interior accommodation for the wants of a good-sized family. It has
an abundance of outside verandas and artificial shade, and may be
constructed at a very moderate cost.... EXTERIOR, (fig. 73.)—The style is
adapted to the Middle and Southern States, because of its elevation and
airiness, the overhanging projections of its roof, and the facility with
which wings or verandas may be added. The Tower is a conspicuous feature,
and though without any special ornamentation, it gives an expression of
unity and completeness to the whole structure. The Verandas on every
side afford protection from the sun. Many persons prefer disconnected
verandas (as shown in figs. 73 and 75), with open ends to the roofs for
the escape of the heated air that would otherwise be retained in them.
Moreover, disconnected verandas prevent the annoyance arising from the
noise made by children who are fond of running and playing upon them....
CELLAR, (fig. 74.)—This is under the kitchen wing only; is 6½ feet
deep, has two windows, an outside entrance with stone steps, and a
stairway leading to the rear entry of the first floor.... FIRST STORY,
(fig. 75.)—Hight of ceiling in the main house, 11 feet, and in the wing
9 feet. The entrance Hall, nearly square, and entered from the front
piazza through double doors, contains the main stairs, and communicates
with the parlor and dining-room. Each of these apartments communicates
with the library through large sliding-doors. The windows to these rooms
open to the floor, and are protected on the outside by the verandas.
The front parlor window is 6½ feet wide, with the sashes arranged to
slide in pockets at either side, by which means the parlor is apparently
prolonged to, and may be used with the veranda. Each of the large rooms
has fire-places and marble mantles. The closet for the dining-room is
under the main stairs. The Kitchen is in the rear wing, and separated
from the main house by the rear lobby and the pantry; it has a good-sized
double window at each side, a large pantry, and a fire-place. In the rear
entry are stairways leading to the second story and to the cellar....
SECOND STORY, (fig. 76.)—Hight of ceilings in main house, 9 feet, and
in the wing 7 feet. It is divided into six chambers, besides halls and
closets. The three larger Chambers have fire-places with marble shelves,
and two windows in each. The window in the small chamber is placed near
the ceiling, above the kitchen roof. The two Chambers in the wing are
intended as servants’ rooms, and have no communication with the main
house.... TOWER AND ATTIC.—The Tower has an inclosed stairway, with
a door at the foot. The main roof finish at the rear of the tower is
leveled even with the main ridge, inclosing the intervening space; this
affords room for a door leading from the tower to the attic. This story
is thoroughly floored, and has small windows in each gable, and is useful
as a place for storage. In cases of necessity, a portion of this attic
may be used for bedrooms.... CONSTRUCTION.—The Cellar excavations are
made in the ground 4½ feet deep, and for the underpinning of the main
house one foot. The loose earth is used in grading, raising the surface
immediately surrounding the foundation 8 inches. The foundation walls
are 8 inches thick, of hard brick and good mortar. The cellar walls
are 6½ feet high, and the underpinning 3 feet 2 inches high, leaving
an exposed surface 18 inches high at completion. Only the portions of
the foundation plan, shown darker in the plan, fig. 74, are walled, the
intervening spaces being left open for the free circulation of air.
The general character of the materials to be used in the construction
of this house (a large portion of which is milled, and manufactured
ready for use,) may be inferred from the appended estimate. The manner
of putting these materials together is of great importance, and should
be entrusted only to skillful and thorough workmen. The details of
the exterior finish are so plain, that the work of “getting out” the
several parts may be done by the mechanics employed in building, without
recourse to the scroll-saw or carver. The truss-work of the cornices,
and the open frame-work, and columns of the verandas, are of dressed
timber, and stop-chamfered. All the roofs have sufficient pitch to allow
the use of shingles, which are much lighter and cooler than slate or
metal. Veranda roofs so constructed do not reflect so much heat into
the chamber windows as others, which is important in a warm climate....
VENTILATION.—Large window openings, with easy working sashes, are
provided, and afford the best means of changing the air of any apartment.
