1889 Builders Handbook - Carpentry by Vidistar Dome

CONVENIENT HOUSES WITH

Fifty Plans for the

Housekeeper

ARCHITECT AND HOUSEWIFE — A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE — FIFTY CONVENIENT HOUSE PLANS — PRACTICAL HOUSE BUILDING FOR THE OWNER — BUSINESS POINTS IN BUILDING — HOW TO PAY FOR A HOME

LOUIS

GIBSON

ARCHITECT

NEW YORK: THOMAS Y. CROWELL &

CO.

CHAPTER XXX. CARPENTER WORK. STORIES.

STUD

JOIST.

BUILDING-PAPER.

ROOFS.

OUTSIDE

WALLS.

SIZE OF

FRAMING.

WALLS.

HEIGHT OF

TIMBERS.

SHEATHING.

OUTSIDE

OUTSIDE FINISH.

OUTSIDE SHINGLE

WINDOWS WITH BOX FRAMES.

CASINGS.

HINGED OR PIVOTED WINDOWS.

OUTSIDE SHUTTERS.

PORCHES.

LATTICE PORCHES.

CARPENTER WORK.

considering carpenter work,

will first

take up framing,

and everything which pertains to the outside of the house. All material used for framing should be sound,

square-edged

material, free from imperfections tending to impair

its

bility,

or strength.

use, dura-

In different parts of the country, different

kinds of lumber are standard for framing purposes.

South and sections contiguous North, white pine, hemlock,

hard wood. tion

cheapest that

it,

yellow pine

Norway

used

;

in the

spruce, poplar, and even

any particular material

;

it is

natural to use the

sufficiently strong for framing.

table indicates the sizes of timber in

common

ordinary dwelling. Sills,

neither profitable nor desirable in this connec-

It is

indicate

In the

outside walls

....

The

following

use in framing an

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

214 Roof posts

PRA CTICAL HO USE-B UILDING. width.

Those running adjacent or

parallel to partition or other

Double

walls should be firmly spiked thereto.

placed

under

partitions

all

Where

from below.

joists

should be

and supports having no support

the weight

extra heavy, the double joists

should be trussed by a two-by-four-inch stud, spiked

There should be one row of

form, between them. to

span or

each

size

tier,

truss

truss bridging

Header should be

indicated.

framed across pipe duct, about eighteen inches therefrom.

STUD WALLS. Walls and partitions are usually of two-by-

See Fig. ^.

best that the studding

four- inch studding.

In large houses

be two by

and plates four inches

six inches,

it is

thickness and the width of the studding are

commonly placed

at the

bottom and top of the

Sometimes, however, the

walls of each story.

studding continues to the height of two

and the

joists are

inch " ribbon

Trusses over

supported on a one-by-six-

piece

let into

the studding.

framed

pockets or

Sliding-door

runways should be lined with corners

should

supports

openings.

all

stories,

flooring.

All

and angles should be framed

solid

and have

two-inch

projections

for

lathing.

Studding four by four inches thick should be framed around

all

window openings and on

three sides of the door openings

two by two inches, one row placed on the

The pipe

inside

for

;

bridging,

each story.

Grounds should be

openings, and elsewhere for plastering.

duct, fourteen inches wide, should be placed

studding from kitchen to

attic floor.

between

All outside walls of frame

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2l6

houses should be diagonally sheathed with seven-eighths-by-six-

Tongued and grooved

inch dressed sheathing. for this purpose,

although

it is

not in

common

material

best

All sheath-

use.

ing should be covered with six-pound sized building-paper.

Sometimes the

This means

insides of brick walls are furred.

that they are lined

on the inside with wood

thickness, sixteen inches

strips

two inches

on centres, and then lathed and

plas-

This prevents the passage of the moisture through the

tered.

brick into the inside of the room.

Various forms of sheathing lath for inside sheathing of a frame house are

now

This form of lath contemplates

use.

a seven-eighth-inch tongued and grooved inside with dove-tailed channels cut into

key-room

its

sheathing on surface,

the

which form

for the plastering.

ROOF.

Most

roofs can

be formed with out-posts and

can be formed in this

way where

cost

purlins.

All

not considered.

ordinary dwelling-house of the size given in these plans does

There should' be double

not require separate posts and purlins. rafters

around

The material

beaded

all

chimneys and openings

in the roof.

roof should be sheathed with seven-eighths by four-inch ;

where exposed

flooring.

five-and-one-half-inch

to view, with

Where deck framing

required, posts

and

purlins are necessary, size according to weight to be carried.

Where

shingles are used for roofing, they should be laid

four and one-half inches to the weather for sixteen-inch shingles,

with two nails to each.

dipped

The

stain, oil,

laid.

best

that

shingles

should be

or paint before they are put on the roof. is

not increased by being painted after

The

ridge finish of the shingle or slate

durability of shingles

they have been

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

217

roof should be of galvanized iron, with about four-inch lap on

each side.

may be made

may be

or shingle roofs

Hips and ridges of

of galvanized iron set up on the

tin-lined.

Where

slate

covering

employed, bearing

or below, are

that the

each

than

may be

bond should not be

than three and one-half or four inches. nails to

slate,

better

used, any size slate desired

mind

Gutters

course of shingles or

first

with metallic support from above

wood

slate

finished with tin or galvanized iron,

lapped on each side about three and one-half inches.

gutters of

Wood

as ornamental as desired.

should never be used for this purpose.

less

There should be two

slate.

OUTSIDE FINISH. All lumber used for outside finish should be thoroughly sea-

soned, clear, smoothly dressed, and

tending to impair Poplar

terial for

the ideal

ma-

building

paint better than other

takes

~*^p

woods used

Plfe?|P

JDrob Oicbrod F^6<3"f~

However, pine

generally used, for the reason that

boarding

from imperfections

use, durability, strength, or appearance.

its

outside finish.

for this purpose.

free

;

cheaper.

