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Viga, pronounced vee’-gah, is Spanish for beam or rafter. For centuries Spanish and Pueblo builders used round, unmilled trees as rafters to support their roofs, often letting them project through exterior walls of buildings.
During the earliest development of Nob Hill, from 1916 until the mid-20s, most builders employed traditional American styles popular throughout the country. In the mid-20s they started developing styles inspired by historic regional building traditions. One of the more popular styles they developed is known as Spanish Pueblo Revival because it revives the Spanish and Pueblo style featuring flat roof, projecting vigas, varied massing, parapets rounded on top, cut out brackets(corbels) over porch posts, and exposed wood lintels over windows. Photo: Monte Vista Addition, 2007
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Projecting vigas are a hallmark of the style. Unfortunately, over the 70 plus years since they were installed, many vigas in Nob Hill have seriously deteriorated. Property owners may be inclined to remove projecting vigas and stucco over the resulting holes. This significantly diminishes the architectural character of a historic house. The repaired stucco remnants of this kind of remodeling are sometimes visible in the form of “ghosts” where vigas have been removed and stuccoed. Photo: College View Addition 2008
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There is a way to restore vigas, allowing them to continue contributing to the architectural character of our community. reDiscover Nob Hill has stabilized original vigas and installed copper caps to protect them from weathering at 244-246 Carlisle NE. You are welcome to stop by and see them. reDiscover Nob Hill is looking for another historic Nob Hill house in need of viga stabilization and copper capping to demonstrate this technique. If you would like to be considered for this demonstration project contact us . We will ask the property owner to cover the material cost for fillers, paints, and copper material but we will contribute the labor.
If you would like to undertake the stabilization or replacement of vigas that have been removed from your house on your own we would be happy to advise as a courtesy. Feel free to contact us . Photo: College View Addition 2009
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