The chimneys are large, and have open fire-places, and ventilating
side-flues with registers near the ceilings. These openings, which should
never be closed, will be found to afford satisfactory ventilation. During
seasons of extreme heat, the tower may be made to serve as a general
ventilator, by lowering the upper sashes, and opening all the doors
leading to it. The following estimate includes everything necessary to
complete this building in a thorough manner, at prices now ruling in the
vicinity of New York.—ESTIMATE:
61 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $12.20
15,000 bricks, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 180.00
26 ft. stone steps and sills, at 30c. per ft. 7.80
700 yards plastering, at 28c. per yard. 196.00
6,112 ft. of timber, at $15 per M. 91.68
Sills, 4 × 8 in. 247 ft. long.
1 tie, 4 × 6 in. 247 ft. long.
1 plate, 4 × 6 in. 247 ft. long.
7 posts, 4 × 7 in. 22 ft. long.
4 posts, 4 × 7 in. 34 ft. long.
1 ridge, 2 × 7 in. 40 ft. long.
1 ridge, 2 × 7 in. 30 ft. long.
78 beams, 2 × 8 in. 16 ft. long.
34 beams, 2 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
39 beams, 2 × 7 in. 16 ft. long.
15 beams, 2 × 7 in. 11 ft. long.
1 piazza, 2 × 7 in. 375 ft. long.
2 valleys, 3 × 8 in. 16 ft. long.
100 joist, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 16c. each. 16.00
400 wall-strips, 2 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 11c. each. 44.00
420 siding, 6½ in. wide 13 ft. long, at 26c. each. 109.20
Materials in cornices and verandas. 40.00
120 hemlock boards (for main house), at 15c. each. 18.00
236 pine boards for roofing, 4½ × 13, at 18c. each. 42.48
67 bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. 100.50
Finial on tower. 8.00
168 Flooring for verandas, 4½ in. wide, at 20c. each. 33.60
360 flooring for inside, 9½ in. wide, at 26c. each. 93.60
Stairs, $70; closet finish, $20. 90.00
2 cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. 12.00
28 windows, at $10, $280; 32 doors, at $9, $288. 568.00
3 mantles, $25 each, $75; 3 shelves, $6 each, $18. 93.00
224 ft. gutters and leaders, at 8c. per ft. 17.92
Nails, $22; painting, $125; carting, $25. 172.00
Carpenter’s labor, not included above. 200.00
Incidentals. 54.02
---------
Total cost, complete. $2,200.00
[Illustration: Fig. 73.—VIEW OF EXTERIOR OF A SOUTHERN HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 74.—CELLAR AND GROUND PLAN.]
[Illustration: Fig. 75.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 76.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
DESIGN XIX.
A STONE HOUSE, COSTING $2,500.
This plan has many features to commend it as an economical country
house. It is similar in many respects to Design XXVII., having an equal
breadth of front, and is constructed of like substantial materials.
The arrangement of the several parts, however, are more regular and
compact, and embrace accommodations for a good-sized family.... EXTERIOR,
(fig. 77.)—At first sight, the reader will perceive the perfect balance
apparent in the outlines and details of the front. Variety is also an
especial feature, resulting from the pleasing diversity and systematic
distribution of the prominent parts. The site has much effect upon the
appearance of any building. This house should have a commanding position
to afford such views as would seem to be expected from its broad and
generous windows. Health and happiness being largely dependent on
the situation, it is important to select a position having a natural
drainage, and therefore more likely to be surrounded with pure wholesome
air.... CELLAR, (fig. 78.)—Hight 6½ feet. The plain engraving saves the
need of further explanation. The ceiling is smoothly “laid off” with
one coat of plaster, and the walls are flush-pointed, so that the whole
interior may be whitewashed whenever it shall be desirable to lighten
or sweeten the cellar.... FIRST STORY, (fig. 79.)—As is suggested by
the exterior, system and order are prominent features in the interior
arrangement. The main entrance is through double doors. The principal
hall is central and roomy, and contains the open and balustered stairway
to the second story. The two principal rooms are of equal size, with
outlooks front and rear. The Parlor has a pleasant bay or plant window,
arranged to be shut off, when desirable, by large sash doors. This window
has no floor, but is cemented around its sides below the floor-line, to
secure dryness to the walls, and is filled with earth wherein plants
may be grown. The thick masonry surrounding this plant-bed will secure
it from frost. The temperature required to make the parlor comfortable
will be sufficient for the plants, while the strong sunlight will
insure their vigorous growth. A mirror may be placed on the mantle
opposite this window, arranged to reflect its contents, and make a most
cheerful picture.—The Living-room is a convenient apartment, in easy
communication with the front and rear entrances, the wood-house, and
