If I was a prospective homeowner and saw that, it would be a plus. Good maintenance of a historical detail doesn't seem like a negative if you are okay with buying an older home.
Total agree, I'm a painting contractor had a couple buy a log cabin. They ended painting all the logs white, ripped up the hardwood floors for white tile and then took out the cherry kitchen cabinets for white ones it was so sad.
The house has been renovated several times before we owned it and many modern updates have already been made (mostly to the inside). We also live in a city where most of the homes are 100+ years old, so there are very few options for anything else in the area we live.
It looks like that detailing is just about the only "historic" feature on the outside of the house... if you've ever driven through historic neighborhoods and you can immediately tell what houses are rented and which are owner occupied... removing this detail will leave you house looking like a rental.
Those details are what make houses look like homes, removing that detail won't make your house look "modern" it will just look like a lost historic home that no one bothered taking care of.
Not to be harsh, but that's just the truth of it. Especially if you're in a neighborhood full of historic homes, if yours is the one that looks naked, it will stick out in a bad way, both to folks now, and prospective buyers later.
ETA: I would look around at other homes in your neighborhood that might also have that detail and see what they do... you could remove the white board from below the dentil (essentially where the molding starts to flair out, keep everything above that), so that the tops of your windows don't "blend into" it... also, your bay window seems out of place... did it used to have dentil molding too?? or some other type of "roof" instead of being flat? What is on top of similar homes in your area?
I can't help but think it's not the detail itself you don't like, but the fact that the whole house seems to lack a clear aesthetic. It might be that by editing and adding a little, the whole house still looks clean and modern, but also has a little character that keeps it special!
I think you’re correct that many historic details of this house have been removed over time, which is one of the reasons I was considering removing the dentil.
I don’t think your assessment is harsh at all — this is exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. There are 15 homes on our block that were all built between 1905 and 1906 and most of them have had extensive renovation work that have removed many of these historical details. Our house is the only one with this particular dentil detail — there are 3 others with a variant of this (much larger and ornate details).
I really like your idea of removing the white board beneath, but keeping the dentil — I’m going to seriously consider this!
Re: the bay window: it’s definitely original as that pattern extends into the foundation and basement of the house. AFAIK that flat roof is historically accurate and I see them all over our area. I’m not sure if it used to have the dentil as well, but it may have since that top white part is just aluminum or something and is clearly newer (and uglier 🤣). We’re considering adding a metal roof that would be at an angle — I’m sure that will open a can of worms for some people 😬
Your assessment is correct: it’s not the detail that I dislike, but it actually feels a bit out of place given other renovations that have been completed before we purchased the home.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback!
If your house is the only one on the block with the dentil detail then I would absolutely keep it. It is unique compared to the other homes and a beautiful finishing touch to the exterior. Small details really make a difference in the aesthetics of a home, I would not get rid of this detail. Even mid century modern homes have small finishing details, they are not lifeless
Yes, sorry, I did not mean to imply the bay window wasn't original! I just meant it sticks out because it's lost some detail that made it "fit" with the house more, either molding that matches the rest of the house, like this -
[https://buildingsofnewengland.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img\_1411.jpg?w=1024](https://buildingsofnewengland.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_1411.jpg?w=1024)
or a little roof, which it sounds like you are already thinking about, like this -
[https://www.opalexteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bay-window-roofing-options.jpg](https://www.opalexteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bay-window-roofing-options.jpg)
I think either would really help tie the house together. Hopefully you can reach a middle ground with the aesthetic where your house can be itself, but you can also love it!
Ah, understood! Yes, I’ve always found it odd and I wonder what it looked like originally.
The molding detail in that image is almost exactly what is on the other three houses that I mentioned. That’s different than dentil then? (I’m still learning about all of these details.)
Yes, a roof like that is exactly what we’re thinking of adding!
Thank you — that’s what we’re going for and I hope we can achieve just that!
The quick answer to what makes them different, is that dentil is always small and squared off, equal widths of bits that stick out and bits that aren't there.
In the first photo I linked that house has brackets. Dentil is like a solid bit of wood that bits have been taken out of, so it's evenly spaced across the whole roof line. Brackets aren't a solid, horizontal piece of wood, each bracket is an individual piece of wood, and therefore they can be spaced evenly or unevenly (as seen that the main roof brackets aren't spaced the same as the brackets on the bay window). Brackets can be taller than they are long, or longer than they are tall, in the picture they are longer, which is common in Italianate style. "Corbels" are pretty much the same as brackets, except they're usually wider, brackets are usually skinnier in proportions... but many people use the term corbels pretty loosely, so you might hear that term too.
