DESIGN XIII.
FRENCH-ROOFED COTTAGE, COSTING $2,000.
These plans were designed for a genteel cottage adapted to thickly-settled localities, where the increased value of lands make it necessary to reduce the area, and build upwards. Several houses constructed from these plans in this vicinity are admired for their convenient accommodation and cheerfulness.... Exterior, ([fig. 54].)—The Foundation extends four feet above ground, giving a desirable altitude to the whole building. The front is enlivened by the numerous window and door openings, the several projections of piazza, dormers, and cornices, and the variety of the materials used. The dressing of the several parts are of simple designs. The projections of cornices, etc., should always be self-sustaining, yet while this is true, there is sure to be a fancied necessity for some apparent support obvious from the outside. Such supports require special treatment, with a view to their proper form and proportion, and should be sparingly applied, giving to each one its distinct place and purpose. Brackets of neat pattern are often crowded so closely together as to cheapen and destroy their beauty, and overload the cornice, thus reversing their legitimate purpose as supports.... Cellar, ([fig. 55].)—Hight of ceiling 7 feet; it extends under the main house only. Its hight above the ground gives an opportunity for good-sized window openings. If desired at any time, an airy and light work-room or laundry can be made by dividing and flooring a part of this story at little cost.... First Story, ([fig. 56]).—Hight of ceiling 10 feet. It has a hall running through the whole length of the main house, with entrances from both front and rear. The parlor, dining-room, and kitchen, are all good-sized apartments, and pleasantly arranged. Double folding doors are provided for the front entrances and from the hall to the parlor, and sliding doors between the parlor and dining-room. A bay-window adds materially to the size and pleasantness of the dining or living-room. Each room has an open fire-place; the kitchen has a pump and sink, with the usual supply and waste pipe connections. The rear stoop is roofed, and has a portable enclosure of light ceiling boards, to be used in severe weather.... Second Story, ([fig. 57].)—Hight of ceiling 8½ feet. The divisions of this story are simple—giving a hall, two large chambers, with passage between, two hall rooms, and two closets.... Construction.—The estimate given provides for foundation of broken stone, laid and neatly pointed with good mortar; the stone exposed to sight on the outside to be “semi-dressed.” Blue-stone, or other suitable stone obtained most readily, are used for the sills of cellar windows, for the steps, and wall coping of the cellar entrance. The principal timber is of seasoned spruce or pine, thoroughly framed, raised, and secured. The “framing-in” of braces is too frequently omitted—cutting them “barefoot,” and spiking, being substituted. The latter does very well where the frame is strongly sheathed over, and the outer siding applied afterwards. The sheathing aids largely in stiffening the frame, but should not be relied on to the exclusion of the necessary braces to square up the frame, and prevent the swaying which often happens unobserved, to be discovered when too late to remedy it. Laxity in the matter of bracing has led to frequent errors as to their proper place in the frame. When framed in they are invariably placed in the upper angles under the ties and plates, adjoining the posts, and when barefoot they should be put in the same angles; never, as is frequently done for convenience, in the lower angles, nor on the sills. A moment’s reflection will convince any one that if the right angles along the principal frame are rigidly maintained, displacements will never occur, except, as rarely happens, the whole is bodily raised from the foundation by a hurricane. The most reliable angles are those formed by the tie and post connections, because at these points the posts are tenoned and mortised together, and secured with hard wood pins. Those least reliable are at the foot of the posts, adjoining the sills, where their connections are secured only by the weight of the upper frame. Braces placed in the latter angles serve only as fulcrums to endanger the frames when tested by ordinary winds; but if the former or upper angles are made positive, by having substantial braces in them, the severest gales may be defied. The siding is of narrow, clear pine clapboards, laid on “thicknessed” sheathing. The Mansard part of the main roof is covered by 8 × 16-inch slate—the piazza, bay-window, kitchen, stoop, cornices, window, and deck roof with IC. charcoal tin—all laid on hemlock boards. Tarred felting is spread under all siding and slate. The first and second stories are fully completed inside; the attic is floored, but otherwise unfinished, but may be divided at any time into rooms as shown for the second story ([fig. 57]). The interior plastering is three-coat work, on seasoned lath. All sash are four lights, and hung to balance-weights. Blinds are properly hung (outside) to each window. All wood, tin, and brick-work, usually painted, has two coats of best lead and oil-paint, with stainers to suit the owner’s taste. The choice of colors for the exterior is frequently canvassed during the construction of these buildings; often some person of taste (?) decides by “warming”—adding red and yellow, until, by the preponderance of these stainers, the most sombre and dismal colors are produced. The most appropriate and pleasing shade for the body of this class of house is a light gray; for the trimmings, dark gray; for the sash, burnt sienna; for the blinds, chocolate. The tin roofing should match the slate in color. Red colors should be sparingly used, or omitted altogether.
Estimate of materials required, and total cost:
| 50 | yards excavation, at 25c. per yard. | $12.50 | |
| 975 | ft. of stone foundation, at 8c. per ft. | 78.00 | |
| 45 | ft. blue-stone sills, steps, and coping, at 30c. per ft. | 13.50 | |
| 4,000 | bricks, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. | 48.00 | |
| 480 | yards plastering, at 30c. per yard. | 144.00 | |
| Cornices and centers, stucco. | 30.00 | ||
| 4,000 | ft. of timber, at $15 per M. | 60.00 | |
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | sill, 4 × 8 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | girt, 4 × 8 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 6 | posts, 4 × 7 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 6 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 6 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | plate, 4 × 6 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | posts, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 30 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 15 | beams, 3 × 7 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 7 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | decks, 3 × 8 in. 18 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | decks, 3 × 8 in. 26 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | cross-tie, 3 × 8 in. 18 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | hips, 3 × 7 in. 14 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | piazzas, 3 × 7 in. 19 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | piazzas, 3 × 7 in. 18 ft. long. | ||
| 325 | wall-strips, at 12c. each, $39; 75 joists, at 16c. each, $12. | 51.00 | |
| 210 | hemlock boards, at 12c. each, $25.20; cornice materials, $60. | 85.20 | |
| 215 | sheathing, at 16c. each, $34.40; 560 pine siding, at 12c. each, $67.20. | 101.60 | |
| 8 | squares slate, at $8.50 per square. | 68.00 | |
| 13 | squares tin, at $7.50 per square. | 97.50 | |
| 65 | ft. leaders, at 10c. per ft., $6.50; 260 flooring, at 18c. each, $46.80. | 53.30 | |
| Piazza and stoop, complete, $80 and $28. | 108.00 | ||
| 4 | cellar windows, complete, at $4 each. | 16.00 | |
| 5 | plain windows, complete, at $12 each. | 60.00 | |
| 6 | plain windows, complete, at $10 each, $60; 1 bay window, $60. | 120.00 | |
| 5 | dormer windows, complete, at $16 each. | 80.00 | |
| 13 | doors, complete, at $10 each. | 130.00 | |
| 1 | area door, $5; stairs, $90; closets, pump, and sink, $50. | 145.00 | |
| Mantle, $52; tarred felting, $10. | 62.00 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor, not included above. | 135.00 | ||
| Carting, average 1 mile, $30; painting, $130; incidentals, $141.40. | 301.40 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $2,000.00 | ||
Fig. 54.—ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE.
Fig. 55.—PLAN OF CELLAR.
Fig. 56.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.