Peyrevent.com – If you want to make your home as unique and beautiful as possible, you should consider renovating your Victorian Home Porches. This renovation will not only preserve your home’s historical value but also save you money in the long run. In addition, it will be simple to do, since you can instruct your contractor on how to do it. One of the most appealing things about Victorian Home Porches is their traditional color scheme. A house painted in all white will hide many design details. A period paint scheme brings out the details. For example, the band of horizontal trim on the roofline will be less noticeable with a one-color house.
Using a Strong Structural System
The structural system must be strong enough to withstand modern loads. The wood girder in the corner of the porch deteriorated due to moisture. A new solid timber girder was installed. A built-up girder could have also been used. The base of the column was repaired and portions were replaced. The porch’s balustrade and column were then reset and secured. Detailed photos of the restoration process are available from Paul Marlowe, owner of Marlowe Restorations in San Francisco.
Another thing to consider is the height of the railing. Historic porches typically feature steps about 28 to 30 inches off the ground. If you can’t raise the railing to this height, you should install a simple rail above it. The railing will preserve the historic balustrade while reducing the visual impact. If you are concerned about safety issues, you may need to install a railing for safety reasons. In such a case, you will need to raise the grade to accommodate the railing.
The materials used for Victorian Porches were diverse. During the late 1800s, the building industry had shifted from all-wood construction due to fire concerns to a more durable product. For this reason, newel posts were replaced with masonry piers at the front steps. Moreover, since porches are open to the elements of weather, they should be made of a durable wood. Redwood is ideal for porches located in the West. Alternatively, fir, mahogany and fir would be better suited to a Victorian Home Porches.
Preservation of Victorian Home Porches
Preservation of your Victorian Home Porches requires thorough planning and proper repairs. Proper maintenance will help keep the home’s character intact for years to come. Porches can be decrepit or decay due to deferred maintenance, and it is therefore important to do proper repairs and renovations on time. The materials used for porches should be carefully chosen to prevent damage caused by moisture and wood-eating insects. As part of your planning, you should link each component with its role in the structure.
A sleeping porch was a popular house feature during the early Victorian era and virtually disappeared in postwar periods. Now, however, homeowners are rediscovering the sleeping porch. Probably one of the most exciting things about summer as a child was sleeping on someone’s porch. Sometimes, it was even on a garage roof! Nowadays, they are being used as comfortable places to sleep by lulling the inhabitants of the house with the sound of crickets and the cool night breezes.
Victorian homes also made use of “rooms” on the exterior. Porches were usually a wraparound design and offered the chance to extend decorative details from the front façade. Victorian homes were typically built on a grand scale and often featured turrets or towers for added flair. While many Victorian homes were modest, others had multiple floors. Other features of Victorian homes include crow’s nests, turrets, and even diminutive balconies.
Choosing Decorative Accessories
During the nineteenth century, porches were frequently outfitted with decorative accessories such as awnings, valances, and drop curtains. These awnings were designed to protect the porch from direct sunlight and were made from colorful stripes. Many awnings came with roller assemblies for easy adjustment. If you are looking to add a porch to your Victorian home, you may want to start planning its exterior first. You may find a Victorian Home Porches catalog to help you decide on the style that will work best for your home.
In addition to the materials used to restore Victorian Home Porches, you should consider the historical significance of the porch. If it is a part of the streetscape or part of the historic district, it can be very important. In such cases, enclosing the porch is usually not appropriate, but you can still choose to replace the front door. This will preserve the historical character of your Victorian home. You should also consider the location of the porch. For instance, a small porch in the back of your home will make a big difference in the material used to restore this historic building.
