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.
Greek Revival, 1820-1850
The Greek Revival was initially a commercial building style that came to fruition in Philadelphia in 1820. By 1830, Philadelphia residents adopted Greek Revival in private construction. The symmetrical shape, low roof lines and columns reminded them of early Greek temples, thought by many to embody the concept of democracy. From 1830 to 1850 nearly all public and private buildings incorporated elements of Greek Revival.
Similar to the Bungalow, the Greek Revival was adopted in most areas of America, however allowing for regional differences. For example, warmer climates incorporated piazzas, while northern climates opted for more subdued pilasters.
Greek Revival homes had one similarity that spanned regions; nearly all of them were painted white to replicate the look of marble.
Cape Cod : The First Home
The Cape Cod was originally brought to America from the English Settlers. It was initially a one room cottage that was simple to build and maintain, plus it was impervious to the windy and stormy weather in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The modern Cape Cod, which was popular from the 1930's through the 1950's, was a simple house for simple tastes. It was easily adaptable for the needs of individual homeowners and during a big housing boom, was easy to mass produce.
Details were easily accomplished to suit the taste of the home buyer. For example, shutters were attached to mimic the original Cape Cod, and a variety of external building materials from stone to brick to wood clapboard were used, depending on the climate or homeowner preference.
A traditional Cape Cod is small and low to the ground. Typically they are one story high with an attic. While the evolution of the Cape Cod over 200 years may have included dormers to utilize the attic space, most do not have this feature. Additionally the garage of a Cape Cod is almost always set back on the property.
Finally the most striking feature of the Cape Cod is the 8-12 inch roof line pitch and overhang to prevent wind damage.
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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