Greater Chicagoland Home Inspection's new blog, "Life at the OLD Homestead" is meant as a primer for those interested in intricacies of old homes. I love old homes...I love inspecting them, I love restoring them, I love living in them. This is dedicated to that passion, and hopefully will shed some light on some of the finer points of these time capsules.
Determining the Age of your Home: Popular Home Styles
Another method to dating your home is to determine when the popular styles were constructed. One the style is determined, typically it is possible to find similar homes in the area that may have construction dates recorded with the township. In the next few blogs, I will develop a historical timeline and other information associated with specific details of each style of home.
Over the next few blogs I will cover, American Four Square, Bungalows, Greek Revival, Cape Cod, Carpenter Gothic, Cracker Farmhouses, English Cottage, False Front, Georgian, Prairie, Queen Anne, Saltbox, Vernacular Farm Houses, Victorians, and Sears, Robuck and Company Homes.
American Foursquare, 1890-1930
The American Foursquare is probably the most common style in North America. Most homes are built in the style of the Foursquare. It is economical and makes us of every inch of area. Due to its simplicity it fits a variety of lot sizes, especially smaller lot sizes that are prevalent in urban areas.
While many homes have utilized this simple layout, the most common time period of building is between 1890 and 1930.
Bungalow, 1910-1930
The bungalow is an American Tradition. From 1910 to 1930, it emerged as a popular architectural style. The bungalow was a much simpler and less ostentatious construction than the Victorians, which preceded them.
The charge to develop a simpler design to keep up with production in the city and suburbs made the bungalow choice among home builders. Its sturdy construction, and optional walk up unfinished attic, made the bungalow a perfect choice for young families who would naturally need room to grow.
While bungalows had many styles, (California, craftsman, Chicago, and Spanish to name a few) the interior layout is uniquely similar to one another, simplifying the building process. The common attributes were as follows:
•· One and a half stories
•· Most of the living spaces on the ground floor
•· Low-pitched roof and horizontal shape
•· Living room at the center
•· Connecting rooms without hallways
•· Efficient floor plan
•· Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seats
Determining the Age of your Home is written by Greater Chicagoland Home Inspection, a St Charles, Illlinois Home Inspection Company. If you are in the market to purchase a home in the Kane, Cook , DuPage, or Dekalb counties of Illinois, contact us for your inspection needs.
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