Fig. 63.—FIRST STORY.
Fig. 64.—SECOND STORY OF MAIN BUILDING.
DESIGN XVI.
A HOUSE COSTING $2,100.
This plan, embodying the principal characteristics of a design I made several years ago, for the residence of Mr. Arthur Waller, Newtown, L. I., has a homelike, tasteful, and picturesque appearance—particularly now, with its neatly laid-out grounds and grown up shrubbery, which especially befit its pointed style, and demonstrate the harmony that exists between these simple cottage outlines, and rural surroundings. It is thus adapted to either a suburban or more retired country situation.... Elevation, ([fig. 65].)—A noticeable peculiarity is the earth finish around the foundation, which is simply utilizing the earth from the cellar. This is banked against the foundation, up to within six inches of the wood, evenly graded at 45 degrees angle, and neatly covered with closely laid turf. This conceals a roughly constructed foundation; it insures more dryness of the cellar, and consequently of the whole house; it guards the cellar against extreme heat in summer, and frost in winter; and it gives such a visible breadth of bottom as to add to its apparent strength. This earth finish around the foundation is especially adapted to wet or clayey soils, where it is desirable to have the cellar mostly above ground; at the same time it secures greater elevation to the whole building.... There are marked features of dissimilarity in the several openings, and in the details of the exterior dressing, each part being adapted to its special purpose, and so arranged as to be in keeping with the general design; it therefore unites harmony and beauty.... Cellar, ([fig. 66].)—The Cellar extends under the whole house; clear hight 6½ feet. The outside entrance to the cellar is by an area-way, having stone steps and walls, with hatchway and inside doors; the hatchway doors, when closed, being even with the sloping earth finish.... First Story, ([fig. 67].)—Hight of ceiling 9½ feet. The irregular outlines of this plan contribute to the cheerfulness of the different apartments, by giving opportunity for the insertion of windows where they will command the most pleasing prospects. The principal entrance is from the porch through double doors to the spacious hall, which adjoins the parlor and dining-room. The Parlor has one bay and two plain windows, with large wall space for furniture and wall decoration. The Dining-room is conveniently arranged to connect with the principal hall, parlor, rear lobby, large pantry, or closet, and the cellar stairway, and has a large bay and one plain window. The Kitchen is planned to have a range, sink, pump, wash-tubs, and the usual pipes for cold and hot water, and is provided with two windows, situated in opposite sides of the room to give abundant light, and afford thorough ventilation; a closet adjoins the chimney-breast, and a cupboard is put beneath the sink. The Pantry is of good dimensions, contiguous to both dining-room and kitchen, has a suitable window, and is furnished with shelving. The rear entrance is from the covered stoop to the rear lobby, and from thence to either dining-room or kitchen.... Second Story, ([fig. 68].)—This story is reached by a winding stairway from the principal hall, and contains four good-sized chambers, a bath-room, five large closets, and the needed passage-ways. The breast-walls are vertical to the hight of 3½ feet, and are continued upward along the underside of the steep roof frame-work to the ceiling, which is 8 feet high. The Bath-room is provided with a bath-tub and seat-closet. The Tank is 1 foot 8 in. wide, 2 feet long, and 3 feet deep, and is placed in the closet adjoining the bath-room, at a hight of 2 feet above the floor, and provided with a neat-fitting lid. The spaces above and below the tank may be used as a closet for toweling, etc. The interior location of this tank should insure it against frost, so long as the house is occupied by the family.... Construction.—The excavations for the cellar are 2 feet deep, and the earth is used as above described. The materials for the principal foundations may be of the roughest stone, such as are commonly used in farm-fencing, and coarse mortar. Very little skill is required in the construction of these walls, as only the last, or top course, is seen from the outside, which should be laid to a line, and levelled to receive the frame-work. The exposed portions of the bay-window foundations are constructed of brick laid in mortar, resting on stone-work, and leaving an interior recess or shelf, as shown on the cellar plan. The cellar windows are of good dimensions, and situated where they will insure sufficient light, and provide for the complete airing of the cellar. An opening should be left in one, or both of the chimneys, near the cellar ceiling, having a continuous flue to the top, which will be heated by contact with the fire-places above when in use, and produce a draft that