Photo courtesy Big Dave Diode, Flickr

10 Tips for Finding Clues to Your Home’s History

Is the outside of the house all one architectural style, or are there a couple of different styles visible? More than one architectural style may signal a later addition to the original structure.

1. Inspect the exterior.

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If the inside of the house has a section in a different architectural style and the outside does not, that suggests a major remodeling in one area, but perhaps not an addition.

2. Match up the interior to the exterior.

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Are the exterior walls all made of the same thing? Or are they different? Any differences -- even subtle ones like larger or smaller clapboards -- could indicate an addition to the house.

Tip: This might not apply if you bought a Queen Anne-style house, as they are known for incorporating many different materials.

3. Know your materials.

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Is the layout of the house consistent with its style? For example, if your Georgian house -- which should have a symmetrical floor plan -- is asymmetrical, that would imply a significant alteration.

4. Examine the floor plan.

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Are the walls uniform, or are there thinner or thicker areas that could show a door or window has been filled in? What about the floors? Do the boards all run the same direction within a room? Are they the same size throughout? Inconsistent walls and/or floors can hint at an earlier design.

5. Check out the walls and flooring.

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Are there changes in ceiling height? This could demonstrate several different things: that a wall has been removed, an addition built, or mechanical systems added.

6. Look up.

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Clues about old paint colors and/or wallpaper are often lurking behind molding and switch plates, which can suggest both the earlier look of a room and what its original use was.

7. Peek behind molding and switch plates.

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A change in baseboard trim, window/door frame styles, or other altered embellishments can lead you to either an addition or a thorough remodeling.

8. Investigate interior trim.

Photo courtesy Steve Snodgrass, Flickr

Or, more specifically, on their property. Are their walls and fences identical to yours? This could reveal that a larger property -- perhaps yours, if your house is the oldest -- was sub-divided for development.

9. Spy on your neighbors.

Photo courtesy thelehegarets, Flickr

Are there changes in grass color, depressions in the ground, or other markers indicating a lost wing of the house or an outbuilding? Is there any abandoned, overgrown, or clearly removed foliage? This could help you locate a garden or orchard.

10. Scour your yard for clues.

Photo courtesy Wouter Kiel, Flickr

Ten on Tuesday features ten preservation tips each week. For more tips, visit blog.PreservationNation.org.