it's an existing stick frame home and we're dropping the TF "into" it. Mark and I designed the "inner" frame to support the roof system on it's own, taking most of the loads off of the existing 2x4 walls. The engineer loves the idea and it looks like the existing walls will not need any extra/major work (he's still reviewing the plans).

Nice Frwinks,

Thanks for the pic - I was playing around with Mark's suggestion last night an figured that's what he talking about - but you know what a picture is worth....

I also played with your idea as well Clark, on tying the ends in - I'll try to post a few pics tonight as well.

thanks for all the feedback.
-Dan

...Took a bit longer than expected to post this - a house next to the duplex i own went up in flames on Sunday - it torched the side and roof of my duplex and I've been dealing with the fallout from that.

....Anyway....I've added ties on the end of the dormer plate and posted up the purlin for the dormer rafters - I've also dropped the plate slightly to reduce the joint intersection.

Thanks for the input.

-Dan