include the construction of a wing – typically on the side or rear, the addition of a second story, or the construction of an ancillary structure, such as a garage, on the site. Additions should reflect the architectural style of the main house body.

First Floor Additions: Wings

Different main body masses require different types of wing additions. For example, it would be acceptable to add a one-story wing to a two-story house, but unacceptable to add a two-story wing to a one-story house. In general, wings – whether front, side or rear – should have a subordinate relationship to the main body mass.

Side wings should step back no less than two feet from the front façade of the main body mass to ensure that the addition visually maintains a subordinate role. Preferably, wings should be set back a distance from the front façade no less than half the width of the wing. Garage or carriage porch wings should be set back a distance equal to the width of the wing.

Second Floor Additions: Pop Ups

Single story houses are often limited in floor area, making it desirable to add a second level for additional bedrooms and other functions. Chattanooga has many historic Craftsman and Victorian single-story houses designed in beautiful bungalow configurations. Adding a second floor to the front of the house would destroy its original charm. It is far preferable to add a second-floor addition towards the rear of the house, referred to as a “Camelback” addition. For other house styles, second levels can be popped up across the entire first floor area or second floor space under the roof can be created with dormers.

Garages, Carriage Houses and Ancillary Structures

Ancillary structures may include garages, carriage houses (a garage with a livable second floor), and garden sheds and pavilions. These structures should always be smaller than the main house and, whenever possible, have similar detailing. In general, ancillary structures are detached from the main body of the house although they may be connected with a variety of elements like breezeways, fences or pergolas.

Detached Garages and Carriage Houses

The construction of a garage or carriage house can add great value to an existing home. It is best to locate a garage at the back of the lot where possible, although it is also possible to build a tasteful, attached garage. The principal issues with garage design are size, location and detailing of the garage door. A frequent problem with current construction is that garage additions often overwhelm the scale and character of the house.

The In-Line Lot

In many cases, there may be enough room to build a one-, two-, or even a three-car garage in the rear yard of a relatively narrow lot. Access to the garage is typically from a rear alley or a narrow driveway from the street, usually eight to nine feet wide, that slips along one side of the house. It is recommended that the garage be placed in the rear of the lot to provide turnaround space for cars. Driveways wider that eight feet should be prohibited in the front yard of houses.

Attached Garage

For lots without alleys, attached parking garages are best placed behind the house with an eight foot wide driveway from the street that slips along one side of the house. If the garage must face the street it should only be a one-car garage in width. Two- or three-car garage widths will dominate the house and are unsightly from the street. If alleys are available, attached garages of one to three cars in width should orient to the alley for access.