North American House Types 101

North American House types are influenced by time and the inhabitants. Craftsman, Prairie, Foursquare, Bungalow, Ranch, Colonial, Contemporary, Hogan, Florida Cracker, Flounder, Pacific Lodge, Rustic, Shingle, Stick Style, Cape Cod and Conch are most common types among others.

Each variety of North American Houses has its distinct characteristics. Suppose I use certain materials to build a contemporary house. In that case, I can’t just call it a craftsman house simply because I want to.

A good analogy would be the Origami. If I folded the paper and made a rose, Can’t call it a swan, right? Today I want to share what I know about north American house types.

Did you know that more than 40 percent of home seekers in the US favor the craftsman type?

It’s interesting for a typical craftsman house to have an average price of more than 300 grand. Of course, that is subject to change due to other factors. Still, it’s easy to understand why I would spend thousands of dollars just for the home’s decor alone. You might feel the same if you see one for yourself.

A typical craftsman house can be spacious and usually has a minimum size of 1,200 to 1,300 sqft. I don’t know about you, but that’s already plenty for someone like me. The materials of american craftsman house inspires imagination and art. Anyone wanting to have a craftsman style house will need an average of $120 to 150 grand for the materials alone.

Purchasing a lot of wood is also a concern since that’s the primary material to build a beautiful craftsman house. However, wood has become expensive lately. You also have to choose between bricks or stones for the walls and pillars and add stucco, a fine plaster, for the decor’s aesthetic touch.

Different factors may affect the craftsman house structure’s overall weight, materials and foundation are significant ones. The estimated weight of a 40 by 32 craftsman home is roughly more than 74,000 lbs.

The American Craftsman is one of a kind design. Naturally, the Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th century influenced the first craftsman houses’ construction.

It’s a symbol of improvement against the dwindling quality of housing in the face of industrial progress. Due to its poetic origin, it is a wanted design by many home seekers in the US. California is usually the location when it comes to seeking a craftsman house.

The American actor and writer Fred Armisen also chose to have a craftsman house with a rather lovely front porch.

Although its popularity faded in the US after 1915, the Prairie style exists in modern housing these days. After all, it has ideas incorporated from the Arts and Craft movement. Frank Lloyd Wright was the one who came up with the original design of the Prairie style.

As the name implies, a Prairie house has the intention of melding with the prairie landscape. While its design is somewhat similar to a craftsman house, I know some points that make the Prairie house distinct.

You’ll have to worry again about buying more expensive wood to build a house. However, building a Prairie house means that you’ll be using more bricks instead. Naturally, you’ll have to use fine plaster or stucco to stitch them together. As for the estimated building cost, I’d say about $200k if you plan to build on a 1,500 sqft land. Depending on the type of wood and bricks that you’ll use, the Prairie house’s total mass should be around 170,000 lbs.

Although only roughly 30 percent of home seekers are knowledgeable about the Prairie style, it doesn’t mean that this design is irrelevant. It blows my mind that there are celebrity Prairie houses that exist today. The best example is probably the one called Fallingwater. The Kaufmann family owns it.

Also known as the Prairie Box, this type of home has similarities with the Prairie style. Interestingly, Wright designed his variants for the Foursquare. I can see why. Although, Fourquare’s prominence was only significant from the 1890s up to the 1930s.

The Foursquare house also has similarities with the craftsman style. That makes it easier for us to know what kind of materials you’ll need to build one, namely wood and bricks. As for the average cost, you probably have to spend around 200 to 300 grand. It’s easy to have an estimate since you’ll be using similar materials from the Craftsman style.

Using the Foursquare floor plan usually means that you’ll end up with a box house with a second floor. I estimate having the total weight of the Foursquare house would be close to 100,000 lbs. That’s with the 30 by 50 in a 1,700 sqft land.

A lot of people in the US choose to have a Foursquare house. Still, only a small percentage of home seekers are determined to have this type of home. Nevertheless, the Foursquare style manages to stay relevant due to some celebrity influence. I just learned that former president Bill Clinton’s home in Arkansas is a Foursquare.

Known as an alternative style to the craftsman house, the California Bungalow gained its popularity back in the early 19th century. Also, This type of home was prominent in the suburban areas in the US. It’s also worth noting that this style stems from Indian design and then got influenced by the British.

Like most house designs, there are many variations of the California bungalow. However, I managed to find out the principle features that make it distinct from other styles.

For the materials of a California Bungalow, you need bricks in general. You also need to get timber to make a weatherboard exterior. Depending on the timber material price, You’re looking to spend an average of $200k for a 1,800 sqft house. I always cut down on the needed budget if I can settle for a smaller one. I also estimate the weight to be at least less than 120,000 lbs.

Although the California bungalow isn’t as popular as the other designs, it’s still a favorite for many Americans. Did you know that actress Melissa McCarthy has a bungalow style house in LA? This house style is a good fit for my cozy tastes.

