Architectural Guidelines Updated March 14, 2025

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Here, you'll find information on the following topics:

  • Chimneys
  • Cladding
  • Color
  • Columns
  • Eaves
  • Front Doors, Garage Doors, Storm Doors, & Security Doors
  • Greenhouses
  • Gutters and Downspouts
  • Masonry
  • Porch and Stair Railings
  • Radon Mitigation Systems
  • Roofs
  • Shingles
  • Siding
  • Soffits
  • Solar Panels
  • Storm/Security Doors
  • Trellis and Pergolas
  • Windows

Notice

Remember that the modifications, changes or projects listed below or elsewhere on this site or document are not all-inclusive and that all exterior modifications must be approved before starting work. Even if your project or modification is not listed, approval must be given by the Design Review Committee.

Nothing in this document will be considered an official approval or denial for a design review application. No verbal decisions will be given; decisions are made by the Design Review Committee per the Board of Directors approved process. You will be sent an official letter with the final decision.

Please note that to be added to the Design Review Meeting agenda, your application must be completed as determined by staff and submitted at least one week before the meeting. During periods of high application volume, we cannot guarantee that a completed application will be placed on the next meeting agenda.

Architectural Guidelines

All landscaping and architectural modifications must be approved by the Design Review Committee for Daybreak prior to installation. It is a general rule that all architectural modifications must complement/match the current architectural style of the home.

Chimneys

Must match the architectural style of the home.

Cladding

T1-11, vinyl, or aluminum siding materials are not allowed.

Color

Daybreak residents are required to submit color palettes and physical paint chips with their application for the Design Review Committee approval if they intend to change the colors which are currently on their home. Daybreak residents do not need to seek an approval to re-paint when the existing colors and application pattern are not going to change. As part of the Design Review submittal process, Daybreak residents are required to submit the following:

  1. A full colored exhibit of the front, sides, and rear elevation specifying all colors to be used in the proposed re-painting of the home. The elevations should clearly demonstrate the application of the proposed paint colors by identifying the application of the main body, trim and accent color(s) associated with the re-painting plan.
  2. An exhibit demonstrating there are no similar colors in any view corridor proximate to the subject property.
  3. All color selections and locations must be approved prior to installation.

Color application is a key component of style and a powerful device for creating variety among plans and elevations. These examples illustrate the three primary strategies for applying color to the main body, trim, and accents of a Daybreak Communities house.

Contrasting Palette

Trim, panels and other additive components are a distinct color from the main body of the house.

White, light gray, or a complimentary color to that of the main body of the house are appropriate choices.

Tonal Monochromatic Palette

Trim, panels and other additive components are a similar color to the main body of the house but are lighter or darker tones compatible with the selected architectural style.

Monochromatic Palette

Trim, panels and other additive components match the color of the main body of the house.

Monochromatic palettes using dark or rich colors are most successful when all of the elements of the house are Constructed of paintable materials.

All color modifications must match the style of home. Style-specific colors are encouraged.

Accessory elements shall not be painted to attract attention, and instead, should be painted to match the trim color. Chimneys not constructed with masonry are required to be stucco and either neutral in color or matched to the body color.

Corner boards should match body color when using board and batten.

Front doors may be painted an accent color, but the door jamb should remain trim color. Auxiliary doors should not be highlighted with accent colors. (Exception: Garden Park Village, original door jamb painted at construction).

Trim, soffit, fascia, and railing should match. Houses built using paintable soffit and fascia will have a wider range of color scheme options than those with aluminum.

Paints with a gloss finish are not permitted as an exterior main body color application. • Shifts in color are limited to the following locations:

  • inside corners
  • horizontal breaks and changes in material
  • breaks between trim and wall plane
  • gable ends and accent panels
  • plane changes

Window colors are limited to white, taupe, and artisan window colors including, but not limited to red, green, silver, bronze, and black.

Black trim, soffit, and fascia are not appropriate for a Daybreak Communities house unless the main body is of similar value. Dark trim colors are generally only appropriate in the European Romantic style.

Shingles should be complementary to color scheme. When used, metal roofs are approvable only in Galvalume or matte bronze or zinc colors where stylistically appropriate.

Existing, original color blocking should be considered when applying for a new exterior color modification.

Columns

Must be consistent with the Architectural style of the home.

Eaves

Frieze board is 6 to 12 inches, either touching/lying on same plane with or no more than 8 inches above the window head trim.

