Fig. 36.—PLAN OF CELLAR.
Fig. 37.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.
Fig. 38.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.
DESIGN X.
A HOUSE COSTING $1,100.
This economical cottage has ample, convenient apartments for a medium-sized family, and is adapted to either a village or a more rural location. A 25 × 100-feet lot will contain such a house, besides the needed side alleyway to the rear. Those contemplating the erection of low-priced, tasteful cottages in duplication, either for selling, or by coöperation as in Building Associations, will find this plan suited to their wants.... Exterior, ([fig. 39]).—The front presents a graceful, trim, outline, with a neat and pleasant arrangement of openings. The Porch fits in an angle, with its steps projecting beyond the principal building, providing an appropriate entrance to the house. The large Bay-window is the most imposing feature of the front, is expressive of comfort and cheerfulness, and gives a good appearance and character to the whole building. The principal cornices are neatly trussed, and have such “spread” as gives a finished and bold appearance to the roofs. It has such proportions and genteel style, that if near a more formidable or costly residence, it would not disgrace it.... Cellar, ([fig. 40.])—Hight 7 ft. Its outlines correspond with the ground-plans of the principal building; it is three feet below the general surface of the ground, and four feet above, and has an outside entrance door, three good sized cellar windows, two of which are in the front, and one at the side, contiguous to the coal-bin. It is accessible from the first story by a plain stairway. If desirable at any time, a pleasant basement room may be finished in the front part, at a small cost.... First Story, ([fig. 41]).—Hight of ceilings, 9½ feet. It is divided into three rooms of nearly equal size, with a Hall and two Closets. The Bay-window adds considerable to its area, making it the largest and pleasantest room. The Dining-room adjoins the parlor, and may be used with it as occasion requires by opening the folding doors. Each of these rooms has neat marble mantles, and opens into the front hall. The Kitchen connects with the dining-room, and is provided with a pantry, pump, sink, two windows, and an outside door leading to the rear yard. When houses are built on single village lots, it is usual to arrange for one “blank” side, as in this plan, but where more ground is allowed, it is desirable that openings should be made for at least one window in each story of this side, as they would add to the cheerfulness of the interior, and give a better appearance to the outside. Two windows are thus indicated by dotted lines, one for the dining-room, and one for the interior chamber, though the latter is lighted from the roof, as noted. It may be advisable even to put two other windows on this side of the house, for the outside general good appearance, or blind-windows may be put in at small expense, for the same purpose.... Second Story, ([fig. 42]).—Ceilings 8 feet high. The divisions are very simple, making four rooms, three closets, a stairway, and passage leading to each room.... Construction.—Reference is had in this plan to what is known in the trade as “piece-lumber”—the joists, wall-strips, boards, etc., being generally in lengths of 13 feet each. There is great economy in being able to use such standard lumber, without cutting to waste. [Figure 43] shows how a neat, cosey cottage-frame may be cheaply constructed almost wholly of such 13-feet materials. But there is a decided preference for full chamber ceilings, and as the difference in cost would not exceed $60, it is best to make the house two full stories high. The principal frame is of 3-inch timber, with studding of 2 × 3 inch. This thickness of the frame-work secures some 220 feet more interior space to the rooms, than in the use of 4-inch timber, besides saving one-fourth of its quantity and cost. Ordinary 1¼ × 10-inch spruce plank are used for the frame-work, for the floors and ceilings. For the beams they are reduced to the depth of eight inches, and the 2-inch strips sawed off are used for shingling-lath. For the ceiling-frame of the second story, they are simply sawed through the middle, leaving each half five inches deep, and are all placed 16 inches apart from centers. One row of cross-bridging is put through the center of each tier of beams, and the center of the ceiling-strips are secured by hangers from the rafters. The Rafters are 2 × 4 inches, framed to rest on the principal plates, where they are connected with the ceiling-strips by spikes, preventing any settling or spreading of the roof. The Roof of the main wing is constructed with double pitch, corresponding with that of the main roof. The principal roofs are finished with shingles, and has improved gutters, described in [Design V.] The porch and bay-window roofs are covered with tin laid on smooth boarding.