When looking for a Cape Cod house, the façade is usually the first that will come to mind. Though most residences often feature unpainted side shingles and a clapboard or cedar shake roof, its symmetry will likely catch your eye. ‘Perfection of proportion is the key to a beautiful full Cape Cod,’ Lichten explains.
Can you change a Cape Cod house?
If you’re living in a Cape Cod home and your family has outgrown it, but you don’t want to move? Fortunately, this home style is flexible, and you have several remodeling options. The style lends itself to adding additional usable space, both by building an addition or remodeling within your home’s existing footprint.
How do you modernize a Cape Cod exterior?
- Add an attractive fence.
- Put in bigger windows.
- Use planter boxes to make windows appear larger.
- Upgrade or paint your shutters.
- Keep your outdoor decor simple.
- Throw in just a touch of color with flowers.
- Reveal the original wood siding.
What are the distinctive features of a Cape Cod style house?
- Symmetrical appearance with a centered front entry.
- Steep roofs with side gables and an overhang.
- Shingle siding.
- Gabled dormers.
- Double-hung windows with shutters.
- Centralized chimneys.
- Simple exterior ornamentation.
What architectural style is Cape Cod?
Cape Cod architecture is one of the most instantly recognizable home styles in the U.S. At its core, an original Cape Cod house is a small, rectangular, unadorned one to one-and-a-half-story cottage with side gables and a steeply pitched roof to keep snow from piling up.
Can you raise the ceiling in a Cape Cod house?
The answer is yes! It can be a big job, but it’s doable. With help from the right roofing professionals, you can transform the house by raising the roof, turning a crawlspace into a living space, and increasing the length of the windows to allow more light into your home.
How do you add square feet to Cape Cod?
Wall Removal. Cape Cod homes typically have walls to separate the house’s main rooms, like the kitchen, dining room, and living room. To establish the illusion of extra square footage, knock down these walls to create an open floor plan.
What are the windows on a Cape Cod style called?
Quintessential Windows The variation is called a variety of terms, but “cottage style” is the most common. Modern interpretations of the Cape Cod can use casement windows that have a grille pattern that mimics the look of double-hung windows.
What is the difference between a colonial and a Cape Cod?
The roof says it all when it comes to Cape Cod and Dutch Colonial houses. The Cape Cod house has a gabled roof, which means the roof has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. In the case of the Dutch Colonial house, the roof has a gambrel roof: There are two sides and each side has two slopes.
Why are Cape Cod houses so popular?
Cape Cods are a manageable size, efficient to heat, and conducive to additions. The reasons behind their popularity haven’t changed since their humble origins in the 17th century, where they were born in—you guessed it—Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
What is Cape Cod style decor?
Popular Cape Cod patterns tend to lean towards thick stripes, nautical designs, and delicate florals for upholstery and fabrics. Rustic, quilted fabrics with embroidering can add a cozy feel, especially when using natural textures such as burlap, vintage linen, or grasscloth.
Why do Cape Cod houses have cedar shingles?
The roof and sides of Cape Cod homes are typically covered with clapboards or cedar shake shingles. These are a low-maintenance alternative to modern home siding and protect the house from harsh weather.
How much does it cost to pop a roof?
Raising a roof is less costly than many other home improvement projects and makes a dramatic difference in your home’s living space. The total average cost to raise your home’s roof could range from $15,000 to $20,000. See our list below to understand the costs that would add up to raise your roof.
How much does it cost to raise the ceiling?
Most homeowners pay around $60 per square foot to raise a ceiling. The price range for this project—between $50 and $75 per square foot—varies by home type and location.
Why were Cape Cod houses built?
Most of the Cape Cod homes you see today were built after World War II, when thousands of returning soldiers and their young families needed inexpensive housing. The Cape Cod style fit the bill, and it was used to build some of the first major housing developments.
How should an agent measure the GLA of a classic Cape Cod home?
GLA is calculated by measuring the exterior of the dwelling. Multiply the length times the width for regular- shaped structures. For irregular shapes, add the total of all areas as taken from exterior dimensions. Any area areas that “overhang” the foundation should also be included.
How do you find the square footage of a second floor?
- Measure the first floor just as for a single-story home.
- Measure the square footage of the second floor from inside by measuring the length and width of each upstairs room.
- Calculate the area of each room by a multiplying its length by its width.
How do you figure out the square footage of a two story house?
Exclude any unfinished areas, such as the garage or an unfinished basement. After measuring each room individually – including the closets in each room – combine the measurements from all rooms. The total number is the square footage of the 2-story home.
What are Cape Cod houses called?
A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single or double-story frame building with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.
Is my house a Cape Cod?
A Cape Cod house is typically single- or two-story, wide and rectangular-shaped, and features symmetrical windows on either side of the central front door. Cape Cods are often defined by their practical gabled roofs with dorm windows, which are composed of two sloping sections that meet in a roof ridge at the top.
What are double hung windows?
What is a Double-Hung Window? A double-hung window, also commonly referred to as a double-sash window, is a type of window that has two operable sashes that slide up and down. There are two main operable parts of a double-hung window — the top sash and the bottom sash. They are both able to open to provide ventilation.
Is it cheaper to build a ranch or Cape Cod?
That being said, ranches typically cost more than Cape Cods per square foot, per Craftsman Custom Homebuilders. This is because ranch-style homes require the same amount of roofing for less living space.
What is a split Cape house?
The homes generally feature a main level and then an upstairs and downstairs area separated by half levels. This meant more square footage than a typical 1 level home. The floor plans are usually more open, and have a partially below grade den area in the basement.
When were Cape Cod houses most popular?
Colonial Revival Cape Cod houses became especially popular during the 1930s and later.
How long do Cape Cod shingles last?
Roofs on Cape Cod made of asphalt or in combination with other materials, can last up to 20 years. There are a lot of factors that you can take into advantage if you want to ensure longer lifespan for your roofing Cape Cod.