Our client was working through a renovation project and approached us with a question on whether they could substantially raise the rafter ties in the attic to create a higher ceiling. Typically framed roof rafters are tied together at the top of the wall plate with rafter ties to resist outward thrust. The problem is that rafter ties become functionally ineffective the farther they are raised and are typically restricted to a third of the overall roof height. With typical rafter ties and a structural ridge out of the question, Platform designed a series of diagonal braces to resist the outward thrust so that the attic could be fully opened up. These braces are concealed inside short walls that divide the low area under the roof into space for storage.

During the design process the bathroom layout changed as it became clear that our client needed a full size vanity. We were able to make this happen in a very tight footprint by locating the vanity as a focal point at the top of the landing. Inside the bath, the lowest ceiling height areas are reserved for areas used in a sitting position - the toilet and shower bench.

To make the attic comfortable year round, the renovation will use spray foam insulation which has better insulation per inch than other types. This helps to reduce the amount of interior space lost in an already tight renovation.