—The rake or pitch of roofs has much to do in giving character and finish to buildings. For ordinary roofs, when shingles or slate are used, the rise should be one-third the width of the building, as in this case, the rise is 4⅓ feet, for the width of 13 feet. This pitch is very pleasant to the eye, and easy of construction. In larger buildings, it is often desirable to secure more space or head-room in the attic, when the rise should be one-half the width of the building. We would never go between these two angles in search of a roof-line that would gratify good taste, or comport with any style, but deviations above one-half or below one-third may be made, as circumstances indicate.—Circular openings covered with blinds, in each gable, give free air circulation between the ceilings and roof. Every dwelling should have some way of readily reaching the roof from the inside to clean the gutters, repair the roof or chimneys, and in case of fire in the house or in the neighborhood. An opening is made in the ceiling of the middle chamber ([fig. 42]) over and just inside the door, and thence through the roof. This is neatly boarded around its sides, forming a “well,” and is covered at the top with a sash, sloping with the roof, hung so as to be easily opened and closed by a cord from the inside. This provides for light, ventilation, and a scuttle in combination. A sash, hung on center pins to revolve, over the door of this room, transmits light from the skylight to the second-story passage and stairway, and supplies ventilation.... The mason’s work is complete and substantial in every part. The foundation walls, piers, and chimneys, are of hard brick and mortar; the plastering is two coats of brown mortar and a hard finish.... Heating.—Only two fires are required at any time to make the principal rooms of this house comfortable. The parlor, and chamber immediately above it, are warmed through a heater placed in a parlor fire-place. The dining-room has a radiator fitted in the opening of the mantel, and connected by 5-inch pipes through the fire-place back with the kitchen stove.
Estimate of materials and cost:
| 40 | yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. | $ 8.00 | |
| 12,000 | brick, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. | 144.00 | |
| 32 | ft. stone steps and coping, at 20c. per ft. | 6.40 | |
| 450 | yards plastering, at 30c. per yard. | 135.00 | |
| 1,969 | ft. of timber, at $15 per M. | 29.53 | |
| 1 | sill, 4 × 8 in. 39 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | girt, 4 × 8 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | plate, 3 × 4 in. 104 ft. long. | ||
| 116 | studding, 2 × 3 in. 10 ft. long. | ||
| 6 | posts, 3 × 8 in. 20 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | tie, 3 × 6 in 104 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | sill, 2 × 4 in. 91 ft. long. | ||
| 153 | studding, 2 × 3 in. 9 ft. long. | ||
| 70 | planks for beams and ceilings, at 25c. each. | 17.50 | |
| 55 | rafters, 2 × 4 × 13, at 13c. each. | 7.15 | |
| 208 | siding, 10 inch, at 26c. each. | 54.08 | |
| 100 | lbs. tarred felting, at 3c. per lb. | 3.00 | |
| Materials in cornices, water-table, and corner-boards. | 20.00 | ||
| 165 | shingling-lath, at 6c. each. | 9.90 | |
| 28 | bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. | 42.00 | |
| 200 | ft. gutters, leaders and roofs, at 8c. per ft. | 16.00 | |
| 96 | flooring, at 26c. each. | 24.96 | |
| Stairs, complete, $40; porch and stoops, complete, $40. | 80.00 | ||
| Bay-window, complete. | 60.00 | ||
| 8 | windows, complete, at $10 each. | 80.00 | |
| 3 | cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. | 18.00 | |
| 15 | doors, complete, at $8 each. | 120.00 | |
| Closets and shelving, $8; mantels, $30. | 38.00 | ||
| Pump and sink, $18; nails, $15. | 33.00 | ||
| Painting, $60; cartage, $13.48. | 73.48 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor, not included above. | 80.00 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $1,100.00 | ||