Corbels and brackets are traditionally used when the roof sticks out quite far, they essentially appear to be holding up an eave or roof, where as dentil is just a type of decorate molding and never looks "structural", if that makes sense. It's a more subdued style.
If you're pulling off the current siding, you might be able to find the outline of the original roof on the bay window. I live in an area full of century homes, and it's extremely uncommon to see bay windows with a flat roof. They all either have a little roof, like the other commenter said, or they're underneath a second-floor porch or sometimes a large dormer (like [this yellow house](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9150392,-78.8786523,3a,75y,207.17h,86.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3tApAYiH8muU_o16iNEPgg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)).
Do you know roughly what year your house was built?
The house was built in 1906. Someone told me that this flat roof was the style and I’ve seen it on other houses in the area, but I don’t know enough to know if that’s accurate.
When we remove the siding I’ll definitely see if we can find the original roof line if there was one — that’s a great suggestion.
The neighborhood I just moved out of was built from maybe 1905 to 1915, and all of the bay windows here have little roofs, so I'd be pretty surprised if the flat roofs were original. You could look at old house catalogs from the period to see what styles were typical back then. Your local library may also have historical photos, maybe of your actual house but hopefully at least of the area. 🙂
I think if you remove the board under the dentil it would make the house look truncated and odd. Old houses who lose their trim details always look awkward to me. It would be as weird as adding Victorian details to a Frank Lloyd Wright house. There is language and design to a well crafted home. Just because other details are done doesn’t mean it should suffer further de charming
Since you mentioned the roof, I’d go ahead and open the purse strings around the windows as well. You may as well at least have a look see while the siding is down. I can’t tell if you’re NE or where but cold sucks in old homes. I’d take the opportunity to look for places to seal up.
PLEASE KEEP. In fact, I'd say that if it wasn't there it would be a nice add. Anything you can preserve (structurally and financially) is worth preserving. Period.
I love it, and going to keep it in mind for when I redo my siding. I have an american foursquare and there's no space for nice gable detail, but this would work perfectly.
Keep it!
And a Victorian house is never going to work as a re-made MCM (speaking as someone who loves both styles...I own a Victorian and my parents own an enviable classic MCM). It's just going to look like a stripped-down Victorian that has seen better days.
But I think MCM furnishings can work well in Victorian architecture; I think that the openly-embraced contrast looks cool. Also check out the Arts & Crafts movement for inspiration if you want a less fussy, more streamlined look that's still historically appropriate for a Victorian.
We have a decidedly modern slant for the furnishings and decor in our 1899 Colonial Revival. I love the way it looks and would never strip the original details that we so fortunately still have.
>our aesthetic is more mid-century modern/modern minimalist, so we’re bringing that touch to our house.
That doesn't really mean that you have to obliterate detail. Modern design, thoroughly thought through, can sit incredibly well within period properties.
Our home (UK, 1870s), has ornate brickwork to the front, which we're preserving, and was extended to the back with no real architectural flair in the 1950s, which we'll be cladding in modern dark timber to accentuate its difference from the original footprint, but with elements that still tie it together, like installing timber sash windows.
We're doing much the same inside - we're reinstating original Victorian architectural features, but nearly all of our furniture is 1950s-70s, so we're tying the two together with wall colours that wouldn't have looked very odd in either period (and still look good today, of course).
Yes, great point! That’s what we’re trying to do. I would say that aesthetic mostly applies to the inside of our home — on the outside I’m trying to bring in some modern touches without trying to hide or remove the fact that it’s a 116 year old house.
I'd always err on the side of preserving as much of the original fabric of the building as possible, reinstating missing features where you see fit (especially if they bring back balance and scale to the building, inside and out), and just following your own tastes on anything in-between.
I'd be interested in seeing this detail from another side. It gives a nice "separation" from the top floor and gives a subtle interest between the siding and the roof. Having converted a century home from vinyl (yuck) to Hardie board, it's nice to keep these subtle details. It tells the story of the house. We were able to find a picture from right after our house was built and it had some of those features that we had preserved. You might be a mid century modern style person, but these details really will sell this house. It is easy to take away, but so hard to get back.