Front Doors, Garage Doors, Storm Doors and Security Doors

  • Garage door height may be no taller than 9' and must be the same height of other garage doors on homeowners' property so as to not draw attention to a specific door.
  • Color and style must match the architectural design of the home.
  • Door slab ONLY may be painted; door frames and jamb must remain trim color except for builder installed and painted homes in Garden Park.
  • Storm and security doors must match door jamb color or color of the front door.

DO:

The door is painted a special color, while the jamb and door trim are painted the trim color.

DON'T:

The door jamb and trim, as shown above in bright blue, should NOT be painted the door color.

Garage doors must be the home’s primary trim color, or a Design Review Committee-approved accent color.

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are permitted. However, location, architectural style, and size must be reviewed and approved by the Design Review Committee. Greenhouses attached to the home are considered a home addition and are a major modification.

Gutters and Downspouts

Downspouts must be painted to match background house color, must be located away from prominent corners, and must drain away from window wells and foundations.

  • Common Material: Ogee profile gutters with round or rectangular downspouts or PVC is acceptable in a color that matches trim.
  • Custom Material: Half-round with round downspouts in Galvalume finish or copper.

Masonry

  • Never terminate at an outside corner or in the middle of a wall; masonry must terminate at an inside corner.
  • Trim with an appropriate masonry water table detail.
  • Headers or lintels must span openings.
  • No wainscoting is permitted except for Founders and East Lake Villages.

Porch and Stair Railings

  • Allowed porch and stair railing materials include wood, metal or composite products. Vinyl is only allowable in Founders Park Village but is not recommended.
  • All railing components shall be a single material.
  • If contiguous with porch, stair railing must be same material.
  • Porch and deck railing should match in style, color and material.
  • A handrail that is not attached to the porch rail may be utilitarian, bar-rail style.
  • All porch and stair railings are required to be painted using the primary trim color of the house. Consideration may be given to allowing for the use of an accent color subject to its conformance with the home’s existing color palette, architectural style, etc.
  • Railings must extend, return, and prohibited from “floating” in space.
  • Porch balusters shall be spaced no more than 4-inches apart.
  • In addition to adhering to the architectural style of the home, depending on the Village/District/Neighborhood, other materials and design elements may or may not be allowed.
  • Black Metal railing is allowed in Springhouse Village with DRC approval
  • Metal is strongly discouraged due to the nature of pitting, bubbling, rusting and the long-term durability, which is significantly less than a wood composite material. Ongoing maintenance and rust abatement is required.
  • All porch and stair railings must be consistent with the architectural style of the home. The determination of consistency to architectural style shall be solely determined by the DRC and is not subject to appeal. Consistency requirement includes (but is not limited to) the rail details shown below:

Radon Mitigation Systems

  • Radon mitigation systems are approvable.
  • Pipe may need to be painted the house color as to reduce visibility and match the home’s aesthetic.
  • If the above conditions are met, no Design Review Committee approval is necessary

Roofs

  • Roof penetrations and flat skylights may be placed on a roof not facing public thoroughfare, maximum of two skylights per roof plane.
  • Roof vents of any kind must be painted to match roof shingles.

Shingles

Weave at corners or terminate with appropriate corner trim board or use artisan corner clips.

Siding

No raised grain permitted.

Soffits

Aluminum soffits and fascia materials are not permitted in custom details and discouraged in others.

  • Common Material: Smooth fiber-cement boards.
  • Custom Material: Tongue and groove.
  • Soffit and fascia must match trim.

Solar Panels

  • Solar panels are permitted. However, location must be approved by the Design Review Committee as this is an exterior modification to the home.
  • Orderly, block formation placement, in the least visually distracting manner and location is highly recommended.
  • Solar panel electrical boxes must match the surrounding exterior color of the home.

Storm/Security Doors

  • Must be clear, solid glass pane only with no decorative etching or design.
  • Storm and security doors must match the door or trim color

Trellis and Pergolas

See Garden Structures (Trellises, Pergolas and Arbors section)

Trim

Transitions between materials must be trimmed and flashed in a manner appropriate to the style.

Windows

  • Slider windows are not permitted on any public facing elevation except for Founders Village
  • The addition of windows must match existing windows on home
  • Windows must match the architectural style of the home and must be approved by the Design Review Committee.
  • Horizontally-oriented windows are discouraged where visible from public areas.