Weather-

an inch lap four and one-half

usually laid with

inches to the weather

three and one-half inches

better.

Drop siding, or German siding as it is sometimes makes a warmer and better wall than weather-boardine.

called, It

usually six or eight inches wide, and in form and construction as indicated

Fig. 34.

Outside shingle walls are

used

for

now

ornamental purposes

houses that are built

;

quite

common.

Shingles are

large proportion

some instances they

of the

are used exclu-

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2i8

In such cases they are undressed,

sively for outside covering.

and are stained commonly with one of the proprietary stains now on the market. Before being placed they are dipped into the stain for about eight inches from their buts, and are laid in

Any

piles to dry.

desired color

may be

secured, and there are

instances where stained shingled walls have

gone without any

attention or expense for eight or ten years.

Dressed shingles are commonly painted.

half

shingles

to the weather, but four

and one- half inches

uncommon at unpainted and unstained. The

better.

not

may

Outside shingles are sometimes

be as ornamental as desired. laid five

Their form

this

and one-

time to leave

effect is

all

very agreeable

when they become weather-stained.

OUTSIDE CASINGS. All horizontal trimmings

and casings should be bevelled on

They should run back under

the top to shed the water.

shingled weather-boarding or other outside

should be

tin

covering for

three-eighths inch.

all

covering.

the

There

projections in excess of one and

Ordinary window or door casings outside

are usually three-eighths inch thick.

WINDOWS. All

windows

the part of the house regularly occupied

should have box frames.

Pulley styles should be of hard wood,

and the inside bead should be secured with round-headed screws. Sash

for

plate

thick; side

rail,

glass

should be one and

two and one-half inches

three and one-eighth inches fourth

inch

the

rabbet.

;

in rabbet;

and meeting Sash

for

three-fourths

rail,

common

bottom

inch rail,

one and oneglass

may be

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. one and three-eighths inch for

rooms finished

which the room variation this

commonly used is

liable

Other

thick.

hard

wood

Quartered oak

hard-wood

warp than

when

better

great

the material

Almost any hard wood

sash.

box frames should be

All

pine.

wood

of the

10.

Sash

sizes, as given.

However, where there

finished.

not necessary. for

provided with turned axle pulleys.

Nothing but the best

cotton sash-cord should be used.

Necessary weights should be

plaited

provided.

some of the plans where wide

the design

front

There

called pocket head.

may be pushed up

into

the pocket

window

used,

it is

into

is,

it.

The

runs into

the pocket-head

necessary that there be a clear space above

the frame for the sash to be run

sash

that

;

Where

the wall above the head of the frame.

indicated,

a pocket above the

may be run

head of the frame so that a high sash sash

windows are

up equal

to the height of the

itself.

Hinged or pivoted windows have rabbeted frames which are usually one and three-eighths inch thick. They are used for the most part in unfinished cellars, attics, and unoccupied parts

of the house, and preferably for pantry, store-room, and, occasionally,

bath-room windows.

pivots.

Hinges are

They may be hung on hinges

better, for the reason that fly screens

be used where the sash

pivoted.

Sills

cannot

should slant twenty

degrees, with drip piece secured to outside.

storm from blowing water to the

This prevents the

inside.

OUTSIDE SHUTTERS. usually one and

Outside shutters are thick, with

movable

high, they should be

slats

;

made

more than

in three

six

three-eighths inch

and one-half

panels each.

feet

Arrangements

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

are provided

for

opening

They

ma)- be

by various manufacturers of hardware

outside shutters from the inside of the room.

swung- either from the sides or top at

pended from above they

When

will.

awning

act as an

the)-

;

they are sus-

admit the

air

but not the rays of the sun.

Sometimes shutters are cut

meeting

at the

rail,

so that the

upper or lower section may be opened as desired.

PORCHES.

this

time

not usual to provide special ceiling for

that

The rafters and all exposed material are dressed so Floor joists are not usuthey may be painted or stained.

ally

more than two by eight inches

porches.

;

sills,

about six by eight.

The

floor should

foot,

and made of hard wood, tongued and grooved, not over

be inclined about one-eighth of an inch to the

two and three-fourths inches

in width.

Edges should be

with nosings, which are rounded edges. is

usually the

same

as that of the

The

finished

roof of the porch

body of the house.

Gutters

are similar to those on other roofs.

Railing and turned balusters are usual, excepting where an

opening

for

passage

desired.

LATTICE PORCH.

Framework of other porches.

lattice

porch

The covering

is is

generally the same form as

three-eighths-inch material, laid diagonal

three-eighths inch.

made with one-and-

usually ;

openings, one and

Door and hardware, same

as used for other

parts of the house, are generally provided.

OUTSIDE STEPS. Outside steps of wood usually have hard-wood treads made of seven-eighths-by-two-and-one-half-inch

pieces,

with

three-

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. eighths-inch space between

;

on centres.

should be provided

necessary.

Railing and posts for steps Lattice should be placed under

porches and outside steps, and between side lattice-work in yard

mentioned

carriages should be two by ten

inches, about sixteen if

may be

all

outside piers.

Out-

of the same general design as

for lattice-work porches.

General statements as to outside wood-work apply alike to brick or

frame houses, with certain omissions that should be

obvious to an intelligent reader.

CHAPTER XXXI. INSIDE WOOD-WORK.

SOFT

FLOORS.

AND HARD WOOD FLOORS.

TABULATED STATEMENT OF INSIDE FINISH. OF WOOD. DOORS AND FRAMES. FLY WAINSCOTING.

CASINGS.

PLUMBING.

WOOD- WORK

FITTINGS.

WASH-STANDS.

WATER-CLOSETS.