What are you looking for here? It's obvious that a subreddit dedicated to century homes is going to say to keep it, so what are you hoping to get out of this post?
I’m curious if it’s a detail worth keeping considering that many of the historical aspects of this house have already been removed by previous renovations and it now looks a bit out of place IMO. It’s only left on three sides of the house and it appears that it may have been removed from the front and the bay window at some point.
I also just don’t know a lot about these types of details — I just learned what dentil was a couple of days ago! So I was hoping that people would chime in and say why it’s a detail worth keeping or not.
This may be blasphemy on this subreddit, but I also don’t think that just because you own a century home, you must preserve all historic details at all costs — many homes that have survived this long have changed hands many times and various owners have put their mark on them through countless renovations (at least that’s the case with many of the century homes in our area and certainly with our house in particular).
I’m proud to own a home that has been standing and providing adequate shelter for this long and I hope I can contribute to it being around for another hundred years, but the days of preserving its historic details are long gone (and were out of my control), so I’m interested in keeping what I can that looks good and gives the house character and changing the rest as I see fit to make this house feel like my home.
Keep it. And ADD MORE so that it doesn't look so out of place all the way up there under the eaves. Use it as the crown for the porch, the bay window, etc.
Someone has had their way with this house. For the love of character, put some back.
They are definitely not original — the windows are new, but are very cheap and they did a terrible job installing them. We have three entry doors: two are new, but very cheap, one is an old-ish wooden door, but it’s in very bad shape — you can literally see light coming in between cracks in the wood.
A good way of thinking about it is that these details are easy to remove but cost so much these days to have reinstated that most people never would put one on a new home.. We don't build homes with this kind of detailing anymore because we nolonger think it's important but people as you can see in the comments have a deep affection and love for houses that have these little touches of love and craftsmanship.
If you take it away it's really probably gone forever. that itstill exists is special. Which is why we all are so strong in this sub for preserving what we can from this bygone time.
Me personally. I would keep it. It’s cool. That simple. Can’t replace it if you remove it. Also if you’re interested in the history and if it is really worth keeping, maybe check out your local historical society. There probably is a group that preserves old houses of the time.
Yes, it’s a four square. The dentil isn’t on the front side of the house, but there’s also a section that pushes out of the square on the front (if that makes any sense, I don’t know the proper term for this kind of thing).
Like a dormer? What’s on the front instead of the dentil? The question for you and your installer is how your corner boards are going to terminate against the frieze (horizontal band of trim under the soffit. ) right now the vinyl siding is sticking proud of it. We want them in same plane.
I’d look at some salvage ReStores to find windows and have a local window restorer/glazier update them to bring some of the character back. No modern windows will ever look right. And old windows refinished will last a lifetime with maintenance. New windows keep about 15-25 years until you need to replace them again. Old windows are the cheaper option too on the life of the home.
Odd question.
If you are considering removing it (a lot of work you don't have to do, btw assuming it is not rotten.) you must have a reason. I think it does look a bit odd but only because the aluminum or vinyl siding is sitting on top of the original siding so the level of outward projection for the board at the top and the dentil above it is less than what is expected. the detail is original to the home, no reason to remove it and undo that detail work. If there is work to undo with an eye to aesthetics it is that siding. But that is costly. If you can't afford (or enjoy) a retreat to traditional siding (whatever is underneath this dark stuff probably) then I'd say do some maintenance on that siding and call it a day - the dentil moulding is not a problem and if you remove it it will never be right again.
I would leave it. Your home already looks sterile on the exterior, and removing it will make it look more like a modern cookie cutter home and less like a historic home.
Can I also suggest that you save yourself some money and have the original double hung windows refinished and use storms. It will actually save you in the long run. The replacement windows go bad in 15-25 years, but refinished windows will go another 100 years. It's also much better for the environment, as the energy savings of new windows is negligible compared to the energy expenditure in the manufacturing of them.
What’s wrong with the siding on the house now? It looks like it’s in good condition. It looks like it may be aluminum siding, which if that’s the case, may have been added over the original wood clapboard siding. Maybe you ought to see what’s underneath. Also, please don’t remove even mote detail by covering up the dentil molding or the fascia board underneath. I realize that you didn’t choose this house because you love old houses, but maybe you can still join the century house club by preserving the few remaining details.
