Challenge

Georgian style homes are a pretty common architectural style in the NJ and PA areas. Among all of them, however, are pretty consistent characteristics.

Stemming from more classical features of ancient Greece and Rome, Georgian homes maintain a sense of symmetry, embellishment, and a hint of geometry to merge into a home that’s truly evolved over the past few hundred years. Starting from early, rectangular box-like homes to larger, elaborate homes, we see some consistency in the styles and choices in design.

Choosing Replacement Siding for Your Georgian Home

The siding choices back in the day were typically brick and stone. Today, you’ll see authentic-looking Georgian homes featuring stucco, brick, stone, vinyl, fiber cement, really just about anything. There so much diversity in Georgian homes today, regardless of which material you use, it will look authentic.

My suggestion would be to consider a James Hardie fiber cement plank installation. Not only because of the range of styles and colors you have but because of the performance. You see, wood and vinyl have the tendency to warp and need constant maintenance when facing the environment, whether it be winters, summers, or just excess moisture. Fiber cement is durable and water-resistant, so you can avoid most of the problems caused by these other materials. Plus, fiber cement will help aid in maintaining stable interior temperatures, so you’ll save on your energy bills.

Choosing Replacement Windows for Your Georgian Home

Really the most common type of window style across the board is just a single or double hung window. Keep in mind the symmetry in this style, so looking at a Georgian home head-on, expect to see a row of windows on the first and second floor of any number of windows. I’ve seen homes with anywhere from 3 to 8 per row, one on top of the other. You can also expect to see several panes in the window, this can be achieved through grilles or simulated divided lites.

When choosing windows for your Georgian home, I’d suggest going for a Marvin Infinity window replacement. First of all, they offer a wide variety of options, including single and double hung windows and casement windows that could work really well for what you’re aiming for. I recommend Marvin because of their superior frames and glass. They use fiberglass frames which are more durable than wood or vinyl, so you won’t develop any drafts from your wood or vinyl expanding or contracting, and since they’re stronger, they can allow for a thinner profile and more glass space.

I mentioned earlier using single and double hung windows but also trying casement windows. Either would look amazing with your home, but if you’re looking to increase ventilation or security, casement might be a better choice for you. This doesn’t

Choosing a Roof for Your Georgian Home

You’ll see a couple roof styles in Georgian architecture, but for the most part, it’s between a side-gabled roof, the occasional front gable roof, gambrel roofs, and you’ll also see hipped roofs with no gables. When looking at material type, it’s not uncommon to see tile, shingles, shakes, etc. The choice is really up to you and what your priorities are (cost, durability, look, etc.)

My recommendation would be a metal roof. The great thing is you can go with a classic steel slate, shake, tile or shingle. You could also go with a contemporary standing seam metal roof installation. This option gives your authentic home a modern twist. But regardless on the type of metal roof you choose, you’ll get all of the benefits. This means your roof will last a lifetime, you won’t have to spend time and money maintaining it like with your other options, and they’re much more energy resistant, bouncing heat back to its source.

Solution

Georgian homes have really evolved over time and even continue to change and adapt with the times. As Georgian homes started adding embellishments and artistic aspects, the essence of these homes really changed. Today, you see a massive variety of styles, looks, and material choices, all providing their own identity for each home.

To get started on your Georgian home, click here.