Picture Dictionary of Architecture & Building Type & Component Identification InspectAPedia® -
Photos & sketches of architectural building types
Photo guide to chimney styles & architecture
Photo guide to mobile homes, trailers, modular homes
Identification photos & drawings of other building features
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Photos & sketches show how to recognize residential building architectural styles, chimney types and styles, deck & porch designs, and the differences among mobile homes, factory built homes, modular homes, and other structures. As the Georgian style Daniel Vose house (today called the Suffolk Resolves house) (1774) in our page-top photograph shows, in actual practice the architecture of even important, historic homes may be complicated than the archetype illustrations of architectural types below. Details including photographs of the home cut apart and being relocated are in Milton Architecture.
Here we present a series of key articles providing drawings and photographs to assist in recognition and naming of building architectural styles, roof shapes, window types, and other building components or features.
We also recognize that not every building fits a perfect textbook name or class, building are mixed, mashed, and sometimes, like the house shown in our page top photo. After inspecting the foundation hidden below that structure we named this building "country-collapsing style".
We left our beemer safely out of reach of this country-collapsing structure.
Readers should see the additional photo and drawing guides to building architectural styles in the links listed at page left see ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID for illustrations of building architectural types, roof shapes, dormers, windows, and other architectural features. Also see AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine as well as individual building component links at page left.
Left to Right: Adams Style chimney, Italianate Style chimney, angled chimneys, viewed from an attic chimney corbelling, an in-flue from rooftop of an un-lined single-wythe brick colonial style chimney, Queen Anne style chimney details (Carson Dunlop)
Mobile Homes Contrasted with Modular Constructed Homes & Factory-Built Housing
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS - Mobile Home photos (above) demonstrate the wide range of condition, innovation, and sophistication that may be encountered with mobile homes, trailers, doublewides.
MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION - Modular Home photo shows the home under construction. It's not difficult to spot modular construction by various building details.
"Factory built" housing can be an ambiguous term since it is sometimes claimed by mobile home manufacturers, modular home manufacturers, panelized construction manufacturers, and even some log home manufacturers.
The US DOE provides succinct definitions to help sort out these manufactured housing terms:
Modular Homes
Modules are transported to the site and installed. See MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION for a detailed look at modern modular home construction.
Panelized Homes
Panels—a whole wall with windows, doors, wiring and outside siding—are transported to the site and assembled. See Panelized Construction for a detailed look at a 1950's panelized construction home that was war surplus (Fishkill NY).
Pre-Cut Homes
Building materials are factory-cut to design specifications, transported to the site, and then assembled. Pre-cut homes include kit, dome, and log homes. LOG HOME GUIDE - provides an example of pre-cut homes, how to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems on log houses; how to identify and determine the age of different types of log homes: traditional log homes, manufactured log homes, slab-sided log homes, and alternative log homes using concrete logs and fiberglass logs. How to Identify Sears Kit Houses provides the most famous example of pre-cut home construction.
Mobile Homes
This is the term used for factory-built homes produced prior to when the HUD Code went into effect [1976]. See MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS for a detailed look at the wide range of quality and condition of these homes.
For details about these different types of manufactured homes, see
LOG HOME GUIDE - provides an example of pre-cut homes, how to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems on log houses; how to identify and determine the age of different types of log homes: traditional log homes, manufactured log homes, slab-sided log homes, and alternative log homes using concrete logs and fiberglass logs.
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"The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes", Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
Field Guides to North American House Architecture
A Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia & Lee McAlester (1984) ISBN-10: 0394739698 ISBN-13: 978-0394739694 includes a pictorial key and glossary to these architectural styles: Folk Houses, Native American Houses (U.S.), Pre-Railroad houses, National Architectural Styles (U.S.), Colonial Houses (1600-1820),
Postmedieval English, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Adam, Early Classical Revival, Romantic Houses (1820-1880),
Greek Revival style architecture, Gothic Revival style architecture, Italianate style architecture, Exotic Revivals style architecture, Octagon houses, Victorian style architecture Houses (1860-1900), Second Empire style architecture, Stick style architecture,
Queen Anne style architecture, Shingle style architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, Folk Victorian style architecture, Eclectic Houses (1880-1940), Anglo-American style architecture, English style architecture, and French Period Houses,
Colonial Revival style architecture, Neoclassical style architecture, Tudor style architecture, Chateauesque style architecture, Beaux Arts style architecture, French Eclectic style architecture, Mediterranean Period Houses style architecture, Italian Renaissance style architecture,
Mission style architecture, Spanish Eclectic style architecture, Monterey style architecture, Pueblo Revival style architecture, Modern Houses including Prairie style architecture, Craftsman style architecture, Modernistic style architecture, International style architecture, and
American Houses Since 1940: Modern style architecture & Neoeclectic style architecture
The American House, Mary Mix Foley, Harper Colophon Books, ISBN-0-060090831-9, ISBN-10: 0060112964 ISBN-13: 978-0060112967 1980, has been a guide we have found useful for recognizing house architectural styles
Dutch Houses in the Hudson Valley (NY) Before 1776 (New Paltz area for example), Dover Publications; Re Issue edition (1965) ASIN: B0006BNAD2
Manufactured Housing: types, US DOE - see original source:
energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10210
The HUD codes for manufactured homes are at
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10220
Characteristics of manufactured homes built before 1976, and retrofit suggestions
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10230
Renewable energy applications for manufactured homes are at
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10240
Milton Architecture (MA) (Images of America) (Paperback), Anthony M. Sammarco (Author), Paul Buchanan (Author), Arcadia Publishing (December 2, 2000) ISBN-10: 0738504963 ISBN-13: 978-0738504964 discusses the history of the Suffolk Resolves house and other historic homes in the Milton Massachusetts area
Mongolian Cloud Houses, How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably, Dan Frank Kuehn, Shelter Publications 2006 ISBN-10: 0936070390 ISBN-13: 978-0936070391 "Written for those interested in alternative lifestyles, outdoor living, camping, and do-it-yourself projects, this lively, informative book recounts the author's experiences building his first yurt. Dan Frank Kuehn carefully guides readers through every step of the creation of a 13' round by 10' tall model. He covers everything — from the poles and lattice that form the basic structure, to the plusses and minuses of various materials, to the distinctive willow smokehole. This updated edition highlights new building techniques and contains detailed lists of commercial yurt manufacturers, tools, and materials."
Underground Houses, How to Build A Low-Cost Home, Robert L. Roy, Sterling; illustrated edition edition (December 31, 1994), ISBN-10: 0806907282 ISBN-13: 978-0806907284 "According to Roy, underground or `earth-sheltered' houses are unexpectedly livable. Judging by his book's attractive pictures, that's easy to believe. The house he bases his point-by-point guide on is indeed a showplace. Its homey touches are just that, though, and Roy's main concern is creating such a house, from drawing up the plans to surveying the site to the actual building. Roy's instruction is insightful and comprehensive....Throughout, he covers construction and installation details that are extremely important for nonprofessionals brave enough to undertake building their own homes."
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
"Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
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