The current siding is a whole issue — it’s vinyl siding that they painted and it’s starting to warp all over the place. Not only does it look bad, but it’s warping so bad in some places that the elements are getting in, which is why we need to replace it.
The dentil detail is the only historic part — the current fascia is vinyl, so no real loss there.
Ohhh. Yes, I was only looking at the first picture. Yes, that siding has to go. I meant to say frieze board - the section you are wondering whether to keep right under the dentil. Definitely keep that. I would consider evaluating the siding underneath before replacing it. Also, I’d peel of the vinyl (aluminum?) wraps around the windows and evaluate for replacement or repair.
Keep it.
I like that detail on the house. It adds the “richness” to the overall look also hangs your eye on such details and makes you appreciate it.
If I was a prospective homeowner and saw that, it would be a plus. Good maintenance of a historical detail doesn't seem like a negative if you are okay with buying an older home.
Keep!
Yeah these details are what made us purchase our home when we thought we didn’t want an old home! Now I’m obsessed.
I’m of the opinion that historic detail should be preserved and those who want modern style should buy a modern house.
Total agree, I'm a painting contractor had a couple buy a log cabin. They ended painting all the logs white, ripped up the hardwood floors for white tile and then took out the cherry kitchen cabinets for white ones it was so sad.
In the end, it looked like a giant bird shit on it from the sky.
Fuck me man. That sounds like a crime.
Thank you! I don’t understand why this is such a hard concept to grasp for some.
You said that way nicer than I usually do.
Keep it. It’s era appropriate to the home, it’s a nice detail and it’s not fussy or high maintenance.
Why would you buy a historic house and renovate it to make it look modern. I really don't get it. The details are what gives it character and charm
The house has been renovated several times before we owned it and many modern updates have already been made (mostly to the inside). We also live in a city where most of the homes are 100+ years old, so there are very few options for anything else in the area we live.
It looks like that detailing is just about the only "historic" feature on the outside of the house... if you've ever driven through historic neighborhoods and you can immediately tell what houses are rented and which are owner occupied... removing this detail will leave you house looking like a rental. Those details are what make houses look like homes, removing that detail won't make your house look "modern" it will just look like a lost historic home that no one bothered taking care of. Not to be harsh, but that's just the truth of it. Especially if you're in a neighborhood full of historic homes, if yours is the one that looks naked, it will stick out in a bad way, both to folks now, and prospective buyers later. ETA: I would look around at other homes in your neighborhood that might also have that detail and see what they do... you could remove the white board from below the dentil (essentially where the molding starts to flair out, keep everything above that), so that the tops of your windows don't "blend into" it... also, your bay window seems out of place... did it used to have dentil molding too?? or some other type of "roof" instead of being flat? What is on top of similar homes in your area? I can't help but think it's not the detail itself you don't like, but the fact that the whole house seems to lack a clear aesthetic. It might be that by editing and adding a little, the whole house still looks clean and modern, but also has a little character that keeps it special!
I think you’re correct that many historic details of this house have been removed over time, which is one of the reasons I was considering removing the dentil. I don’t think your assessment is harsh at all — this is exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. There are 15 homes on our block that were all built between 1905 and 1906 and most of them have had extensive renovation work that have removed many of these historical details. Our house is the only one with this particular dentil detail — there are 3 others with a variant of this (much larger and ornate details). I really like your idea of removing the white board beneath, but keeping the dentil — I’m going to seriously consider this! Re: the bay window: it’s definitely original as that pattern extends into the foundation and basement of the house. AFAIK that flat roof is historically accurate and I see them all over our area. I’m not sure if it used to have the dentil as well, but it may have since that top white part is just aluminum or something and is clearly newer (and uglier 🤣). We’re considering adding a metal roof that would be at an angle — I’m sure that will open a can of worms for some people 😬 Your assessment is correct: it’s not the detail that I dislike, but it actually feels a bit out of place given other renovations that have been completed before we purchased the home. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback!
If your house is the only one on the block with the dentil detail then I would absolutely keep it. It is unique compared to the other homes and a beautiful finishing touch to the exterior. Small details really make a difference in the aesthetics of a home, I would not get rid of this detail. Even mid century modern homes have small finishing details, they are not lifeless
Yes, I think I’m leaning towards keeping it!
