Blanco Design Guidelines Draft - Section 6

8/7/2019 Blanco Design Guidelines Draft - Section 6

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Design Standards for the City of Blanco, Texas X

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n6. Design Standards and Guidelines for Historic

Residential Districts6.1. Historic Residential Buildings Styles

6.1.1. National Folk: Pyramid

6.1.2. National Folk: Front Gable6.1.3. National Folk: Massed Plan, Side Gable6.1.4. National Folk: Gable Front and Wing6.1.5. National Folk: I-House

6.1.6. Greek Revival6.1.7. Queen Anne6.1.8. Folk Victorian6.1.9. Colonial Revival

6.1.10. Mission or Pueblo Revival6.1.11. Craftsman6.1.12. Ranch

6.1.13. Mill Country Vernacular Rock

6.1.1. National Folk: Pyramid6.1.1.1. The Pyramidal National Folk is

a massed plan of a rectangular

shape, and are commonly builtwith equilateral hip roofs. Suchroofs appeared in the early

post-railroad era on modesthouses.

6.1.1.2. Characteristics

a. Equilateral roofb. Square shaped plansc. Full width porchd. Large flexible interior plan


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X Mainstreet Architects Inc.

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n 6.1.2. National Folk: Front Gable

6.1.2.1. The Front Gable NationalFolk first became common inexpanding Southern cities in

the late 19th century. Theseare usually one-story, double-width forms with low-pitchedroofs.

6.1.2.2. Characteristicsa. Front facing gableb. Low pitched roofc. Double width form

6.1.3. National Folk: Massed Plan, Side Gable

6.1.3.1. The side-gabled folk houseswith massed plans are usuallyone-story forms that varyprincipally in roof pitch, size,

and placement of porches. Inthe South the houses usually

have full length shed roofporches and relatively largeflexible plans.

6.1.3.2. Characteristicsa. Side gabled roof

b. Full length shed roof porchc. Massed Pland. One-story in height


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n6.1.4. National Folk: Front Gable and Side

Wing6.1.4.1. The front gable and side wing

houses of the South were

traditionally one-story, halland parlor plans that wereexpanded to add a gabled frontwing. These houses had more

flexible interior spaces than thetypical hall and parlor.

6.1.4.2. Characteristicsa. Side gabled roof, with front

facing gabled wingb. Shed roof porchc. One-story in height

d. Flexible interior spaces

6.1.5. National Folk: I-House

6.1.5.1. The Folk National I-House istypically two rooms wide andone room deep. Many of thelater I-House plans had varyingpatterns of porches, chimneys,

and rear extensions.6.1.5.2. Characteristics

a. Two rooms wideb. Shed roof porch

c. Two-story in height


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6.1.6. Greek Revival6.1.6.1. One of the most familiar

stereotypes in Americanarchitecture is the full-colonnaded Greek Revivalmansion of the southern

states. The southern GreekRevival residences partiallysprung from French colonialbuilding practices.

6.1.6.2. Characteristicsa. Porch supported by round,

Corinthian columns

b. Full-facade entry porchc. Side gabled roofline of low

pitch

6.1.7. Queen Anne

6.1.7.1. Queen Anne was the dominantstyle of domestic architecturefrom 1880 to 1900. The style

is based on characteristicsfrom the late Medieval stylessuch as Elizabethan andJacobean architecture.

6.1.7.2. Characteristicsa. Asymmetrical facade

b. One story porch thatextends along one or bothside walls

c. Steeply pitched, irregularshaped roof

d. Decorative wood detailing


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n6.1.8. Folk Victorian

6.1.8.1. The folk Victorian style wasimplemented using existingFolk residences and adding

Victorian detailing. Railroadsspread the materials andmachinery needed for thisstyle.

6.1.8.2. Characteristicsa. Gabled roofb. Porch roof supports are

either spindles or square

postsc. Simple folk formd. Spindle work detailing

6.1.9. Colonial Revival ?6.1.9.1. Colonial Revival predominated

before 1910. The Georgianand Adam styles from the

backbone of the Revival anddetails usually combine amixture of the two.

6.1.9.2. Characteristicsa. Porch supported by round,

Corinthian columnsb. Full-facade entry porchc. Side gabled roofline of low

pitch


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n 6.1.10. Mission or Pueblo Revival

6.1.10.1. Pueblo Revival houses drawfrom historical precedents; theyare a mixture of influences

from both flat roofed SpanishColonial buildings and NativeAmerican pueblos.