cellar-stairs, passing down under the front hall stairs. It has a large
pantry, and is provided with a range, sink, stationary wash-tubs, water,
and waste-pipes. The importance of having cold and hot water always
ready should not be overlooked. Very much of the drudgery of housework
in the country consists in drawing and carrying water, and besides, it
generally happens that when water is most wanted, the vessels are empty,
necessitating great inconvenience and frequent distress.—The Bedroom is
situated between the parlor and living-room, and communicates with both,
and has a good-sized closet. This apartment may be used as a sewing-room,
where such work need not be put away every time it is laid down for a
moment. The Wood-house at the rear is constructed of light materials,
and serves as a fuel and utensil room.... SECOND STORY, (fig. 80.)—This
story is divided into five chambers, a hall, and seven closets. Each room
is entered directly from the hall, obviating the too frequent necessity
of passing through one room to reach another. Closets are a necessity
to any well ordered household; their uses are so numerous that it is
hardly possible to provide too many.... REMARKS ON CONSTRUCTION.—The
element of durability is an important quality of this structure, avoiding
the necessity and expense of frequent repairs. The exterior walls are
constructed of stone and brick, as described in Design XXVII. Care should
be taken to make these walls perfectly solid and thorough. The mortar
used should be of the best lime, and coarse, sharp sand. Such mortar
improves with age, always increasing in hardness and strength. The brick
corner-work may be laid in dark or blue mortar with good effect in
subduing the strong contrasts in color. Interior plastering should never
be applied directly to the stone-work. Such walls do not readily conform
to the sudden changes of the surrounding temperature, and are rendered
damp and unwholesome from the moisture of the air being condensed upon
them. They should be furred off, leaving an air-space between the
stone-work and plastering, through the whole hight of the wall, and
opening into the spaces between the rafters of the roof. Side-walls
constructed in this manner afford a most comfortable interior, having a
more equal temperature than is possible in the usual frame building, and
neither the severe cold of winter, nor the extreme heat of summer, is
immediately felt within. The chimneys are of hard brick; their interior
location insures a great saving of fuel, as the heat that is radiated
from them greatly assists in warming the house. The principal roofs are
covered with dark slate. “Keystone” and “Chapman” are good qualities,
and are mostly used in this vicinity; they have good color, and do not
fade. A good effect is produced by clipping the exposed corners of about
one-third of the slate, in a uniform manner, and laying them in belts of
five or six courses each across the roof.
ESTIMATE OF THE COST:
111 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $22.20
171 perches stone-work, at $2.75 per perch. 470.25
103 ft. stone sills and steps, at 30c. per ft. 30.90
2,000 bricks in angles, etc., at $12 per M., laid. 24.00
4,000 bricks in chimneys, at $12 per M., laid. 48.00
660 yards plastering, at 28c. per yard. 184.80
80 yards plastering in ceiling of cellar, at 20c. per yard. 16.00
3,367 ft. of timber, at $15 per M. 50.50
2 girders, 4 × 8 in. 32 ft. long.
4 plates, 4 × 8 in. 11 ft. long.
2 purlins, 4 × 8 in. 38 ft. long.
1 ridge, 2 × 6 in. 29 ft. long.
1 ridge, 2 × 6 in. 22 ft. long.
44 beams, 3 × 8 in. 13 ft. long.
22 beams, 3 × 8 in. 11 ft. long.
40 rafters, 2 × 5 in. 19 ft. long.
4 valleys, 3 × 7 in. 21 ft. long.
18 collars, ¼ × 5 in. 14 ft. long.
230 wall-strips, at 11c. each. 25.30
130 furring strips, at 6c. each. 7.80
Anchors, of tire iron, $3; cornice materials, $30. 33.00
300 shingling-lath, at 6c. each. 18.00
Rear wing, exclusive of tin, complete. 100.00
20 squares of slate, at $9 per square. 180.00
32 hemlock boards, at 16c. each. 5.12
3½ squares of tin, at $7 per square. 24.50
60 ft. of leaders and gutters, at 10c. per ft. 6.00
213 flooring, 8 inch, at 25c. each. 53.25
Stairs, complete. 70.00
Piazza and stoop, exclusive of tin, complete. 80.00
6 cellar windows, complete, at $5 each. 30.00
17 plain windows, complete, at $10 each. 170.00
4 dormer windows, complete, at $18 each. 72.00
27 doors, complete, at $9 each. 243.00
4 mantles, 2 marble and 2 wooden, complete. 62.00
Closet finish, complete. 18.00
Range and plumbing, complete. 150.00
Nails, $14; painting, $60; cartage, $15. 89.00
Carpenter’s labor, not included above. 125.00
Incidentals. 91.38
---------
Total cost, complete. $2,500.00
[Illustration: Fig. 77.—FRONT VIEW OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 78.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 79.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 80.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
DESIGN XX.
