1 1840 1880 2 common forms are side gabled with prominent central cross gable and asymmetrical l shaped plan steeply pitched roofs usually with steep cross gables and deeply overhanging eaves gables commonly decorated with barge boards or verge boards particularly in carpenter gothic examples 3 open cornices and exposed.
Gothic revival mansard roof style.
Houses in a variety of styles were given the characteristic second empire feature.
The first and most common has a series of relatively small upside down v shaped wall dormers that break up the line of an otherwise horizontal sometimes mansard roof.
Trendy and practical mansard roofs were placed atop otherwise modest structures.
As a result second empire homes in the united states are often composites of italianate gothic revival and other styles.
A mansard roof is a hipped roof with two slopes the lower being very steeply pitched and the upper being almost flat.
There are several variations of the slope some being straight while others being flared concave convex more rarely curved s and ogee patterns but whatever shape they take the mansard makes the style.