Tudor Houses: A New Take On A Historical Design

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of those storybook houses you saw in your childhood? While it’s hard to recreate brick by brick, it is possible to get a similar vibe in Tudor homes. These magical pieces of architecture have everything you would need to fulfill the feeling of living in a fairytale.

Tudor homes have a rich history. Let’s dive into their origin, how they’ve evolved and if they could make the ideal home for you.

What Is A Tudor House?

This type of home can range in size from cottage to manor, but is mostly recognized by its half-timbered exterior and latticed windows. A typical Tudor house’s exterior will always have these features, leaving its appearance to have an overall color palette of brown and white from the exposed wood and brick contrasting the white of the plaster siding.

Tudor homes often have many distinguishable features in the interior as well; such as accents of dark wood ceiling beams and paneling. The intention of the interior style was to match its exterior, leaving homeowners immersed in the feel of this distinctly English style.

History Of Tudor-Style Houses

These homes gained their name by the period in which the style started to become popular. The Tudor period lasted a short amount of time in the late 15th and early 16th centuries when the Tudor family reigned over the United Kingdom. The original British design combined the vertical lines of Perpendicular Gothic architecture with the decorative embellishments of the Renaissance style.  

Popularized in the United States in the late 19th century through the early 20th century, Tudor revivals or mock Tudors, harken back to this period of English inspired architecture. The majority of these homes were built in the suburbs of the Northeast and Midwest from the late 1890s to the early 1940s. These homes were quite expensive to build and as a result, some became known as “Stockbroker’s Tudors,” a nickname that calls attention to the fact that many of their wealthy homeowners had made their fortunes during the stock market boom of the 1920s.

Tudor architecture fell out of style during the Colonial-style Revival that was triggered by the end of World War II and the patriotism and push for American styles following the war. 

Tudor-Style Architecture

Tudor houses are easily recognizable due to their striking architectural elements. Typical Tudor exteriors are unmistakable due to their steep gable roofs clad in slate, stucco or stone facades adorned with decorative half-timbering, casement windows with diamond-patterned glass panes and brick chimneys capped in clay chimney pots.

The Exterior Characteristics Of A Tudor-Style House

The common characteristics for the exterior of an American Tudor house often include steep roofs with cross gables and small dormers, decorative half-timber framing with stucco or stone siding, elaborate brickwork around chimneys, large rectangular groupings of windows and heavy wooden front doors.

Medieval architecture has influenced the exterior of these homes and how some owners replicate English-style gardens in their landscaping designs to emphasize this traditional look.

Steep Gable Roofs

Among the most striking characteristics of Tudor houses are their steep gable roofs. In many ways, this style of roof looks like a classic child’s drawing of a house due to its triangular shape. The sides of the roof are pitched at a steep angle and meet at a point. The gable is the triangular-shaped wall that faces the front of the house.

Decorative Half-Timbering

Although not present in all examples of the architectural style, decorative half-timbering may be considered the most recognizable feature of Tudor houses. This is a building technique in which a house’s wood framing is exposed, making it visible from the exterior. This design adds a geometric, multitone aesthetic to the structure, as the black or brown timbers stand out against the light-colored stucco or stone used to fill in the home’s facade.

Casement Windows

Casement windows have hinges that are attached to the frame, allowing them to open outward. Tudor houses often have rows of casement windows with small leaded glass panes that are arranged in a lattice or diamond pattern. The frames are commonly made of wood or metal and situated within a house’s gables.

Brick Chimneys

Tudors generally have prominent chimneys that are built out of brick and topped with chimney pots. The chimney pots are usually made of terracotta and are used to extend the chimney and increase the draft needed for combustion. While some Tudor chimneys are highly decorated, others are simple, tall constructions with slender, round or octagonal pots.

The Interior Characteristics Of A Tudor-Style Home

Although many of these interiors have been modernized over time, traditional Tudor homes still maintain some hallmarks. Instead of having large, open spaces, Tudors tend to be divided into more formal rooms, each dedicated to specific purposes. Sitting rooms often have plaster walls, warm color schemes, oversized stone hearths and wood paneling. Rooms also commonly feature decorative beamed ceilings and arched doorways.

Wood Paneling

Almost every touch in a Tudor home is incredibly detailed and intricate. The walls were often covered in intricate wood paneling. Each of their defined rooms could have its own take on a grid-style wooden paneling for a very dramatic look.

Ceilings with intricate plasterwork or wood beams

The wood beams from the half-timbering on the exterior of Tudor-style homes are often carried indoors as wooden ceiling beams. These are not ordinary beams but intricately hung wooden beams, often at angles following the triangular roof line.

