They are especially adapted to situations where the more pleasant views
are to the rear, making it desirable to have the principal rooms on that
side of the house.... EXTERIOR, (fig. 121.)—The Swiss-like style is
due to its bold roofs, wide projections, and rustic details of finish,
there being no attempt at architectural display.... FIRST STORY, (fig.
122.)—The Hall, which is unusually large, is entered from the front porch
through double doors, contains the main stairs, and communicates with
the library, parlor, dining-room, and a passage leading to the kitchen.
A Closet is finished under the stairs opening from the passage. The
Library is nearly square, with openings in the center of each of its
four sides, and is divided from the parlor by large folding-doors. The
Parlor is of good dimensions, has large windows opening to the floor,
and leading to the piazza. The Piazza is 12 feet wide, affording shade
and ample protection from storms, and may be used in pleasant weather
to enlarge the capacity of the parlor. The Dining-room is entered from
the main hall, and communicates through the pantry with the kitchen. The
Kitchen has windows front and rear, giving a good circulation of air,
and is furnished with a range, boiler, sink, and pump, connected with
the necessary piping, with supply from the cistern. Private stairways
lead to the second story, and to the cellar; the necessary pantries are
provided. The one-story Addition is divided into three parts, making
a work-room or shed, inclosing the well, a servant’s bed-room, and a
store-pantry.... SECOND STORY, (fig. 123.)—This story contains a hall,
five good-sized chambers, seven closets, and a bath-room. The hall has
nine doors leading to the several apartments, two stair landings, and a
window, while it occupies but little space. The Bath-room has a bath-tub,
seat-closet, and pipes for cold and hot water.... ATTIC, (fig. 124.)—A
hall and two chambers are finished in this story. The stairs leading to
it are inclosed, and have a door at the foot. The hall is lighted by a
dormer window in one end. At the opposite end a door leads to the space
under the wing-roof, where the tank is placed, immediately above the
bath-room.... CONSTRUCTION.—The hight of the cellar is 6½ feet, of the
first story 10½ feet, of the second story 8 feet, of the attic 7 feet.
The foundations are of brick-work, and show two feet above the final
grades. The chimneys are of brick-work, and have six open fire-places,
with hearths to each, adapted to the use of either wood or coal fuel.
The plastering is “hard-finish” on two coats of brown mortar. Stucco
cornices and centers, of simple design, are put in the first story of
the main house. Marble shelves with stucco truss-supports are put above
each fire-place. A well and cistern are included in the estimate. The
depth of the former is put at 30 feet, as the average. To avoid the
danger of the caving in of the sides while digging, it is best to make
the excavation 4½ ft. _square_ (not circular, as is usually really done.)
Rough planks, 4½ feet long, with their ends notched half way across,
are slid in to lock with each other closely against the banks, as the
excavation proceeds, making this part of the work perfectly safe in any
kind of earth. The depth of the well should be sufficient to secure at
least four feet of spring water. Of course it would be impracticable
to lay the brick-work under water that depth, and therefore a circular
curb 3 feet 3 inches in diameter, and 6 feet long (inside measure) must
be made of ordinary boards, with an interior 4-inch timber rim at the
bottom, and let down into the well as soon as water is reached. The
_rim_ forms the foundation of the brick-work. After laying a few courses
around, say to the hight of one or two feet, their added weight will
force them (curb and all) downwards under the water as fast as the
depth is increased. The clear inside diameter, when finished, is 2 feet
10 inches; the top courses of brick, to the depth of 3 feet, should be
laid in cement mortar; all others laid “dry.” The Cistern is constructed
entirely of brick and cement mortar, in the earth; 7 feet across, and
8 feet deep in the clear. The frame of the house is of spruce timber,
siding of clear pine, beveled clapboards, laid on sheathing-felt. Roofing
of cedar shingles, laid “three thick” on spruce lath. The cornices have
projections of two inches for each foot of their hight from the ground,
which is appropriate for buildings of this character, and is double
that of the usual styles. These projections are ceiled underneath with
tongued and grooved boards, and bracketed with chamfered timber trusses.
