Gable End Returns Options and Considerations

A gable end return can be a fantastic way to add extra living space to your home, but before you start planning, you need to consider your options. You can choose from a variety of return styles, including a gable end return with a hipped roof, a gable end return with a flat roof, or a gable end return with a shed roof.

The type of return you choose will depend on your local building codes and the style of your home. For example, if you live in an area with high winds, a hipped roof return may be a better option because it is more stable and secure. The cost of the return will also depend on the type you choose, with a flat roof return often being the most affordable option.

A gable end return can be used to add a variety of rooms to your home, including a living room, a bedroom, or a home office. The size of the return will depend on the size of the room you want to add, as well as the size of your home's gable end. A standard gable end return is typically around 8-10 feet wide, but can be larger or smaller depending on your needs.

Designing roof trim for gable end returns can be a bit tricky, but with the right approach, you can achieve a clean and polished look. One key consideration is the cornice, which is made up of three elements: the bedmold, corona, and cyma. For a traditional look, you can use a full cornice with a cyma profile, but this can be custom-cut, which can be expensive.

To avoid custom cutting, you can opt for a "poor man's cornice", which uses a single cyma profile that runs into the eave return. This is a more affordable option that still achieves a classic look. Just be sure to omit the molding under the corona altogether, as using a terminating molding in place of a supporting molding can look out of place.

If profiled moldings are not in your budget, a simple boxed-eave return provides a universal solution. To proportion your simple boxed eaves, consider the following: the eave depth should be set by overlaying a double square on the projecting corona, and the frieze height should be set a little over the projection of the eave. The width of the frieze should be set by inscribing a golden rectangle, and the depth of the return should also be set by a golden rectangle.

Closed eaves can be a clean and low-maintenance option for your home's exterior. They eliminate the need to resolve the eave at the gable end, giving the look of an open eave without the hassle.

The cleanest look for a gable end with a closed eave is to angle the soffit, eliminating the need to resolve the eave at the gable end. This configuration gives the look of an open eave, but it has the same benefits as a closed eave.

A pork-chop eave is a detail to avoid at all costs. It's the unfortunate result of connecting the geometry of a flat soffit on the side eave with the angle of the gable end.

If you must use a flat soffit, stopping the flat portion at the end wall allows the gable projection of the eave to extend down and look like an angled soffit at a glance. This is a practical solution when an angled soffit isn't feasible.

Flat soffits are not ideal, but you can mask them by stopping the horizontal soffit at the gable-end wall and adding a decorative bracket at the gable end to hide the transition from flat to angled.

When designing the frieze size, it's essential to get it right. The frieze height should be set a little over the projection of the eave.

To ensure a visually appealing design, the width of the frieze should be set by inscribing a golden rectangle on the frieze. A ratio of 1:1.618 works well for this.

When sizing your frieze, make sure it is at least two steps up in dimensional lumber from the corona. Ideally, it should be double the height of the corona.

In some cases, the frieze can be reduced one step in dimensional lumber compared to the rest of the building. This works particularly well in the gable, where the angle makes the element feel larger.

Designing roof trim can be a breeze with the right tools and techniques. To create automatic roof returns, you'll want to use the Select Objects tool to select the wall(s) you'd like to generate roof returns on, then click the Open Object edit button.

Multiple walls can be group-selected by holding down the Shift key on your keyboard while selecting them. This grouped selection can then be opened to specification for further modification.

To enable auto roof returns, check the box beside Auto Roof Return on the Roof panel of the Wall Specification dialog. Note that in most cases, roof returns only work for Full Gable Walls, so make sure to select the Full Gable Wall radio button if necessary.

If Auto Rebuild Roofs is not enabled, you'll need to rebuild your roof for the changes to take effect. This is a crucial step to ensure your design looks its best.

To see the results of your changes, create a Camera view. This will give you a clear visual of how your roof returns are looking.