several years ago, for the residence of Mr. Arthur Waller, Newtown, L.
I., has a homelike, tasteful, and picturesque appearance—particularly
now, with its neatly laid-out grounds and grown up shrubbery, which
especially befit its _pointed style_, and demonstrate the harmony that
exists between these simple _cottage_ outlines, and rural surroundings.
It is thus adapted to either a suburban or more retired country
situation.... ELEVATION, (fig. 65.)—A noticeable peculiarity is the earth
finish around the foundation, which is simply utilizing the earth from
the cellar. This is banked against the foundation, up to within six
inches of the wood, evenly graded at 45 degrees angle, and neatly covered
with closely laid turf. This conceals a roughly constructed foundation;
it insures more dryness of the cellar, and consequently of the whole
house; it guards the cellar against extreme heat in summer, and frost in
winter; and it gives such a visible breadth of bottom as to add to its
apparent strength. This earth finish around the foundation is especially
adapted to wet or clayey soils, where it is desirable to have the cellar
mostly above ground; at the same time it secures greater elevation to
the whole building.... There are marked features of dissimilarity in the
several openings, and in the details of the exterior dressing, each part
being adapted to its special purpose, and so arranged as to be in keeping
with the general design; it therefore unites harmony and beauty....
CELLAR, (fig. 66.)—The Cellar extends under the whole house; clear hight
6½ feet. The outside entrance to the cellar is by an area-way, having
stone steps and walls, with hatchway and inside doors; the hatchway
doors, when closed, being even with the sloping earth finish.... FIRST
STORY, (fig. 67.)—Hight of ceiling 9½ feet. The irregular outlines of
this plan contribute to the cheerfulness of the different apartments,
by giving opportunity for the insertion of windows where they will
command the most pleasing prospects. The principal entrance is from
the porch through double doors to the spacious hall, which adjoins the
parlor and dining-room. The Parlor has one bay and two plain windows,
with large wall space for furniture and wall decoration. The Dining-room
is conveniently arranged to connect with the principal hall, parlor,
rear lobby, large pantry, or closet, and the cellar stairway, and has a
large bay and one plain window. The Kitchen is planned to have a range,
sink, pump, wash-tubs, and the usual pipes for cold and hot water, and
is provided with two windows, situated in opposite sides of the room to
give abundant light, and afford thorough ventilation; a closet adjoins
the chimney-breast, and a cupboard is put beneath the sink. The Pantry
is of good dimensions, contiguous to both dining-room and kitchen, has
a suitable window, and is furnished with shelving. The rear entrance is
from the covered stoop to the rear lobby, and from thence to either
dining-room or kitchen.... SECOND STORY, (fig. 68.)—This story is
reached by a winding stairway from the principal hall, and contains four
good-sized chambers, a bath-room, five large closets, and the needed
passage-ways. The breast-walls are vertical to the hight of 3½ feet, and
are continued upward along the underside of the steep roof frame-work
to the ceiling, which is 8 feet high. The Bath-room is provided with a
bath-tub and seat-closet. The Tank is 1 foot 8 in. wide, 2 feet long, and
3 feet deep, and is placed in the closet adjoining the bath-room, at a
hight of 2 feet above the floor, and provided with a neat-fitting lid.
The spaces above and below the tank may be used as a closet for toweling,
etc. The _interior location_ of this tank should insure it against frost,
so long as the house is occupied by the family.... CONSTRUCTION.—The
excavations for the cellar are 2 feet deep, and the earth is used as
above described. The materials for the principal foundations may be of
the roughest stone, such as are commonly used in farm-fencing, and coarse
mortar. Very little skill is required in the construction of these walls,
as only the last, or top course, is seen from the outside, which should
be laid to a line, and levelled to receive the frame-work. The exposed
portions of the bay-window foundations are constructed of brick laid in
mortar, resting on stone-work, and leaving an interior recess or shelf,
as shown on the cellar plan. The cellar windows are of good dimensions,
and situated where they will insure sufficient light, and provide for
the complete airing of the cellar. An opening should be left in one, or
both of the chimneys, near the cellar ceiling, having a continuous flue
to the top, which will be heated by contact with the fire-places above