A COUNTRY HOUSE, COSTING $2,600.
This plan is somewhat similar in style and materials to Design XXIV.
The changes here indicated adapt it to a more southern climate, such as
larger window openings, more piazzas, and placing the domestic rooms at
the _rear_ of the main building.... EXTERIOR, (fig. 81.)—“Double front”
houses (as those having their front entrance in the center are usually
called), may face any point of compass, and are adapted to almost any
situation. They appear best when located at sufficient distance from
the road to allow extended, neatly laid-out approaches, and thus give
an air of retirement.... CELLAR, (fig. 82.)—Hight, 7 feet. Full size
of the main building, with window openings on every side.... FIRST
STORY, (fig. 83.)—Hight of ceilings in main house, 11 feet; in the
wing, 9 feet. The apartments embraced in the main house are unusually
large, airy, and pleasant. All the windows open down to the floor, and
are protected from sun and rain by the piazza. The Hall has a wide
entrance leading from the piazza, and contains the principal flight of
stairs. The Parlor and Living-room are of equal size (14 × 24 feet),
have windows looking in three directions, and have open fire-places
in each. The rear entry occupies part of the main house and wing, its
hight of ceiling is determined by the platform of the main stairs. It
communicates conveniently with the rear piazza, main hall, living-room,
kitchen, cellar-stairs, and a closet. In the Wing are a kitchen,
work-room or summer-kitchen, butler’s pantry, and two closets. The
Kitchen communicates with the living-room through the butler’s pantry,
which is “dresser-finished” with drawers and shelving. The work-room is
furnished with a pump, sink, and two stationary wash-tubs. If desired, a
bath-room may be placed in this wing, and fitted up with the necessary
plumbing, as shown in Design XXXIII.... SECOND STORY, (fig. 84.)—Hight of
ceiling, 9 feet. A hall, three chambers, a bedroom, and four closets are
the divisions of this story. The stairs leading to the attic are placed
above those of the first story, with a door at the foot.... ATTIC.—The
estimate provides for a floor in this, and for casing the four pair of
windows, but it is otherwise left unfinished. Four or more bedrooms may
be made in this story if desired.... CONSTRUCTION.—The materials are
indicated in the estimate. The foundation-walls show 2 feet above the
ground. The timber is framed and raised in the most thorough manner.
The beams are placed 2 feet apart from centers, and bridged with one
row of “cross-bridging” in each span. Observe that the main posts are
25 feet long; this includes the whole hight from bottom of sills to top
plates, and allows for four feet of inside breastwork from the attic
floor to foot of main rafters. The main roof is set at an angle of 45°.
The “open-worked” barges in the pediment (fig. 81), are of 1¼-inch-plank,
16 inches wide, pierced in simple figure, and require only one set of
patterns for the four gables. The piazza-rafters show in their ceilings.
Perforated pediments in each side allow the escape of heated air from
under the roofs. The columns are “boxed” 7 inches square, and chamfered.
The spandrels are scroll-sawed from 3-inch timber. The two full stories
are hard finished on two coats of brown mortar and seasoned lath. All
doors are panelled, and all architraves in the main house are double
moulded; in the wing single moulded. All sashes are 1½ inch thick, and
glazed with second quality French glass. The parlor and living-room
have marble mantles; the chambers have marble shelves resting on stucco
trusses. The main stairs have an 8-inch octagon newel, a 2¼ × 4¼ moulded
hand-rail, and 2-inch fluted balusters, all of black walnut, as also
are the saddles to each room. All knobs, roses, and escutcheons are of
white porcelain. All wood usually painted has two coats of best paint, in
shades to suit the owner’s taste.