Openings are made through the gable cornices to allow for the escape of
heated air from under the roof. The flooring is of 9-inch tongued and
grooved spruce plank. All windows above the cellar have 1½-inch sash, and
outside blinds. Doors are panelled and moulded. The inside trimmings are
quite plain, single moulded, with bold members. The upper frame-work of
the piazza is left exposed on the underside, and is neatly dressed and
chamfered. The first-story stairs are strongly constructed of pine, with
newel, rail, and balusters of black walnut.
ESTIMATE of materials and labor:
93 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $18.60
30 ft. digging well, at $1 per ft. 30.00
19,000 bricks (cellar foundation, chimneys, cistern, and
well,) furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 228.00
4 barrels cement, at $2.50 per barrel. 10.00
1,200 yards plastering, at 28c. per yard. 336.00
5,974 ft. of timber, at $15 per M. 89.61
1 girt, 4 × 8 in. 32 ft. long.
8 posts, 4 × 7 in. 20 ft. long.
45 beams, 2 × 8 in. 12 ft. long.
30 beams, 2 × 8 in. 17 ft. long.
35 beams, 2 × 8 in. 11 ft. long.
1 sill, 4 × 8 in. 313 ft. long.
1 plate, 4 × 6 in. 313 ft. long.
61 beams, 2 × 8 in. 20 ft. long.
20 beams, 2 × 8 in. 13 ft. long.
2 girts, 4 × 6 in. 30 ft. long.
700 wall-strips, at 11c. each. 77.00
500 clapboards, at 14c. each. 70.00
350 shingling-lath, at 6c., $21; 9,650 shingles, at 2c., $193. 214.00
150 ft. gutters, valleys, and leaders, at 10c. per ft. 15.00
1,500 ft. dressed lumber in cornices, at 4c. 60.00
513 flooring, at 27c., $138.51; 30 windows, at $12, $360. 498.51
250 lbs. felt, at 5c., $12.50; 35 doors, at $10, $350. 362.50
5 marble shelves, at $6, $30; stairs, $100. 130.00
Closet finished, $50; well-curb, $12. 62.00
Range and plumbing, $280; nails, $20. 300.00
Carting, average 1 mile, $40; painting, $230. 270.00
Carpenter’s labor, $250; incidentals, $78.78. 328.78
---------
Total cost, complete. $3,100.00
[Illustration: Fig. 121.—ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 122.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 123.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 124.—PLAN OF ATTIC.]
DESIGN XXX.
A FRAME AND BRICK FARM-HOUSE COSTING $3,300.
These designs represent a farm-house having an air of substantial comfort
and refinement, and affording ample space and convenience for a large
family.... EXTERIOR, (fig. 125.)—This style admits of the simplest
and most economical finish, is susceptible of almost any degree of
irregularity, and is therefore suitable for the greater number of rural
buildings. The indestructible covering of the side-walls and roofs has
the merit and appearance of permanency.... CELLAR, (fig. 126.)—The
central division is 7 feet high, has five windows, and outside door,
and a stairway leading up to the kitchen. The girders under the first
floor beams are supported on large posts, standing on firmly-imbedded
flat stones.... FIRST STORY, (fig. 127.)—Hight of the ceilings, 11 feet
in main house, and 9 feet in the one-story wings at the side and rear.
