Thread: bungalow 1920's stair works in progress

a faraway mythical place whose capital is thought to be La La Land

Originally Posted by pawnhead

I built a deck for a dude with two small kids about 7 years ago and he refused to have any TP used. I believe most councils won't install TP playground equipment anymore, and some are ripping out existing structures:

I am not a fan of treatment either, in fact, I would avoid it if possible by using more durable timbers. I can’t understand Aaron’s reason for using hoop since it’s only expected to be durable for a maximum of 7 years or so. Even with very careful painting and sealing (and sometimes because of it) rot spots will turn up. Possibly hoop was used on colonial period buildings in exterior applications in Brisbane. But I doubt much was being used by federation and during the interwar period when this house was built.

Originally Posted by seriph1

PS .... so what if it reflects elements of American Bungalows? that's where we knocked our ideas off from anyway, except most builders pared away their exceptional details until we were left with homes that bore very little resemblance to their spectacular US inspiration. That's my sermon and I'm sticking to it!

As we’ve seen with the responses here, when the word bungalow is used, most people think only of the Californian bungalow. And while what you say Seriph, is true to a point, it is not the sole region that gave rise to derivative architecture in Australia and Queensland. Indeed, the style originated in India, where the common feature was the roof sloping continuously in one run to the verandah edge with no intervening step or gutter (gables may be included) – the Bungalow roof. So, the bungalow term, does not refer only to houses that trace a pedigree to America.

Eg http://www.imagesofasia.com/html/india/bungalow.html

I mean only to be a stickler in so much as Aaron also clearly is aiming to be true to a particular period – and a noble cause it is too. But I would contend that whether or not it is a derivative of an American style, it is a unique Queensland style, which almost certainly did not have such an extravagant styling in the austere 1920’s (but if you know the history of the house Aaron, please correct me) It probably originally had a hardwood landing possibly with vertical balusters or a simple square section midrail, possibly pyramid tops on posts or with the toprail on top of the post. This original style is worth preserving – we are losing too much of it. I believe if you want to be a purist you must be true to both the materials of the period and also the form of the period.

Cheers
Michael

I agree somewhat with Mic- d here. The styling of the work seems out of place for a queenslander of that style and period and while the craftsmanship looks superb I also think the use of Hoop pine untreated may prove to be erroneous.

Hoop pine was used for exterior trims and brackets as well as cladding and decking, but it was OLD growth Hoop - full of terebrazine resin that would kill white ants and other timber eating pests - but all the old growth Hoop was cut out by 1900 or so. The outer 30 - 40 cm of the log was used for VJ and cabinet work and the central darker wood was what they used for exterior applications. Old growth Hoop is COMPLETELY different stuff to new plantation Hoop and if you get a chance try and find some in demo yards and work with it. Unbelieveable stuff! But be careful the dust is poisonous.

Hoop pine styling pieces in exterior situations were used until about 1930's but they were always assembled "creamed". Several proprietory brands of Cream were available but the basic recipe was beeswax,parafin wax, gum turps and Lanolin paste. this cream was smeared into joints and horizontal surfaces and eased fitting but also preserved the timber from any moisture and sun damage for several decades if a few follow up applications were made. This same recipe can be used today for a very superior decking finish. Unfortuneately it cannot be painted over.

I would be curious to see what condition the work is in 5 years down the track.

Doog

Queenslanders

Hi Steve, yep they are ""grand queenslanders" from federation period 1880 - 1910 ish. There would be lots of hoop pine originally in the ornamentation. There are a few nasty add ons in a couple of them - eg the tiled turret rooves and wrought iron work ( which was the premade bunnings-off-the-shelf look of its day)- one of them looks like a place I did up LOL. the place with the green car - Upper Lancaster st Ascot???

Originally Posted by seriph1

Queenslanders

As doogie said Grand Queenslanders - some have been bastardised. Here is a link with a crossection of styles. Note the bungalow form up here does not necessarily refer to architecture of an American derivation.
http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/qldhouse/styles.asp

Cheers
Michael