Federal Style Roof Exterior Balustrades

Windows arranged symmetrically around a center doorway.

Federal style roof exterior balustrades.

Roofs were clad too in wood shingles or even metal. 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. 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. Graceful details distinguish federal homes from the pragmatic georgian colonial style.

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. Modernistic photo by terry healy. Low pitched roof or flat roof with a balustrade. Roof balustrades after 1750 centered front gable pediment or shallow projecting central gable after 1750.

Jefferson balusters are available in standard residential and extended stair heights and are also available as half balusters. The federal style in american architecture. The roof might be straight sided convex or concave and broken by dormers. This new federal style became associated with america s evolving national identity.

It was a new world. 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. The typical form of original federal houses is a simple box shape usually two or three rooms deep with a symmetrical arrangement of doors and windows predominately. Decorative iron roof cresting goes hand in hand with the style.

The style also grew out of frank lloyd wright s work in the prairie style at the turn of the 20th century. The federal style is often. 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. American federal houses have many of these features.

These houses often had slate roofs which might be ornamented with multi color slates arranged in patterns. 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.