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Architecture/trying to date this old house

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Expert: - 2/6/2009


Question

This Old House
Hello!

I have recently purchased an older home in eastern Canada (2h away from the Maine/N.B. border)We are in the middle of a complete re-model since the years have not been very kind to this home. Many changes have occurred over the decades and I am trying to sift through everything and try and put an apprx. date on the house. It appears it was an farm house, cape cod style with one gable in the middle on the top floor. originally 4 bedrooms but sometime in the 50's indoor plumbing was introduced and turned the smallest bedroom into a bathroom. There are a lot of great window moldings and arched doorways, the floorboards are great wides plank pine which were once painted on the edges. The foundation is stacked stone with a little bit of morter, it seems some of it had been white washed.The walls are horse hair plaster on lats. Any ideas on a time period for my house would be appreciated. Thank you!

Answer
Jessica - thanks for your question!

I'm sorry to be so long getting back to you - I hope you didn't think I'd forgotten!  If you can send me several photos of the outside of the house I should be able to help.  The more pix the better, be sure to show the entire outside.

Richard Taylor, AIA

Richard Taylor, AIA

Expertise

Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.

Experience

I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.

Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America

Publications
Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect Custom Home Architect Remodeling Architect

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.

Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year

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