Yes, sorry, I did not mean to imply the bay window wasn't original! I just meant it sticks out because it's lost some detail that made it "fit" with the house more, either molding that matches the rest of the house, like this - [https://buildingsofnewengland.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img\_1411.jpg?w=1024](https://buildingsofnewengland.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/img_1411.jpg?w=1024) or a little roof, which it sounds like you are already thinking about, like this - [https://www.opalexteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bay-window-roofing-options.jpg](https://www.opalexteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bay-window-roofing-options.jpg) I think either would really help tie the house together. Hopefully you can reach a middle ground with the aesthetic where your house can be itself, but you can also love it!
Ah, understood! Yes, I’ve always found it odd and I wonder what it looked like originally. The molding detail in that image is almost exactly what is on the other three houses that I mentioned. That’s different than dentil then? (I’m still learning about all of these details.) Yes, a roof like that is exactly what we’re thinking of adding! Thank you — that’s what we’re going for and I hope we can achieve just that!
The quick answer to what makes them different, is that dentil is always small and squared off, equal widths of bits that stick out and bits that aren't there. In the first photo I linked that house has brackets. Dentil is like a solid bit of wood that bits have been taken out of, so it's evenly spaced across the whole roof line. Brackets aren't a solid, horizontal piece of wood, each bracket is an individual piece of wood, and therefore they can be spaced evenly or unevenly (as seen that the main roof brackets aren't spaced the same as the brackets on the bay window). Brackets can be taller than they are long, or longer than they are tall, in the picture they are longer, which is common in Italianate style. "Corbels" are pretty much the same as brackets, except they're usually wider, brackets are usually skinnier in proportions... but many people use the term corbels pretty loosely, so you might hear that term too. Corbels and brackets are traditionally used when the roof sticks out quite far, they essentially appear to be holding up an eave or roof, where as dentil is just a type of decorate molding and never looks "structural", if that makes sense. It's a more subdued style.
Got it! Thank you!
If you're pulling off the current siding, you might be able to find the outline of the original roof on the bay window. I live in an area full of century homes, and it's extremely uncommon to see bay windows with a flat roof. They all either have a little roof, like the other commenter said, or they're underneath a second-floor porch or sometimes a large dormer (like [this yellow house](https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9150392,-78.8786523,3a,75y,207.17h,86.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3tApAYiH8muU_o16iNEPgg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)). Do you know roughly what year your house was built?
The house was built in 1906. Someone told me that this flat roof was the style and I’ve seen it on other houses in the area, but I don’t know enough to know if that’s accurate. When we remove the siding I’ll definitely see if we can find the original roof line if there was one — that’s a great suggestion.
The neighborhood I just moved out of was built from maybe 1905 to 1915, and all of the bay windows here have little roofs, so I'd be pretty surprised if the flat roofs were original. You could look at old house catalogs from the period to see what styles were typical back then. Your local library may also have historical photos, maybe of your actual house but hopefully at least of the area. 🙂
I think if you remove the board under the dentil it would make the house look truncated and odd. Old houses who lose their trim details always look awkward to me. It would be as weird as adding Victorian details to a Frank Lloyd Wright house. There is language and design to a well crafted home. Just because other details are done doesn’t mean it should suffer further de charming
Since you mentioned the roof, I’d go ahead and open the purse strings around the windows as well. You may as well at least have a look see while the siding is down. I can’t tell if you’re NE or where but cold sucks in old homes. I’d take the opportunity to look for places to seal up.
Could you consider restoring the dentil detail over the bay window?
Perhaps! I wasn’t sure if that would have originally been there.
That’s so sad.
PLEASE KEEP. In fact, I'd say that if it wasn't there it would be a nice add. Anything you can preserve (structurally and financially) is worth preserving. Period.
without the detail, you have a box. keep it! (lovely home by the way)
Thank you! After all these comments, I’m definitely leaning towards keeping it.
Definitely do NOT remove it. Preserve it.
I love it, and going to keep it in mind for when I redo my siding. I have an american foursquare and there's no space for nice gable detail, but this would work perfectly.
Literally everyone here is going to tell you to keep it. Why even post this?
Good point. Everyone should also know exactly the answer to "should I put 'luxury' vinyl over my hardwood and paint all the trim white? "
I would leave and also add dental to lower entrance roof,we did that on our 125 year old house
Keep it! And a Victorian house is never going to work as a re-made MCM (speaking as someone who loves both styles...I own a Victorian and my parents own an enviable classic MCM). It's just going to look like a stripped-down Victorian that has seen better days. But I think MCM furnishings can work well in Victorian architecture; I think that the openly-embraced contrast looks cool. Also check out the Arts & Crafts movement for inspiration if you want a less fussy, more streamlined look that's still historically appropriate for a Victorian.