The parlor, sitting-rooms, kitchen, and front hall, are in the main
house. The rear wing contains a summer kitchen, bath-room, and a large
kitchen pantry. The side wing is divided into a bed-room, clothes-press,
and pantry. The Parlor, Sitting-room, and Bed-room face the front. The
Kitchen is the largest apartment, and is arranged to be used as the
Living-room. It has windows in each end, an outside door leading to
a pleasant veranda, is in direct communication with the front hall,
sitting-room, summer kitchen, two pantries, and the cellar stairs. The
Summer Kitchen, intended to relieve the larger room of the heavier work,
is furnished with a range, boiler, sink, pump, and wash-tubs, and has
an outside door. The Bath-room is situated at the side of the summer
kitchen, and contains a bath-tub and a seat-closet. A tank 3 × 3 × 6
feet, is placed between the ceiling and roof of this wing, and arranged
to receive rain-water from the main roof. A force-pump is set near the
iron sink, and arranged to supply water from the cistern to the tank,
when the rain supply is exhausted. It will be observed that all the
plumbing apparatus is placed in close proximity, thus insuring economy
in the cost of their introduction, and also that their location prevents
any serious injury that might arise from a chance bursting, or through
carelessness. No windows are shown at the rear of the summer kitchen,
or bath-room, this space being reserved for any additions that may be
desired for fuel, etc.... SECOND STORY, (fig. 128.)—Hight of ceilings,
9 feet. There are five chambers, a hall, and two closets in this story.
Each chamber is of good dimensions, well lighted (twelve windows in
this story,) and may be warmed if required, either by stoves placed in
them or through pipes inserted in the flues for the introduction of hot
air from heaters in the first story, as described for Design XXXII....
ATTIC.—A flight of stairs, located above those of the first story, and
inclosed with narrow ceiling, with a door at the foot, leads to the
garret or attic. This story is thoroughly timbered and floored, but
otherwise unfinished.... CONSTRUCTION.—The foundation walls are of broken
stone, laid in good mortar, 18 inches thick, and show 2 feet above the
final grade of the surrounding earth. The materials of the frame are
indicated in the estimate below, and are framed together, and raised in
the usual manner, except that the sills are placed 4 inches back from
the face of the foundation, to provide a footing for the water-table and
brick inclosing. The _inside_ of the exterior frame is roughly ceiled
around with hemlock boards, which are thoroughly nailed to the studding,
bringing them “into line,” and making them firm. The method of inclosing
the sides of the building is shown in fig. 129. _A_ is the foundation;
_B_ the water-table; _C_ the brick wall; _D_, inside boarding; _E_, _E_,
_E_, timber of the frame. The water-table, of dressed stone, is laid on
the foundation in cement mortar. The brick are laid in “stretchers,” in
good lime and sand-mortar, with close joints. Anchor nails (fig. 130) are
driven in each stud in contact with the upper surfaces of every fifth
course of brick, as shown in the sketch. The window sills are of smoothly
dressed stone, set in the regular manner. The window and door frames
are made as for 8-inch brick-work. The heads are arched over with brick
projecting half an inch beyond the face of the walls, forming a coping
to the windows. The anchor nails are made of ordinary galvanized ⅛-inch
fence-wire; 6 inches long is required for each nail, 1 inch of both ends
being bent at a right angle, and one end is flattened to be easily driven
into the studding, and the opposite end is imbedded in the joints of
the brick-work. These nails are best applied by a carpenter employed to
accompany the masons in their work. This mode of building exterior walls
may be new to many persons, but it has been demonstrated and proved to be
thoroughly practical, and for many reasons preferable to the usual “solid
brick” wall; it is less expensive, does not retain moisture, requires
no “furring off,” or “filling in,” and attachments of cornices, stoops,
or balconies, are easily made to connect with the inside frame work....
The main and wing roofs are covered with dark 8 × 16-inch slate, laid 7
inches to the weather. Mason’s lath are put on the inside boarding in
a vertical manner, 16 inches apart, and the interior of the two full
stories is lathed, plastered, and otherwise fully completed.
ESTIMATE OF COST:
157 yards excavation, 4 feet deep, at 20c. per yard. $31.40
60 perches stone foundation, at $2.75 per yard. 165.00
44 ft. stone steps and cellar window-sills, at 30c. per ft. 13.20
278 feet dressed stone-sills and water-table, at 75c. per ft. 208.50
31,000 brick furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 372.00
925 yards plastering, at 28c. per yard. 259.00
Stucco cornices. 30.00
6,707 ft. timber, at $15 per M. 100.60
Sills 4 × 8 in. 252 ft. long.
