Although you may be hiring a custom homebuilder to construct the home of your dreams, it is probable that your basic blueprint will follow one of a certain kind of housing type. During the planning phase, you may hear your custom home contractor and your architect throwing around a number of these terms and it helps to understand the common features of these basic housing types. This is a short guide to some of these professional terms.
Ranch House
These long, low-lying houses are one of the most popular home styles in the United States today. The traditional ranch is a one-story affair reminiscent of the originals built in the Old West. A raised ranch features a second story but is still a relatively low-lying affair.
Cape Cod Style
This compact home style is usually one or one and a half stories high and is characterized by its steeply pitched roof. The front doorway is usually located in the center of the construction and reached by way of a small set of steps.
Georgian
This style of home is very popular in the New England area and is usually characterized by its very formal and somewhat ornate appearance. A Georgian style home is at least two stories high, is usually constructed from brick and has columns at either side of the entryway.
Victorian/Queen Anne
Fashioned after homes built in Britain, these are usually two story frame homes that feature higher than normal ceilings and rather oversize rooms. Most Victorian style homes feature at least a front porch and many feature a porch that wraps around the entire house.
Saltbox House
A saltbox home is a classic reinterpretation of Colonial era architecture. A saltbox will feature two stories at the front of the home and just a single story at the back. The saltbox was designed originally to help homeowners get around a tax imposed by Queen Anne on homes that were more than one story, because since technically the roof descended at the back to a single story height such a dwelling was considered exempt from extra taxation.
Chalet Home
As the name suggests, a chalet home is very reminiscent of the homes found in snow covered mountain ski resorts. However, over recent decades the chalet has moved into the sun and is now a hugely popular style for vacation homes all over the country.
These are just a few of the housing types that your custom home builder may discuss with you when the basic blueprints for your new home are being drawn up. Of course, the beauty of investing in a true custom made home is that it can be built according to your unique vision, but understanding basic architectural forms should give you a starting point that can be expanded as far as your imagination and your budget can take you.