KITCHEN TABLES. BATH-TUB.

PICTURE MOULDING.

CEDAR-CLOSET.

CHINA-ROOM FITTINGS.

CLOCK SHELF.

INSIDE

WOOD-WORK FOR FOR

TANK.

BROOM-RACK.

CLOSET FITTINGS.

SCREENS.

INSIDE SHUTTERS.

KITCHEN SINK AND FITTINGS.

CELLAR-SINK

DIFFERENT KINDS

DRY-BOX.

PANTRY FITTINGS.

STAIRWAYS.

INSIDE WOOD-WORK.

ALL

material should be perfectly clear, first-class, thoroughly

seasoned, kiln-dried, dressed material, free from imperfections tending to impair

ance.

its

use, durability, strength, or appear-

All inside finish excepting floors should be sand-papered.

Where an

especially

good

finish

desired,

all

should be scraped

as well.

FLOORS. In preparing for floors,

ments

for

not unusual to

preventing the passage of sound.

The

deadening.

usual

method

face

Either

joist,

arrange-

done by

two inches

on which are

laid

one-

This leaves an inch and a half between their sur-

and the upper edge of the

concrete,

This

to nail strips about

and a half from the top edge of the inch boards.

make

mineral

wool,

may be

joist.

This

other

non-conducting

filled in

with

material.

very effective in preventing the passage of sound from

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. the floors to the rooms below. floors

only are in

common

223

In a dwelling-house where two

use,

only necessary to deaden

the second floor.

A permanent sheathing for

rough siding may be placed over

floors for a floor

same material

floor of the

all

joists of first

that

used

and second This does

during the plastering of the house.

not act as deadening, unless concrete or mineral wool be placed

over

it.

plastering.

well to have a floor of this kind for use during also

makes the lower

floor

warmer.

be covered with building-paper before the finished Finished floors should extend throughout the stories

wood.

and the

The

They

attic.

material

are

commonly of pine

five

and second

or other soft

less in thickness than

They should be

seven-eighths of an inch.

Hard-wood

wood

oak, maple, or other hard desirable.

laid.

The boards should never

and a half inches, nor

loose, or black knots.

tongued and grooved, secret-nailed, and

should be smoothed off after laying.

be wider than

floor

first

should

floors

that

from sap, large,

free

may be

of hard pine,

readily obtainable or

This material should not be more than two and three-

fourths inches in width, nor less than seven-eighths of an inch

and should be tongued and grooved, secret-nailed,

in thickness,

and smoothed

off

and scraped

best that the

all

common

directed,

floors

and prepare

may be had

laid after plastering.

The

practice.

after laying.

pine flooring than that mentioned

better grade of

desired.

However,

It is

this is not

carpenter should cut out flooring as

for hearths in

proper places.

Other inside

dressed wood-work should never be placed in position until after the plastering

The

finished

following table

and is

dry.

from a specification

and shows the kind of lumber, painters' finish,

use by myself,

style of doors, finish of

and rooms supplied with plate

glass,

wood,

and the

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

224

The detail specification makes clear The filling out of the blanks indicates points here outlined. range and style of finish which frequently occur. The letter-

general style of hardware. the

the

ing of the doors and finish refers to drawings and details, a part of which are given in this connection.

FLOORS.

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

225

may be said, in general terms, in regard to the different kinds of wood used in finishing a house, that, all things considered, hard wood of one kind or another is preferable, for the It

reason that

stands the general wear and tear of house-keeping

with less evidence of the struggle.

Soft

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

used because

only to be

wood

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; pine or poplar

cheaper than the other.

Quartered oak, quartered sycamore, cherry, maple, walnut and chestnut

may be

classed as the hard

finishing houses of is

soft

woods

Any

wood.

Gum

ordinary use in

of these

also poplar, called in

woods may be

some

in this

sections white-

oil-finished,

the general formula indicated elsewhere, or any of stained.

to class.

is difficult

Pine and other resinous woods are mentioned

;

cost.

Others might be mentioned

neither hard nor soft.

same connection. as

moderate

woods

according to

them may be

Birch stains very nicely.

DOORS AND FRAMES. Door-frames,

when

rabbeted, should not be less than one

and three-eighths inch

screwed to the frame.

In that case the frame

thickness.

than one and one-eighth inch inch,

however,

better.

doors are frequently hard

wood.

thick.

wood when

are usually solid.

three-eighths

One

the others are soft

all

filled

with glass

in their

same general design

additional panel to each additional

twelve inches in excess of width of other doors Sliding doors should be

often not

One and

Sliding doors should be the

as other adjacent doors.

strip

Front doors or principal entrance

All outside doors are generally

upper panels.

Sometimes the

hung from above.

All excepting pine are best

may be

provided.

Hard-wood doors

made

of a veneer,

one-fourth inch thick on a one-and-three-eighths-inch pine body, as indicated

Fig.

35.

Sometimes doors are made

two

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

226

This

thicknesses of hard wood.

Three thicknesses are

thickness.

recommended, however, not warp

better.

The only door

lifts.

doors on the second

floor,

Transoms though

will

Transoms may be hung

and should be provided with catches, and,

high, with adjustable

Such doors

the veneered door.

others are liable to do so.

;

pivots,

not as good as a single

are

heavy or

sometimes used

this practice is less

common

Oeeticrtp o^VfepeG^i-^adlDoor"

ADocnthan

the past.

uncommon

p*fcj;r

Where doors with transoms

are used,

have the closet doors extend to the

it is

full

of the transom tops, and provide additional top panels. six feet ten inches in height, or less,

three-eighths inch

thickness,

height

Doors

and not more than one and

may be hung on two

and-one-half by three-and-one-half-inch buts. this

not

or wider than three feet, they should be

three-

higher than

hung on

three

buts or hinges.