6.1.10.2. Characteristics

a. Flat roof with parapet wallb. Stucco wall surface, usually

earth-coloredc. Rounded edges of the walls

6.1.11. Craftsman6.1.11.1. The Craftsman style was

inspired by the English Artsand Crafts movement, orientalwooden architecture, and themanual arts. The style began

in southern California andspread through pattern books.

6.1.11.2. Characteristicsa. Low pitched gable roofsb. Porch roof supports are

square or tapered columnsc. Roof rafters and decorative

beams are exposedd. Wide, open eave overhang


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n6.1.12. Ranch

6.1.12.1. The Ranch style is auniquely American domesticarchitectural style. It began

in the 1930s and is looselybased on Spanish Colonial,Craftsman, and Prairieprecedents.

6.1.12.2. Characteristicsa. Single story with

asymmetrical facadeb. Porch roof supports in

decorative ironc. Brick or wood claddingd. Low pitched roof with

long, low rooflinee. Large picture windows with

decorative shutters

6.1.13. Hill Country Vernacular Rock6.1.13.1. The stone rubble that is

indicative to the Texas HillCountry is very commonly

used within Blanco. Thisstone is pieced together andheld with mortar to create loadbearing walls that in turn formmodest dwellings. These

vernacular rock houses arevery common throughout theTexas Hill Country and shouldbe preserved.

6.1.13.2. Characteristicsa. One-story house

b. Typically metal roofingc. Patios framed by rock

arcades


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n 6.2. Components of Historic Residential Buildings

6.2.1. Foundations and Skirting6.2.2. Porches6.2.3. Exterior Wall Surfaces

6.2.4. Exterior Doors and Entrances6.2.5. Windows6.2.6. Roof Forms and Details

6.2.1. Foundations and Skirting6.2.1.1. Observations

a. Houses in the historicresidential areas of Blanco

are frame on pier-and-beamconstruction with foundationconsisting of wood post,

brick, or stone piers set intothe ground. This type ofconstruction elevates thehouse above the ground.

The wood posts fail over

time, causing the houseto shift, and eventuallythe posts will need to be

replaced.b. There are a number of

frame structures with brick,

stone, or concrete perimeterbeams. Some houses ofconcrete-block and masonryconstruction also exist.

These masonry structureshave interior supports

similar to pier-and-beamconstruction.

c. The skirting closes thespace under the house,but has openings for

ventilation. The skirtingmaterial and detail aredefined by the style andperiod of the house. For

example, Craftsman housesfrequently have a flared

skirt of horizontal boardsiding, stone, or brick withventilation screens. Brickand stone houses, alongwith a few wood frame

houses, typically havebrick or stone skirting.Sometimes concrete blockthat resembles stone is

used as skirting.


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n6.2.1.2. Recommendations

a. Repair deterioratedfoundations beforeattempting other repairs,

such as roof leaks. Themovement of the foundationmay cause other materialsto shift or cause leaks.

b. The foundation posts maybe replaced with new postof cedar or chemicallytreated wood; concrete

piers may be installed.Floors can be leveled andadditional support may be

installed if needed.c. Both stone and brick

foundations may havedeteriorated or missing

mortar, which requires

repointing or replacingmortar. -See materialsection

6.2.2. Porches6.2.2.1. Observations

a. The front porch is one ofthe most prominent featuresof individual residencesand is found on most of the

houses. The front porch isan extension of the living

space and contributes to thecharacter of the street andthe neighborhood. Whilemost porches are elevatedabove ground, or ground

level, some of the newerhouses have porches thatare near grade.

b. Throughout Blanco,

many porches retain theircharacter defining features

of columns, railings, steps,and other details.

c. Some porches have beenaltered and their originalcolumns have been

removed and replaced withfabricated metal or otherinappropriate materials anddesign.

d. Other alterations include


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n lowering the porch level,

installing concrete or brickporch flooring at grade,and enclosing all or part of

the porch to accommodateadditional living space.

e. Porches may require agreat deal of maintenance

because of their exposureto the weather; repair isinevitable and necessary.

