Cape Cod
A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single-story frame building with a moderately steep pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation. Originating in New England in the 17th century, the simple symmetrical design was constructed of local materials to withstand the st…
What makes a house a Cape Cod style?
A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single or double-story frame building with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.
What is the difference between a Cape Cod and Cape Ann style home?
A rectangular house, commonly one or one and a half stories high, that is similar to a Cape Cod house, but has a shingled mansard roof rather than a shingled gable roof.
What is the difference between a Cape Cod and a colonial house?
The roof says it all when it comes to Cape Cod and Dutch Colonial houses. The Cape Cod house has a gabled roof, which means the roof has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. In the case of the Dutch Colonial house, the roof has a gambrel roof: There are two sides and each side has two slopes.
What is a Cape Cod floor plan?
Cape Cod House Plans Cape Cod style floor plans feature all the characteristics of the quintessential American home design: symmetry, large central chimneys that warm these homes during cold East Coast winters, and low, moderately-pitched roofs that complete this classic home style.
Why are Cape Cod houses so popular?
Cape Cods are a manageable size, efficient to heat, and conducive to additions. The reasons behind their popularity haven't changed since their humble origins in the 17th century, where they were born in—you guessed it—Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
What style are most new construction homes?
Popular Architectural Styles for New Home ConstructionGeorgian. ... Mid Century Modern. ... Scandinavian. ... Tudor. ... Cape Cod. ... Modern Rustic. ... Contemporary.
What is the most common feature in a Cape Cod home?
What are Cape Cod style homes? Cape Cod style homes are traditionally single story homes with a low and broad rectangular profile, a central chimney, and a pitched, side-gabled roof. In later years, dormers or second stories were often added to Cape Cod homes, though other primary features were maintained.
Do colonial style houses have basements?
Most colonial style homes have a basement, and if unfinished it is an excellent way to later improve the value of the home. Colonial homes can have lots of square footage, but it is usually broken into distinct rooms, in contrast to a "great room" west coast style home.
Is it cheaper to build a ranch or Cape Cod?
That being said, ranches typically cost more than Cape Cods per square foot, per Craftsman Custom Homebuilders. This is because ranch-style homes require the same amount of roofing for less living space.
How much does it cost to build a Cape Cod style house?
Cape Cod. The average cost to build a Cape Cod home in California is around $350 to $500 per square foot.
What is a 3/4 Cape Cod house?
Three-quarter Cape This home features the front door to one side of the home with two multi-paned windows on one side and one multi-paned window on the other. It was the most popular style of Cape in the 18th and early-19th centuries.
Is a cape considered 2 stories?
A Cape Cod is a rectangular-shaped two-story home with a symmetrical floor plan and a center entry hallway. The ground floor consists of four major rooms on the first floor, with a bathroom.
Do Cape Cod houses always have dormers?
What are Cape Cod style homes? Cape Cod style homes are traditionally single story homes with a low and broad rectangular profile, a central chimney, and a pitched, side-gabled roof. In later years, dormers or second stories were often added to Cape Cod homes, though other primary features were maintained.
Why are Cape Cod houses called Cape Cod?
The term “Cape Cod house” wasn't given to these cottages until the 1800s. The Reverend Timothy Dwight IV, President of Yale University, named them after a visit to Cape Cod. His observations from his visit were published posthumously in “Travels in New England and New York” (1821-22).
Are Cape Cod houses small?
Cape Cod architecture is one of the most instantly recognizable home styles in the U.S. At its core, an original Cape Cod house is a small, rectangular, unadorned one to one-and-a-half-story cottage with a steep pitched roof to keep snow from piling up and side gables.
What is a Cape Cod ranch?
Characterized by a symmetrical facade, rectangular footprint, wood shingles and a steep but low roof, Cape Cod homes represent a genuinely American design that has stood the test of time, from the colonial era of New England to the modern day.
What is the floor of a Cape Cod house?
Cape Cod homes have an unfinished or partially opened crawl space underneath the house, more commonly lined with stone, brick or brick veneer, as specified.
What is Cape Cod style?
Defining the authentic English style of architecture, these homes became native to New England’s harsh winters. The Cape Cod Houses are designed around a large, open living plan with a symmetrical patterned design.
Why do Cape Cod houses have steep roofs?
The exterior steep roofs are symbolic of a typical cape cod house that is designed solely for the purpose of minimizing the weight of the snow. See more types of roofs here. Meanwhile, in the interiors, the low-heightened ceilings and bold shutters account for heat conservation and blocking of harsh winter winds.
What kind of flooring is used in Cape Cod?
Unzipping through the interiors, hardwood flooring is a must specification in the Cape Cod homes. While choosing a color palette, it is always a smart move to go for a chic, subtle design shade that lets the light bounce away while making enough room for you to relax.
What is house plan?
With a house plan one receives the floor plan layout, roof and floor foundation plan, elevations, wall sections and electrical and general notes. With this information you can hire a contractor in your area to build the design.
Do you need dormers on Cape Cod?
Meanwhile, if there is a bedroom on the upper floor , adding dormers for natural lighting is a good way to enhance the charming beauty of a Cape Cod house .
Do Cape Cod homes have dormers?