Doors

in unfinished cellars

may be made

of two thicknesses

PRA CTICAL HO USE-B UILDING. of

seven-eighths

rooms above. door,

with

beaded

flooring

;

frames

227

same

the

seven-eighths batten

one-and-three-ei^hths-inch

frame, should be provided for man-hole in cellar.

may be

Scuttle doors, where required,

seven-eighths

inch

thick-

ness, battened.

Cuts 35, 36, style of inside

the sizes

ordinary

indicate

2>1

door and window

finish, X).

and heights being marked.

XboT-i

Doors from dining-room and

china-closet

hung on

be so

that

and slide

q*速速

to china-closet

double-spring

they

back

from

the

hinges,

swing either way

will

come

should

kitchen

The

position.

kitchen

china-

closet or dinincr-room should be huno-

the

same

ton

sash-cord,

and

provided

sash, with

pulleys,

with

plaited

cot-

and weights,

lifts

and

bolt

fastenings.

Frames DZDoor-

cr f

Stop beads

should

be provided

for

opening into bay windows, windowseats, alcoves,

and

pilasters.

and sliding doors should be secured

for glazed

with round-headed screws.

There should be corner beads

for external angles.

FLY SCREEN. In the attic,

modern house

are provided with

all

fly

outside openings, from cellar to

screens.

They

are

now made by

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

228

who make it a business to do this work, and are much They are better than those made by the ordinary carpenter. arranged so that they will slide up and down on the inside or outside stop, and are finished in every way to correspond with the other wood-work of the house. They need not be more than concerns

three-quarters of an inch in thickness strip is

A small

properly made.

secured to the stop bead, and a corresponding groove

cut in the screen frame.

spring therein holds

admits of their removal without trouble or waste of time.

hardware

cial

and

firm,

Spe-

provided for door and window screens.

INSIDE CASINGS.

The commonest way

of constructing casings at this time

indicated in Figs. 35 and 36,

one of the

dows.

This

ordinary work.

all

inch

thick,

inch thick.

One

expensive forms, and

corner and plinth blocks one and one-eighth

The

plinth block

comes

Where

the wood.

the shrinkage is

adapted

the

at the

reason that this form of casing

may be

casings are usually seven-eighths

that the corner block conceals

one

showing inside of doors and win-

least

The

inclined to

any

for

there

may be

and other casings are generally

such general use

slight shrinkage is

is,

which there

a mitred or flush joint,

Casings as elaborate as any

certain to show.

pay

bottom of the casing.

used. all

Window,

door, alcove,

of one design in a room.

All girders and projections below ceilings should be cased.

BASE.

The base-board around the room should be plain, so that it may be readily cleaned. Where it is ornamented, it adds nothing to the appearance of the room. all

plastered walls.

There should be a base

for

Generally they should be not more than

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

229

eight inches high, seven-eighths inch thick, bevelled at the top

and a quarter round

at the

bottom.

five-eighths-inch adjust-

may be put on at the top, to take up the The closet base may be formed of a plaster.

able lip

inequalities in

the

quarter round

only

have as

plastered and

little

wood-work

skimmed

to the floor.

It is

well to

as possible in the closet.

WAINSCOTING. Wainscoting kitchen, bath, and other rooms

mon

cult to

once was.

because wood-work

must necessarily be

clean.

These are

joints.

diffi-

wain-

difficult to

Panel wood-work, or other form of decoration for

wall or ceiling, tion of the

not as com-

Wherever there

keep clean than plastering.

scoting, there

keep

This

may be used

owner and the

rooms according

to the disposi-

taste of the architect.

INSIDE SHUTTERS. Inside shutters are not so universally used in as they were a few years ago. sive, are preferred,

Draperies, though more expen-

and are taking

their place.

shutters, arranged in several sections to

the

common

general use.

described

fly-screens,

roll

connection with

inside shutter

Inside sliding

and constructed according

for

Rolling slats which

thought of only

The common

plan

good houses

are

into a pocket are to

expensive dwelling.

ordinarily seven-eighths inch in

thickness, four panels wide, beaded, and cut at the meeting

and the four centre panels are provided with movable

The

special designs of inside shutters

rail

slats.

mentioned are manufac-

tured by various establishments throughout the country, and are advertised in various magazines and periodicals.

Under any

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

230

circumstances the owner

goods and

will

have to investigate proprietary

They

special furnishings for himself.

considered

work of

are not to be

this kind.

WOOD-WORK FOR PLUMBING. up

All should be put

in a

way

by the removal of screws.

accessible

make plumbing readily The pipe duct should be

located as required in the kitchen, and pass from basement to

The

attic floor.

inches.

inside

measurement should be seven by twelve

should be constructed of seven eighths-inch lumber.

may be The front

In case of stud partitions, the duct

depth allowed by studding.

full

ter,

finishing.

may

the wall the

will project into, the

same

All should be of clear lumber, the

kitchen.

used

let into

as other

ventilating opening, five inches

be provided at the top of the duct.

This

wood

diame-

may be

con-

nected with pipe and funnel, or other device, placed over the

The carpenter should provide pipe boards The following, in regard to wood-work

kitchen range. all

pipe

runs.

plumbing,

;

— Wood

rim,

£ by 2% inches

— \ by 14 inches, scurfed back Drain-board. — Shall be 22 inches long by 21

inch incline

One end

shall rest

Tables.

on sink,

— There

inches wide,

£ by

shall

;

J by

2 inches,

plain top.

;

skirt, 3

inches wide, | inch thick,

and drain.

be two tables connected with drain and sink, each

by 6 inches long, £ thick

;

skirt, 3

by £ inches.

Cleated

Secured and supported same as drain.

back.

