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Expert: Rikki Nyman - 1/19/2010


Question

Front porch roof overh
I am restoring the exterior of my one story Queen Anne Free Classic Gabled Ell ca. 1908. I have removed all the vinyl and aluminum to find wood clapboard in great shape.  My question is what is what to do with the eave or overhang along the front porch.   Currently a facia board covers the rafter ends along the front with not boxing (exposed rafters underneath). This facia board looks like it was added later possibly to support the vinyl.  My question is should the facia board be removed to expose the rafter tales along the front?  Should I leave facia board with no boxing so that the rafters are exposed underneath?  My goal is to restore to the way it would have originally been.  

Answer
Eric --

I wish I could see more of your house, but it looks to me as though it has Craftsman-style characteristics too. Often those c. 1908 houses blended styles ... yours for example may have the QA details (I can't tell) but those columns are very period correct for the Craftsman and "artistic" styles that were so popular at that time.

I would definitely remove the fascia. Often the exposed rafter ends were shaped originally. It's possible someone streamlined them to accommodate their "improvements."  Are there any areas on the house where one might see a few more hints of what was there originally?

You might find that the ends look fine or somewhat raw, but I don't think you'll be able to visualize a solution until you take the fascia off.

Best regards,
Rikki Nyman
www.antiquehomestyle.com

Rikki Nyman

Expertise

Residential architectural questions concerning houses designed between 1900 and 1950, where the question pertains specifically to styles, designs, plans, building materials, color schemes, paint colors, interior finishes and so on. I am NOT qualified to answer engineering questions or issues involving construction methods, plumbing, electrical and the like. For example, I can describe what an appropriate color scheme would be for a vintage 1920s kitchen, or sources for plans for Storybook Style houses. I can not tell someone how to replace the electrical wiring in their old home.

Experience

I have been researching old houses and writing about them for more than five years. (See www.antiquehomestyle.com, which is my site.)

Organizations
Oregon Historical Society Architectural History Center, Portland Oregon

Publications
www.antiquehomestyle.com

Education/Credentials
B.S. History, Minor in Architectural Design

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