Federal Style Roof Exterior Balustrades

Hip roofs capped by a balustrade and simple gable shapes such as those on numerous federal town houses in washington d c and even roofs with a center gable crowned by a front façade pediment are among the most popular federal roof styles.

Federal style roof exterior balustrades.

The federal style is often. In design the word federal simply indicates the time period 1780 1820 when the style known among architecture aficionados as the american phase of the adam style prevailed in the fledgling united states. Roofs were clad too in wood shingles or even metal. Creative floor plans with elliptical and round spaces were introduced during this period and the simple exterior box was often modified by projecting wings particularly in high style examples.

New opportunities had come through the setteling of the colonies and the new united states wanted to prove to the world that they were strong intelligent and determined as individuals society and state. Like much of america s architecture the federal or federalist style colonial architecture is the name for the classicizing design built around the end of the revolutionary war. This new federal style became associated with america s evolving national identity. The typical form of original federal houses is a simple box shape usually two or three rooms deep with a symmetrical arrangement of doors and windows predominately.

Graceful details distinguish federal homes from the pragmatic georgian colonial style. American federal houses have many of these features. Roof balustrades after 1750 centered front gable pediment or shallow projecting central gable after 1750. The style borrowed heavily from contemporary european influences particularly the english adams brothers.

The federal style in american architecture. Jefferson balusters are available in standard residential and extended stair heights and are also available as half balusters. These houses often had slate roofs which might be ornamented with multi color slates arranged in patterns. Flat roof smooth stucco exterior with curved walls horizontal lines either as grooves or balustrades zigzag or geometric art deco details plate glass or glass block.

The style also grew out of frank lloyd wright s work in the prairie style at the turn of the 20th century. Low pitched roof or flat roof with a balustrade. When builder developer fred milani began construction on his dream home a scaled down version of the white house he chose timeless architectural reproductions to supply the interior and exterior columns pilasters capitals roof top balustrades and dentil moulding that grace this home s impressive exterior and interior. Decorative iron roof cresting goes hand in hand with the style.

The roof might be straight sided convex or concave and broken by dormers. Windows arranged symmetrically around a center doorway.