— Sink. — Provide

Other Sinks Cellar top.

skirt,

by f cleated with two cleats at bottom. side on wall cleat, other end on turned leg.

channelled top

;

Full length of tables, sink,

;

support on cleat at back, plain oak, if -inch turned legs in front.

Splash-board.

for

from the specification of an architect:

Kitchen Sink and Fittings. 6£ inches

for

|-by-3-inch supporting rim, 2^ inches by £ inch

1 square legs.

Bath-tub.

— Case

sides

and ends with £-by-2|-inch oak board, tongued

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

231

and grooved material, secret-nailed.

Batten foot-casing, and put in in one

piece with round-headed blue screws.

Cap

Splash-board.

— Wainscoting

members

top in two

;

top.

as tub casing, 6 inches high.

Cap

inch thick.

$•

— Hinged

Water-closet. 5 inches

same

and

flap

each \ inch thick

seat,

skirt,

;

\ by

support on if turned legs in front, cleat at back.

Case water-closet tank, mould

Wash-stands.

— Provide Make

as specified for tub.

top.

supports under marble top.

Case sides same

cleated door in front of same material.

Provide

hinges and fastenings.

Tank. with

—A

tank shall be placed in

attic

;

capacity, 8 barrels.

Construct

if -inch ploughed and tongued material, with two §-inch rods, bolts, and

nuts at each end, and cleats across top at middle. In this house there shall be the following plumbing fixtures, to be fitted

up as above 1

kitchen sink, cellar sink, sink,

bath-tub,

water-closet,

wash-stand.

PICTURE MOULDINGS. Picture mouldings should be provided on

excepting those of kitchen and pantries.

all

plastered walls

usual to place

the picture moulding on a line with the top of the door

so that

comes

;

that

is,

just below the top of the corner block.

CLOSET-FITTINGS. should be seven-eighths inch

Shelves

thick,

number and

arrangement as desired.

The following hooks

a schedule from closet-fittings.

in closets as follows

One row

to cleat

on wall

One row under side One row to cleat on

—

5 feet 3

inches from

wall 3 feet 6 inches from floor in children's closets.

for closets

not, they should

floor.

of shelf.

DRAWERS FOR Drawers

Provide

are best

be modelled

CLOSETS.

made by

a cabinet-maker.

in all respects after cabinet

work.

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

232

Cedar closets are not as common as they once were. have more to place efficacy.

The

them, there

following

— Provide

Broom-rack.

from a specification

broom-holder, for sweep-broom, whisk-broom

Medicine-chest.

— Provide

inches, with \ panelled

and hinged door.

— Closet

—

broom-rack, with cast-iron

hooks

;

for dust-pan

closet a medicine-chest 8

Approved

Exposed wood-work thereof same as room Cedar-closet.

less confidence in their

space as directed

As people

lock.

which closet

be lined, ceiled, and

shall

and bucket. by 10 by 16

fitted

placed.

up with red

cedar.

Dry-box.

— Secured

on wall adjacent to kitchen range shall be placed

a drying-box for scrub-rags, brushes, etc., 8 inches

deep by 18 inches wide by

24 inches high, constructed with \ material, inside measurements.

Top, bottom, and shelves

hinged f-inch panelled door with fastening.

be perforated with £ auger-holes for passage of warm Soap-box.

— Constructed

Provide

same as dry-box.

air

shall

through the box.

Size,

inches

deep,

inches wide, 30 inches high.

Door, \ inch thick, panelled.

and connect top with kitchen or

Clock-shelf.

— Provide

Shelves, % thick,

Perforate bottom and shelves with f-inch auger-

set into sides, 3 inches apart.

holes,

Provide approved lock.

vent-flue.

moulded

8-inch

clock-shelf,

$ inch

thick,

kitchen.

Ventilator.

Clothes-chute.

Coal-chute.

Coal-bins in cellar.

CHINA-ROOM SPECIFICATION. Cupboard

(see drawing, Chapter VII.).

Lower shelves \ inch thick. Lower doors \ panelled, upper doors

— Shelves as directed below and

above.

Provide hinges and fastenings for

There

shall

be 8 inches space between f-inch top of lower section and

bottom shelf of upper section. of this

upper section

Table.

Upper door

Drawers.

shall not

shelf.

— Construction same as

Sink.

glazed.

all.

in kitchen.

come below under

side

PR A CTICAL HO USE-B UILDING.

23;

PANTRY SPECIFICATION. Cupboard

(see drawing,

Chapter VII.).

and shelves above, same as specified

Dough-board. except that

shall

Doors below

doors above. for kitchen,

be supported on brackets. be

28 inches in rear, by

Top

indicated.

— Provide constructed same as tables specified

Flour-bin. — Shall

floor.

— As

for china.

deep by 24 inches high

inches

compartments.

long,

Lumber \

cleated and hinged.

front,

Set 4 inches from

inch thick.

FLOUR-BIN.

The

flour-bin

described in the specifications

with the hinged top. fully is

that has

the old kind

been used success-

here illustrated.

The by the

Another kind

receptacle for flour

The

section.

pivoted in the manner indicated

pivot position

indicated on the drawing

by the point of the

The dotted

arrow. lines

on the section

indicate the position

of the flour recepta-

when

cle

It is

open.

The knob

shown on the draw-

ing

soon as it

pulled open by

the hand. is

falls

front. it is

r~ !ocn—bTp.

t~~ "\otsr-\jrp.

F>-or)t.

released

back into a closed position.

remains closed unless held open.

The

pivoted so that

front

drawing indicates

a flour-bin of this kind with three receptacles for flour,

and the two smaller ones

for

;

the larger one

meal and graham.

marble dough-stone can be placed on the top of a bin of kind.

there

no other room

for the bin

The this

can be placed

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

234 in

the lower section of the pantry cupboard, and can take the

The pantry cupboard

space ordinarily given one of the doors. is

illustrated

and described

Chapter VII.

