US 1927 Georgian color choice

[Lynn]

Sorry if USA restoration problems are out of bounds on this site, but I was referred by one of your own. So my issue is color. I have some pictures on the web to help in this discussion:

http://web.mac.com/chakoianfamily/iWeb/Site%205/Photos.html

I start the pictures with the back of the place that I worked on last year and pretty much have completed. I used a cement-lime mix to patch the cracks in the stucco. My understanding is that at this time period in the US they used cement for stucco. I then painted it with a lime wash with a bit of pigment in it so we don't go blind in the midday sun. I rebuilt the window trim/sills because it was covered a decade ago with aluminum and it was a very bad job. I think they used a whole tube of caulk on each window, so there was a lot of wood rot, some carpenter ant issues and...well it was a big project. Having made all my mistakes and experiments on the back, I'm now on to the front.

I am doing the window frames in the same cream color, screens and storm windows in a soft grey, and inspired by a member here I have painted the sashes brown (upstairs so far). You might be able to see the difference in some of the photos. The window on the upper left needs to be rebuilt. I hate to think what I will find when I take off the aluminum from the first floor, but that will happen soon.

So the main question, now that you are oriented...I have grown to hate that blue color that is on the metal work and on shutters (taken down for the moment) on the upper floor. So what color might fit in? A friend is trying to persuade me that Vertigris would be the thing...although the idea of wooden shutter being aged copper color seems odd to me. So any ideas are welcome.

I'm also encouraged by others to take the stucco-like material off the bricks around the front door. I think it is a good idea, but suspect it might destroy the brick as we try to expose it. Cold chisel, brushes...sounds difficult. The brick ought to be a deep red/maroon color and that would offer a bit of detail to the building.

Also I'm looking into having the small roof over the front door redone so that the drainage doesn't hit the stucco. I'm not sure how to handle it since there is no where to run with the water...Georgian gargoyles?

Sorry so long a post, but these projects get complicated don't they?

 

[thiambal]

My personal opinion on colour is that - as long as the colour was comercially avaliable at the time - and it does not look completely ridiculous (and that is a pretty personal thing) pick any colour you want.

If you were able to buy it in 1927 - then it is conceivable a person could have used it.

 

[NT]

I'm a little puzzled by the description '1927 Georgian.'

NT

 

[Nigel Watts]

Another consideration is the colours traditionally used in the local area.

In the UK render was often left unpainted. 1920s houses over here often had "pebbledash" - a render sprayed with small pebbles. This was intended at the time to be left unpainted, but very few unpainted examples remain, the raw appearance now being considered too severe (the English climate doesnt help either - crumbling stucco looks picturesque in Italy but over here it looks very grimy)

My 1840 London townhouse is faced with stucco that was almost certainly intened to be left unpainted so that it resembled stone. I painted it a stone-like colour to get back to something close to the original.

 

[Lynn]

I'm a little puzzled by the description '1927 Georgian.'

NT

Well it is I think best described as Georgian style from the 1920s.

Now maybe it isn't really Georgian style at all...I'm open to correction. I just came to that conclusion looking at many examples.

I agree with Nigel's analysis of "1920s houses over here often had "pebbledash" - a render sprayed with small pebbles. "

I think that might have been the original intent here too, but there is much water over the bridge with this stucco. I suspect it has been painted, more stucco/cement applied so it has a lumpy appearance not so much pebbled. I think at that same time the brick around the front door was covered as well as the foundation brick.

As far as colors used in the local area...I don't know. I guess I would suppose bright trim colors are not in keeping with the style, but that is an uneducated guess. Are shutters usually used? I've read that metal work was usually black...but I'm just not sure what would be best, so that's why I asked the question.


Thanks for the comments.

 

[BMcD]

It looks to me as though your stucco is in fact wet dash (roughcast) where the stones/chippings are mixed with the cement/lime/sand and thrown at the wall whilst wet (as opposed to pebble dash where dry stones are thrown onto wet, trowel applied, stucco). This method of application adheres to the wall far better than trowel application and was used widely in exposed areas of northern Britain and coastal areas because of its durabilty. Presumably Wissconsin gets some pretty harsh weather blowing in from Canada across the Lakes?

I'm also encouraged by others to take the stucco-like material off the bricks around the front door.

If you mean the single course forming the arch, it's difficult to see in the pics but they look like they'd clean up with a wire brush and some sort of cleaner, others could advise better than I. As for what colour to paint it, Thiambal and Nigal Watts offer good advice. You may also find this link of interest. http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/TPS/briefs/brief22.htm

 

[BMcD]

I suspect it has been painted, more stucco/cement applied so it has a lumpy appearance not so much pebbled.

Some people find wet dasing ugly and undesirable because of its lumpy uneven appearance unlike pebble dash which is more uniform in texture though has the disadvantage of becoming "bald" as the pebbles fall off.

 

[NT]

I was always taught to wet dash then very gently hose it while wet to give the best of both worlds, bare stone but well stuck.

NT

 

[BMcD]

I don't think I'm gentle enough not to end up with streaks or have the stones washed off.
I generally find I end up with a good amount of stones showing through if I throw it hard enough and straight at the wall.

 

[Lynn]

I don't think I'm gentle enough not to end up with streaks or have the stones washed off.
I generally find I end up with a good amount of stones showing through if I throw it hard enough and straight at the wall.

For others unfamiliar, you need to remember to turn your head away as you throw it hard at the wall. I think this is drifting off topic, but I'm tempted to post the 3 different kinds of stucco on our place...only 80 years old and too much history on this house....

 

[Mark]

I'm a little puzzled by the description '1927 Georgian.'

Ah, so far as the colonials are concerned they haven't had a King since George. :lol:

 

[Lynn]

I'm a little puzzled by the description '1927 Georgian.'

Ah, so far as the colonials are concerned they haven't had a King since George. :lol:

funny story:

I was in London with my husband some years ago and we happened upon a full size statue of George Washington in some park or plaza. I was commenting that it was funny to see that here in London when a boy and his mother passed by, took a pause by the statue and the boy said, "Mum, is that George the third?" She briskly knocked him upside the head and they went on their way. You English start with the quirky humor quite early.

We in the US need a bit of humor as we struggle with our own George II.

But am I correct in saying our house is of that style? Modest and young though it is.

 

[biffvernon]

You in the US do seem to be able to laugh at your George II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsAYmKkE3xw&search=daily show