help with retudorfying my house one step at a time

9 years ago

My front steps have succumb to the coldest February on record in ct. I have never liked my concrete steps so I am looking forward to replacing them but am stumped as to what I want to do.

We will be residing our home in the near future, after an extension is completed and I hope to retudorfy it at that time. The house is a 1928 small tudor whose exterior was re muddled by the previous owner who added the colonial vinyl columns by the vestibule. Under the vinyl are cedar shakes which I hope to restore or replace after construction next spring.

So I need to replace the concrete steps now for they are collapsing . I would love brick that might work with my prominent front chimney but not sure if I can work them in so close to the original brick. My fondation is concrete. My neighbors 20s dutch colonial has lovey built in side benches on their stoop would something like that be unacceptable for my architecture? This is my house.

Here is a built in bench like my neighbors but we both have open not covered front steps.

Featured Answer

lisaam

9 years ago

1st photo of blue stone steps (the one w/ the set-in doorway) is beautiful. If you choose a rounded design, try and plan it to be rather wide, because a narrow top platform--say just wider than the door) can be uncomfortable. Make sure to stay away from soapstone which can be slippery outdoors.

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Comments (16)

User
9 years ago
Oh, I LOVE your house! I think I'd be leery of using brick on front steps if you don't have to. Over time, the grout can crumble, the bricks can break, become uneven…I think I'd consider something that is a solid piece - granite, for example - that is cemented in. Like this, granite slabs…
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jlc712
9 years ago
I can't really see using built-in benches on the front stoop, unless you extended the gable of the roof out to make a covered porch and recessed front door. That would look nice with a masonry surround opening at the top of the steps.

As far as replacing the steps, here's a couple examples:

Windsor Companies · More Info

Modern Tudor · More Info

Remodeling in Roseland · More Info

I especially like the bluestone slabs and the rounded shape of the steps in the first pic.
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daisychain01
9 years ago
My inlaws had a tudor and I loved their brick front steps, but they did crumble and fail (after many years). They replaced with roman pavers and, to me, it just looked okay - not special like it had before.

I love the combo of bluestone and brick like jlc posted above. I wonder if you could do a base of bricks with bluestone treads.

Why do you want the bench? You like the look? It would be useful? If it's just for the look, I'm sure we can come up with other appropriate ideas for your home. If it's a use thing, we can probably help with that too.

I really only opened this thread because I love word, "retudorfy". Glad I did so i could see your house. It is beautiful! I hope we get to see the changes you make.
roarah thanked daisychain01
palimpsest
9 years ago
Are you adding a roof over the stoop?

Do you think your house originally had any faux half-timbering?

I would classify your house more as "Storybook" or "Romantic" than pure "Tudor" although there are a lot of similarities.
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emmarene9
9 years ago
That is funny because I thought it was more American Gothic than Tudor.

It does not look like you have a large enough stoop for a bench. Are you going to make the new stoop wider?
roarah thanked emmarene9
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here's a second for the romantic or storybook cottage appellation; otherwise you'd have to replace the shingles with some kind of hardcoat stucco to simulate Tudor and that would be a shame!

We don't have a Tudor style but we do have brick steps. The first set from 1991 were actually ALL brick and not attached to the foundation except with mortar and they eventually started to separate from the house. Those were straight across steps, very no nonsense. When we had the front remodeled and put in a portico, the new steps were concrete, poured in forms in place, with rebar joining them to the house----and then they were bricked over. They are a half round shape now, following the roof line of the portico, and look gracious and welcoming.

So, perhaps you could do concrete steps that are bricked over? There are plenty of other nice designs and materials for steps, but there is no substitute for that brick, half round look, IMO.
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roarah
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you all for suggestions! I really like the rounded steps and think they might help soften all the harsh lines of my house.

Tibbrix and Kswl, my contractor mentioned a concrete base with a stone or brick facade and I am researching that idea this week so am grateful for the picture and very happy to hear you are happy with your steps Kswl.

Pal, I would love a rounded roof above the steps but with my vestibule I worry it might look too "roofy". My neighbors have open steps with side benches that I like just not sure if appropriate for my home. I would most certainly widen the steps by 20inches each side, to match the width of my vestibule if I did benches.

As far as what my house style is, I called it a tudor for that is what my town records have it under. My architect says the pitch of the gables and the prominent front facing brick chimney feature could classify it as such but it is most certainly a hybrid of many styles :(.

Here is a natural cedar shingle house in my style that I like as inspiration. It has the rounded front roof over the steps. I am within a quick walk to the beach but have no water views so not sure if this is too coastal looking for my house.
all that jazz - the exterior · More Info
User
9 years ago
Really pretty. love cedar shingles, and they're a smart practical decision as well.

Rounded steps make me very nervous unless they can be pretty wide with a slow and subtle arc, as lisaam pointed out as well, like the first pic jlc put up. Personally, I think they're unsafe, esp. if narrow and with a sharp arc. Something to think about.
roarah thanked User
roarah
Original Author
9 years ago
I think I need to apologize to the previous owners, the molding surrounding my door is actually fitting to my house style after all. I found these 1932 plans for a similar house and it featured the same style door frame.
all that jazz - the exterior · More Info
robo (z6a)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
As in jlc's photos, one charming detail similar houses in my region have is an arch-topped front door (often with a round porthole window in the door). I love it so much!

I know this isn't quite right, but I like the larger stoop on this house in my parents' town and I can see how it could have a built in bench even without a porch. Shutter purists will have to ignore the shutters to the right.
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Nothing Left to Say
9 years ago
Our house is classified as French Norman Revival. But it has a lot in common with Storybook houses. And the interior is more Moroccan or Spanish in feel. This is very common with the houses in our neighborhood--various revival styles but many with mixed elements and a lot of overlap with Storybook. I think looking at the houses around you will give you lots of great ideas and more of a feeling for what was original and what was changed. Any chance you have some neighbors who have been around for awhile and might be able to tell you more about your house?

I love the rounded entry way steps.and I vote for making them and the stoop as wide as feasible. It just looks so much more welcoming to me.
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User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
As part of your remodel I would definitely ditch the colonial pediment over the window, regardless of whether the house plans in 1932 called for it or not. They made hybridization mistakes back then, too :-)

Rounded steps are not any more or less dangerous than any other. We've had them in several houses. As with all steps, good lighting at night is essential for safety.
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emmarene9
9 years ago
I wondered about the presence of the broken pediment over the door. It seems out of place but if this were my house I would never have the heart to remove it.

Add another picture facing the door/stoop directly. Maybe someone will photshop a new sized stoop for you.
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LynnNM
9 years ago
I don't have any ideas at the moment, but wanted to tell you how pretty your home is.
bpath
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, roarah, believe it or not I know that inspiration home with the cedar siding and barrel over the front door. It was my favorite house in the neighborhood when I was growing up--the side covered terrrace with a moon in the trellis, what's not to love? so glad it's your inspiration! It was white, back then. The natural siding is fairly recent (that is, last 20 years or so) and the broken pediment was original. The barrel is part of the remodel (I think it included an addition in back and enclosing part of the side porch) Don't worry about it being too coastal, that house is about 8 miles from a beach, and a Great Lake beach at that. I wish I could remember what the front stoop looked like, but I never got closer that for trick-or-treating, I was NOT paying attention to decor lol but I'm pretty sure they were just concrete.