6.2.2.2. Recommendations

a. Retain original materialsand make repairs thatmatch the original design

of the porch floor, columns,railings, brackets, steps,and other character definingdetails.

b. Wood porch floors and

columns may require aneventual replacement dueto moisture penetration;

wood floors and columnsshould only be replacedwith wood.

c. At no time shall the porchelevation be loweredto grade and stepsredesigned. Porches

should never be enclosedto provide more living space

as this can dramaticallyalter the appearance of thehouse.

d. As renovation occurs,consider restoring a

previously altered porch andits features. If porches havebeen drastically altered, orif there is no clear idea of

what was originally in place,they can be designed to be

sympathetic to the originalstyle of the house. Donot construct a porch of adifferent house style.

e. If an access ramp needs

to be provided it shouldbe located to minimize theloss of historic features andshould overall preserve the

historic character of the


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nproperty.

f. Ramps can be constructedout of various materialsto be compatible with

housing styles. Rampsshould not be constructedout of unpainted pressuretreated wood as this looks

temporary and not visuallycompatible with historicproperties.

6.2.3. Exterior Wall Surfaces6.2.3.1. Observations

a. The most prominent exterior

wall material is horizontalwood siding the profile ofwhich varies from buildingto building. The Blanco

residential housing also has

a few examples of board-and-batten siding. Thisis a vertical wood siding

with narrow wood strips, orbattens, covering the seamsof the siding. The historic

wood siding has been onsome of the houses for100 years and can lastdecades to come if properly

maintained and painted.Brick, stone, and stucco are

also present.b. Although the majority of

the houses retain theiroriginal siding, a few of thehouse have been covered

with non-historic sidingsuch as asbestos, vinyl oraluminum, and occasionallystucco.

6.2.3.2. Recommendationsa. Each exterior wall surface

material requires differentmaintenance which can bereferenced in the buildingmaterials section of thisdocument.

b. It is important to retainthe original siding and itsdimension, profile, andshadow lines.

c. If the building was


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n constructed of wood siding

and needs repairs or boardreplacement, most sidingtypes are still manufactured

and available from suppliersor can be milled for anominal fee.

d. For the integrity of the

neighborhood and houseitself, it is not recommendedthat any synthetic sidingbe installed over existing

wood siding. This not onlychanges the appearanceof the house but may also

cause deterioration of thehistoric material it covers.Additionally, syntheticsiding often conceals many

of the original details of a

residence.e. While houses with existing

synthetic siding installed

are not required to removethe siding and restorethe exterior, removal

of synthetic siding andrepairing of original sidingand trim are encouraged.

6.2.4. Exterior Doors and Entrances6.2.4.1. Observations

a. The historic residentialhousing in Blanco hasa wide range of entrytreatments correspondingto the variety of housing

styles.. Even the simplesthouses have a well-definedentry that faces the street.

b. Some of the houses

have multiple entrancesand some houses have

transoms, or windowsabove the door. Some ofthe entrances are flankedby side lights, or windows.

c. Historic front doors usually

have glass upper panels.Another important featureis the wooden screendoor, often with decorative

inserts, which is present on


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nsome of the house.

d. Transoms are sometimesconcealed when alternativesiding or doors are installed.

Some historic screen doorshave been replaced withaluminum or vinyl screendoors.

6.2.4.2. Recommendationsa. It is important to maintain

the multiple components ofthe entry doors, including

glass panel doors,transoms, sidelights andscreen doors.

b. Historic doors should berepaired where damaged.Ensure proper operationand install secure hardware

and weather stripping for

energy efficiency.c. Reduce airflow at the

bottom of the door by

installing a door sweepto fit snugly against thethreshold.

d. Where beyond repair oralready removed, historicdoors can be replaced witha door of similar design

or replicated by a skilledworker.

e. Installing a new door thatdoes not match the originalis not recommended as itwould negatively impactthe character of the house.

Screen doors should beretained and repairedwhen necessary. Anyreplacement screen door

should match the historic orframed to mirror the panels

and sash divisions of thedoor that it covers.

f. If storm and screen doorsare installed where noneexisted originally, select a

full vision panel design toallow the original door to beseen.

g. Repair damaged transoms

and sidelights. Avoid


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n altering transoms and

sidelight as it distorts thestrong vertical proportionsof the windows and doors

and changes the characterof the residence.

h. Retain original lightingfixtures, and repair and re-

wire as necessary. Anynew entry lighting fixturesshould be compatiblewith the character of the

building. An artificiallyaged fixture that mimics acarriage lamp or gaslight is

not recommended.

