How Historic Houses’ Exteriors Were Maintained?

Traditional stucco is a mix of paint and exterior stain, commonly used in dry climates like the American West. It can be used to protect wood from damage and preserve its beauty. However, restoration plans should be carefully considered, as the exterior charm of historic homes and brownstone buildings may hide defects that have built up over decades or centuries.

To make effective repairs, it is essential to know the materials and techniques used to build older walls and how they were constructed. For example, a vernacular farmhouse on the High Plains of western Kansas was abandoned in favor of a sleek new ranch-style house in the mid 1950’s. To inspire your house exterior design in 2022, consider changing the proportions of your home, adding shutters, removing old awnings, or changing the paint color.

The exterior of the frame can also require attention, as rotten sections can be removed and sensitively repaired with new air-dried timber. Old houses are built with old growth wood, and modern exterior sheathing is 7/16″ and treated as a shear resistant element. Old hardwood flooring, solid wood doors, and architectural trim can be reused.

To repair, replace, and maintain exterior materials for a historic building, follow best practices and install siding nails, primer, and exterior-grade paint. Sandblasting and high-pressure washing can remove the harder crust on the outside of bricks, and conservation treatments like Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer or Penetrol Oil-Based Paint Additive can be applied.

Foam cement, composed of Portland cement, sand, and water reinforced with cellulose fibers from trees, can mimic natural wood, brick, or stone.

What makes a beautiful house exterior?

The design of a dream home often prioritizes interior design, neglecting the external details. A spectacular exterior design can reflect the house’s overall style and be enhanced by attractive architectural features such as landscaping, color combinations, outdoor lighting, charming fences, and a spacious porch. Whether traditional, modern, or contemporary, exterior design plays a critical role in making a great first impression and adding value to a home.

There are numerous ideas to enhance the exterior of a home, including the use of wood facades, which have gained popularity due to their natural appeal. Wood accents can be found in various aspects of architecture, from columns to front doors, fences, soffits, and garage doors.

What did American houses look like in the 1700s?

The Early American Colonial style evolved in the 1700s, featuring larger homes with higher ceilings, less-steep roofs, and paneled doors. The Colonial Revival style emerged in the late 1800s and mid-1900s, influenced by its predecessor. The Georgian style, named after English kings, represented prosperity and was inspired by ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance buildings. These homes were typically white or lightly colored and used materials like brick, stone, wood panels, and clapboard.

What is the outside of a house called?

The term “siding” is used to describe the exterior walls of a residential property, which are typically constructed from vinyl, aluminum, or brick materials. Vents are positioned on roofs in a manner that facilitates the escape of air. Windows, typically constructed with glass, provide illumination and facilitate observation of the exterior environment. Entry and exit are facilitated by doors, which may be hinged or sliding. These features are indispensable for a home’s functionality.

What is the exterior of a house made of?

Exterior walls for homes and commercial buildings are influenced by various factors such as climate, building use, design, and owner preferences. Seven basic types of exterior wall materials include quarried stone, vinyl, fiber cement, brick, wood, stucco, and composite.

Quarried stone is the most durable wall material, but it is rarely used alone. Vinyl siding is affordable, durable, and comes in various styles, colors, and textures. Fiber cement is strong and versatile, but heavy and brittle. Brick veneer can deliver the look and feel of bricks without the natural water absorption of traditional brick. Wood provides a long-lasting finish, especially when painted or stained, and is the most prone to fire damage. Stucco, similar to fiber cement, can last over 50 years with proper installation and maintenance.

New products like Structa Wire enhance the performance and reliability of stucco with less time and experience required. Composite, a mixture of wood, resin, PVC, and other polymers, is a newer exterior finishing material on the market, but has shown great results from EIFS/DEFS installations across the United States.

Contractors and architects can help clients make informed decisions about exterior walls based on these factors. By understanding the different types of exterior walls and their advantages, contractors and architects can help their clients make informed decisions about their home’s exterior finishes.

What are walls made of in older homes?

Old houses often have plaster or original wood paneling behind their walls, which may be hidden under layers of redecorating attempts. If you’re looking at fake wood paneling or drywall, you may have something interesting behind it. Beadboard is a common wall treatment, often left exposed or covered with wallpaper. In the South, horizontal beadboard or shiplap is common, while in other parts of the US, vertical beadboard is more common. If you’re not ready to tear apart your walls, you can take off a lightswitch cover to see layers behind it or find a discreet corner to look underneath.

What is the exterior surface of a house?

Exterior surfaces include exterior cladding, flashing, trim, eaves, soffits, and fascia. Roofs are non-porous covers for structures like Lexan barriers or shingles, while interior refers to the spaces, parts, components, or elements of an individual dwelling unit. Building drains are part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system that receives and conveys discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the building walls to the building sewer, starting five feet outside the inner face of the building wall.

What is the most durable exterior for a house?

Fiber Cement and Steel siding are popular options for long-lasting, durable, and cost-effective siding. Fiber Cement siding enhances home value with minimal maintenance, while Steel siding is highly resistant to extreme weather, impacts, and fire. These options offer extra protection for homes. To find the most durable siding, check out a video for a hands-on durability test or read the rest of the post. Both options offer a long lifespan with minimal maintenance.

Why are old houses so close to the road?

Homesteads in the 18th and 19th centuries were designed to support a working farm rather than a country estate, making it easier for houses to be located near roads for easy access and use of the land for farming. The concept of “street noise” was not as prevalent as it is today, as people dealt with horses and carriages instead. Many houses were intentionally built close to roads, but sometimes roads were retroactively widened to accommodate modern transportation.

Cars in the late 19th century were unusual, and the importance of creating a good roadbed was not a major concern until the 1920s. The concept of “street noise” today is not as prevalent as it was in the 18th and 19th centuries.

How were American houses built in the 1800s?

By the early 1800s, residents of the area began constructing side-passage, double-pile houses, which featured one room situated behind another, with access to the side hall. Notable examples of this architectural style in a high-style brick variant can be found in cities and towns such as Laytonsville and Rockville.

What are old houses made of?

Old structures are made of stone, brick, timber, and earth, covered in earth or lime-based plaster, render, or paint. These materials are breathable, allowing moisture to permeate and evaporate away safely. Softer bricks, measured in imperial units and placed with lime mortar, are not suitable for modern cement repointing due to potential harm. Their colors and qualities vary locally, and hand-made or hand-finished bricks have a traditional appearance but may increase costs. Modern cements should not be used to repoint these softer bricks.

What makes a house old?

Old houses are defined as those that are at least 50 years old but no more than 100 years old, while new homes have been constructed recently. Old houses are preferred for their charm and personality, as well as their commitment to architectural individuality. Old houses, such as Victorians, Colonials, and Tudors, are rare and often unreplicated today. The craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into building these structures can be hard to find in modern homes, making them a good fit for those who prioritize architectural character. Despite the progress in home construction over the last few decades, many homeowners still prefer old houses for their charm and personality.