Fig. 146.—Side Elevation of Window-board.
For the rustic pillars of the portico G ([Fig. 145]) nothing will be more suitable than larch poles about 4½ in. in diameter at the base; failing larch, fairly straight pieces of any rough, round wood could be used. The pillars are shown in [Figs. 142] and [145] standing upon and dowelled to pieces of stone. When in position, their tops will be level with the collar-posts and uprights, their centres being 2 ft. 4 in. in advance of the front sill.
On the collar-posts, uprights, and pillars are placed the wall plates H ([Fig. 144]), of which there are four belonging to the snuggery proper, each 5 in. wide and 3 in. thick. The side plates are 13 ft. 4 in. long, and are halved where they rest on the collar-posts and pillars, to receive the ends of the cross-plates, which are 8 ft. 2 in. long and halved to a distance of 5 in. from their ends. The wall-plates come flush with the collar-posts and uprights on which they rest, and to which they are nailed. There is also a fifth wall-plate which lies along the tops of the pillars in the front. The best material to use for this would be half of a pole like those used for the pillars, the flat side resting on the pillar tops. It will be observed that the front ends of the side wall-plates project about 4 in. beyond this piece.
Ten rafters, K ([Fig. 144]), will be required for the roof, each 5 ft. long and 3 in. square. The two outer pairs come flush with the outer sides of the sills and wall-plates. A sixth pair of rafters to stand over the pillars and their wall-plates are made from a round pole cut in half, with the sawn side laid uppermost. The tops of the rafters butt against a ridge-piece L ([Fig. 144]), made of 1-in. board 4 in. deep and 13 ft. 4 in. long. As shown in [Fig. 144], continuations of the uprights are in the back carried from the wall-plate to the roof, the front being treated in a similar manner.
The lintel of the doorway is 6 ft. above the sill, the door opening being 5 ft. 11¼ in. by 2 ft. 6 in. after the floor has been laid. The window shown in [Fig. 142] is 3 ft. above the sill, and is 3 ft. high; including the two mullions, it is 5 ft. 10 in. wide. The board shown nailed in front of the window sill is sloped a little downwards to throw off the rain, whilst above there is a board 9 in. wide, nailed at a steeper slope upon brackets, as seen in [Fig. 146], to shelter the window. The ¾ in. flooring boards which are used for the floor should be bought ready planed on one side, and must be well seasoned, and cramped tightly together in laying, or there will be chinks between them. Similar boards may be used for the outside of the snuggery, being nailed to the uprights at the back and sides, as shown in [Fig. 147]. At the sides this weather-boarding will extend as far forward as the rustic pillars, thus enclosing the sides of the porch. For the inside of the snuggery use ½ in. matchboarding, as shown in [Fig. 147]. This may be carried up beneath the rafters to the ridge-piece. The porch may be also matchboarded throughout if desired, although this is not essential.
Fig. 147.
Fig. 148.There are several methods of making the wooden walls non-conductors of heat, the most thorough being to pack the space between the inner and outer casings with sawdust. Shavings or similar materials could also be used, but less effectually. Another plan is to tack felt over the inner side of the weather-boarding before nailing up the interior casing. But even without any packing, two thicknesses of board with an air space between make a reasonably good non-conductor. Felt is fastened over the matchboard lining of the roof before the iron is put on.
