About Your House

What style is it? Who made it? When? And, why? Some mysteries will never be solved, but if the answers are out there, the Internet can lead you to them. Begin with these resources.

• What style is my house?
  Find facts and photos for the most popular housing styles in North America and beyond.

• How old is my house?
  An easy checklist to help you learn the age of older homes.

• What color should I paint my house?
  Resources and tips to help you decide on exterior house colors.

• Where are the plans for my old house?
  Your house may have been remodeled many times over the years. Use these tips to find out the original floorplan.

• Is it a "mail order" house?
  Between 1906 and 1940, thousands of North American homes were built according to plans sold by mail order companies such as Sears and Montgomery Wards. To find the original plans and to learn other important information about your mail order house, follow these steps.
  

• Did Frank Lloyd Wright build my house?
  Very few rumored Frank Lloyd Wright builders were actually built by the master. Is your house the exception?

• How much will my new house cost?
  Tips to help you save money, plus links to easy building cost estimators.

• How do I research the architecture of my house?
  Detailed guidelines for researching older buildings, with lots of technical details, from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

• Where can I buy building supplies and materials?
  Use these online directories to locate products for your home.

• Where can I buy building plans?
  View plans online, or order building plan catalogs.

• How can I find an architect or builder?
  Find a professional by name, building type or region. Also, get help finding and evaluating an architect.

• How can I find used and antique bulding materials?
  Someone's trash may be your treasure. Use this guide to locate architectural salvage.

Still stumped?

For help with your building and remodeling questions, post a photo on our House Helpline. Chances are, someone there will have an answer for you. Selected photos are often featured on our home page at architecture.about.com. If your home is featured, you'll have an even greater chance of receiving helpful feedback. All answers are posted in the House Helpline forum, so your email address and other identifying information can remain confidential.

I hope you have fun exploring this site and that you find the information you need. To keep tabs on what's happening in the Forum and on these pages, be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter.

For more research tips, don't miss Architecture on the Web