Masonry Piers

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AKA: ~

Location: Lewes, Delaware

Additional Information: These 5 masonry piers and the 2 connected to the foundation wall are designed to support a girder that will be a primary structural element in the floor system. The close proximity of the piers to one another also hints that they are intended to support structure beyond the first floor.

The fact that the piers are built to the same height as the foundation tells us that the beam they support will be within the floor system and require joists to be connected to it by joist hangers. This will also allow any load bearing walls to be built directly on the girder. 

Relative Link: ~

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Wooden Corbels

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AKA: ~

Location:  Milton, Delaware

Additional Information:  Special thanks to Rob at Concord Carpenter Comments for helping me to identify this element.

Relative Link:  Custom Corbels

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Pedimented Dormer

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AKA: ~

Location:  Lewes, Delaware

Additional Information:  Pedimented dormers can contain many or all the elements of a classical pediment. That is, a gable with raked cornices on either side which is joined by a horizontal cornice. The horizontal here is broken in the middle with a bare tympanum above. Decorative moldings on either side of the pointed arch, double hung window emulate columns.

Relative Link: Pediment

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Paired Gables

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.AKA: ~

Location: Milton, Delaware

Additional Information:  A house with two identical cross gables is said to have paired gables.

Relative Link: ~

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Valley

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AKA: ~

Location: Bethany Beach, Delaware

Additional Information:  A Valley occurs at an inside corner where 2 roofs meet. Much of the water shed from a roof will end up in its valley's so their proper flashing is imperative.

Relative Link: Roof Valley Flashing Details

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Clipped Gable

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AKA: Jerkinhead, Shreadhead, Truncated Gable, Hipped Gable, Snub-Nosed Gable, Half-Hip, Barn Hip

Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Additional Information: The clipped gable helps to reduce uplift from wind at the peak where the force is greatest.

Keeping with a theme of wind awareness, the shingles on our example home appear to be Hatteras brand.

Relative Link: ~

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Widow's Walk

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AKA: ~

Location: Dewey Beach, Delaware

Additional Information: The Widows Walk is one part legend and one part architectural element. In the mythos of Americana the Widows Walk is portrayed as primarily a lookout for the families of sailors hoping to catch a glimpse of their loved one's vessel as it returned from sea. Seldom, however, is any aspect of a home so narrowly focused and thus, the railed platforms likely were also utilized as a perch for simpler sightseeing and for maintenance to a buildings uppermost parts. 

Relative Link: Suzanne Vega "Widow's Walk"

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Hipped Dormer

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AKA: Roof Dormer

Location: Delaware Seashore State Park

Additional Information: Built up directly from the roof deck, roof dormers require extra framing to carry their weight.

Relative Link: Carpentry & Building Construction: A Do-It-Yourself Guide

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Union Jack Balustrade

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AKA: ~

Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Additional Information: A Balustrade is an entire railing system including the top rail, balusters and sometimes a bottom rail.

Relative Link: How to draw the Union Jack — accurately

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"Through the Cornice" Gable Dormer

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AKA:  Wall Dormer

Location: Lewes, Delaware

Additional Information:  The face of a "Through the Cornice" dormer is in line with the wall of the building below.

Relative Link: ~

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Nantucket Dormer

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AKA: ~

Location: Seaford, Delaware

Additional Information: A Nantucket Dormer is a hybrid comprised of two gable or doghouse dormers joined in the middle by a shed dormer. Our photo shows the most obvious example with the face of all three dormers being on the same plane. Often the shed dormer will be set back a bit to give the gables their full shape. Nantucket dormers combine the visual interest of gable dormers with the spatial value brought about by the shed.

In instances where the gable dormers are large and/or close together the shed dormer in between can become virtually invisible.

Relative Link:  Framing Roofs

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"Through the Cornice" Shed Dormer

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AKA: Wall Dormer

Location: Lewes, Delaware

Additional Information: The face of a "Through the Cornice" dormer is in line with the wall of the building below.

Relative Link: Dormers heighten style

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"Through the Cornice" Hipped Dormer

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AKA: Wall Dormer

Location: Lewes, Delaware

Additional Information: The face of a "Through the Cornice" dormer is in line with the wall of the building below. In our example the lower edge of the decorated frieze board is parallel with the sill of the window.

Relative Link: Roof Alterations - Dormers

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Belfry

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AKA: Bell Tower

Location: Lewes Delaware

Additional Information: ~

Relative Link: Bats in the belfry

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