Replies

1. 
   Gene_Davis | May 30, 2006 12:24am | #1

   Here is an idea for you that is often seen in prairie style houses, and a foursquare is sort of praire-ish, especially if done with a low pitch roof and big overhangs.

   Use clapboards on the lower level at 1-1/2 times the reveal as claps up top.  For example, do 6" reveal down, and 4" reveal up.

   That is what I did for a house recently completed, and the architect specified it on the drawings.  We used James Hardie "Hardiplank."

   You can only do it when there is a trim band or feature that clearly separates lower from upper.  On your two sides, your porch roof is the feature.  Elsewhere, you will need a big trim band to break the two.

   Consider the use of color, also, to accent the upper from the lower.  Here is an example of a Sarah Susanka showhouse color scheme.

   View Image

   
   

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   Edited 5/29/2006 5:30 pm ET by Gene_Davis

1. 
   McDesign | May 31, 2006 04:24am | #6

   I had this wild idea once to evenly graduate the clapboard reveal all the way up the wall, to exaggerate or diminish apparent perspective; to make the wall look taller or shorter than it really was.

   Forrest

2. 
   DavidxDoud | May 30, 2006 01:22am | #2

   there's a house a few miles east of me that is a renovated 4square - they used (what looks like to me) 16' 1X12" from the soffit down,  with limestone from the ground up to the B&B - stained dark - looks very good to me - don't get that way very often,  but always admire it when I go by -

    

   "there's enough for everyone"
3. 
   Ragnar17 | May 30, 2006 01:49am | #3

   I just looked through a number of the Sears plans, and -- ironically -- the majority of the 1920s foursquares have the same horizontal siding all the way up! 

   In the Seattle area, many (or most) foursquares have 1/2" x 4" beveled siding on the main floor, and shingles on the second floor.   

   Many Craftsman style houses have graduated siding as Gene suggested (i.e. 1/2" x 6" on the main, 1/2" x 4" on the second.)  If shingles were used, they were sometimes installed with a single exposure; other times the exposure width alternated with each course. I strongly prefer the look of mitered corners (for horizontal siding or shingles), but as you can see in the attached image, Sears was using corner boards in the 1920s, so I guess it's whatever you prefer.

   You could also consider some sort of stucco finish.

   PS: About board and batten -- in my opinion, I'd save it for the neo-Craftsman houses.

    

    

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   Edited 5/29/2006 6:51 pm ET by Ragnar17

   
   

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   Edited 5/29/2006 6:54 pm ET by Ragnar17

4. 
   Brian | May 30, 2006 04:32pm | #4

   I have no comment on the board and batten, except if you do, look into hardie's 4x8 product for board and batten - $23 a sheet near here, and it will be as durable as the hardie on your first floor walls.

    

   Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
5. 
   BillHartmann | May 30, 2006 04:54pm | #5

   In Kansas City there are what are called Shirtwaist Houses.

   "Article about the integrity of the Westport residential community, focusing on its neighborhood organizations designed to preserve its older and characteristic architecture, with several photos, including the "Shirtwaist house. ..a Kansas City specialty, masonry below the belt and stucco or wood above."

   http://www.kcpl.lib.mo.us/localhistory/media.cfm?mediaID=97842

   You might want see if your library can get a copy of that.

   I would assume that there are other resources on these, but google shows mostly articles dressmakers and the Shirtwaist Triangle fire.