CARPENTRY
5. In estimating carpentry work, it is advisable to make a tabulated list of the various sizes of joists, rafters, etc., giving the number and dimensions of each size. In this way, any error in calculation or change in price can be corrected with little difficulty.
As house-framing timbers and boards are sold at the yards in even lengths, as 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, etc., uneven, or odd, measurements must be figured in even lengths from which they can be cut. Thus, if a stick 14 feet 7 inches in length is required, a 16-foot stick must be ordered.
Usually, the price per thousand feet, board measure, increases as longer sticks are used, although the practice varies in different localities. For example, in most localities hemlock timber in 10-, 12-, or 14-foot lengths is all one price per thousand, but a thousand feet, board measure, of 16-foot lengths costs more, and 18-foot lengths is still more expensive. The price of yellow pine, spruce, fir, etc. is usually constant up to 20-foot lengths, but from that length on the prices increase. The price of white-pine boards in most localities increases with their width. The hardwoods can be usually obtained in any reasonable length, the price increasing with the quality of the lumber more than with the length of the stick.
It can thus be seen that in house framing it is usually cheaper to use short sticks than long ones. However, for long members, a long stick is cheaper, because the extra cost that would be incurred in splicing two short sticks would more than offset the cheapness of the material. Of course, when very long sticks are required, say sticks 30 feet or more in length, a splice is cheaper, owing to the difficulty of obtaining them and their very excessive price.
No set rules can be laid down as to what size timber should be ordered, and every architect and builder should be governed by the prices in the locality where the house is to be put up.
Floor Framing,
First Story
Floor Framing,
Second Story
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Girder, 6" × 12"; 6 ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 1 piece, 8' 9", order 10' | 10 | 60 |
| Joists, 2" × 10"; 1⅔ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 15 pieces, each 14', order 14' | 210 | |
| 2 pieces, each 15' 6", order 16' | 32 | |
| 5 pieces, each 17', order 18' | 90 | |
| 3 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 48 | |
| 14 pieces, each 16', order 16' | 224 | |
| 2 pieces, each 7', cut out of 14' | 14 | |
| 2 pieces, each 10', order 10' | 20 | |
| 4 pieces, each 11', order 12' | 48 | |
| 7 pieces, each 24', order 24' | 168 | |
| 3 pieces, each 20' 6", order 22' | 66 | |
| 4 pieces, each 12' 6", order 14' | 56 | |
| 2 pieces, each 13' 6", order 14 | 28 | |
| Total | 1,004 | 1,673 |
| Joists, 3" × 10"; 2½ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| (Headers) 2 pieces, each 8' 9", order 10' | 20 | |
| 2 pieces, each 6', cut out of 12' | 12 | |
| 5 pieces, each 9' 9", order 10' | 50 | |
| 11 pieces, each 19' 6", order 20' | 220 | |
| 302 | 755 | |
Floor Framing,
Attic
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Joists, 2" × 10"; 1⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 15 pieces, each 14', order 14' | 210 | |
| 2 pieces, each 15' 6", order 16' | 32 | |
| 5 pieces, each 17', order 18' | 90 | |
| 3 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 48 | |
| 14 pieces, each 16', order 16' | 224 | |
| 2 pieces, each 7', cut out of 14' | 14 | |
| 2 pieces, each 10', order 10' | 20 | |
| 4 pieces, each 11', order 12' | 48 | |
| 7 pieces, each 24', order 24' | 168 | |
| 3 pieces, each 20' 6", order 22' | 66 | |
| 4 pieces, each 12' 6", order 14' | 56 | |
| 2 pieces, each 13' 6", order 14' | 28 | |
| Total | 1,004 | 1,673 |
| Joists, 3" × 10"; 2½ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 2 pieces, each 8' 9", order 10' | 20 | |
| 2 pieces, each 6', cut out of 12' | 12 | |
| 5 pieces, each 9' 9", order 10' | 50 | |