Plates, 4 × 6 in. 252 ft. long.
Ties, 4 × 6 in. 324 ft. long.
Girders, 4 × 8 in. 46 ft. long.
10 posts, 4 × 7 in. 23 ft. long.
70 beams, 3 × 8 in. 22 ft. long.
21 beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
8 beams, 3 × 8 in. 13 ft. long.
1 piazza, 3 × 7 in. 122 ft. long.
1 piazza, 3 × 5 in. 70 ft. long.
100 joist, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 16c. each. 16.00
400 wall-strips, at 11c. each. 44.00
600 hemlock boards, for sheathing and roofing, at 16c. each. 96.00
Cornice materials, $70; 21 squares slate, at $9, $189. 259.00
436 ft. tinning, gutters, and leaders, at 8c. per ft. 34.88
500 flooring, 9-inch spruce, at 26c. each. 130.00
Stairs, complete, $90; piazzas, $130. 220.00
5 cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. 30.00
33 windows, above cellar, complete, at $10. 330.00
25 doors, at $10, $250; range and plumbing, $250. 500.00
3 mantles, $75; closet finish, $25. 100.00
Painting, $113.66; cartage, $30. 143.66
Carpenter’s labor, not included above. 200.00
Incidentals. 16.76
---------
Total cost, complete. $3,300.00
[Illustration: Fig. 125.—ELEVATION OF HOUSE.]
[Illustration: Fig. 126.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 127.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 128.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 129.—MANNER OF BUILDING.]
[Illustration: Fig. 130.—ANCHOR NAIL.]
DESIGN XXXI.
A HOUSE COSTING $3,700.
The plans here given are somewhat peculiar in arrangement, intended for
a compact and economical residence or parsonage, containing thirteen
rooms, ample halls, eleven closets, large cellar, heater, range, cold
and hot water, and, in fact, all the necessary modern improvements
suitable for the uses of a good-sized family.... EXTERIOR.—The general
outline is nearly square, 26 × 30 feet, affording the most simple and
economical form of construction, and embraces a much better opportunity
for the most desirable distribution of rooms. The porch, bay-window,
and lobby, provide projections that serve to break up and relieve the
monotony usually observed in square buildings. Three elevations (figs.
131, 132, 133,) are given, from which choice can be made, according to
the situation of the building.... INTERIOR.—It will be observed that
the arrangements of the interior partake very much of the character
of a “double house,” particularly in the upper stories.... CELLAR,
(fig. 134.)—The Cellar extends under the whole house, and contains the
heater and bins for coal, etc. The Heater (“portable”) is arranged to
provide warm air to each room in the two principal stories, except the
kitchen.... FIRST STORY, (fig. 135.)—The Entrance, or Reception Hall, is
large, and contains the principal stairway of the house, so arranged
that the quarter-circle is about midway of their hight, placing the niche
down, where it adds greatly to the good appearance of the hall. The
principal rooms, Parlor and Dining-room, where it is usual for the family
to congregate, are large and accessible. Each has a large bay-window,
adding to its area, and supplying a pleasant outlook. The Kitchen
adjoins the dining-room and the rear entrance, or lobby, and has direct
communication with the cellar-stairway through a door. It is provided
with a range, boiler, sink, pump, and wash-tubs, complete. The Lobby,
or rear entrance, is arranged to connect by doors with the dining-room,
kitchen, and private stairway leading to the second floor.... SECOND
STORY, (fig. 136.)—The method of erecting the stairs make them “land”
nearly in the center of the second story. Very little space is required
for the second-story hall, leaving almost this entire floor to be “laid
off” in rooms. These rooms may all be used as chambers, or either of
them may be used as a study. Doubtless the room directly above the front
entrance would be best adapted for that purpose. The door leading to this
room should have ground-glass upper panels to supply light to the hall
of this story.... ATTIC, (fig. 137.)—The Attic story is reached by the
stairway shown at the front end of the second-story hall, which has a
door at the foot of them to shut off all communication at pleasure. This
story is divided into four rooms, four closets, and hall. The Hall is
lighted through an opening, or skylight, in the roof, which also serves
as a ventilator. The School, or Play-room, is put in this part of the
house, where noise is less likely to disturb the older members of the
household. A Work-shop, having ample space for a work-bench, wood-lathe,
and other tools, is provided for in our plan on the third floor....
