Northridge ADU Construction With a Roof That Spares the Patio
Northridge ADU construction with a roof pitched away from the glass door so rain skips the patio, plus shade and privacy, built by Palmcrest Contractors.
Pitching the roof of a Northridge backyard unit away from its glass door keeps rain off the patio threshold. The high edge sits over the door, with a deep overhang that shades the glass in summer, and the low edge drains along the back wall into a gutter and downspout. From there water heads to a planted area or a dry well, well clear of where anyone steps out.
Shape, gutter and outlet
A single slope also leaves room for clerestory windows on the tall side, which bring extra light into the main room. The gutter at the low edge is sized for heavy storms and fitted with leaf guards, and its downspout ends at a splash pad or a drain line running away from the slab. We keep roof water out of the neighbor's yard and away from the unit's footings. A drip edge along every eave and a self-adhered membrane at the low edge protect the roof deck. On a flat lot, a gentle grade around the unit carries any overflow toward the yard drain.
LADBS review of roof and drainage
Drainage away from the foundation is among the items LADBS checks on a Northridge ADU set, along with setbacks, building separation, the energy forms and the roof framing. The roof plan shows the slope direction, the gutter, each downspout and where its water ends up. A cool roof surface may be called for under the energy code depending on the roof's pitch and the climate zone, and we specify it where it applies. Construction then moves in inspected stages, and the patio is built last on the dry side of the unit.
ADU Construction in Northridge: what people ask
Toward a rear corner with its glass door and the high side of the roof facing the open yard, so the patio gets light and stays dry. The low edge faces the property line, where its gutter drains away from both homes. Small windows on the side toward the main house keep the two homes private from each other.
For a Northridge ADU that is one story and does not exceed 500 square feet, yes. On an LADBS set here the wall drawings carry the roof slope and the drainage path that plan check reviews, so we detail them early. Bigger or two-story units are priced once we see the lot.
Yes, and with the roof sloping away the patio stays dry right at the door. A wide slider or French doors open onto pavers under the deep overhang, and a pergola extending past it adds more shade for seating. Planting around the edge takes the overflow from the yard drain.
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