| 11 pieces, each 19' 6", order 20' | 220 | |
| Total | 302 | 755 |
Floor Framing,
Front Porch
Floor Framing,
Back Porches
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Joists, 2" × 6"; 1 ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 2 pieces, each 21', order 22' | 44 | |
| 3 pieces, each 8', order 8' | 24 | |
| Total | 68 | 68 |
| Joists, 3" X 6"; 1½ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| [10]5 pieces, each 5' 9", cut out of 12' | 36 | |
| 12 pieces, each 6' 9", cut out of 14' | 84 | |
| 1 piece, 8' 6", order 10' | 10 | |
| 2 pieces, each 3' 6", cut out of 8' | 8 | |
| Total | 138 | 207 |
Bridging
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| 2" × 4"; ⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| First floor, 170 pieces, each 1' 6" | 255 | |
| Second floor, 138 pieces, each 1' 6" | 207 | |
| Third floor, 138 pieces, each 1' 6" | 207 | |
| Total | 669 | 446 |
Main-Roof Framing[11]
Porch-Roof Framing
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Rafters, 2" × 6"; 1 ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 2 pieces, each 9' 6", order 10' | 20 | |
| 22 pieces, each 8' 6", order 10' | 220 | |
| 4 pieces, each 6' 6", cut out of 14' | 28 | |
| 8 pieces, each 7', cut out of 14' | 56 | |
| 2 pieces, each 11', order 12' | 24 | |
| Total | 348 | 348 |
| Rafters, 2" × 5"; ⅚ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 27 pieces, each 8', cut out of 16' | 216 | |
| 2 pieces, each 3' 6", cut out of 16' | 8 | |
| 8 pieces, each 6' 6", cut out of 14' | 56 | |
| 2 pieces, each 10' 6", cut out of 14' | 21 | |
| 2 pieces each, 3', cut out of 14' | 6 | |
| Total | 307 | 256 |
| Plate, 5" × 10"; 4⅙ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 5 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 80 | 333 |
| Sills, 3" × 5"; 1¼ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 2 pieces, each 10', order 10' | 20 | |
| 5 pieces, each 9', order 10' | 50 | |
| Total | 70 | 88 |
Wall Studding
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Wall plates, 4" × 11"; 3⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 10 pieces, each 18', order 18' | 180 | 660 |
| Studs, 2" × 5"; ⁵/₆ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| [12]63 pieces, each 21', order 22' | 1,386 | |
| 106 pieces, each 12', order 12' | 1,272 | |
| 20 pieces, each 20', order 20' | 400 | |
| 10 pieces, each 8' 6", order 10' | 100 | |
| Total | 3,158 | 2,632 |
Partition Studding
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| First floor, 2" × 4"; ⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| Studs, 160 pieces, each 9' 9", order 10' | 1,600 | |
| Sills, 16 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 256 | |
| Total | 1,856 | 1,237 |
| Second floor, 2" × 4"; ⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| Studs, 180 pieces, each 9' 9", order 10' | 1,800 | |
| Sills, 10 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 160 | |
| Total | 1,960 | 1,307 |
| Attic, 2" × 4"; ⅔ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| Studs, 54 pieces, each 8' 9", order 10' | 540 | |
| Studs, 133 pieces, each 6' 6", cut from 14' | 938 | |
| Total | 1,478 | 985 |
Miscellaneous
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Lookouts: | ||
| 50 pieces, each 3" × 1" × 2', cut from 8' | 25 | |
| 37 pieces, each 6" × 1" × 2', cut from 8' | 37 | |
| Furring, for brick walls, 1" × 2"; ⅙ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 125 pieces, each 11', order 12' | 1,500 | 250 |
| Grand total of framing | 18,578 |
Cost
The price of the framing is based on the following cost of 1,000 feet board measure of hemlock, which includes framing.
| 1,000 ft. of hemlock | $28.00 |
| Nails and spikes, allowing 100 lb. to 3,000 ft. | |
| of lumber, at $2 per 100 pounds | .67 |
| [13]Cost of framing, per 1,000 feet of lumber | 12.00 |
| Cost per thousand feet B. M. | $40.67 |
Summary
The amount of material, as previously estimated, is 18,578 ft. B. M., which, at $40.67 per M, will make the total cost of framing $755.57.