6.2.5. Windows6.2.5.1. Observations

a. Windows play an important

role in the character of thehouses and the overallneighborhood.

b. The proportion, material,and organization of windowsin a wall help to establish

a construction date of thehouse. The detail of thewindow is frequently a keycharacteristic in identifying

an architectural style.c. The majority of the windows

in historic residentialhousing are wood, double-hung, and rope-and-pulleysystems. Many of thewindows have multiple

panes of glass in a singlewindow sash. Steelcasement windows werecommon for houses of the

1940s.6.2.5.2. Recommendations

a. All historic windows shouldbe retained and maintained.Ensuring proper windowfit, weather stripping thesash, installing new glazing

compound, and sealingaround the window framesat the siding all substantiallyimprove the energy

efficiency of wood windows.


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nb. It is not necessary to

replace an entire window ifonly a portion is damaged.Historic windows were

designed so that a failedelement could be repairedor replaced, and would notrequire the whole window

to be replaced. Repairor replace damagedcomponents as necessary.

c. Replace historic glass only

when broken as the wavyquality adds to the characterof the historic house.

d. If windows are missing orif frames are deterioratedbeyond repair, theirreplacement must have

the same basic dimension

and profile as the original.Snap-in muntons orimitation dividers are

inappropriate within thehistoric residential housingand should not be installed.

e. Aluminum and vinylwindows are not appropriatereplacements for a woodwindow and are not more

energy efficient than a well-maintained wood window.

f. Mill finished aluminumshould be avoided evenin the installation ofwindow screens and stormwindows. Avoid the use

of bright aluminum screenfabric.

g. Factory painted or powdercoated storm or screen

windows with a meeting railthat matches the window

are acceptable.

6.2.6. Roof Forms and Details6.2.6.1. Observations

a. Roof forms and materials

play an important role indefining the character ofa house. The majority ofthe roofs are combination

of hip, gable, and dormers,


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n although a few simple gable

and hip roofs exist.b. The size of the roof

overhang (eave) varies

from house-to-house butrelates to the houses style.For example, Craftsmanstyle houses have wide

open eave overhangs, withexposed roof rafters anddecorative beams; thesefeatures should be retained

or repaired if needed.c. Dormers are common and

are found in a variety of

shapes and sizes, somehave windows while othershave vents. Dormersand other historic roof

details such as weather

vanes add to the characterof the house and theneighborhood.

d. It is not uncommon for onehouse to have multipleroofing materials. A house

may have a standingseam roof one portion andcomposition shingle onanother.

e. There are a variety ofhistoric roofing materials

that are still preset within the historic residentialhousing, including standingseam metal. Howevercomposition shingle is

the most common andeconomical roofing material.

6.2.6.2. Recommendationsa. Retain original roof

materials and replace withmaterial to match original if

at all possible.b. Maintenance of the roofing

material and flashing isimportant. In the eventreplacement is necessary,

select a roofing material thatis compatible to the designand style of the house.

c. Retain the original roof form

and details. If attic space


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nis converted into living

space dormers are added,retain the original roofpitch to avoid a pop-up

appearance, especially onthe front facade.

d. Retain the original roof formand details. If attic space

is converted into livingspace dormers are added,retain the original roofpitch to avoid a pop-up

appearance, especially onthe front facade.

e. Composition shingles

should not be installedon a low-slope pitch roofbecause they will leak.

f. Avoid adding details that did

not exist originally.

6.3. Characteristics of Historic Residential

Neighborhoods6.3.1. Neighborhood Characteristics and

Distinctions

6.3.2. Site Development and Characteristics6.3.3. Rhythm and Visual Continuity6.3.4. Building Heights and Orientation6.3.5. Color

6.3.6. Modern Conveniences, Amenities, andPublic Safety

6.3.1. Neighborhood Characteristics andDistinctions6.3.1.1. Observations

a. The historic residential

buildings within Blanco havemany shared characteristicswhile each building retainsits own distinctive identity.

The common neighborhoodcharacteristics must be

maintained.b. The setbacks of the

houses throughoutthe neighborhood areconsistent for the most part,

but they can vary dependingon the area of development.

c. As changes are proposedto a site or home, review

the lines of continuity and


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n rhythm established in the

specific neighborhood.Look at the scale, form,and proportion of proposed

changes and ensure thatthe proposed project willretain these characteristics.

