Square Things on edges of some houses?

Andy From Sligo · 19-03-2015 9:44pm #1

on the plaster rendering the edges of some of these houses what are they called is it coins or something? - I like them, im wondering how they are formed when building a house, but i cant google how they are made because i dont know what they are properly called. Thanks for any info.

Here in this picture its the White squares on the edge of the house.

Supertech · 19-03-2015 9:48pm

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfSwVu5wyEY

They're called 'quoins'

They're formed by creating raised plaster sections at corners. They used to be framed out using timber grounds, but there's also a tool for forming them which allows for a very clean finish.

beantins · 19-03-2015 9:48pm

Quoins andy not sure if thats exact spelling

Andy From Sligo · 19-03-2015 9:50pm

blimey that was blisteringly fast answers - thank you!

Andy From Sligo · 19-03-2015 9:51pm

i was spelling it coins - thats why i wasnt getting anything, i shall try the Quoins spelling

BryanF · 19-03-2015 10:06pm

imho They look crap on any house post 1900

Andy From Sligo · 19-03-2015 10:07pm

interesting find - there's some places that do lightweight Fibreglass Quoins that you just 'stick' onto existing rendering of house and then paint them and they look like the real mccoy!

Andy From Sligo · 19-03-2015 10:09pm

BryanF wrote: »

imho They look crap on any house post 1900

what about on that house in the picture Bryan? - thats a pic of our previous house we rented - I actually like the look of them. The house was built in 2002 .

Maybe its personal choice - heres a full pic of the house:

BryanF · 19-03-2015 10:17pm

There are some bmw drivers that tack m badges all over their factory standard cloth interior cars. And some micra drivers who have stuck on the most ridiculous hideous body kits but have bald tires and poorly serviced engines.

beantins · 19-03-2015 10:21pm

Personal taste really. I like them myself can set a house off nicely if done right

cardwizzard · 19-03-2015 10:24pm

Granite quoins and window calls are a nice touch imo.

New Home · 19-03-2015 11:14pm

Just wondering, now - could it be that the English word 'Quoin' derives from the French Word 'Coin', which means 'Corner', as in 'Corner Stone'??

ht9zni1gs28crp · 20-03-2015 11:11am

Is it personal taste though? Or is it nice looking as its new and its 'sure its what everyone has'?

Its like all the mock Georgian entrance doors and doorlights you see on 'new builds' Why hasn't the rest of the house taken on Georgian features?

Its like Ireland has developed its own 'mish mash' style of Architecture.

JimmyMW · 20-03-2015 11:21am

miller_63 wrote: »

Is it personal taste though? Or is it nice looking as its new and its 'sure its what everyone has'?

Its like all the mock Georgian entrance doors and doorlights you see on 'new builds' Why hasn't the rest of the house taken on Georgian features?

Its like Ireland has developed its own 'mish mash' style of Architecture.

I would have to agree with you miller, its frustrating to see so few new builds in the current style of architecture. I always make the comparison that it is like going to a car garage and looking for a new Ford Escort or Nissan Bluebird or something, its madness.

Effects · 20-03-2015 3:27pm

Recently saw a redbrick end of terrace house in Drumcondra with granite quoins. It made me vomit. Completely out of kilter with the rest of the houses on the street.

DOCARCH · 20-03-2015 6:19pm

JimmyMW wrote: »

I always make the comparison that it is like going to a car garage and looking for a new Ford Escort or Nissan Bluebird or something, its madness.

...or Datsun Sunny...I used to love those cars...in the '80s!

Effects · 20-03-2015 6:30pm

I'd love to be able to go into a garage and buy a new datsun sunny tbh.

Andy From Sligo · 23-03-2015 2:56pm

i like these quoins on the house but my wifes not mad keen on them she goes "what is their purpose?! they dont do anything"

DOCARCH · 23-03-2015 3:52pm

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

...she goes "what is their purpose?! they dont do anything"

She's right! They served a purpose when houses were typically built of random rubble and were lime rendered. They serve no purpose these days.

Effects · 23-03-2015 6:02pm

DOCARCH wrote: »

S They serve no purpose these days.

Surely they serve an aesthetic purpose whether you like them or not?

antiskeptic · 25-03-2015 7:26am

Effects wrote: »

Surely they serve an aesthetic purpose whether you like them or not?

Either there is no such thing as good/bad taste - in which can beauty in the eye of the beholder and all views are equally valid.

Or there is such thing.

Aesthetics would suppose there is and have reasons why one thing is ugly and another not - even if that wasn't demonstrable as a formal proof.

Aesthetics would find gob-on quoins (on a building that would be arguably uglier without them, granted) ugly. Someone who supposes all a matter of personal taste, with no other justification than that, perhaps beautiful.

Square Things on edges of some houses?

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