Adding to a Hi Ranch

Hi,

I'm writing from Long Island NY and we have a wideline hi ranch with the 
garage beside the house not in it.  We want to build over the double 
garage but find the design to be difficult.  We want to add a MB and Bath 
there the garage ceiling is about 3 feet above floor level (upstairs) 
which means that the add on will be way above the roof line and seem 
plopped on.  We don't want the long hot dog look either.  What would be the 
best to do.  We are also thinking off bringing the front foyer out is that 
what will help us not have a hot dog look since the house looks like a 
colonial but not as tall? Thanks for your feedback

Answer

Hi Ranches are difficult for additions. I am a former Long Islander & have added
additions to Hi Ranch homes there. The Hi Ranch style house leaves you with
very limited options & I do not have a magic formula for your problem.

The room over the garage is going to be high but there is no practical way
to lower it. Many times we become overly obsessed with things that are
really not that bad at all. Your house will not look horrible but it simply
will not be as symmetrical you would have liked.

As for the idea of extending the foyer to enhance the hot dog look: It may
or may not work. In any case it will be prohibitively expensive to do so. I
would not spend many thousands of dollars to find out.

Here is a suggestion that may be interest you. I have built this job several
tines.

Push out the rear wall of your existing master bedroom as far as you
choose. Include a new bath in the addition plus whatever extra bedroom
footage you would want. The addition (which will be up in the air several
feet) can be supported with lolly columns or you can enclose the lower area
with windows & matching siding & use it for storage or whatever.
Additions I have built like this ranged from 8' to 20' feet deep.

Doing it this way does not disturb the look from the street & blends in
nicely in the rear.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bill Harbrecht