This house type is the second-favorite in the US. More than 40 percent of home seekers favor having a Ranch type home. I’ve looked into it and found that building a Ranch house costs almost the same as a craftsman house when it comes to average cost. What’s worth noting is that you can have a Ranch house for as low as a 180 grand. That said, you have to settle for cheaper materials.

Of course, with a $300,000 price range, you can have a decent 1,700 sqft Ranch house. It looks great already! As for the materials, the primary is wood. You’ll need both softwood and hardwood materials if you want to make a decent Ranch house. Still, due to its increasing price lately, you should consider allocating more budget for this. As for the exterior, it’s standard to use bricks, especially for the fireplace and the chimney. I’ve also discovered that the Ranch style works best with a foundation made of concrete instead of other materials.

As for the weight, it will depend on the materials. However, a lot of it will come from the concrete and bricks. For the average size, it should be close to about 200,000 lbs.

Overall, a Ranch house has its charms, especially for older people who want to relax and enjoy their retirement. This design is popular with the elderly since it originated from West America after the Second World War. Back then, they came up with the Ranch as a variant of tract housing (building houses with the same design). Debbie Reynolds, rest her soul, had a Ranch house. I admire the serene pond it has.

As the name implies, Colonial-style housing originated in the colonial era of the US. It became more prominent in the 19th century. I admire the versatility that comes with this design, as do many Americans.

The Colonial type is a runner-up when it comes to the favorite designs in the US. More than 30 percent of home seekers wish to have it. I would very much like to live in a Colonial house. It is imposing on several factors. First of all, this type of home needs more bedrooms. Having a master bedroom spikes the cost of the construction. On average, you can get a plan ranging from 200 to 400 grand. That’s for a 1,800 sqft size. If you want to go all-in, a $600k floor plan is what you’d choose.

That said, I should know better than to disregard the material cost. For a Colonial house, you need wood and a lot of it. It needs to have symmetry, especially when it comes to window frames. Colonial houses must be at least two stories tall. Even if the land size is average, the Colonial house structure’s weight will increase based on the foundation. I should also mention that bricks are part of this design. For a 39 by 66 Colonial house, it should weight more or less 180,000 lbs.

I’d be overjoyed to live in a Colonial house. You’ll need a sizeable budget to have one. Still, it’s an achievable goal. You have to keep in mind that Colonial houses can come in variations due to its versatility. For example, Renee Zellweger’s “Cotton Tavern” comes close to the principle.

This house design is what I’d call a hybrid elegance. It’s because you can have it as a part craftsman and part colonial. The possibilities are quite limitless. I should let you know that “Modern” and Contemporary homes are different from one another. Houses that became prominent in the mid-20th century belong to the Modern category.

As for the building cost and materials, the amount can vary in a Contemporary design. However, glass and concrete are necessary to follow the principle behind the design. Fortunately, you can have this type of home for as low as 100 grand. A decent and affordable Contemporary house should weigh less than 70,000 lbs.

In any case, a contemporary house is a preferred choice these days, especially when it comes to celebrities.

The Hogan is the traditional dwelling for the Navajo people. This house style is significant in America’s history. I also can’t believe that Hogans are still preferred by some Americans today. Of course, there’s only a small percentage of them. Nevertheless, building a Hogan is easy.

Naturally, you’ll need logs and wood for the entire Hogan house. It’s not so hard to find. The price of the materials will be my primary concern. You also have to get mud or something similar. As of today, building a Hogan fit for four people can cost around $80k. That includes the septic system. Depending on the materials, the overall weight of the should be at 50,000 lbs.

This house type is perfect for anyone who wants to experience an aspect of the Navajo culture. It’s not popular enough to have a celebrity influence, but it will always be significant to American culture and history.

One of the things that I like about the Florida Cracker is that it’s a vernacular architecture type. That means I don’t have to seek a professional to get a proper floor plan. This type of became widespread in the 19th century. Still, it’s a popular pick for many house builders in the US.

If you are to build one, you’ll have to get wood or timber as the primary material. For a 1,200 sqft Florida Cracker house, you’ll likely spend about a hundred grand. Depending on the type of wood or timber that you can use, I’d say the entire cracker house would weigh at least 140,000 lbs at that size.

Although the Florida Cracker isn’t celebrity material, its design has inspired many houses with the principle. Also, a lot of celebrity houses in Florida are similar to the Florida Cracker.

No. It’s not for the fish. A Flounder house is a simple design that originated in the 18th century. Some call it the half-house due to its overall structure. I find myself agreeing to that.

As for the materials, the first choice would be cement. Of course, you can use bricks and blocks if you have the budget. As for using wood, save it for the interior. Building a flounder house is cheap. Given the opportunity, you can have a Flounder house for just $80k. A 20 by 50 Flounder house can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Luckily, you can offset that if your plan is only for an 800 sqft land.

Flounder houses don’t stand out when it comes to the choice of American home seekers. There aren’t a lot of them to start. Still, the flounder design has inspired modern houses today. As I said, it has its charm. Of course, some celebrity houses can be flounder house elements as an acquired choice.

