Updated May 1, 2023
Researching Homes
Glossary: Styles, Types and Terminology
Architectural Styles
- A Field Guide to American Houses (Revised): The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America’s Domestic Architecture — By Virginia Savage McAlester; the authoritative reference work on American home styles
- Dictionary of architectural terms
- 26 Popular House Styles
- 37 different residential architectural styles (as opposed to types of structures)
- 43 different types of residential structures (as opposed to architectural styles, including barndominiums, castles and yurts)
- American house styles
- Historic home styles
- The Ultimate Guide to Popular Architectural Styles
- The Ultimate Guide To Mid-Century Modern Architecture
- Midcentury Preservation Society
- Mid-Century Modern Architecture: The Complete Guide
- Midcentury-Modern Architecture: Everything You Should Know About the Funky and Functional Style
House Terminology
- 25 old-house terms defined
- Glossary of Common House Parts
- House Parts You Didn’t Know Had a Name
- 20 Different Types of Architectural Columns
- Doors: terminology and styles (early American)
- Masonry: Bonds and Patterns, Types
- Porch types
- Roof types
- Roofing — APT Building Technology Heritage Library
- List of roof shapes
- Siding terminology
- Window types
- Window words
Association for Preservation Technology
- Building Technology Heritage Library: Pre-1964 architectural trade catalogs, house plan books and technical building guides
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Books About Historic Architecture
in the Piedmont Triad
Available Online
- Art Work of Piedmont Section of North Carolina (Mainly about residential and institutional structures)
- The Historic Architecture of Davie County, North Carolina
- Architectural Resources: An Inventory of Historic Architecture High Point, Jamestown, Gibsonville, Guilford County
- The Architectural History of Randolph County North Carolina
In Print Only
- An Inventory of Historic Architecture, Caswell County, North Carolina
- A Tale of Three Cities: Eden’s Heritage
- Greensboro: An Architectural Record
- The Architecture of High Point, North Carolina
- Simple treasures: The Architectural Legacy of Surry County
- Great Houses and Their Stories: Winston-Salem’s “Era of Success,” 1912-1940
- Winston-Salem’s Architectural Heritage
- Historical Architecture of Yadkin County, North Carolina
State Historic Preservation Office:
Architectural Survey Reports
Forsyth County
and Winston-Salem
- Bethania Freedmen’s Community: An Architectural and Historical Context of the Bethania-Rural Hall Road Study Area
- Forsyth County Phase I Survey Report
- Forsyth County’s Agricultural Heritage
Guilford County,
Greensboro and High Point
- City of Greensboro Historic Resources Survey: Planning Phase Report
- Historic and Architectural Resources of High Point, North Carolina, 1859-1950
- Resource Inventory of High Point Neighborhoods : Highland Mill Village, Washington Drive, Montlieu Avenue, Roland Park, Parkway, Sheraton Hill, Emerywood and downtown High Point
Triad Counties and Cities
- Alamance County Architectural Heritage
- Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina: Park Place Local Historic District Local Designation Report
- Mount Airy Architectural Survey Update: Final Report
- Report on Rockingham County Reconnaissance Survey
- Thomasville, North Carolina, 2004 Comprehensive Architectural Survey
- Yadkin County survey
Helpful Information About Older Homes
and Historic Preservation
Blogs and websites
- The Craftsman Blog
- The Old House Guy
- oldhouseweb.com
- Reddit: r/OldHouses, r/CenturyHomes
- This Old House
Old-House Hazards
- Asbestos abatement guide (asbestos.com)
- Lead-based paint (epa.gov)
- Real Estate Disclosures about Potential Lead Hazards (epa.gov)
Preservation Standards
Caveat Emptor:
Buying a Fixed-and-Flipped Home
- What you need to know before buying a flipped home
- Buying a Remodeled Home? 5 Signs It’s a Smart Move—or a Spectacular Flop
- Follow These 6 Steps for Buying a Flipped House
- 7 Things to Do Before Buying a Flipped House
- Common Problems With Flipped Houses
- Dunning–Kruger effect
Historic Real Estate
- Circa: “The world’s greatest historic house marketplace”
- Lands of America: National listings of farms, ranches, acreage and country homes
- Mansions, estates, castles, etc.
- Christie’s International Real Estate: “The world’s most desirable properties”
- Sotheby’s International Realty: “Luxury real estate, worldwide”
- oldhousedreams.com: Listings for “fixer uppers, time capsules and restored historic homes”
- oldhouses.com: “Historic homes for sale”
Preservation Organizations
Local
- Caswell County Historical Association
- Eden Preservation Society
- The Pines Preservation Guild (Moore County/Sandhills)
- Preservation Burlington
- Preservation Forsyth
- Preservation Greensboro
- Preservation Greensboro Development Fund (no longer affiliated with Preservation Greensboro)
- Rockford Preservation Society
State
National
Historic Preservation Agencies
Local
- Alamance County Historic Properties Commission
- Burlington Historic Preservation Commission
- Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission
- Greensboro Historic District Program (historic districts)
- Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission (landmarks)
- Lexington Historic Preservation
- Mount Airy Historic Preservation Commission
- Randolph County Historic Landmark Preservation Commission
- Reidsville Historic Preservation Commission
- Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission
State
National Register of Historic Places
- National Register of Historic Places
- North Carolina listings in the National Register
- North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office GIS Web Service: Shows locations of national and local historic districts and properties
Piedmont Historic Homes 