BOXES FOR PANTRY SUPPLIES. These boxes are constructed on the same

They

flour-bin, just described.

row, and

may be

set

eight of these boxes, four of

and arranged

are pivoted

on a pantry

principle as the

The drawing

shelf.

them nine by twelve of x

inches,

tin,

5j,

socket

J><i,zk3<sr>.

Th e

wood.

which

into

the pivot pT-OT)t_.

and

the frame only

"T being of

â&#x20AC;˘'

indicates

These boxes are

four five by three and three-fourths inches.

in a

open

fits is

bottom,

the

that the

box can be

<3oK for- 'rhr) krY-y-JXi\^<^

lifted

and taken out and washed. takes very

held open.

little

pivot

arrangement such as

this

room, and the boxes are always closed unless

They

are so pivoted that they

Two

position as soon as released. closet

off the

would be convenient

to hold

fall

into a closed

of these boxes in a china-

bread and cake.

STAIRS.

The wood-work of the wood. Where hard wood is

stairway should always be of hard is

best of the same variety.

and one-eighth inch inches in width.

The

used

for entire finish, the stairway

The

treads should always be one

thickness,

risers

and never

may be seven-eighths

never more than seven and one-half inches or turned newel posts are in

common

use.

less

than

ten

inch thick and

in height.

Square

Winders should not

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. be used

for the

should be made.

at the

Sometimes the rear stairway

general style and design

way,

Square turns

main stairway.

as the front.

When

235

of the same

an open

it is

necessary that this should be the case.

stairway, the cellar

and

attic

stairway, or, in fact,

way, should have the treads and

risers the

vided with hand-rails.

stair-

rear

any box

box

stair-

same thickness and

general dimensions as those mentioned for the front.

they need not be of hard wood.

landing

However,

They should always be

pro-

All lumber for cellar or attic stairways

should be clear and dressed, and quite as well finished as that of any other part of the house.

When

the cellar

not plastered,

the side lining for cellar stairways should be seven-eighths-inch flooring below the first-story plastering.

be dressed on both

sides.

treads and

risers

dressed

The

This flooring should

outside cellar-way should have

one and three-fourths inch

wall should be capped, preferably with stone,

side cellar

and the out-

Where economy is necessary, oak coping and doors may be used.

door should be of

one-and-three-fourths-inch

thick.

iron.

CHAPTER GRAY FINISH.

PLASTERING.

TERING.

DOWN

GAS-PIPING.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

WHITE HARD FINISH. TIN WORK. GUTTERS.

GALVANIZED

SPOUTS.

THIMBLES.

PAINTING.

STAINING.

FLOOR FINISH.

BACK PLASVALLEYS.

HOT-AIR

GLAZING.

all

common

PLATE-GLASS.

work was almost

that time three-coat

plastering done at this time

The

first

coat

what

two coats are put on

of pine.

There should be one

wood-work

;

that

universal.

has been Before

Most of the

called " laid-on

same

time.

work.

The

last

The

laths are nearly always

for

each contact with the

nail

The mortar should

four nails to each lath.

is,

in plastering.

the

put on after these are dry.

BEV-

HARDWARE.

GLASS.

do two-coat work

PIPES.

INTERIOR

OIL FINISHING.

only within the last ten or fifteen years that

IRON-WORK.

STAINING.

CATHEDRAL

ELLED GLASS.

XXXII.

be made of the best quality of lime and sharp sand.

sufficient quantity of hair should

made smooth, and

should be floated, or the wood-work. is

The

thoroughly dry.

improper mixing of sand.

free

from chip cracks,

The

last

coat

stains,

and

Three-coat work, where each coat

allowed to become thoroughly dry,

work.

straightened to receive

should be trowelled to a smooth surface,

and when completed should be

The mortar

should be put on after the other

last coat

be used.

better than two-coat

usually a white plaster-of- Paris finish,

put on with the skim.

A than

gray finish in the past.

used more generally

put on

in place of

at the present time

the white skim coat.

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. The

natural color

smooth enough

may be made The skim coat, white or gray, may

a pleasant gray

for papering.

tint.

be tinted with fresco color at less cost than

Paper becomes necessary on a white skim

The hard white present

time,

whiteness.

finish,

237

which

not

can be papered.

finish after a short time.

commonly used

very satisfactory excepting for

This finish

its

at the

extreme

made by the use of white sand and down until only a sufficient amount of

skim rubbed and floated

the lime or skim proper remains to cement the sand to the wall.

The same kind

of a finish with gray sand

very satisfactory.

now used

Proprietary finishes for plastered walls are

They

extent in the better class of work.

some

are very hard, of water-

proof texture and of any color desired.

The

for plastering

However, some of the

ordinarily not successful.

coloring of finish

proprietary colored goods before the public are very satisfactory

when

The one

well put on.

difficulty in the

way of

their use

getting the plasterer to handle properly a thing with which

not familiar.

Back plastering

common

very cold climates, and

done by plastering on the back of the sheathing between the studding.

It is

independent of the inside plastering.

Cement pavements

floors are considered in the previous

chapter.

GAS-PIPING. Gas-pipes are placed

company which supplies the

a house before lathing.

illuminating or fuel gas furnishes

the inspection for each set of pipes. specification in use

by an

The gas

Below

given a form of

architect in a natural-gas region.

GAS. Illuminating Gas.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Provide

gas company's regulations.

and

fix

gas-pipe and fittings according to

All pipes shall be concealed, excepting where

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2*8 is

desired to attach a burner.

table below.

Fuel or Natural Gas.

Cap

pipes.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Provide and

Lights to be placed as indicated

fix

pipe and fittings according to

company's regulations. Company's certificate of approval will be required before payments are made. Cap pipes until mixers and burners are attached. Valves and connections shall be provided preparatory to mixer and burner connections. Provide connection with street mains.

TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION.

FLOORS.

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

239

TIN WORK. It

now

entirely possible to get first-class tin

The process

architectural uses.

pay only

for a tin plate

and brand.

There

very simple.

the

course

Require and

stamped with a reputable maker's name

a general effort

upon the

dealers to raise the standard of tin in this

now

plate for

number of manufacturers of of branding a

way

integrity

first-class

tin

should be painted on the under side before

part of tin-plate

and there are

;

who

are pursuing All tin

plate. it

work

leaves the shop.

GUTTERS. In the matter of general utility the hanging gutter It is is

below the eaves, where

easy to reach

sary to

parts of

all

its

overflow can injure nothing.

in case of repair.

iron gutter

made

neces-

be placed on the give very

galvanized

of No. 26 iron, in form as per Fig. 33, and

which runs four inches above the overflow

wood

There are those, however, who

object to the appearance of a hanging gutter.

remove any of the shingles or other roof covering, the

gutter need not be disturbed.

will

is ideal.

first

good

line at all times,

may

or second row of shingles or slate, and

satisfaction.

It is certainly

much

better than

tin-lined gutter.

VALLEYS AND OTHER TIN WORK. All valleys should be lined with twenty-inch

nection between

all

and counter-flashed

tin.

The

con-

roof and vertical surfaces should be flashed ;

that

is,

pieces of tin should be bent to con-

form to the vertical and horizontal surfaces, and slipped under the slate or shingles so as to lap both horizontally and vertically.

This

the

flashing.

The

counter-flashings

are

the lapped

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

240

pieces of tin which extend into the vertical surfaces, and

down

over the flashings proper. All

projects in excess of one and three-

wood-work which

eighths inch from any vertical surface, should be covered with

Hip and ridge coping should be covered with tin manner described in chapter where roofs are considered.

tin.

Down

spouts should be provided to carry the water from

The presence

roofs to the ground.

down spout

Where

necessary.

makes more than one

the house

usually take

five-inch spout will

all

not too large, one

of the water from the roof.

For a small structure a four-inch spout

Three and four inches are

all

of more than one gable in

the front part of the building frequently

pose.

the

will serve the

common

same pur-

use for carrying

water from the main roof where the continuous course of the gutter

interrupted by gables or dormers.

The

down-

cistern

spout should be provided with cut-off or preferably a switch

by a drain pipe with a dry well or

spout, which connects gutter.

Such connections should never be made with the sewer

where a down spout

intended to supply a cistern.

necting a roof with a cistern is

street

not always so

much

should be borne

mind

that

the size of the cistern which insures a

constant supply of water, as

connected with the

In con-

the

amount of roof

surface

cistern.

Porches are usually provided with two or three inch

down

spouts according to the amount of roof to be drained. Flat roofs are best

when made with

a standing seam.

admits of the expansion and contraction of the

tin

without injury

to the joint.

Copper has been extensively used on the better buildings during recent years.

of tin has rendered

its

The improvement

class of

in the quality

use unnecessary excepting for

down

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

New

spouts and ornamental purposes.

241

processes

the

manu-

and the electroplating of other sheet

facture of sheet copper,

metals with copper, promise to reduce the cost of that material for architectural purposes, so

than

When

tin.

that

be better and cheaper

will

such claims are substantiated the public

will

be informed thereof, through the usual channels. Galvanized iron does not have the general architectural uses

were

common

excess

of four

that in

For down spouts

a few years ago.

inches,

No. 26 galvanized iron should be

used.

Hot-air pipes which connect the furnace pipes in basement with the second floor are usually three and three-fourths by

twelve inches

Before they are placed,

size.

wood-work should be

lined with

should be covered with iron

contiguous

all

In frame houses the pipes

tin.

They should continue above

lath.

baseboard, with register opening on second floor and below joist

Where

with collar in basement. wall,

which they should do only

pipes run in an outside

in case of

wood

extremest emergency,

the back and sides of the pipe should be lined with several

thicknesses of asbestos paper.

zinc drain should be provided from the refrigerator to the

outside of brick wall.

comes up through the top.

This drain floor with

ordinary six-inch

answer every purpose. refrigerator

may be

tin

Thus

one inch

the

after plastering is finished.

let

into

discharge

readily placed over

putting on the last coat.

in diameter,

and

funnel-shaped opening at the

funnel

Thimbles should be provided

with brick flues.

the tube will

pipe

from the

it.

for the

plasterer

when he

Flue stops should be placed therein

These are

for stove

connections

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

242

PAINTING. Painting

not so serious a problem as

hear about people buying their thing that goes with supervision.

own

and having

it,

But even

this

and every-

paint, the lead

mixed under

not satisfactory.

their personal

After a short

When

time the paint begins to look chalky and dingy.

mixing of the paint

the

not done under the supervision of the

owner, and the result

once was.

as above stated, the painter

often

accused of dishonesty.

painter does not ordinarily have the facilities or

for properly

In order to get satisfactory

mixing colored paints.

results in painting,

we may

again

knowledge

fall

back upon the integrity

of an established manufacturer of proprietary goods,

upon ready-mixed are

made

as cheap

can be secured

Not

paints.

all

are good.

and common as possible

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

that

Most of them

but the best results

Any

from really good ready-mixed paints.

large dealer of established reputation, facturer of a cheap paint,

may

who

is,

not himself a manu-

ordinarily be relied

upon

for a

correct opinion.

Preparatory to painting, shellac.

All

all

knots should be

work should be painted with three

priming, and two following.

One

coated with coats,

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one

can always be sure of getting

the color wanted in ready-mixed paints of the best quality.

outside frames

should follow the carpenter, and prime as put up.

