Fig. 6.—SECOND FLOOR.
DESIGN III.
A COUNTRY COTTAGE, COSTING $550.
These plans are for a low-priced house, similar in character to those in [Design II.], but differing entirely in outlines and arrangement, and embracing a much larger area of floor space, with increased accommodations.... Elevation, ([fig. 7].)—The Front is broken with angles, furnishing a greater number of vertical lines, thus giving relief from the depressing appearance that would otherwise be manifest. The roof projections are proportionate, with simple finish. The cornices of the central or main part are the most prominent, and have plain trusses. The gable openings supplying ventilation between the ceilings and roof.... Ground-Plan, ([fig. 8]).—The interior contains five quite ample rooms, conveniently arranged, besides a lobby, pantry, and two closets. Hight of ceilings in two principal rooms, 9½ feet, in the side extensions, 6 feet at the plate, following the rafters to the center of the rooms, and from thence are leveled across at the hight of 9 feet. The front entrance is through a lobby. (If desired to economize further, the front stoop and one door may be saved, by putting an arch in place of the front door, making a recessed porch of the lobby.) The Parlor has two front windows, and a closet, and adjoins the kitchen and two bedrooms. The Kitchen is large, has two windows, an open fire-place, and adjoins a commodious pantry, and a bedroom. The Pantry has a large window, and is shelved on one side and end. A convenient Clothes-press opens from the right-hand bedroom. The Chimney is near the center of the house, insuring much saving of heat. The interior of this house may be comfortably warmed from a single fire, by placing a Radiator in the parlor, and leading the fire-draught from the kitchen stove through it. As the peculiar form and construction of this radiator is comparatively new, having originated with me, a description is here given, which will enable any skillful sheet-iron worker to make one (see [figs. 9 and 10]): A, is the parlor side of the chimney-breast; B, the kitchen side; C, chimney-flue; D, kitchen fire-place, containing kitchen-stove; E, smoke-pipe leading from the stove through the throat-piece, into the chimney-flue; F, F, stove-pipe branches passing through the back of the fire-place, and connecting the smoke-pipe, E, with the radiator; G, interior section of radiator; H, face of radiator; I, partition within radiator. The draught is regulated by a damper, J, in the smoke-pipe E, between the branches, F, F, and is forced through the radiator as required. The radiator may be made of any size desired to fit the mantle-opening, and if neatly constructed of Russian iron, will be quite ornamental. The partition, I, is 5 inches wide, and extends to within 6 inches of the bottom at either side, has turned edges, and is riveted to the front and back. In use, to start the fire, a direct draught is made by opening the damper, J, after which it may be closed to turn the draught through the lower branch-pipe into the central part of the radiator, where it descends, passing the lower ends of the partition, I, into the side passages, where it ascends and enters the upper branch-pipe, leading to the smoke-pipe, E. The bottom should have a collar to slide within the upright part, to facilitate cleaning when necessary. If there is no hearth-stone to set the radiator upon, the bottom may be filled with an inch deep of coarse plaster, which will make it safe even on a carpet. In setting the radiator, an inch or two of open space should be left between it and the chimney-back (just the thickness of the interior wall-plates of the mantle, against which the radiator should join.) Into the bottom of this space, air may be introduced from the outside of the house, through a two-inch pipe. The air thus let in becomes heated, and escapes around the margin, furnishing a pure healthful supply to the room.... Construction.—The estimate annexed, includes materials, and methods of construction similar to those described for [Design II.] The form and arrangement of this building admits of its being erected in sections; the central or main part may be first put up, and the side extensions added as means or necessity requires or allow. In localities where it is difficult to get dressed lumber, rough boards may be used for the siding, put on vertically, and battened, but in this case it would be practical to paint the cornices and other dressings only with lead and oil—using a lime-wash for the rough work. A durable wash may be made by slaking freshly-burned lump-lime in hot brine. This can be colored by adding dry-stainers as desired, and may be applied with an ordinary whitewash brush. Such work would greatly reduce the cost, and, if properly done, add a feature of rustic beauty, quite becoming in this class of building.
Estimate cost of materials and labor:
| 340 | ft. stone foundation, at 5c. per ft. | $17.00 | |
| 1,000 | bricks in chimneys, laid, at $12 per M. | 12.00 | |
| 290 | yards plastering, at 25c. per yard. | 72.50 | |
| 800 | ft. of timber, at $15 per M. | 12.00 | |
| 2 | sills, 4 × 6 in. 30 ft. long. | ||
| 8 | posts, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 30 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 6 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | sills, 4 × 6 in. 9 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 300 | wall strips, at 13c. each. | 39.00 | |
| 70 | plank rough spruce, 1¼ × 10, at 16c. each. | 11.20 | |
| 130 | siding, dressed pine, ⅛ × 10, at 25c. each. | 32.50 | |
| 176 | shingling-lath, at 6c. each. | 10.56 | |
| 30 | bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. | 45.00 | |
| 82 | flooring, dressed spruce, at 20c. each. | 16.40 | |
| 8 | windows, at $5 each, $40; 10 doors, at $3 each, $30. | 70.00 | |
| Closet and base finish, $16; cornice materials, $15. | 31.00 | ||
| Nails, $10; painting, $60; cartage, $14. | 84.00 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor, $75; incidentals, $21.84. | 96.84 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $550.00 | ||
Fig. 7.—ELEVATION OF FRONT OF HOUSE.
Fig. 8.—GROUND-PLAN.