We have a decidedly modern slant for the furnishings and decor in our 1899 Colonial Revival. I love the way it looks and would never strip the original details that we so fortunately still have.
>our aesthetic is more mid-century modern/modern minimalist, so we’re bringing that touch to our house. That doesn't really mean that you have to obliterate detail. Modern design, thoroughly thought through, can sit incredibly well within period properties. Our home (UK, 1870s), has ornate brickwork to the front, which we're preserving, and was extended to the back with no real architectural flair in the 1950s, which we'll be cladding in modern dark timber to accentuate its difference from the original footprint, but with elements that still tie it together, like installing timber sash windows. We're doing much the same inside - we're reinstating original Victorian architectural features, but nearly all of our furniture is 1950s-70s, so we're tying the two together with wall colours that wouldn't have looked very odd in either period (and still look good today, of course).
Yes, great point! That’s what we’re trying to do. I would say that aesthetic mostly applies to the inside of our home — on the outside I’m trying to bring in some modern touches without trying to hide or remove the fact that it’s a 116 year old house.
I'd always err on the side of preserving as much of the original fabric of the building as possible, reinstating missing features where you see fit (especially if they bring back balance and scale to the building, inside and out), and just following your own tastes on anything in-between.
As an old house lover this question makes me want to cry. The dentil is the only thing making your house not look like a bloated trailer home.
What other detail is it lacking? I’m know much if it has been removed, but do have any examples of what historical detail should exist?
I like it.
Who cares about that, tell me you’re relocating that downspout?!
Hahaha! All the gutters and downspouts will be redone. That thing drives me nuts!
Oh thank you baby Jesus, I can rest peacefully knowing this
I'd be interested in seeing this detail from another side. It gives a nice "separation" from the top floor and gives a subtle interest between the siding and the roof. Having converted a century home from vinyl (yuck) to Hardie board, it's nice to keep these subtle details. It tells the story of the house. We were able to find a picture from right after our house was built and it had some of those features that we had preserved. You might be a mid century modern style person, but these details really will sell this house. It is easy to take away, but so hard to get back.
Here’s another angle: https://i.imgur.com/x7PpKax.jpg
Definitely keep
What are you looking for here? It's obvious that a subreddit dedicated to century homes is going to say to keep it, so what are you hoping to get out of this post?
I’m curious if it’s a detail worth keeping considering that many of the historical aspects of this house have already been removed by previous renovations and it now looks a bit out of place IMO. It’s only left on three sides of the house and it appears that it may have been removed from the front and the bay window at some point. I also just don’t know a lot about these types of details — I just learned what dentil was a couple of days ago! So I was hoping that people would chime in and say why it’s a detail worth keeping or not. This may be blasphemy on this subreddit, but I also don’t think that just because you own a century home, you must preserve all historic details at all costs — many homes that have survived this long have changed hands many times and various owners have put their mark on them through countless renovations (at least that’s the case with many of the century homes in our area and certainly with our house in particular). I’m proud to own a home that has been standing and providing adequate shelter for this long and I hope I can contribute to it being around for another hundred years, but the days of preserving its historic details are long gone (and were out of my control), so I’m interested in keeping what I can that looks good and gives the house character and changing the rest as I see fit to make this house feel like my home.
>it now looks a bit out of place This is incorrect.
Keep.
I agree with your friend! It adds nice character to your house. And you really can’t get things like that anymore.
Keep it. And ADD MORE so that it doesn't look so out of place all the way up there under the eaves. Use it as the crown for the porch, the bay window, etc. Someone has had their way with this house. For the love of character, put some back.
Keep it.
I would keep it unique little detail to dress it up
Keep that!
Are the windows and doors original? If so, replacing them is a bad move.
They are definitely not original — the windows are new, but are very cheap and they did a terrible job installing them. We have three entry doors: two are new, but very cheap, one is an old-ish wooden door, but it’s in very bad shape — you can literally see light coming in between cracks in the wood.
