Replies

1. 
   JerBear | Jul 17, 2005 01:58pm | #1

   Sounds like it is what you say.  Stucco.

1. 
   ruffmike | Jul 17, 2005 07:16pm | #2

   Yes I suppose it is stucco. Just wasn't sure if stucco was around back then.

2. 
   james | Jul 17, 2005 07:50pm | #3

   Mike

    

   Exterior castings on victorians here in northern california are generally plaster.

   The plaster was saturated with linseed oil to help it weather then after drying it was painted.

    

   james 

1. 
   ruffmike | Jul 17, 2005 08:07pm | #4

   Thank you for the reply. I always felt it looked more like plaster than stucco.

    It is usually a real rough "texture" to give the gable a unique look.

    I am not talking about running molds or cast ornate brackets, ect.

    So I am wondering what material would be best today? try to duplicate old methods?

1. 
   james | Jul 17, 2005 09:05pm | #5

   Mike,

    

   Some of the more " modern " materials i have seen used to replicate period details would be plastics and poly foam.

    

   The rough textrue you are describing may have been a portalnd stucco, I have seen that used over the stacked brick foundations and struck to mimic larger stone blocks.

    

   james

3. 
   firedude | Jul 17, 2005 11:16pm | #6

   sounds like you might have terracota (spelling?) - similar to stucco but usually "cast" in a mold - and then applied - can sometimes find handprints on the back from where it was pushed into the mold