Federal Style Roof Exterior Balustrades

Roof balustrades after 1750 centered front gable pediment or shallow projecting central gable after 1750.

Federal style roof exterior balustrades. It was a new world. Jefferson balusters are available in standard residential and extended stair heights and are also available as half balusters. American federal houses have many of these features. Modernistic photo by terry healy.

Decorative iron roof cresting goes hand in hand with the style. This new federal style became associated with america s evolving national identity. 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. The style also grew out of frank lloyd wright s work in the prairie style at the turn of the 20th century.

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. The federal style in american architecture. 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. Graceful details distinguish federal homes from the pragmatic georgian colonial style.

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 federal style is often. The style borrowed heavily from contemporary european influences particularly the english adams brothers. 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.

Roofs were clad too in wood shingles or even metal. 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. 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. Windows arranged symmetrically around a center doorway.

These houses often had slate roofs which might be ornamented with multi color slates arranged in patterns. These balusters offer a truly unique profile with a squared off teardrop contour that captures the essence of the graceful federal style of classic american architecture.