Eave heights: 1-story ~ 10-11 ft; 2-story ~ 19-22 ft; 1.5-story ~ 13-14 ft eave with deep dormer cuts
ROT/EXT-EAVE-HEIGHT-BY-STORIESDescription
Eave height affects the building's visual mass. 1-story: eave 10-11 ft typical (8 ft plate + truss/rafter). 2-story: eave 19-22 ft (8-9 ft plates × 2 floors + rim band). 1.5-story (Cape Cod / cottage): low eave at 13-14 ft with dormers cutting into the roof for upper-floor space. Higher eaves read as more substantial; lower as cozier — match the architectural intent.
Why this exists
Eave height is the architectural 'mass' decision often missed in production design. A house with 8-ft first-floor plates + 8-ft second-floor plates feels different from one with 9-ft + 9-ft. Architects should pick plate heights at schematic, not at framing.
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Living room minimum size · LIVING-ROOM-SIZE
- Family room minimum size · FAMILY-ROOM-SIZE
- Dining room sizing · DINING-ROOM-SIZE
- Avoid plumbing on exterior walls in cold climates · PLUMBING-AGAINST-EXTERIOR-WALLS
- Circulation as rooms · CIRCULATION-AS-ROOMS
Last reviewed 2026-05-15.