Should I use horizontal or vertical skirting on this cottage?

[wealth42]

Currently renovating this riverside cottage and want to hide the underside with skirting. Thought horizontal would look best, but want others opinions as well - thinking about the streetscape. The skirting will be boards. So, would vertical or horizontal look best?

I've taken photos including my neighbours' houses for perspective. One is art Deco flats, the other a traditional Queenslander being renovated. The skirting will be painted Dulux Vintage Beige like the walls. Any other comments welcome. Thank you.

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @wealth42,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

It really depends on your preferences.

Horizontal skirting boards can visually ground the building and give a clean, contemporary look. They tend to blend well with weatherboards, especially when painted the same colour, but they can accentuate any unevenness in the ground.

Vertical skirting may be more appropriate as it helps disguise uneven ground levels. They also enhance verticality, making the home appear taller and more traditional, which could better match neighbouring properties like the renovated Queenslander.

Personally, I would choose vertical skirting, but that is just my preference. 

Allow me to tag @Dave-1, @AlanM52, @Herrenovacation and @EleventhCoastal to see what they think.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[wealth42]

Thank you JacobZ. I appreciate your detailed reply. I actually like both vertical and horizontal, but I want my choice to be the best look for this cottage and the streetscape - I guess that's why I'm torn. If I preferred one over the other, my choice would be easy : )

[JacobZ]

Honestly, I don't think either option clashes with the surrounding homes or yours in a significant enough way to rule it out.

Though, if it were my place @wealth42, I would use vertical battens. I just think adding more horizontal elements when you already have a weatherboard facade could make them blend into one another, especially if you are painting it the same colour. 

By using vertical slats, the change of direction in materials would add interest to the facade without making it look too busy.

I am probably a bit biased, though, having grown up in Brisbane, where I saw a whole lot of old Queenslanders with vertical skirting to conceal their stumps.

I'm sure the others that I have tagged have opinions that they will add shortly.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good afternoon @wealth42 

Well I will throw a spanner into the works and say horizontal would be my preference. Mainly because the boards on the walls are horizontal in the first place. It will also match the style of the cottage

Dave

[AlanM52]

Hi @wealth42,

That's a lovely cottage... I mean lovely riverside cottage.

I would do the complementary thing and go vertical.

Cheers

[EricL]

Hello @wealth42 

Being from Brisbane most of the houses I have seen have them vertical. I will place my vote to vertical to give it a nice contrast.

If you need further assistance, please let us know. 

Eric

[wealth42]

Thanks, Dave - 1. That was my instinct as well, plus I thought it might make the cottage look somewhat bigger, to sit more comfortably amongst the neighbours - sizewise. Having said that, vertical is more the era of the cottage (it is in Qld), whilst horizontal is more modern, I think. Down the track, I will have a fence and gate and at this point, I think it will be vertical slats. I have seen examples of vertical fence, horizontal skirting. Thank you greatly for your input. : )

[Herrenovacation]

@wealth42 Firstly what a beautiful cottage you have. 

I think both would look nice. If it was my place I would lean towards vertical as well but use much smaller boards / slats of timber similar to what i have in the picture shared. 

If horizontal id keep it the same as the current weather boards. 

[wealth42]

Hello Herrenovacation. Thank you for your response, and the picture helped a lot, because from the verandah down in your picture - i.e. the steps, railings etc is exactly how I had planned to change the front, and how it would look if I did, so that was good info. I'm also considering  canopy awnings - as seen in your picture - over the windows and front door, so that was handy too. I see what you are saying about the thinner slats, and I agree. Time for some reconsideration. Thank you for your help.