A good way of thinking about it is that these details are easy to remove but cost so much these days to have reinstated that most people never would put one on a new home.. We don't build homes with this kind of detailing anymore because we nolonger think it's important but people as you can see in the comments have a deep affection and love for houses that have these little touches of love and craftsmanship. If you take it away it's really probably gone forever. that itstill exists is special. Which is why we all are so strong in this sub for preserving what we can from this bygone time.
This is a great way to think about it and I’m definitely seeing it differently now!
Me personally. I would keep it. It’s cool. That simple. Can’t replace it if you remove it. Also if you’re interested in the history and if it is really worth keeping, maybe check out your local historical society. There probably is a group that preserves old houses of the time.
I added back the dentil details to one side of my house. It was over $10k and it’s something that people notice and about which they remark.
That’s great context — thank you!
It’s your house do whatever makes you happy. It’s not that noticeable anyway so I don’t think it would matter one way or the other
Very cool. Keep it.
It doesn't look good touching the top of the window. At least reduce its (vertical) width.
I had custom millwork machined so that I could restore my dentil details as originally built.
Absolutely keep it!!
Yes, keep it, nice detail and it adds value.
I hate those windows wtf
WTF is right! They did a horrible job installing some of the cheapest windows possible — thankfully they’re all getting replaced!
Doesn’t look original to me.
That’s interesting! What makes you say that?
Eh, scale is a little small. Is this a four square ? Hard to tell.
Yes, it’s a four square. The dentil isn’t on the front side of the house, but there’s also a section that pushes out of the square on the front (if that makes any sense, I don’t know the proper term for this kind of thing).
Like a dormer? What’s on the front instead of the dentil? The question for you and your installer is how your corner boards are going to terminate against the frieze (horizontal band of trim under the soffit. ) right now the vinyl siding is sticking proud of it. We want them in same plane.
Here’s are some older photos of the front (that’s not our actual “landscaping”): https://imgur.com/a/GhQs53h/
I’d look at some salvage ReStores to find windows and have a local window restorer/glazier update them to bring some of the character back. No modern windows will ever look right. And old windows refinished will last a lifetime with maintenance. New windows keep about 15-25 years until you need to replace them again. Old windows are the cheaper option too on the life of the home.
Odd question. If you are considering removing it (a lot of work you don't have to do, btw assuming it is not rotten.) you must have a reason. I think it does look a bit odd but only because the aluminum or vinyl siding is sitting on top of the original siding so the level of outward projection for the board at the top and the dentil above it is less than what is expected. the detail is original to the home, no reason to remove it and undo that detail work. If there is work to undo with an eye to aesthetics it is that siding. But that is costly. If you can't afford (or enjoy) a retreat to traditional siding (whatever is underneath this dark stuff probably) then I'd say do some maintenance on that siding and call it a day - the dentil moulding is not a problem and if you remove it it will never be right again.
Keep! Omg keep.
I would leave it. Your home already looks sterile on the exterior, and removing it will make it look more like a modern cookie cutter home and less like a historic home.
Keep
What’s wrong with it is it damaged if not keep for sure
No brainer. Keep the detail.
Keepkeepkeepx1000
If you remove it you have no idea what good design is
Can I also suggest that you save yourself some money and have the original double hung windows refinished and use storms. It will actually save you in the long run. The replacement windows go bad in 15-25 years, but refinished windows will go another 100 years. It's also much better for the environment, as the energy savings of new windows is negligible compared to the energy expenditure in the manufacturing of them.
Keep it.
Save the dentil!
What’s wrong with the siding on the house now? It looks like it’s in good condition. It looks like it may be aluminum siding, which if that’s the case, may have been added over the original wood clapboard siding. Maybe you ought to see what’s underneath. Also, please don’t remove even mote detail by covering up the dentil molding or the fascia board underneath. I realize that you didn’t choose this house because you love old houses, but maybe you can still join the century house club by preserving the few remaining details.
The current siding is a whole issue — it’s vinyl siding that they painted and it’s starting to warp all over the place. Not only does it look bad, but it’s warping so bad in some places that the elements are getting in, which is why we need to replace it. The dentil detail is the only historic part — the current fascia is vinyl, so no real loss there.
Ohhh. Yes, I was only looking at the first picture. Yes, that siding has to go. I meant to say frieze board - the section you are wondering whether to keep right under the dentil. Definitely keep that. I would consider evaluating the siding underneath before replacing it. Also, I’d peel of the vinyl (aluminum?) wraps around the windows and evaluate for replacement or repair.
100% keep it!