PORCHES

Porches are a feature found on the majority of East Row Historic District residential structures. Many of the residences build before 1900 have porches on the side facades and are recessed approximately five to ten feet from the plane of the main facade. This is especially true of the Newport Plan house type which has a side entrance. The majority of original porches on these residences have Eastlake design woodwork such as milled porch posts, turned balusters, and spindled friezes.

After 1900, residences built in the Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Bungalow styles had porches constructed on the main facade. These often extend the full width of the facade and are no more than one-story in height. Most porches consist of wood floor boards resting on a frame substructure which in turn rests on brick or stone piers or a continuous brick or stone foundation.

The retention of the original porch configuration is very important for houses in the district. A porch is one of the main defining features of a house, and it often signifies a building's age and style. Almost all porches are of frame construction and replacement with matching materials is essential. Wood porches should not be replaced with brick, inexpensive ironwork, concrete, or concrete blocks. Porch alteration compromises the overall appearance of a structure and disturbs its size and scale.

Wrought iron porch posts are inappropriate changes to porches in the district.

Porches/decks shall not be added at a location on the main or readily visible side or rear facades where one never existed. Generally the addition of a porch changes the original character of a building and shall not occur. Where photographic or physical evidence of an original removed porch exists it is acceptable to reconstruct a porch in a design which is appropriate with the building's architectural style.

PORCH COLUMNS

In the late 19th century, milled porch posts became popular on Italianate and Queen Anne styles and were readily available due to advances in woodworking machinery. These columns were often highly ornate with attached fretwork or milled panels. Columns were often beveled or "chamfered" at the corners.

In the early 20th century, resurgence of classical styles reintroduced formal Greek orders in column design. These include the simple Doric design, the Ionic design (distinguished by the circular volutes) and the ornate Corinthian design. Most Colonial Revival influenced buildings in the East Row area have Doric or Ionic columns.

Original Queen Anne porch posts at 614 Park Avenue.

In the early 20th century, after the arrival of the Bungalow, porch columns changed significantly. The most common form is a solid brick pier built in a square or rectangular form. Another popular column is a tapered frame post resting on a raised brick pier. This style porch is found on the majority of post-1910 residences in the East Row Historic District. Brick piers were also used to replace earlier porch posts on pre-1910 residences. The retention of these later porch posts is encouraged, however, if porch columns of an earlier period are appropriate and desired these are also acceptable.

PORCH FLOORS

Original porch floors were generally of wood or concrete. The most common type of wood porch floor was made of tongue and groove boards that are interlocked and laid in one direction over structural framework. Wood porch floors require frequent maintenance, and replacement of deteriorated wood floors shall be with like materials. After 1910 concrete floors became common, and these also require periodic maintenance. Cracks in concrete floors should be repaired, and replacement of concrete porch floors shall be with concrete.


PORCH RAILINGS

In the late 19th century, the availability of sawn lumber enabled property owners to place extensive milled decoration on the exterior and interior of homes. Porch railings were a favorite location for decoration. On Italianate and Queen Anne influenced residences balusters were frequently milled in a variety of forms and flat interlocking panels were also common. Colonial Revival designs of the early 20th century often displayed simple square balusters or classically derived design complementing Doric or Ionic columns. On Bungalow styles, the porch railings were generally very simple with square pickets and rectangular handrails.

Colonial Revival porch at 805 Overton Street.

Added Bungalow style brick piers on a Queen Anne residence at 815 Overton Street.

 

PORCH FOUNDATIONS

The majority of residences in the East Row area have brick or stone foundations. These foundations are generally continuous with few openings except small ones for vents. The major exception is for porches located on the main facades of residences. These spaces were filled with frame or brick such as painted wood lattice or open weave brick patterns.

Painted wood lattice provides ventilation in the house's crawl space and prevents animals and unsightly vegetation access under the house. Most lattice runs at a 45 degree angle with 60 degree and 90 degree angles less common. Lattice should be made from pine, redwood or other soft, knot-free wood. The best is redwood because of its resistance to decay and pressure-treated wood is also durable. Pierced brick walls beneath porches are also practical and solid brick foundations often display metal vents or grilles in the brick to provide air flow in the crawl space.

PORCH STAIRS

Original porch stairs were generally constructed of concrete, brick or wood. These original stairs shall be maintained and repaired as required. When replacement is necessary, it shall be similar in design and materials to the original stairs.

PORCH AND PORCH COMPONENTS GUIDELINES

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