will exhaust the poisonous vapors always generated in cellars, and prevent them from rising through the house to contaminate the air of the living-rooms. This cellar may be easily and cheaply divided into separate apartments by rough planking or otherwise, if ever desirable. The rear portion might be readily converted into a laundry, where the wash-tubs, with their accompanying pipes, might be placed, leaving more kitchen room, and relieving it of the steam and general disturbance of the ever-recurring washing days. Large durable posts are placed in the cellar, resting on large flat stones that have been embedded in the cellar bottom, as supports for the 4 × 8-inch girders, shown on the cellar plan by the dotted lines. By the estimate, it will be seen that very little timber is used in the frame-work, of which the sills and beams comprise the heavier parts. I would enforce the importance of having the frame fitted and secured together in a substantial manner. The beams should be bridged as described for [Design XVII.]... The exterior sides of the frame-work are designed to be inclosed with double boarding, with an intermediate lining of tarred felting. The first covering should be milled to even thicknesses, and put on horizontally and double nailed to each stud. The felting is next applied in whole width strips, running from the sill to the plate. The water-table and window-frames are next put in their places, after which the final covering of tongued and grooved sheathing is put on vertically, with the lower ends neatly fitted to the water-table, and the upper ends covered with a 10-inch board forming a frieze to the cornice. The siding should then be painted one coat in a thorough manner, when battens of 1½ inch “half round” (previously painted both sides) are firmly nailed over the joints of the sheathing. The windows are all arranged for 1½-inch sash, hung to iron weights with good cord, and neatly cased and moulded on the inside; outside blinds are intended for each window above the cellar. The cornices are constructed in the simplest manner, and the perforated barges and finials are made as indicated by the elevation, and placed near the extremity of the gable cornices, from which ever-varying shadows are made against the building, producing the most delicate and pleasing effects. It is purposely intended that the roofs of the principal building, porch, stoop, bay, and dormer windows, shall have sufficient pitch for shingling.... The character of the balance of the work may be inferred from the estimate which is given in detail.—Estimate:
| 61 | yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. | $12.20 | |
| 1,278 | ft. stone foundation, complete, at 12c. per ft. | 153.36 | |
| 5,000 | brick for bays and chimneys, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. | 60.00 | |
| 30 | ft. stone steps and coping, at 30c. per ft. | 9.00 | |
| 660 | yards 3-coat plastering, complete, at 28c. per yard. | 184.80 | |
| 3,526 | ft. timber, at $15 per M. | 52.89 | |
| 1 | sill, 4 × 8 in. 151 ft. long. | ||
| 10 | posts, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | plate, 4 × 6 in. 136 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | valleys, 3 × 7 in. 17 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | girder, 4 × 8 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 13 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 19 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 15 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | beam, 3 × 7 in. 80 ft. long. | ||
| 50 | rafters, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 300 | wall-strips, 2 × 4 × 13, at 11c. each. | 33.00 | |
| 200 | sheathing, 9 in., at 18c. each. | 36.00 | |
| 100 | lbs. tarred felting, at 5c. per lb. | 5.00 | |
| 200 | tongued and grooved sheathing, at 28c. each. | 56.00 | |
| 200 | battens, at 6c. each. | 12.00 | |
| Materials in cornices and water-table. | 38.00 | ||
| 325 | shingling-lath, 1¼ × 2 × 13, at 6c. each. | 19.50 | |
| 60 | bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. | 90.00 | |
| 177 | flooring, 1¼ × 9½ in., at 25c. each. | 44.25 | |
| 2 | stoops (front and rear), complete. | 80.00 | |
| 2 | bay-windows (with blinds), complete. | 100.00 | |
| 10 | plain windows (with blinds), complete, at $12 each. | 120.00 | |
| 4 | dormer windows (with blinds), complete, at $20 each. | 80.00 | |
| 3 | cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. | 18.00 | |
| Stairs, complete, $75; 24 doors, complete, at $8 each, $192. | 267.00 | ||
| 3 | mantles, complete, $20, $10, and $6. | 36.00 | |
| Shelving, etc., $12; nails, $18; painting, $110. | 140.00 | ||
| Plumbing and range, complete, $222.70; cartage, average 1 mile, $25. | 247.70 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor, not included above. | 150.00 | ||
| For contingencies. | 55.30 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $2,100.00 | ||
Fig. 65.—ELEVATION OF HOUSE.