The Pacific Lodge has its roots beneath log cabins or cedar lodges. The inspiration came from the early inhabitants of the US’ Pacific Northwest region. Naturally, the idea of log cabins is to use nearby materials. As such, they will primarily consist of stone and logs. For a nature lover like myself, I find log cabins beautiful. The National Park log cabins in the US also helped with the conception of the Pacific Lodge.

What makes the Pacific Lodge unique is its potential for expansion. You can build a small log cabin then expand it to a Pacific Lodge. That means you can start building one if you get a $40k kit. You can even go lower if you want to. For a decent Pacific Lodge, you can construct it on an 800 sqft land. With the materials you’ll use, I estimate the weight would be at 10,000 lbs provided that it doesn’t have a second floor yet.

A lot of people in the US wish to have a beautiful Pacific Lodge. I’m among them. The luxury and simplicity of the Pacific Lodge is unmistakable. There’s also the fact that Bill Gates’ mansion has this style.

The Rustic American home has different variations. It emphasizes on the promotion of the natural element. It’s similar to the Pacific Lodge in some ways. That said, you shouldn’t have a modern emphasis in my Rustic home.

It’s easy to choose what materials to use. You only have to keep in mind the natural emphasis. That means no synthetic fibers or any other modern material. Wood and stone is my primary choice. You are also looking to have a budget of $200k if you plan on having a 30 by 50 Rustic home in a 1,300 sqft lot.

There aren’t a lot of pure Rustic homes left in the US. Robert Pattinson’s current home has a rustic touch, but it has modern furnishings. I’d love a Rustic home for a peaceful and zen life.

I keep thinking about how the Shingle house style evokes an atmosphere of romance. Also, the rather geometrical shapes of its roof design make it one of a kind home. It also surprised me how the use of Victorian-style made it possible to come up with the Shingle house style. Also, it borrows some ideas from the Colonial house design. Still, the asymmetric structure makes the Shingle house distinct.

As the name implies, you will need shingles to build this kind of home. You can use wood for the interior, but it’s best to keep it at a minimum. You must find the best stone material for the foundation. For a 1,000 sqft Shingle house, you may need 300 to 400 grand. Covering the roof and walls with shingles makes it a bit expensive. As for the weight, you should expect it to be around 100,000 lbs provided that you don’t build a second floor.

The Shingle house style will always be a cut above the rest. Of course, you have to be willing to afford the expense and time to build one. It’s also a popular house design for many celebrities. The renowned TV personality Dick Cavett lives in a Shingle-style house.

Despite the rather primitive implication of the name, the American Stick house wasn’t a thing until the late 19th century. Also, this isn’t to be confused with the Stickley style. It’s surprising that such a type of American architecture exists.

It’s easy to grasp the construction language of the Stick house. Of course, you won’t be using just about any stick. As a standard, you need wooden board strips. That’s for the foundation for the stick style overlay of the Stick house. If you want to build one on a 1,000 sqft land, you’ll likely need at least a $100k simply because wood is a lot more expensive these days. However, since you’ll be using board strips for most of the Stick house, the weight should only be around 50,000 lbs for a 30 by 40 stick house.

Even though the stick house was a bit unpopular in its time, it is a preferred design for many Americans today. It may not be celebrity preference, but I find the stick house perfect as a family home.

The Cape Cod house is rather simplistic in its design. It’s like the home I used to draw when I was in the elementary school. Other than that, the Cape Cod house’s origins come from 17th century England. The Puritan carpenters were the ones who brought the idea to America.

Building a Cape Cod house is simple compared to other types of homes. Primarily, you need wood for the exterior. As for the foundation, stone is suitable for my preference. For a 500 sqft Cape Cod house, you’ll likely need around $120k. The overall weight of the cape cod house should be at 35,000 lbs.

I like the Cape Cod house because of its simplicity. I’m sure many Americans feel the same. Also, the Cape Cod house is synonymous with former president John F. Kennedy’s history.

The Conch house style is part of Florida’s vernacular architecture. Originally, Bahamian immigrants in Key West developed this style. The earliest constructions began in the late 18th century. Revival projects have improved and modified many of the existing Conch houses.

Did you know the term “Conch” is slang for the Bahamian people?

Building a standard Conch house is relatively easy since you will be using timber as the primary material. You can use shingles or metal for roofing. For a Conch house, I find it ideal to have a 30 by 40 design on a 1,000 sqft land. I estimate the total cost of around 200 grand. As for the weight, it should be a bit close to 70,000 lbs.

Overall, the Conch House is a piece of history for Florida. It’s also significant for the Bahamians in Key West. Certain celebrities also prefer having one in Key West. As a fact, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt has a pirate-themed Conch house.

American houses have different origins and variants. In the end, they shape the history of the US’ housing journey. From simple homes to high-fashioned ones, hard to believe that a lot of variants exist. Somehow, knowing the different types of houses in America makes it easier for me to inspect different houses.

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