4. Dark Slate Blue Gothic Revival Gable with Ornate Bargeboards
Introduction and What This Idea Means
Gothic Revival architecture is celebrated for its steeply pitched gables and intricate decorative bargeboards (also known as vergeboards). Painting this focal point in dark slate blue turns the roofline into an arresting work of art against the sky.
How to Make It
Construct or restore ornate wooden bargeboards featuring carved gothic quatrefoil or pointed scrollwork patterns along the roof gable peaks. Paint the gables and bargeboards in a dark slate blue hue, contrasting them against charcoal gray roof shingles.
Tips
Inspect and treat exterior wooden bargeboards with a high-performance wood preservative annually to prevent rot in high moisture areas.
Variations and Essentials
- Variations: Highlight the carved edges of the bargeboards with a fine brushstroke of metallic charcoal or silver paint.
- Essentials: Decorative wooden bargeboards, dark slate blue exterior paint, wood preservative, exterior wood screws.