Reading Buildings ~ Identifying how a historic house has changed over time is an important step in planning a restoration project. Even without documentary evidence like historic photos or building plans, it is often possible to see physical evidence of changes if you look carefully, as with the missing porch on this house.
This lovely Queen Anne style house in Belfast, Maine, is missing a section of its original wrap-around porch. The first clue that something has been removed is the awkward clapboard application on the end of the remaining porch. The eave trim should have wrapped around the corner and terminated against the house. The infilled clapboards on the side elevation are detectable by their varying exposure and difference in the appearance of the paint. Where the original porch terminated at the bay window, the left and right sides do not match.
Most houses have been changed over time, and the removal of porches is not an uncommon alteration. Exposure to the elements makes porches more challenging to maintain, and they often suffer from deferred maintenance, leading to their removal.
As character-defining features of a house, restoring them should be a priority in any restoration project. In this case, enough of the porch remains to provide models for the accurate replacement posts and trim at the eaves.
Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” how to identify and date changes made over time.
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