ESTIMATE OF COST:
137 yards excavation, complete, at 20c. per yard. $27.40
52 perches stone-work, at $2.75 per perch. 143.00
6,000 brick, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 72.00
44 ft. blue-stone, at 30c. per ft. 13.20
623 yards plastering, complete, at 28c. per yard. 174.44
7,126 ft. timber, at $15 per M. 106.89
1 sill, 4 × 8 in. 205 ft. long.
10 posts, 4 × 8 in. 25 ft. long.
2 girders, 4 × 8 in. 25 ft. long.
1 tie, 4 × 6 in. 124 ft. long.
1 plate, 4 × 6 in. 205 ft. long.
1 piazza, 3 × 5 in. 332 ft. long.
90 beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
15 beams, 3 × 8 in. 17 ft. long.
4 valleys, 3 × 8 in. 23 ft. long.
40 rafters, 3 × 5 in. 20 ft. long.
1 piazza, 3 × 8 in. 370 ft. long.
500 wall-strips, at 11c. each. 55.00
360 siding, at 28c. each. 100.80
Materials in cornices, corner-boards, etc. 40.00
360 shingling-lath, at 6c. each. 21.60
65 bunches shingles, at $1.50 each. 97.50
134 hemlock boards, at 16c. each. 21.44
15 squares tin roofing, gutters, and leaders, at 7c. per ft. 105.00
360 flooring, at 28c. each, $100.80; stairs, complete, $90. 190.80
Piazzas, except roofing, complete. 150.00
8 cellar windows, $48; 30 windows, $300. 348.00
28 doors, complete, at $10, $280; closet finish, $20. 300.00
Mantles and shelves, $75; nails, $20. 95.00
Painting, complete, $150; cartage, $35. 185.00
Pump, sink, and range, $60; incidentals, $42.93. 102.93
Carpenter’s labor, not included above. 250.00
---------
Total cost, complete. $2,600.00
The following detailed estimate of the cost of windows and doors,
“complete,” are given in explanation as to what is included in the
foregoing and other lists, viz.:
_First-class Windows_, complete.—For a 2-7 × 6-2 window, with panelled
back, and full double trim, viz.:
22 ft. running lumber in frame, at 4c. $0.88
4 pulleys. .14
28 lbs. iron weights, at 2½c. .70
Sash cord, 8c.; screws, 3c. .11
22 ft. of 8-inch trim, at 8c. 1.76
Panelled back materials. .48
Sash, glazed, counter-checked, and hung. 2.80
Blinds, with fastenings. 1.80
Materials in outside cap. .64
Nails, 8c.; labor, $4. 4.08
------
Total. $13.39
_Second-class Windows_, complete.—For a 2-7 × 5-2 window, with plain
single moulded trim, viz.:
20 running ft. of lumber in frame, at 4c. $0.80
4 pulleys, at 40c. per dozen. .14
26 lbs. sash-weights, at 2½c. .65
Sash-cord. .08
Screws. .03
16 ft. of 5-inch trim, at 5c. .80
Sash, glazed, counter-checked, and hung. 2.16
Blinds, with fastenings. 1.56
Nosing, apron, and drip. .30
Nails, 6c.; labor, $2.50. 2.56
-----
Total. $9.08
Where there are an equal number of each class, I should put their cost at
$11.23 each, and where the second class preponderates, as is usually the
case, the _average_ price is reduced accordingly:
_First-class Doors_, complete.—Double-faced, 2-8 × 7 ft., full trimmed:
Door, 4-panelled, at factory. $2.50
20 ft. running trim, 8 in., at 21c. 4.20
Saddle. .15
Buts and screws. .16
Locks and knobs. .50
22 running ft. base, at 9c. 1.98
Nails, 6c.; labor, $3. 3.06
------
Total. $12.55
_Second-class Doors_, complete.—Single-faced, 2-6 × 6-8, single trim:
Door, 4-panelled, at factory. $1.90
18 ft. running trim, at 15c. 2.70
Saddle. .15
Buts and screws. .15
Locks and knobs. .35
22 running ft. base, at 7c. 1.54
Nails, 5c.; labor, $2. 2.05
-----
Total. $8.84
It will be noticed that the item for Base is included in above estimate
for doors. The figures (22 feet) are an average per door, deduced from
careful calculations, and are introduced here for the purpose of aiding
any one in readily making up an estimate for a whole building.
[Illustration: Fig. 81.—ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 82.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 83.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 84.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
DESIGN XXI.
A FARM-HOUSE COSTING $2,600.