DESIGN VI.
A HOUSE COSTING $700.
The plans here given are of simple design, intended to meet the large and increasing demand for low-priced country or village houses, having at the same time some architectural beauty. Without this latter feature, a comfortable house of this size can, in many places, be erected for much less than $700 even.... The house here described provides for as much room as a small family would require, while at the same time it admits of future enlargement, as one’s necessity or means may indicate, by additions, ells, or wings, at either side, or rear. In all cases, when planning small houses, it is best to provide for such enlargements. The triplet window in front is so arranged that it can be readily changed to a bay-window, when that improvement can be afforded, without marring the rest of the wood-work, or the harmony of the front elevation.... The Cornice of the main building is bracketed, and projects sufficient to relieve it of the stunted look so common to country houses. The brackets are made of 2 × 4-inch timber, in three pieces each, mitred to the angles required, and nailed together (see [fig. 25]), making an effective support and pleasant appearance.... A large saving in expense of foundations is secured by the following method of construction (see section of foundation and frame, [fig. 24]). The excavation is made for the cellar 2½ feet deep. A foundation of 8-inch brick-work, 3 feet high, or 6 inches above the level of the ground only, is required. A sill of 3 × 8-inch timber is laid on, and “flush” with the inside of the wall, to provide nailing for the wainscoting of the basement, if it is afterwards finished off.... The beams or joists for the first floor are supported by a plank-strip five inches wide, let into the inside of the frame at a proper hight, and securely fastened with heavy nails. The other parts of the framing are executed, and the whole raised, in the usual manner.... The inclosing, or siding, below the first story, is of 10-inch boards rabbeted and cross-grooved in imitation of large stone-work, and painted in contrast with the principal body of the house, and the water-table is put just above them.... Many small houses in the country are built without any permanent foundation, but are temporarily supported on posts set in the ground, and “boarded down.” They are always shaky, and doubtful while they stand, and are frequently blown over altogether. As will be readily seen, the above method provides for the saving of one-half of the mason-work in the foundation. In many places stone is abundant, and will answer the same purpose as brick in this case, except for the 6 inches above ground. The laying up of a single-face wall, 2½ feet high, of rough stone and mortar, would cost but a trifle. If the cellar should be finished at any time for basement purposes, these walls would be much drier and more healthful than when the walls are entirely of masonry. In this case it would be preferable to have the foundation walls 6 inches higher, so as to have the basement rooms 7 feet in the clear.... Several houses have been built on this plan in villages, and in most cases it has been decided not to have any rear outside door for the first story ([fig. 22]), but to wait until a kitchen could be finished in the front part of the cellar, when the common entrance would be by the area to the kitchen. In the plan ([fig. 22]), we have indicated two rear windows, but a door may take the place of either of them. We have also indicated by dotted lines where pantry, sink, etc., may be placed in the corner, according to the wishes of the proprietor.... There is but one chimney. The parlor is heated by running a stove-pipe through earthen thimbles placed in the partitions under the stairs, to the chimney, which is perfectly safe, and no heat is lost. When desired, a fire-place, or stove-pipe flue, may be carried up through the parlor, as well as through the living-room, and the two be brought together above the stairs into one chimney.... The Second Story, ([fig. 23]), may be divided into three rooms, the front one being 12 × 15 feet; or, if preferred, this front room may be divided into two smaller rooms, as indicated by the dotted lines. One may be 8 × 12, and the other 6½ × 12. The latter would be large enough for an ordinary bed (4½ × 6½ feet), with stand or chair by the window; and in this case a small closet could be cut off from the corner, opening into the large room, as shown by the dotted lines.
Cost.—The following estimate in detail, at present prices, near this city, will enable any one to determine the cost of building by this plan. Allowance can be made for any difference in cost of materials or labor as required in other localities:
| 43 | yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. | $8.60 | |
| 6,000 | brick, laid complete, at $12 per M. | 72.00 | |
| 1,636 | ft. timber, at $15 per M. | 24.50 | |
| 2 | sills, 3 × 8 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 3 × 3 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | posts, 4 × 7 in. 21 ft. long. | ||
| 28 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 29 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 16 ft. long. | ||
| 32 | rafters, 3 × 4 in. 12 ft. long, at 20c. | 6.40 | |
| 200 | wall-strips, 2 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 11c. | 22.00 | |
| 162 | novelty siding-boards, 9½ in., at 28c. | 45.36 | |
| 28 | rabbeted siding, 10 in., at 28c. | 7.84 | |
| 97 | flooring spruce, 9½ in., at 28c. | 27.16 | |
| 123 | shingling-lath, 1¼ × 2 in., at 6c. | 7.38 | |
| 22 | bunches shingles, 18 in., at $1.25. | 27.50 | |
| 14 | windows, with blinds, two stories, 9 at $8; 5 at $3. | 87.00 | |
| 2 | stairs, $25; 11 doors and trimmings, $44; 1 stoop materials, $10. | 79.00 | |
| 14 | rough spruce-plank, 1¼ × 10 in., at 30c. | 4.20 | |
| 100 | feet cornice materials. | 20.00 | |
| Carpenter’s labor (not included above). | 90.00 | ||
| 350 | yards plastering, three coats, at 25c. | 87.50 | |
| Cartage, average one mile. | 12.00 | ||
| Painting, two coats, $40; extras, for tin, nails, etc. $31.56. | 71.56 | ||
| Total cost in above style. | $700.00 | ||
Fig. 20.—ELEVATION OF HOUSE.—Scale, 8 feet to 1 inch.
Fig. 21.—CELLAR.—Scale, 8 feet to 1 inch.