6.3.1.2. Definitions of Historic

Neighborhood Characteristicsa. Building Form is primarily

dictated by the style of thebuilding. For example,

Queen Anne and Victorianstyle are recognizable bytheir composition of multiple

shapes which include bays,dramatic roof lines, dormersand porches while theCraftsman style is derived

from a simplified rectangular

plan. The Neoclassicalbuilding also derived itsform from a rectangular plan

but has a dominant centralentry porch with columnswhich extend the full height

of the building.b. Scale of a building

is measured as therelationship of building size

to something else, suchas a human. Windows,

entrances, porches,bays and the dimensionsof building materialscontributes to the overallscale of the building.

c. Rhythm of a street iscreated by the spacingbetween houses, thelocation and spacing of

sidewalks from the curbas well as walkways to the

entrances of the houses,and the location andspacing of the drivewayentrances to each property.

d. Proportion is the

relationship of thedimensions of an objectto itself, such as heightto width. Proportion is

inherent in all aspects of a


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nbuilding form, components,

and material. As anexample, older homes withhigh ceilings have windows

that are taller than they arewide. Houses built after1960s usually have lowerceiling heights so their

windows are shorter andwider.

e. Relationship of Materialsand Texture of each home

is representative of the styleand period of construction.The inherent properties and

dimensions of constructionmaterials like brick andwood boards help inunderstanding the homes

size, scale, and proportion.

Because stucco has nodimension, it is difficult tomeasure its relationship to

the scale of a building.6.3.2. Site Development and Characteristics

6.3.2.1. Observations

a. The organization patternestablished in eachHistoric District guides thedevelopment and proposed

alteration of each site.b. Some houses face the

street with a logical, visibleentrance and a sidewalkthat leads from the streetto this entrance. Othershave gravel driveways that

lead from the street to thisentrance. These sidewalksand gravel driveways helpto establish a rhythm.

c. There is an establisheddistance from the street

to the house, which iscalled a setback. Thissetback reinforces theimportance of the entranceand the orientation of the

building. Building beyondthis setback would changethe visual continuityestablished.

d. Several driveway


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n approaches in the front

yard lead to garages andsecondary out buildings,which are located

behind the main house.Contemporary style houseshave incorporated theirgarage or carports into their

house plan, but typicallythey do not project beyondthe established front wallof the house. While the

construction of new garagesand carports is necessary,their placement and

approach should respectthe original front line of thehouse. This would placethem behind the existing

setback. Locating them to

the rear of the property ispreferable.

e. Front yards are defined

by the street, sidewalks,fences, and boundarywalls made of stone. The

walls are low in profileand do not obscure thehouse. Front yard fencesare not common to these

neighborhoods, but there isevidence of historic fences

and walls.6.3.2.2. Recommendations

a. Retain the orientation ofthe house to the street. Tochange the entrance from

the front would alter thepedestrian approach andrhythm.

b. Removing and relocating

the sidewalk from thestreet to the house would

break the rhythm of theneighborhood. Brokensidewalks should bereplaced but the locationshould remain. The

material should matchthe original or should becompatible with the houseand the surrounding

neighborhood. Materials


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nsuch as stone, concrete

or brick pavers, anddecomposed granite areappropriate replacement

materials and are not asharsh as large expanses ofconcrete. Each house styleshould be considered when

selecting on alternativematerial.

c. Driveway locations shouldnot be altered if it affects

the rhythm of the street.Materials that might be usedfor a driveway are gravel,

pea gravel with a brick ormetal edge band, pavers,concrete strips or ribbonsand asphalt.

d. Front yard circular drives

are not appropriate to theneighborhood because theyencroach on the setback

and break the rhythm on thestreet.

e. The style of the house and

the surroundings should beevaluated when consideringany type of front yard fence.

f. Avoid using chain link

fencing at the front of anyproperty.

g. Review the reason forwanting to install a frontyard fence. Did one existhistorically? Housesconstructed in the 1880s

had front yard fences tokeep livestock from roaminginto the yard. Houses builtin the 1920s had fences

in the front yard, whichreflected a progressive

movement when fencinglaws reduced the chance forroaming livestock.

h. In most applications, thefence should be installed

at or behind the buildingsetback line.