when in use, and produce a draft that will exhaust the poisonous vapors
always generated in cellars, and prevent them from rising through the
house to contaminate the air of the living-rooms. This cellar may be
easily and cheaply divided into separate apartments by rough planking or
otherwise, if ever desirable. The rear portion might be readily converted
into a laundry, where the wash-tubs, with their accompanying pipes, might
be placed, leaving more kitchen room, and relieving it of the steam and
general disturbance of the ever-recurring washing days. Large durable
posts are placed in the cellar, resting on large flat stones that have
been embedded in the cellar bottom, as supports for the 4 × 8-inch
girders, shown on the cellar plan by the dotted lines. By the estimate,
it will be seen that very little timber is used in the frame-work, of
which the sills and beams comprise the heavier parts. I would enforce
the importance of having the frame fitted and secured together in
a substantial manner. The beams should be bridged as described for
Design XVII.... The exterior sides of the frame-work are designed to be
inclosed with double boarding, with an intermediate lining of tarred
felting. The first covering should be milled to even thicknesses, and
put on horizontally and double nailed to each stud. The felting is next
applied in whole width strips, running from the sill to the plate. The
water-table and window-frames are next put in their places, after which
the final covering of tongued and grooved sheathing is put on vertically,
with the lower ends neatly fitted to the water-table, and the upper ends
covered with a 10-inch board forming a frieze to the cornice. The siding
should then be painted one coat in a thorough manner, when battens of 1½
inch “half round” (previously painted both sides) are firmly nailed over
the joints of the sheathing. The windows are all arranged for 1½-inch
sash, hung to iron weights with good cord, and neatly cased and moulded
on the inside; outside blinds are intended for each window above the
cellar. The cornices are constructed in the simplest manner, and the
perforated barges and finials are made as indicated by the elevation, and
placed near the extremity of the gable cornices, from which ever-varying
shadows are made against the building, producing the most delicate
and pleasing effects. It is purposely intended that the roofs of the
principal building, porch, stoop, bay, and dormer windows, shall have
sufficient pitch for shingling.... The character of the balance of the
work may be inferred from the estimate which is given in detail.—ESTIMATE:
61 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $12.20
1,278 ft. stone foundation, complete, at 12c. per ft. 153.36
5,000 brick for bays and chimneys, furnished and laid, at
$12 per M. 60.00
30 ft. stone steps and coping, at 30c. per ft. 9.00
660 yards 3-coat plastering, complete, at 28c. per yard. 184.80
3,526 ft. timber, at $15 per M. 52.89
1 sill, 4 × 8 in. 151 ft. long.
10 posts, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long.
1 plate, 4 × 6 in. 136 ft. long.
4 valleys, 3 × 7 in. 17 ft. long.
1 girder, 4 × 8 in. 16 ft. long.
13 beams, 3 × 8 in. 22 ft. long.
19 beams, 3 × 8 in. 16 ft. long.
15 beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
1 beam, 3 × 7 in. 80 ft. long.
50 rafters, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft. long.
300 wall-strips, 2 × 4 × 13, at 11c. each. 33.00
200 sheathing, 9 in., at 18c. each. 36.00
100 lbs. tarred felting, at 5c. per lb. 5.00
200 tongued and grooved sheathing, at 28c. each. 56.00
200 battens, at 6c. each. 12.00
Materials in cornices and water-table. 38.00
325 shingling-lath, 1¼ × 2 × 13, at 6c. each. 19.50
60 bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. 90.00
177 flooring, 1¼ × 9½ in., at 25c. each. 44.25
2 stoops (front and rear), complete. 80.00
2 bay-windows (with blinds), complete. 100.00
10 plain windows (with blinds), complete, at $12 each. 120.00
4 dormer windows (with blinds), complete, at $20 each. 80.00
3 cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. 18.00
Stairs, complete, $75; 24 doors, complete, at $8 each,
$192. 267.00
3 mantles, complete, $20, $10, and $6. 36.00
Shelving, etc., $12; nails, $18; painting, $110. 140.00
Plumbing and range, complete, $222.70; cartage, average
1 mile, $25. 247.70
Carpenter’s labor, not included above. 150.00
For contingencies. 55.30
---------
Total cost, complete. $2,100.00
[Illustration: Fig. 65.—ELEVATION OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 66.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 67.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 68.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
DESIGN XVII.
A HOUSE COSTING $2,200.
