At the viewing

Six signs that tell you which building you are in

No single sign is conclusive. Together they narrow the answer.

01 · Ground floor

Arches or plain walls?

Stone arches, vaults or thick pillars in the entrance or shop point to pombaline.

02 · Window reveals

Does the wall thin as you climb?

A marked reduction from lower to upper landings is typical of a gaioleiro.

03 · Interior walls

Diagonal timber behind the plaster?

Braced timber with rubble infill marks a frontal. Plain masonry or light partitions do not.

04 · Floors

Flex or rigid?

Timber flexes. A rigid floor in an old building is a placa or a later concrete slab to ask about.

05 · Top storey

Same material as below?

A mansard or top floor in a different style points to a later addition.

06 · Paperwork

Which date is recorded?

Caderneta and licensing file often record later works, not the original build.

An engineer confirms the type on site, with access to structure where the owner allows it.
Sources: Miranda, NOVA FCT, 2011 · Monteiro, Instituto Superior Técnico · InspectOS