_Of Flooring and Ceiling._
There are four sorts of Flooring, some are upon the _Superficies_ of the
Ground, others between two Stories, others make the Roof of the House in
Plat-form, and the last is _Plat-Fond_.
To make those Floors that are upon the Ground, you must first make the
Earth smooth and plain, if it be firm and solid, if not, it must be
beaten with a Rammer with which they ram down their Piles; and after
having cover'd the Earth with the first _Lay_ or _Bed_, call'd
_Statumen_ by the Ancients, which was of Flinty Stones about the bigness
of ones Fist, among which was mixed Mortar made of Lime and Sand. Then
they laid the second _Bed_, which they call'd _Rudus_, which was made of
lesser Stones, of which there were three Parts for one of Stone if they
were new, for if they were taken out of old Buildings, five parts of
Stones or Pibbles would be required for two of Lime.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 7. Cap. 4._]
The _Greeks_ had a way of making their Floors in those low places where
cold and humidity ordinarily reign, which freed them from these
Inconveniences. They digged the Earth two Foot deep, and after having
beaten it well, they laid a Bed of Mortar or Cement a little sloping
from either side to the Channel, which convey'd the Water under Ground;
they laid a Bed of Coal upon the first Mortar, and having beaten them
well, they cover'd them with another Cement or Mortar made of Lime, Sand
and Ashes, which they made smooth when it was dry with a
Polishing-Stone. These Floors presently drank up the Water that fell
upon them, that one might walk barefoot without being incommoded by the
Cold.
For the Floors which are between two Stories, there must be a particular
care taken, that if there be any Partition below it, that it may not
touch the Flooring for fear lest if the Flooring came to sink a little,
it might be broke upon the Partition which remains firm.
[Sidenote: _Vide Index._]
To make these Floorings, the Boards must be nailed at each end upon
every Joist, to the end they may not warp; these Boards or Planks being
cover'd with Straw, to hinder the Lime from wasting the Timber, the
first Bed must be laid, made of a mixture of Mortar and little Stones a
hand breadth, which must be beaten a long time with Iron-Levers, and so
it must make a solid Crust which must be nine Inches thick; upon it
shall be laid the _Noyau_ or _Ame_, which must be at least six inches
thick: It must be made of Cement, with which must be mix'd one part Lime
for two parts of Cement. Upon the _Ame_ or _Noyau_ is placed the
_Parement_ made with the Rule, afterwards it must be scrap'd and all the
Eminences and Inequality taken away: After that must be laid a
Composition of Lime, Sand and beaten Marble, to fill equally all the
Seams or Joints.
If a Flooring be to be made in the open Air, as upon _Terrasses_, that
may endure Rain or Frost without any Damage; you must nail upon the
Joists two Ranks of Boards across, one above the other; and having laid
the first Bed, as is said before, it must be Paved with great Square
Bricks two Foot Square, which must be hollow'd in the Ends in the Form
of a half-Channel, the breadth of an Inch, which must be fill'd with
Lime mixed with Oil. These Square Bricks must be higher in the middle,
sloping two Inches for every six Foot; that is to say, a Forty-eighth
Part. Upon these Square Bricks must be laid the _Ame_; upon which, after
it has been well beaten, as well as the rest, must be put great Square
Stones; and to hinder the Moisture from hurting the Boards, it is good
to pour as much of the Lees of Oil as they will soak up.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 10._]
The under part of the Flooring, and the _Plat-Fonds_, must be made also
with great Care. To make the _Plat-Fonds_ or _Flat-roofs_, in the Form
of a Vault, you must nail to the Joists of the Boards, or to the Rafters
of the Roof, from two Foot to two Foot pieces of crooked Timber, and
Choice must be made of Timber that is not apt to rot; such as, _viz._
_Cypress_, _Box_, _Juniper_, and _Olive_; no _Oke_ must be made use of,
because it will warp and crack the Work. The Joists being fastened to
the _Summers_, you must fix to them _Spanish-Broom_ with _Greek-Reeds_
well beaten. These Reeds are in stead of Laths, which at present are
made use of to make the Eaves of Houses; over these Reeds must be laid a
Plaster of Mortar, made of Sand, to hinder the Drops of Water which may
fall from above from endamaging these _Plat-Fonds_. After which, the
under part must be Plaster'd pretty thick, making all Places equal with
Mortar made of Lime and Sand, that it may be afterwards Polished with
Mortar made with Lime and Marble.
[Sidenote: _Lib. 5. Chap. 10._]
The Ancients sometimes made double Vaults, when they were afraid that
the Humidity which is engender'd, by the Vapours which mount up might
rot the Wood which is upon the Vaults. This Method they principally made
use of in their Baths.
The _Corniches_ which are made use of under the _Plat-Fonds_, ought to
be little, lest their great Jetting out, or Projecture should make them
heavy, and apt to fall. For this Reason they ought to be made of pure
Stuck of Marble, without any Plaster, that all the Work drying at the
same time, may be less apt to break.