6.3.3. Rhythm and Visual Continuity

6.3.3.1. Observations


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n a. A rhythm is created by the

spacing between houses,and the setback of housefrom the street as well as

the location of sidewalks,walkways, and parkways.This cohesiveness isreinforced by a common

scale and building height.6.3.3.2. Recommendations

a. The density of theneighborhoods must be

preserved to avoid changingthe character and thestreetscape of the area.

b. If replacement housing, orinfill, is necessary dueto natural disaster or there-platting of land, avoid

reducing the lot size or

changing the rhythm of thestreet. Consider squarefootage and scale of the

surrounding houses toretain the cohesivenessof the historic district.

Building heights shouldbe compatible withsurrounding houses whichmay necessitate elevating

floor levels above gradeand constructing with higher

than 8-0 ceilings. Thebuilding setback line ofsurrounding houses mustbe followed and garagesmust be set back from the

face of the house.c. Avoid additions that detract

from the size of the originalhouse and that come

forward of the originalbuilding line.

6.3.4. Building Heights and Orientation6.3.4.1. Observations

a. The majority of the houseswithin the historic district are

one-story although someare two-story. The housesare generally rectangular inshape and are deep from

front to back, but there are


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nseveral square shaped

houses. Most entrances ofthe houses face the street.

b. However, there are several

historic and non-historichouses, that are positionedparallel to the street and aredeep from right to left.

6.3.4.2. Recommendationsa. Retain the prominent

entrance or face to thestreet.

b. If new construction occurs,orient the front of the houseto the street.

c. Maintain wide side yardsetbacks even if they donot conform to currentstandards.

d. Modifications to the original

roof form must be inkeeping with the style of thehouse and shall avoid the

pop-up appearance.

6.3.5. Color

6.3.5.1. Observationsa. The existing color palette

of the historic residentialarea mainly consist of light

or neutral colors, includingwhite, tan, and cream for

the body; and the trimvaries from neutrals tocolors depending on thehouse. Some trim colorsinclude blue, brown, green,

red, white, tan, and yellow.b. Some houses are painted

in pale colors like blue,green, and yellow. The trim

on these houses is either adifferent color, or a neutral

tone.6.3.5.2. Recommendations

a. Keep the neighborhoodand surrounding housesin mind when selecting a

new exterior paint color. Asuccessful color schemecan tie a building togetherand create harmony

in the facade and the


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n neighborhood. Avoid

severely contrasting colorsin body and trim or details.

b. The style and period

of a house impacts theappropriate color schemes.To determine the historicpaint color, scrape small

areas of existing paint toreveal the original colorof the house, or have achemical analysis of the

paint conducted by anexpert. Paint manufacturessuch as Sherwin Williams,

Pratt and Lambert, andBenjamin Moore carryhistorically appropriatecolors for each time period.

c. Research colors available

at the time your house wasbuilt. This information canbe obtained from paint

manufacturers such asSherwin Williams, Prattand Lambert, or Benjamin

Moore.d. Seek help when selecting

paint colors for yourhouse. Local paint stores

can provide assistancein selecting or matching

paint colors as well asrecommending historic paintcolors. City staff can alsoprovide assistance in paintselection.

e. Dark colors tend to lookdarker near large trees orwhere shadows are created.Dark colors also tend to

fade or chalk or get whitepowder on the surface.

This residue is caused bythe gradual disintegrationof the resin in the paintfilm due to the amountof ultraviolet light on the

paints surface.f. The trees and humidity of

Blanco add to the possibilityof mildew on paint. It is

recommended that a mildew


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ninhibitor be added to the

paint.g. Avoid high gloss paints,

as they are not historically

appropriate. A satinfinish paint can provide theappearance of historic paintwhile providing the easily

washed surface of a glossfinish.

h. The preparation of thesurface is important when

painting. The surfaceshould be scrapped andsanded to remove any loose

paint, but it is not necessaryto remove all paint downto the bare wood. Makesure the wood is dry before

applying a good primer

and two topcoats of paint.Use a brush for the bestcoverage instead of a

sprayer.

6.3.6. Modern Conveniences, Amenities, and

Public Safety6.3.6.1. Observations

a. Some modern amenitieshave been added to historic

residences that are visiblefrom the street and detract

from the character of theneighborhood. Suchadditions include window airconditioning units, antennasand satellite dishes. Other

common inappropriatealterations include railings,lighting, and non-functionalshutters.

b. In some cases, historicfabric has been removed

and replaced withincompatible materials.Examples include thereplacement of windowscreens with aluminum

screens and replacementof decorative screen doorswith storm windows.

c. Access ramps have been

added to some houses to


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n allow a no-step entrance.

