What distinguishes a second empire style house from an italianate is its high mansard roof.
Victorian house roof.
During the victorian period many different types of roofing materials were used.
In basic terms a mansard roof has 4 sides with each side bearing two slopes.
Of course the typical for all the victorian houses elements still present like the multiple colors walls rich in texture steep roof pitches and this one is really specific below the gable there is usually a vergeboard.
Some of the best victorian homes can all be found in one place at heritage square museum which calls the french mansard style roof of the valley knudsen garden residence rather unusual for.
The gables on this house face the sides so the slope of the roof is in the front and back.
Although some roofs in more expensive later victorian houses have timber sarking boarding laid over the rafters the practice of draping sheets of underfelt beneath the tiles as a secondary line of defence is a relatively modern concept previously any moisture seeping through in stormy weather would have dried out thanks to lofts being well ventilated.
When railroads reached the pacific northwest in the 1890s western red cedar rot resistant and abundant soon dominated the market across all house styles.
Front gable roofs have the gable in the front of the house.
The best way to restore the victorian roof to its former glory is to match the original roofing materials to modern roofing materials.
Inspiration for a large victorian blue two story mixed siding exterior home remodel in other with a shingle roof like the curved mid section to add interest and definition.
The most popular roof style may be the side gable because it s one of the easiest to build.
After 1840 stationary and portable mills produced the sawn shingles common for queen anne and shingle style houses of the victorian period often stained in greens or earth tones.
The gable is the triangular siding area formed by the shape of the roof.