Fig. 60.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.
Fig. 61.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.
DESIGN XV.
A SOUTHERN HOUSE COSTING $2,000.
These plans, designed for a Georgia residence, will be adapted to the requirements of others desiring to build an inexpensive rural home in any of the Southern States.... Exterior, ([fig. 62].)—The plan indicates that the proprietor is not circumscribed by want of land, and prefers to extend the area of the ground floor, rather than to build upward. The breadth of the front (48 feet), the large entrance and window openings, the spacious verandas, and broad steps, are each prominent and desirable features, indicative of comforts and hospitality. The elevated, or second story part of the Main House, forms a substantial and fitting center, around which the roofs of the wings and verandas incline, and adds largely in giving poise and character to the whole building. The hight from the earth grades to the frame-work of the building is 2 feet. Its location should have a good surface drainage assured during rainy seasons, and afford pleasant outlooks from the verandas.... Interior.—In most parts of the South, very much of the year could be a latitude comfortably spent out of doors altogether, but for the requirements of shade and retirement. There are times, however, when severe weather makes it necessary that one’s family should be well housed, and when a good fire is both a luxury and necessity. A house for such should have large rooms, with high ceilings, an abundance of door and window openings, and a plentiful spread of shady verandas. Where practicable, the windows should have folding sashes opening to the floor, if protected by outside coverings. There should be at least one chimney in the main or highest part of the house, having a large open fire-place adapted to the use of wood for fuel, and having openings near the room ceilings into the flues, for ventilation. The Dining-room, Kitchen, and the more domestic offices, require a separate and distinct building, situated a short distance in the rear of the house, and connected with it by a covered passage-way.... First Story, ([fig. 63].)—Hight of ceiling 10 feet. The simple arrangement shown provides for each of the above requirements. The front Entrance is through large double doors. The Hall extends through the house. The Living-room, a large apartment adapted to a good-sized family, is centrally situated, and protected on every side from the direct rays of the sun; it adjoins the pleasant and shady verandas front and rear, both being accessible through the folding windows, that open like doors down to the floor. It communicates with the hall through wide double doors, has a large closet and an open fire. The Bedroom is of good dimensions, has three windows opening to the verandas, and one side window. The two closets are so arranged as to form an alcove to the rear window. The ceiling of this alcove is arched over, producing a very pleasant effect. An opening is made near the ceiling into one of the flues of the adjoining chimney for ceiling ventilation. The Parlor (or Library) is situated in the most quiet part of the building, where company may be entertained, or persons may engage in reading or study, without disturbance from those engaged in housework. Large windows open to the front veranda, and other windows are provided at the side and rear. A covered Passage-way leads from the rear hall door to the food departments. These consist of a Dining-room, Kitchen, Store-room, and two Closets, and to the rear of these is added a servant’s Bedroom. The dining-room and kitchen are each of ample size, with windows arranged on opposite sides to admit a plentiful supply of fresh air. A pump, sink, and two wash-tubs are provided in the kitchen. The store-room and closets are thoroughly shelved. If desirable, a china closet may be easily constructed at one side of the fire-place, into which one of the doors already provided would open.... Second Story, ([fig. 64].)—Hight of ceiling 9 feet. This may be divided into two or more rooms, as required, for bedrooms. The cross-partitions may be 8 feet high, admitting a free passage of air above them.... Construction.—Brick piers, placed 6 feet apart under all sills, are intended for the foundation. The remaining space is left unobstructed for the circulation of air. A cellar may be excavated, and walled up under the main house, with stairs leading to it from the rear veranda, under the main flight. In the estimate, provision is made for a regular frame of sawed timber, which should be framed and raised in a substantial manner. The siding for the main house and wings is of 6-inch pine clap-boards, laid 5 inches to the weather. The roofs of the main house and wings are laid with hemlock boards; all other roofs and cornice projections are laid with inverted 1 × 4½-inch tongued and grooved pine flooring, and lastly covered with IC. charcoal tin, locked and soldered in the best manner. The cornices are constructed with wide projections, and have neat truss supports. The verandas are made with simple parts. The columns for the front are 7-inch boxed, with bases, and scrolled spandrels; for the rear of 3 × 4 joist with bases, and plain spandrels. The veranda plates and rafters are dressed for painting, and are left exposed to sight. The pediments shown on the front are of open work, to allow the warmed air from near the roofs to escape. The upper frame-work (plates and rafters) of the rear building are also planed, and left exposed to sight from the inside. The inclosing and partitions for this part are of 1 × 4½-inch pine tongued and grooved flooring, dressed on both sides, put on in a vertical manner, and nailed to the sills and plates; 1¼-inch pine battens are put around the inside of the rooms at the proper hight for a chair-rail (2¾ feet to the upper edge), and joined to the casings of the doors and windows of like materials, and all thoroughly nailed with “clinch” nails to the upright boarding. The roof is built as described for the verandas, is double pitch, and has sufficient spread to include the shed, making it a part of the same building. The kitchen chimney is built nearly in the center of this building, has a large open fire-place, and has a good hight above the roof. All floors are of 1 × 4½-inch tongued and grooved pine flooring, close laid and blind nailed. All rooms in the main building and wings are hard-finished upon two coats of brown mortar. All work usually painted has two coats of good paint. The roof-gutters are made as shown in [Design V.]... Estimate:
| 8,000 | bricks in piers and chimneys, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. | $96.00 | |
| 550 | yards plastering, at 28c. per yard. | 154.00 | |
| 5,054 | ft. timber, at $15 per M. | 75.81 | |
| Sills, 4 × 8 in. 261 ft. long. | |||
| Ties, 4 × 6 in. 261 ft. long. | |||
| Plates, 4 × 6 in. 92 ft. long. | |||
| 4 | hips, 3 × 8 in. 17 ft. long. | ||
| 56 | beams, 2 × 8 in. 14 ft. long. | ||
| 32 | beams, 2 × 8 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | posts, 4 × 7 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | piazza sill, 3 × 8 in. 230 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | piazza plate, 3 × 8 in. 206 ft. long. | ||
| Piazza beams, 2 × 6 in. 384 ft. long. | |||
| 50 | joist, 3 × 4 in. 13ft. long, at 16c. each. | 8.00 | |
| 300 | wall-strips, 2 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 11c. | 33.00 | |
| 370 | siding (6-inch clap-boards), at 18c. each. | 66.60 | |
| 170 | hemlock boards, at 16c. each. | 27.20 | |
| 240 | ft. cornice, bracketed, at 20c. per ft. | 48.00 | |
| 208 | ft. simple rear cornice, at 8c. per ft. | 16.64 | |
| 38 | squares of tin, at $7 per square. | 266.00 | |
| 6,000 | ft. of 1 × 4½ tongued and grooved flooring pine, at 3c. per ft. | 180.00 | |
| 24 | piazza columns, complete, average at $1 each. | 24.00 | |
| 1 | stairs, complete, $50; 31 windows, at $10, $310. | 360.00 | |
| 20 | doors, at $8, $160; 1 mantle, $50. | 210.00 | |
| Sinks, pumps, and wash-tubs. | 22.00 | ||
| Closet finish, $12; nails, $25. | 37.00 | ||
| Painting, $100; carting, $20. | 120.00 | ||
| Boards for outside casings and incidentals. | 105.75 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor. | 150.00 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $2,000.00 | ||
Fig. 62.—FRONT VIEW OF HOUSE.
