Where does the term "California Roof" come from (historically)?

 Where does the term "California Roof" come from (historically)?

I understand the asymetric nature of my roof (the top being about foot
wider than the bottom) is called a California Roof (or California Rake) -
but where does the name "California Roof" come from.

Before my husband died, we were planning on remodeling the house so I am
continuing on with the plans despite the setbacks for us and the kids.
There is so much that I don't know but one of the questions is about this
term   "California Roof" (also "California Rake") that he and many others
bandy about as if they actually know what it means and where the name comes
from. I googled and googled and googled but could not find where this term
Califonria Roof (or Rake) comes from. Everyone knows what it is but not
where the strange word comes from in the first place.

After asking everyone I could but to no avail so I ask you experts.

When did people first start using the term "California Roof" and why?

 
I've never heard the term and I've spent my whole life in California.
If you Google, you will see that this seems to be a car culture term
for a car with a dropped front suspension. I assume it was popularized
in the California hot rod scene in the 1950s. Even a Google search
turns up no references in terms of house roofing.


Dimitri

 On Sun, 5 Nov 2006 20:10:01 -0800 (PST), D. Gerasimatos wrote:

Hi D. Gerasimatos,
Don't worry. A lot of people get the two types of California Roofs confused
as the term "California Roof" applies both to Bimmers and to houses! :)
Hard as that is to believe, they even confuse WHAT a California Roof really
is!

But, does ANYONE here actually know whence the name California Roof?

Here are some references that refer to a California Roof as if everyone
knows where the term originated and exactly what it refers to and what it
refers to (which is different in each case).

http://tinyurl.com/ydqrmn
 "A comparison of the gable roof design and the California roof design
  was made by comparing the ambient temperature ..."

http://www.landliving.com/articles/0000000551.aspx
 "It is more difficult to get the thin modern california roof edge ..."

http://www.blackbook.org/1999/06/990611.html
 "Our roof is the typical flat wide California roof.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/qnaexterior11
 "I would like to put a California roof on my deck"

http://tinyurl.com/yzrq26
 "A far more economical solution is called a "California Roof", and
  is a ridge and a series of jack rafters that die into the
  sheathing of the exisiting roof."

http://tinyurl.com/ygbnvu
 "An engineer¢s plan is required for [California Roof] units built
  after Sept. 15, 1971 ..."

http://tinyurl.com/ygwny7
 "the minimum California roof covering roof covering requirements"

http://tinyurl.com/yalte5
 "A simpler approach, known as a California roof or a farmer's valley
  A California roof features valley boards that lie flat on the
  main roof sheathing."

http://tinyurl.com/y5ramf
 "our vote would be to go with a 60% slope which sort of corresponds
  with what you would find in a California roof form rather than a
  kind of Swiss chalet or a Parisian mansion"

 
Thanks. I've got it now. It's a split gable roof. I am still guessing the term
originated in the car culture of California. Certainly, one must have
influenced the other, because the house looks like the car from the side.
It would be too big of a coincidence if they were not related.


Dimitri

 says...

I've been a BMW owner since the 1960's. Never heard of a California roof
referring to anything having to do with a BMW.



I snipped the many reference you listed, as a quick reading of them shows that
they refer to many different roof designs, so even they don't know what a
California roof is. Most of them do indeed refer to a flat, square  roof as far
as I can tell.

From your posts on another group I got the impression you had in mind what I
call a "prow roof". Here is one, is this the design you had in mind?

http://www.overlandtrails.com/lh_floorplan_snowmass.htm

--
Dennis