Asymmetrical layout

Tudor homes are traditionally asymmetrical on the facade and in the interior layout. This was often because traditional Tudor homes were frequently added on to, with different generations of the family putting various additions on the home. This resulted in an asymmetrical floor plan that Tudor Revivals went on to mimic.

Wood trim

Tudor homes would have trim on each wall that is left as a natural wood and not painted. The moldings are typically ornate and detailed. This allowed for a color contrast with the plaster walls and echoed the same overall look as the half-timbering on the exterior of the homes.

Arched doorways

Tudor-style homes almost always have arched front doors. These doors are called castle doors, since they mimic the traditional door shape of ancient castles. This shape is arched with a bit of a point at the top. Many of the interior doors or doorways often also mimic this shape.

Pros And Cons Of Tudor Homes

Take the time to consider the pros and cons of owning a Tudor home, especially if it’s an older or historic home.

Pros

• Unique and charming accents: If you’re looking for a home that will stand out among the others, or you’re simply intrigued by a charming aesthetic, these homes will give you something to appreciate and look at every day.
• Solid construction and building materials: These homes are built with solidarity in mind, with brick encasing most of the first floor and solid wood beams that aren’t just for looks. These wood beams can run the length of the roof and walls, adding a study frame to the home.
• Flexible floor plans: Often large and with plenty of space for growing families, Tudor homes are relatively easy to customize due to their asymmetrical build.

Cons

• Higher purchase price: These homes unfortunately are harder to find due to scarcity; there just aren’t enough built so the cost to purchase one might be pricier than you want.
• Frequent maintenance: With all unique homes, there is an increase in home maintenance as materials for these homes are often natural and will need to be replaced down the line, like the tiling on the roof or plaster walls.
• Renovation costs: Revival homes in the Tudor style were being built as early as the 1890s, so even though they’re not 400 years old like the original homes, they will still need some type of update, and renovation costs on older or historic homes can cost more.

Where To Find Tudor-Style Houses

The United States wasn’t around the first time this type of home became popular, but revivals of this style in America became popular again around the turn of the century and can be found mostly in the northern part of the country as they’re ideal for colder climates.

Revivals of this style stick true to its original form, but one way to spot a revival or home in this style is in the bricks. Newer structures will have a red toned brick rather than a brown one, straying away from the two-toned characteristic of the original Tudor homes.

Should You Buy A Tudor-Style Home?

Before considering or making an offer on a Tudor-style home, there are a few things to keep in mind. You’ll first want to determine if you want an old house versus a new house. There are many reasons why someone might or might not want to live in an older home, upkeep and maintenance being one factor to consider. On top of that, these Tudor-style homes are old enough to be historical homes, which come with their own set of unique features that require costlier maintenance.

Renovations To Consider In A Tudor Home

• Roof leaks: The roofs, with their gables and dormers, can often have problems with leaking. Costs will depend on the material used and if you want to DIY, but typically replacing damaged shingles will cost you anywhere from $500 – $1,000 if you hire a professional. If replacing shingles doesn’t work, there are many other reasons why you might be experiencing roof leaks, and these solutions can range from $100 – $1,500.
• Electrical wiring: These older homes are going to need some type of rewiring or installation to catch up to the 21st century, with costs being around $8,500 on average to hire a professional. Keep in mind Tudor homes typically have plaster walls, which makes an electrician’s job harder. You also might have to damage or take down walls in this case, which would add an extra cost too.
• Refinishing interior wood: Wood needs love and care to show its true natural form, especially after sitting up on a high ceiling for a few decades. Because Tudor-style homes have a lot of exposed wood, the cost to refinish them will increase. This can be a remodeling project that is easier to DIY, just make sure to purchase the correct tools and take all safety precautions when trying to reach high places.

FAQs On Tudor Homes

Some popular questions people have about Tudor homes.

Is Tudor-style English or German?

There are German-style homes that are similar in style to the Tudor style called half-timbered houses, or Fachwerk houses, which also originated around the same time as Tudor homes. Similarities can be found in the exposed timber frames and stucco walls, with the only difference being the location in which these are situated.

What is the difference between Tudor style and Victorian style?

Tudor style tends to favor a simpler exterior that mimics the minimal style of homes during the end of the medieval period. On the other hand, Victorian-style homes are known to be extravagant and intricate in their entirety. These homes are going to be colorful and stocked full of details versus the more stately style of a Tudor home.

The Bottom Line: Create Your Fairy Tale Beginning With A Tudor Home

Tudor homes are a great type of home to consider as they have distinctive features that add character and depth to your home while still providing a comfortable place to grow and live. If you’re interested in finding that storybook home, speak with a Rocket Homes℠ Partner Agent today.