Meanwhile, the bedrooms are low-height, supplemented with a dormer or a gable window projecting out of the façade to let it ample of natural light. Some of the Cape Cod homes are also large enough to accommodate garages and extended master bedrooms and baths for a larger family.
Why are Cape Cod houses so small?
Cape Cod style homes have small roofs: since capes are shaped like a basic box, their roofs are small in size and in a simple shape. This makes their roof easy and cheap to replace, thus saving you money in the long run. Furthermore, the Cape Cod roofs are sloped to allow snow or ice to slide off in winter. This means you won’t have to worry about your roof collapsing or leaking because of the heavy snow.
How many bedrooms are there in a Cape Cod home?
Lots of rooms in a compact space: the second floor of a Cape Cod home boasts a lot of living into a compact space. Some Capes have up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in just a 1000-square foot home. This makes them an excellent (and affordable) starter family home.
Why is the heat in my Cape Cod home uneven?
Uneven heat distribution: this is another area of concern for homeowners. Since most heating systems for Cape Cod homes consist of the cheap oil-burning systems, insulation was an afterthought. Almost all capes faced uneven heat distribution as this issue wasn’t addressed during their construction. The chances of upstairs being frigid cold in winter are high as most capes didn’t have hot water pipes running through the walls upstairs. The hot water pipes were often installed in the cavity wall space outside the attic insulation, thus resulting in heat loss.
How wide is a Cape Cod home?
But this isn’t a bad thing as it creates a warm and cozy atmosphere that’s highly appreciated by first-time buyers and veterans. A typical Cape Cod home is 24, 26, or 28 feet from the front to the back, which is a modest size for the average American family. The width of these homes is usually 32, 36, or 40 feet.
Why is it so hard to cool a Cape Cod house?
This is because heat passes through the attic space and into the upper story of the house so upstairs tends to get very hot. One air conditioner alone can’t keep the entire house cool, which means you’ll have to install an additional window AC unit upstairs in order to keep that part of the house cool. Keep in mind that air cons don’t look very appealing from the outside, hence the reason many homeowners are reluctant to install them. As an alternative to a window AC unit, portable air cons make a better option.
What are the distinctive features of Cape Cod?
Dormers : these are the distinctive features of the Cape Cod design. Most capes have paired dormers that protrude from the roof. Although the original capes weren’t built with dormers, these windows were added during the 1920s. Dormers are almost always included now in the original building plan of Cape Cod homes as must-have features.
What is the most popular house design in 2020?
July 28, 2020. One of the most beloved home architectural designs in the US is the Cape Cod style house. You may have seen hundreds of Cape Cod homes dotted around seaside towns of New England and Massachusetts. The style is a very simple one; a rectangular shaped house with gable pitched roof. Cape Cod homes rarely have decorative features ...
Characteristics of a Cape Cod Style House
1. Symmetrical geometry with a centered front entrance 2. Wood shingle sidings 3. Wooden Frame 4. Pilasters 5. Gabled dormers 6. Steep roofs with side gables and an overhang 7. Double-hung windows with shutters 8. Massive Centralized chimneys 9. Simple exterior ornamentation and moldings
Cape Cod Style House Designs
Despite the common characteristic of a central door with two parallel aligned windows, these Cape Cod style homes vary in designs and features that mix-match and complement each other. About the scale and proportion, these homes range from plain square or rectangular structures to massive abodes.
What is Cape Cod style?
Cape Cod style homes have been around for a long time, morphing from simple and practical to charming to sleek and modern. If you want your life to feel like an old movie, here’s everything you need to know about Cape Cod style houses so you can begin your search for one.
Why do Cape Cod homes have wings?
It was common to add wings to the basic square frame, either on the sides or the back, to accommodate space for modern amenities like garages and large dining areas.
What is a second story Cape Cod?
When there is a second story on a Cape Cod home, it’s more like an attic room than a full story with all kinds of nooks and crannies stuffed tight under the eaves. Building your own beds, shelving and other storage can help you use the space to it’s fullest.
Why do you add dormers to a Cape Cod home?
If a Cape had an attic bedroom, dormers might be added to provide more space and light to the second story. You might even find a porch on the front or back of a modern Cape Cod. All additions increased the living space of the home but by no means took away it’s charm.
How to bring Cape Cod up to date?
Looking for a quick fix to bring your Cape Cod up to date? Look overhead. Change the builder grade lighting for something new and exciting. A good piece of statement lighting will give you new eyes to see your space and what changes can be made on a dime.
What type of houses did the rich and famous live in?
The rich and famous lived in sunny Mediterranean-style houses . The poor somehow made road living look charming. The middle class were the most charming of all, living out the plot in their Cape Cod style houses. These houses gave the impression of idyllic living with their white picket fences and rose strewn flowerbeds.
Where did the Cape Cod style come from?
The Cape Cod architecture style was brought to America from England by Puritan carpenters. The harsh climates to contend with, it was imperative that building choices were easy and durable. Homes were built with the available wood in the area, usually oak or pine, and covered in cedar shingles or clapboard. The basic square shape usually held one story and maybe a couple bedrooms hidden under the eaves. Low ceilings and a large central chimney indoors provided the warmth that the residents needed during harsh winters and shutters were added to protect windows from the elements. So where did the name “Cape Cod” come from? We can thank Reverend Timothy Dwight IV for that, coining the phrase during a his visit to the Cape in 1800.