Mouldings for the trim of exterior cornices, string-courses, and the
like are often specially designed by architects for the small house,
but it is a much better plan to use stock mouldings, selecting them
to approximate the design that is desired. Through the efforts of
many concerns the market affords many well-designed stock patterns of
mouldings for exterior purposes. The idea is sound, and makes possible
a great variety of designs through the standardization of parts, but at
the same time cutting down the cost.
Likewise the standardization of doors and windows is another economic
aid for the small house.
As a rule, all exterior doors should be at least 1¾ inches thick, and
of white pine, painted. The veneered door is not a very satisfactory
type for outside use, unless, perhaps, it is protected by the porch,
for even with the best waterproof glue there is a considerable tendency
on the part of the veneer to break away from the soft pine core. Some
consider that the 1⅜-inch-thick door is satisfactory for exterior doors
in the small house, but, generally speaking, it is best to use this
thickness only for interior doors.
Softwood doors, 1¾ inches thick, have panels, if they are raised, only
1⅛ inches thick; while doors 1⅜ inches thick have raised panels only
⁹/₁₆ inch thick, and flat panels ⁵/₁₆ inch thick. The latter is quite
evidently too thin for exterior doors.
Interior doors of veneered woods usually have flat panels, ⁵/₁₆ inch
thick, except the one-panel door, which is as thick as ⁷/₁₆ inch.
Such panels consist of three layers, the two outside veneers and
the interior softwood core with the grain running at right angles
to the veneer. The stiles and rails of well-built veneered doors
are made of built-up pine blocks, glued and locked together, with a
tongue-and-groove joint, and fastened at the corners with hardwood
dowels. Strips of hardwood to match the veneered face should be placed
on each edge of the stiles and rails.
[Illustration: Stock Exterior Doors