6.3.6.2. Recommendationsa. Weigh the historic

integrity of the house and

neighborhood with thevalue of the improvementand the quality of life.Ask yourself, Can this

improvement be installedand removed withoutcausing irreparablephysical and aesthetic

damage to the house orneighborhood?

b. Locate modern amenities

in the least visible placefrom the prominent face ofthe house, which includethe rear and side facades.

Avoid the installation

of air conditioning andelectrical equipment onthe prominent face of

the house, only installequipment in such a waythat it does not damage

the historic building fabric.Screen equipment whenpossible with appropriateplanting material.

c. Retain window and doorscreens that are a detailed

features of the periodof the house, as in thecase of Craftsman stylehouses. Avoid concealingthe detailing of historic

front doors and entranceswith contemporary stormdoors. When damagedbeyond repair, wood

window screens anddoors, designed for the

style of the house, can bepurchased or custom madeat most lumber yards.

d. Carefully consider thepotential location of access

ramps for temporary orlong term disability, and theimpact of the ramp on thehouse and neighborhood.

e. Chimneys are an important


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narchitectural feature and

the removal or alterationof existing chimneys altersthe historical integrity

of the house and is notrecommended.

f. Decks and patios can becompatible with historic

houses if thought is givento location, proportion, andmaterials.

g. New dormers may allow for

additional use of the attic,but need to be designedto match the original style

of the house and notoverpower it.

h. Flags and banners areconsidered a removable

amenity, but care must be

used when mounting tonot damage the historicmaterials of the house.

i. Light fixtures locatedon the building exterior,porches, pathways and

paved areas need to beappropriate in design,scale, and character of thehouse. There are many

available fixtures in variousarchitectural styles. A

Victorian light fixture isappropriate with a Victorianhouse but not appropriatewith a Ranch or Craftsmanstyle house.

j. Mailboxes and mail slotsshould be simple and asunobtrusive as possible.Mailboxes can be obtained

in styles compatible instyles compatible with the

time period of the house.k. Operable shutters may

be installed if they are inkeeping with the style ofthe house and period of

construction. Shuttersneed to be correctlyproportioned to the widthand height of the window

and be installed with


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n hinges rather than nailed to

the wall.l. Skylights can add light

to interior spaces and

make attics spacesmore useable. If flat inprofile and positionedaway from public view,

skylights can be installedin older houses. Bubble-dome skylights are notappropriate for buildings

within Historic Districts.m. Site garages away from

the primary view and set

them behind the front wallof the house. Install singledoors instead of double-width doors. Whether

constructed as an addition

to the original house andhistoric structures, or asan accessory or secondary

building, the garage designshould be compatible withthe historic residence.

n. As you formulate yourideas to modify andimprove your home,questions will arise. There

are many sources availablefor advice and assistance,

including a neighbor whohas completed a similarproject appropriately,the Texas HistoricalCommission, City Staff,

and the National Trustfor Historic Preservation.Helpful publications tobegin your project include

The Secretary of theInteriors Standards for

the Treatment of HistoricProperties, National ParkServices PreservationBriefs, Traditional BuildingMagazine, The Old House

Journal and Catalog,and Renovators SupplyCatalog.

6.3.7. References


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n6.3.7.1. Contents

a. Texas HistoricalCommission: ArchitecturalDepartment

512.463.6094Http://www.thc.state.tx./

contactus/cotdefault.shtmlCity of Blanco:

###.###.#######

b. National Trust for HistoricPreservation

http://www.preservationnation.org/

6.3.7.2. Links

a. The Secretary of theInteriors Standards forthe Treatment of HistoricProperties:

www.nps.gov/history/hps/

tps/standguide.htmb. National Parks Service

Preservation Briefs:

www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm

c. Traditional Building

Magazine:www.traditonal-building.com

d. The Old House Journal andCatalog:

www.oldhousejournal.come. Renovators Supply

Catalog:www.rensup.com


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Blanco Design Guidelines Draft - Section 6

Documents

Transcript of Blanco Design Guidelines Draft - Section 6