These plans are for a full two-story house, that will embrace the
merits of the most economical form of construction (having a floor
measurement of 24 × 28, nearly square), with symmetry of style, and
containing a very commodious and convenient interior arrangement. The
ELEVATION (fig. 69), has marked features of simplicity and refinement,
with sufficient diversity of parts to give variety and grace, without
pretentious display. We invariably recommend high foundations for
houses of this character; of course a foot in hight at the bottom will
add a foot to the hight of the whole, imparting a better appearance
externally, and on account of the better ventilation thereby afforded
to the cellar, adds greatly to the healthfulness of the interior of
the whole house. Additional steps will be required to the stoops, but
the cost of these are compensated by deductions in the excavation for
the cellar, and stone steps to the area. The large porch and double
doors, the bay and other windows, each distinctive in themselves, and
adapted to their places, similar only in conformity of character, are so
proportioned as to harmonize with each other with pleasing effect. The
pediments of the roof are so arranged that each “face” of the building
will have very nearly the same appearance of outline. The main cornice
projects two feet beyond the frame-work of the house, and is supported
by large trusses; all other cornices and window-caps have proportionate
projections, insuring heavy shadows, giving relief and finish to the
whole.... CELLAR, (fig. 70.)—Excavations for this cellar are made 2 feet
6 inches below the general surface of the ground. The Foundation-walls,
Chimneys, Girder-supports, and rear Area-walls are built as described
for Design XII., after which the earth is graded around, and up against
the foundation, so as to give such slope as will turn the water away
from the house and walks, leaving the foundation 4 feet above the final
grade.... FIRST STORY, (fig. 71.)—This story contains the principal
hall, parlor, dining or living-room, kitchen, rear lobby, three closets,
and private stairs. The principal Hall is entered from the front porch,
through large double doors, is square (10 × 10 feet), and contains the
principal stairs, which are built with a quarter circle and niche nearly
in the center of their hight, as described in Design XII. This hall
connects with the parlor through double doors; this will be found to give
an impression of amplitude that would scarcely be expected in a house of
this size. The Parlor has a large bay-window, finished with elliptical
arch and ornamental corbels, and a marble mantle. The Dining-room is
intended as the living-room of the family, and communicates with each
room and hall of the first story; has a closet under the front stairs,
and has a marble mantle. The Kitchen is provided with a large range,
two closets, sink, with cold and hot water, and closet underneath, and
communicates with the dining-room, lobby, and cellar stairway. The
rear entrance to this story is through the lobby, which has two small
windows. The private stairs are arranged to start from the rear lobby....
SECOND STORY, (fig. 72.)—The manner in which this story is divided into
rooms very much resemble a “double” house, the hall being nearly in
the center of the house, and the rooms at either side: contains hall,
two stairways, six rooms, and five closets. The hall is 5 ft. 6 in. ×
10 ft., and has seven doors leading from it to the different rooms and
private stairway. Many persons require a “study”; the room directly
above the principal hall is best adapted for such purpose, has a large
closet, and is most convenient to the stairs. The door to this room
should have ground glass upper panels, to admit light to the hall. The
Bath-room is provided with French bath-tub, seat-closet, and wash-basin.
The soil-pipe from this story will be concealed by passing down inside
one of the kitchen closets. Marble shelves, resting on stucco trusses,
are intended for each of the four principal rooms of this story....
GENERAL DETAILS.—It is intended that all the work should be done in a
workmanlike and substantial manner, of good materials, as indicated in
the estimate. All the principal timber is framed together, and raised in
the usual manner, and secured with hard-wood pins. The enclosing should
be dressed, of thoroughly seasoned materials, and nailed with 10_d._
nails. The cornices are ornamented with bold panelled brackets and dentil
courses. Each gable is provided with a circular ventilator. All roofs
are covered with charcoal tin, laid on rough boards, and have gutters
as described for Design V., at a cost of 10 cts. per running foot. The
columns of the front porch are turned, and have ornamental caps and
square pedestals. The stoop-rail is 5 inches wide, and the balusters are
scroll-sawed, of 1½-inch pine plank. The trusses under the bay-window are
large, scroll-sawed, and ornamental. The flooring should be thoroughly
dried, close-laid, and double-nailed to each beam with 10_d._ nails.
While laying the floor (having reached the center of the span of the
beams), a row of cross-bridging should be put in, in a strong manner.
In this way, the _inequalities_ of the upper surfaces of the beams,
which are always more or less sprung, will be brought _into line_ by the
flooring, and each piece of bridging will receive its relative proportion
of the weight. The tarred paper is next inserted between the outside
studding, in the manner described for Design XI., which is much cheaper
than “brick-filling,” and for many reasons more desirable. The central
partitions, that carry the principal weight, should be studded strongly
of 4-inch materials, or wall-strips set edgeways. All closet, stair,
and cross partitions may be set of 2-inch materials, or wall-strips set
flatways. This latter method saves nearly one-half of the space taken
by the partitions, which may be added to the size of the rooms, where
it frequently happens that a few inches becomes a matter of importance.
