_Excavator._--Remove the turf to make footings, but not deeper at any
place than 3 in. Step where required.
_Pise-Builder_
_Walls._--Erect the walls as shown on plan, external walls 18 in.,
internal walls 15 in., carried up plumb and true, with all cross walls
properly bonded by continuing the pise-boxes around all angles; when
necessary, the material for the walls is to be properly tempered with
sufficient water. All sticks and vegetable matter are to be removed.
_Suitable material_: to be a pipeclay loam, with a trace of small gravel
evenly distributed through it.[8] The boxes to be filled in thin layers
of 4 in. at a time, and well rammed until solid; the workmen are not to
use their rammers in unison.
[Footnote 8: This was specified because it was the best material
near the site.]
The whole of the internal angles, also door and window jambs, to be
neatly splayed.
_Floating._--Moisten well the outside and inside walls before the floors
are laid, and float same to even smooth surface with wooden hand-float,
using weak plaster, where required.
_Bolts._--To hold down wall-plates, provide and build in 1/2 in. bolts,
not less than 15 in. long, and spaced not more than 6 ft. apart.
_Damp-course._--Below all walls lay a three-ply Ruberoid damp-course the
full width of walls, to lap at ends at least 4 in.
_Ventilators._--Insert below floors, where directed, four 9 in. by 6 in.
galvanised iron air gratings, in wooden frames 1-1/2 in. thick by full
width of walls; also insert at about 18 in. below ceiling similar air
gratings and frames.
_Plugs._--Insert plugs 3 ft. apart for skirting, chair and picture-rail,
at the heights directed.
_Frames._--Set all frames plumb and true, and secured in wall before
removing head. Lintels and heads must be well and solidly bedded in
mortar, at proper heights. The whole of the work to be done in a proper
workmanlike manner.
_Fillet._--Finish against intersection of floor and wall with neat 1-1/2
in. quarter-round fillet, scribed to wall and floor and nailed to
floors.
The pise-builder will require to build into wall at all window and door
openings 3 in. by 3 in. shaped plugs, spaced not more than 3 ft. apart
to secure architraves.
_Lintels._--For all door and window openings provide 6 in. by 4 in.
well-seasoned pine lintels, to extend 12 in. into pise-work on each side
of opening.
_Skirting._--Provide and fix in all rooms, to plugs about 3 ft. apart,
6-in. skirting, neatly scribed to floors, mitred at angles as required.
_Picture-rail._--Provide 3 in. by 1 in. picture-rail to all rooms.
_Plugs._--Prepare and tar for pise-builder 3 in. by 1 in. well-seasoned
softwood plugs, 15 in. long, as per detail, for skirtings, picture- and
chair-rail, to be inserted 3 ft. apart.