Sheathing
| Quantities | Feet B. M. |
| Main roof, 2,200 sq. ft. × 1 in | 2,200 |
| Tower roof, 370 sq. ft. × 1 in | 370 |
| Porch roof, 637 sq. ft. × 1 in | 637 |
| Outside walls, laid diagonally, | |
| 2,417 sq. ft. + 10 per cent. | 2,659 |
| Total sheathing | 5,866 |
Shingles
| Quantities | |
| Area to be covered (see wall sheathing), | |
| 2,417 sq. ft.= 24.2 squares | |
| Shingles, 4 in. wide, and 5 in. exposure, | |
| number per square | 720 |
| Number of shingles required, 24.2 × 720 | 17,424 |
| Add 5 per cent. for waste | 871 |
| Total shingles | 18,295 |
Cost
The cost of sheathing in place is assumed to be the same as that for hemlock lumber, $40.67 per M. The total sheathing is 5,866 square feet, which, at $40.67 per M, will make the cost of sheathing $238.57.
The cost of shingles is based on the following analysis of the cost of 1,000 shingles in place:
| 1,000 shingles XXXX | $ 5.50 |
| [14]Labor: one man can lay about 700 shingles per day; | |
| wages being $3.20, 1,000 will cost | 4.57 |
| Nails (about) | .25 |
| Cost per thousand | $10.32 |
From the preceding estimate, the number of shingles required is 18,295, which, at $10.32 per 1,000, will make the cost of shingles in place $188.80.
Summary
| Sheathing | $238.57 |
| Shingles | 188.80 |
| Total cost of sheathing and shingles | $427.37 |
Flooring
| Quantities | Square Feet |
| First floor, area (net) | 1,312 |
| Second floor, area (net) | 1,312 |
| Attic floor, area (net) | 1,071 |
| Porch floors, area (net) | 523 |
Hemlock Underflooring
Unmatched underflooring is used under the first and second floor. Its quantity is 1,312 × 2 = 2,624 feet B. M.
Rift-Sawed Yellow-Pine
Finish Flooring
The total area of the first, second, and third floors is 3,695 square feet. Adding 25 per cent. for waste, the quantity of ⅞-inch flooring is 3,695 square feet + (3,695 × .25) = 4,619 feet B. M.
Yellow-Pine
Porch Flooring
Increasing the net area of the porch floor by 25 per cent., the flooring required is 523 square feet + (523 × .25) = 654 feet B. M.
Cost
The estimated cost of flooring may be analyzed as follows:
| Cost of 1,000 Feet B. M., Rough Flooring | |
| [15]1,000 ft. B. M., hemlock | $27.00 |
| Labor | 10.00 |
| Nails, 33 lb., at $2 per 100 pounds | .67 |
| Cost per thousand feet B. M. | $37.67 |
| Cost of 1,000 Feet B. M., Finish Flooring | |
| 1,000 ft. B. M., rift-sawed yellow pine | $55.00 |
| Labor, including striking joints | 16.00 |
| Nails | .67 |
| Cost per thousand feet B. M. | $71.67 |
| Cost of 1,000 Feet B. M., Porch Flooring | |
| 1,000 ft. B. M., No. 1 yellow pine | $45.00 |
| Labor | 16.00 |
| White lead for joints (about) | .50 |
| Nails | .67 |
| Cost per thousand feet B. M. | $62.17 |
| Summary | |
| Hemlock, 2,624 ft. B. M., at $37.67 per M | $98.85 |
| Rift-sawed yellow pine, 4,619 ft. B. M., at $71.67 per M | 331.04 |
| Yellow pine, 654 ft. B. M., at $62.17 per M | 40.66 |
| Total cost of flooring | $470.55 |
| Porch Ceiling, Yellow Pine | |
| Quantities | Feet B. M. |
| Porch ceiling, same as porch flooring | 654 |
Cost
The cost of yellow-pine ceiling is $45 per thousand feet B. M. Since there is no white lead to be used and the joints are not struck, $11 will pay for laying it. The nails will cost 67 cents, which will bring the cost per thousand feet B. M., up to $56.67. Therefore, 654 feet B. M., yellow-pine ceiling, at $56.67 per thousand, will cost $37.06.
Cornice, Spandrels, Etc.,
White-Pine Dressed Lumber
Cost