The estimate appended indicates the general character of the work to
be good and substantial. Provision is made for brick foundations, a
regular timber frame, double siding, slate and tin roofs, outside blinds,
panelled doors, simple and appropriate trimmings throughout, with marble
mantles and stucco cornices in the principal rooms of the first story.
The figures set down for the cost of windows, bays, porch, lobby, and
doors, include materials and labor. The figures for carpenters’ labor are
for the balance of such work.
ESTIMATE for house with Mansard roof:
75 yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. $15.00
13,000 brick, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. 156.00
48 ft. stone sills, steps, and coping, at 40c. per ft. 19.20
1,000 yards three-coat plastering, at 28c. per yard. 280.00
250 ft. stucco cornices, with centers. 75.00
4,181 ft. of timber, at $15 per M. 62.71
2 sills, 4 × 8 in. 26 ft. long.
2 sills, 4 × 8 in. 30 ft. long.
6 posts, 4 × 7 in. 23 ft. long.
1 girt, 4 × 8 in. 38 ft. long.
4 ties, 4 × 6 in. 26 ft. long.
4 ties, 4 × 6 in. 30 ft. long.
4 hips, 3 × 7 in. 16 ft. long.
2 plates, 4 × 6 in. 26 ft. long.
2 plates, 4 × 6 in. 30 ft. long.
4 deck plates, 3 × 8 in. 22 ft. long.
2 deck plates, 3 × 8 in. 30 ft. long.
8 beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
66 beams, 2 × 8 in. 15 ft. long.
66 beams, 2 × 8 in. 12 ft. long.
100 joists, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft., at 22c. each. 22.00
500 wall-strips, 2 × 4 in. 13 ft., at 11c. each. 55.00
483 sheathing for sides and roofs, at 25c. each. 120.75
300 lbs. tarred felt, at 5c. per lb. 15.00
381 novelty siding, 6-inch, at 30c. each. 114.30
112 ft. main cornice, at 60c. per ft. 67.20
10 squares of slate, at 10c. per ft. 100.00
12½ squares of tin, at 10c. per ft. 125.00
8 cellar windows, complete, at $8 each. 64.00
12 plain windows, complete, at $12 each. 144.00
8 dormer windows, complete, at $20 each. 160.00
2 bay-windows, complete, at $60 each. 120.00
1 porch, complete. 75.00
1 lobby, complete. 50.00
390 tongued and grooved flooring, complete, at 28c. each. 109.20
46 doors, complete, at $10 each. 460.00
11 closets, complete, at $6 each. 66.00
2 marble mantles, complete, at $25 each. 50.00
1 heater, complete. 200.00
Gas-pipes. 35.71
Plumbing, including range, etc. 300.00
Painting. 188.93
Carting. 75.00
Extras for hardware, etc. 75.00
Carpenters’ labor. 300.00
---------
Total amount. $3,700.00
[Illustration: Fig. 131.—MANSARD ROOF.]
[Illustration: Fig. 132.—POINTED ROOF.]
[Illustration: Fig. 133.—COTTAGE ROOF.]
[Illustration: Fig. 134.—PLAN OF CELLAR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 135.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 136.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.]
[Illustration: Fig. 137.—PLAN OF ATTIC.]
DESIGN XXXII.
A HOUSE COSTING $4,000.