Overall page navigation start option: INTRODUCTION: What is the Historic Character? STEP ONE: Identify the building's overall visual aspects STEP TWO: Identify the close range visual aspects STEP THREE: Identify the interior visual aspects Introduction to Identify the Historic Character QUIZ
A distance learning site by Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service
TRIM AND SECONDARY FEATURES: Look at the Building from a Distance
This is an image of a house with a gable roof, dormers and a wraparound porch, making it similar to many other houses of the period. But it is the wooden trim on the eaves and around the porch that gives this building its special visual character. Photo: NPS files.
Look at the Building's Shape Shape
Look at the Building's Roof + Roof Features Roof + Roof Features
Look at the Building's Openings Openings
Look at the Building's Projections + Recesses
 Projections + Recesses
Look at the Building's Exterior Materials Exterior Materials
Trim + Secondary Features
Look at the Building's Site Building Site
Visual Character Check List checklist
Walk Through Historic Buildings

ASK
Does the trim play an important role in defining the character of this house? Yes.

LOOK + IDENTIFY
First, you can see that the house has a gable roof with dormers and a wraparound porch, making it similar to many other houses of the period. But it is the wooden trim on the eaves and around the porch that gives this building its special visual character.

WHAT IF THE TRIM IS ALTERED?
Removing or altering this trim would seriously damage the overall visual character of the building and would also obliterate the unique craftsmanship of the moldings, carvings, and the see-through jigsaw work.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Preserve character-defining trim and secondary features in the process of rehabilitating a historic building for a continuing or new use !
Identifying Visual Character HOME
Identifying Visual Character