Unchartered territory... how old is this place?

[Steve and Bia]

I just ran accross this place. Anyone want to guess how old it is?


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[bunn leonard]

Yeah im a carpenter, if the siding is cedar or cyprus it could date back to the late 1800s I see know chimmney or flue.ITs hard to see the foundation in the photos and looking at the roof Id say 1920 1930 somewhere inbetween thats my guess am I wrong? also the stair treads.

 

[5forksva]

I'm no expert but some old structures I have seen can give you an idea by the type of nails used. Nails of the ealy 1800's were square shanked "cut" nails. The earlier ones were made one at a time by blacksmiths. They are distinctive in their irregular head which was hammered or "peen-ed" some times called "rose head nails". I believe the first machine made nails with oval heads and square shanks(all made uniformly) first made in the late 1850's. The siding could have been replaced over the years so look to the interior of the structure for nail types; door frames, window frames,flooring and such. Early structures used pegs to connect mortised joints in lieu of nails as nails were said to be very expensive. I was told when early houses would burn, people would salvage the nails from the ashes for reuse due to their expensive. Hope this helps, right or wrong, these are what I use to ball park a house site age.

Good luck and HH!

5forksva

 

[bunn leonard]

Well you can also check the walls lath and plaster? I think you know how old this place is.

 

[Steve and Bia]

I will certainly work with it. Thanks a lot for your time explaining that.

-Steve

 

[manganos]

Interesting thread. Hey five forks. Sorry I had to bail off the phone last night. You know some people can't drive. Give me a shout if you want to go out detecting tomorrow (sunday). Chris Mangano