The

should be primed before setting.

Putty work

final color is applied.

may be done

There

all

All

painter

dressed wood-work

after first coat, or before

no advantage to be derived

painting shingles after they are put on.

The

paint gathers in a

heavy ridge on the shingle next to the butt of the one above in

way

to let the moisture lie therein, so that

this point.

will

rot at

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. may be

Brick-work

excepting that the

painted as

first coat,

specified

243

wood-work,

for

or priming, should be put on very

heavy.

Tin and iron work should be painted with one coat of metallic

Tin unexposed

paint as soon as put up.

view should

receive a second coat of metallic paint before the building

Tin work exposed to view should have two coats

completed.

of paint on a metallic prime, same as house.

EXTERIOR STAINING. Shingles should be dipped trough, so

stain

that they will drain

and then stood

Weather-boarding

brush. filled

with

stain,

Shingle stain in

and then

stain applied with a

sometimes dipped so that

set

a proprietary finish, and

Other external

a barrel.

wood-work should have two heavy coats of

into

a trough

drain

will

therein.

regularly advertised

leading periodicals.

INTERIOR STAINING.

The

staining of interior finish

satisfactory stain

times a

which

filler

now rendered

by the use of proprietary

put on direct, without

first

of cornstarch and

preferable,

used.

oil,

One

stains.

applying

Sometimes the filler.

At other

or a proprietary mixture,

or two coats of prepared

finish follows the application of the stain.

ufacturers of interior stains furnish

simple and

The

oil-

various man-

wood samples which

indicate

the variety of this material manufactured.

OIL FINISHING. All

wood

oil-finished

should

first

filled.

The

antique and acid stained effects are derived by the use of differ-

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

244 ent kinds of it

fillers,

which close the pores of the wood and stain Proprietary

the color desired.

most successfully used, prepared by

men who have put

and

may be

finish

oil

that they are generally

for the reason

their capital into the business

Such people cannot put a

purpose of getting a return.

for the

bad

fillers

permanently on the market without feeling the result

article

Therefore, those

themselves.

who

are permanently successful in

the manufacture of proprietary goods can generally be relied upon.

wood-work

In the finishing of

rubbed with dry hair-cloth, burlap, or of the the

filler

first

dead

two co

its

of prepared

one rubbed as above, and, finish

may be

under coats should be

all

oil finish if

top

should be applied

;

desired, the last left bright.

down

secured by rubbing

with fine pumice stone and water or

fine sand-paper.

the last coat

oil.

External exposed wood-work and bath-rooms

may be

finished

with a water-proof varnish by treating as above, excepting that the last coat should be a water-proof

oil finish

made by some

well-known manufacturer.

FLOOR FINISH. All manufacturers of first-class special

floor finish.

as described.

filler

Each coat

interior

finishes

prepare a

usually applied in two coats

In "such

thoroughly rubbed.

cases the

be made by washing the clean wood

filler

over

not stained.

satisfactory floor finish

may

floor with a solution of salt

and water, and afterwards saturating with paraffine wax, and then rubbing.

GLAZING. All glass should be glazier's tacks

and putty.

embedded

putty and secured with

American sheet glass

made

two

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

thicknesses

ties.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and

and double strength

single

only should be used

in a

American

cost of plate glass, which

a general idea,

per square

sheet. is

much

as double-

rule for calculating the

not strictly accurate but which gives

to calculate

thumb

four quali-

good house.

Plate glass costs about five or six times as

strength

245

on from

fifty

to seventy-five cents

foot.

CATHEDRAL GLASS.

cathedral glass proper there

namental and colored used

will

arranged

work the

In or-

different kinds of p-lass

Bevelled plate

becoming

Generally speaking, cathedral glass

geometrical forms in sash with

from twenty-five to glass leaded

per square

only one quality.

wood

may be

separations

Cathedral glass proper for such purposes costs

or muntins.

wood

not be here enumerated.

common.

quite

orlass

may

thirty-five cents a

cost almost any

foot.

selecting

separations, the best

one or two colors

to the

amount

cathedral

and most

reached by choosing the lighter

square

foot.

Cathedral

excess of a dollar

glass

for sash with

satisfactory results

tints,

may be

and not having more than

window.

HARDWARE. It is difficult if

for the

not impossible to write a general specification

hardware which goes into a house.

cannot be done

excepting by specifying particular goods, which cannot be done here.

However, a few general statements

ware may not be amiss.

The cheapest

regard to hard-

locks used should have

brass fronts and bolts, and be of the mortise pattern. locks should be provided as desired.

door and those inside the kitchen

The

price

of bronzed-faced

locks

Night-

Outside knobs of rear

may be of bronzed is not much greater

iron.

than

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

246

brass-faced locks.

made up if

not

good bronzed-iron knob has not been Therefore, the fixtures for the front door,

to this time.

all

others, should be of real bronze.

Butts of bronzed iron have been

Sash

factory.

should

locks

made which

provided

are very satis-

for

all

Slidine-door hardware should be of real bronze.

should be what

mings

flush.

known

bedroom doors

;

may be mortised may be provided be provided

buffers at for

locks

and the trim-

Sliding doors should be suspended from above

side rear doors, and,

lifts.

The

Bolts of wrought-iron should be placed on

on hangers.

sash

as "astragal" fronts,

windows.

on the inside of

desired,

all

always on the bath-room door. or otherwise, as desired. for

for all

;

transom

out-

chamber and

Such

bolts

Foot and top bolts

double doors and for sash.

transoms

all

lifts

Pivots should

as desired,

also

There should be wooden base knobs with rubber all

doors.

Double-spring hinges should be provided

doors leading to and from kitchen and china-closet or pas-

sage.

Necessary drawer hardware should be provided, and

butts, knobs,

and fastenings

for inside shutters.