The second-story ceiling timbers are of wall-strips, put 12 inches from
centers, and a flooring of rough boards is laid over a part, to make room
for storage, etc. All sash are 1½ inches thick, and have second quality
French glass in them, and are hung with iron weights. We think there is
a good opportunity for improvement in the manufacture of window sashes,
making them air-tight, and suggest inserting the necessary rubber strips
near their edges, and especially in the lips of the check-rail—this
would effectually shut out all drafts of air, and make the unsightly
and impracticable “weather-strip” unnecessary. All stairs should have
1¼ strings and treads, and ⅞ risers, and should be so housed, glued,
and keyed, as to make them solid; squeaky stairs are abominable, and
even when assured of their safety, one feels an instinctive suspicion of
danger, and will look for treachery in every part of the house. Black
walnut panelled newel, moulded rail, and fluted balusters, are intended
for the principal flight of stairs. Setting the niche is a part of the
stair-builder’s work, and should always be included in his estimate
for stairs of this character. The trimming of the hall, dining-room,
and parlor, are of clear pine, the architraves are 8 inches wide, and
“double-moulded,” with panelled back to each window. Base 7-inch and
moulded. All other rooms have 5-inch “single trim,” with back moulding,
and base to match. All doors panelled and moulded; all room-doors have
mortise locks, and closet-doors have rim-locks, all with brass bolts
and keys; knobs and escutcheons of porcelain, and all saddles are of
hard-wood. All parts of this house that are usually painted should have
two coats of paint of the best materials, and of such colors as shall
suit the owner. All hard-wood, such as the stair-rail, bath-room finish,
and saddles, should have two coats of linseed-oil.... COST.—Contractors
everywhere differ in their estimates for work of any kind. These
differences are sometimes the result of some peculiar circumstance, but
most generally they arise through some misapprehension of fact; either
the plans are incomprehensible, or the description of them ambiguous,
leading to a variety of interpretations, and consequently a variety of
prices, some of which are too low, and some too high. The low man who
usually _proposes_ to do the best work, and the most of it, gets the
job, and executes the work in accordance with his preconceived ideas,
gets his money, and leaves the owner in possession of something he did
not expect. No one can know the extent and character of the work better
than the projector of them, who should be equally qualified to give exact
estimates of quantities and cost of everything connected with their
thorough development and execution, and thus truly fulfill his mission as
the architect of the works. Cost is one of the most interesting features
in any project, and no plan is hardly worth considering that does not
comprehend in some way the expense of its execution. Builders and others
interested in such plans, will appreciate the detailed estimates, as
furnishing the key to the whole plan, supplying the needed information as
to the real quality and character of the work.—ESTIMATE:
62 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $12.40
13,000 hard brick, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 156.00
700 yards lath and plastering, at 28c. per yard. 196.00
32 ft. stone steps, at 40c. per ft. 12.80
24 ft. stone sills, at 30c. per ft. 7.20
2,300 ft. of timber, at $15 per M. 34.50
2 sills, 4 × 7 in. 24 ft. long.
2 sills, 4 × 7 in. 28 ft. long.
4 posts, 4 × 7 in. 20 ft. long.
2 ties, 4 × 6 in. 24 ft. long.
2 ties, 4 × 6 in. 28 ft. long.
2 plates, 4 × 6 in. 24 ft. long.
2 plates, 4 × 6 in. 28 ft. long.
1 girt, 4 × 8 in. 28 ft. long.
30 beams, 3 × 7 in. 24 ft. long.
4 valleys, 3 × 7 in. 12 ft. long.
400 wall-strips, 2 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 11c. each. 44.00
230 novelty clear siding-boards, at 28c. each. 64.40
175 lbs. tarred paper, at 5c. per lb. 8.75
150 tongued and grooved flooring, at 28c. each. 42.00
130 hemlock roof-boards, 16c. each. 20.80
12 squares of tin roofing, at $7 per square. 84.00
156 ft. gutters and leaders, at 10c. per ft. 15.60
104 ft. cornice, at 40c. per ft. 41.60
1 bay-window (with blinds), complete. 75.00
12 plain windows (with blinds), complete, at $16 each. 192.00
8 cellar windows, complete, at $4 each. 32.00
1 stoop (except tin as above), complete. 70.00
27 doors, complete, at $9 each, $243; 3 stairs, complete,
$70. 313.00
2 marble mantles, and 4 shelves on trusses. 50.00
Range, plumbing, sink, bath, water-closet, and pump. 314.55
Corner-boards, base, and shelving, $32.50; nails, $20. 52.50
Cartage, average one mile. 20.00
Carpenter’s labor, not included above, $200; painting,
$100. 300.00
Incidentals. 40.90
---------
Total cost, complete. $2,200.00
[Illustration: Fig. 69.—ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 70.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 71.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 72.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
DESIGN XVIII.
A SOUTHERN HOUSE COSTING $2,200.