Read Ebook: Modern house-plans for everybody For village and country residences costing from two hundred and fifty dollars to eight thousand dollars by Reed S B Samuel Burrage

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THE HERO AND THE NYMPH.

In the Himalaya mountains, the nymphs of heaven, on returning from an assembly of the gods, are mourning over the loss of Urvasi, a fellow-nymph, who has been carried off by a demon. King Pururavas enters on his chariot, and on hearing the cause of their grief, hastens to the rescue of the nymph. He soon returns, after having vanquished the robber, and restores Urvasi to her heavenly companions. While carrying the nymph back to her friends in his chariot, he is enraptured by her beauty, falls in love with her and she with her deliverer. Urvasi being summoned before the throne of Indra, the lovers are soon obliged to part. When they part, Urvasi wishes to turn round once more to see the king.

She pretends that a straggling vine has caught her garland, and while feigning to disengage herself, she calls one of her friends to help her.

The friend replies:--

"I fear, this is no easy task. You seem entangled too fast to be set free: but, come what may, defend upon my friendship." The eyes of the king then meet those of Urvasi. They now part.

A SUBURBAN RESIDENCE, COSTING ,000.

Perspective View.--Modern Improvements.--Five Story Tower.--Dormer Windows.--School Room.--Remarks on Style. 220

Building in Blocks.--What is Saved.--Overcoming many objections.--Preserving their identity as Cottages.--Deafening Partitions. 227

DESIGN NO. XL.

FIVE CONTIGUOUS HOUSES, COSTING ,000.

Residence.--Corner-Stone.--Observatory.--Desirability.--Imposing and animated.--Full Specifications of Plumber's Work. 232

A COTTAGE, COSTING 0.

ESTIMATE, cost of materials and labor:

COUNTRY COTTAGE, COSTING 0 TO 0.

Cost of Cottage--No. 1:

Extra cost of cottage--No. 2:

A COUNTRY COTTAGE, COSTING 0.

ESTIMATE cost of materials and labor:

A COUNTRY HOUSE, COSTING 0 TO 0.

ESTIMATE for cost of materials and labor:

A CONVENIENT HOUSE, COSTING 0.

A HOUSE COSTING 0.

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 0 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 x 4-inch timber, in three pieces each, mitred to the angles required, and nailed together , making an effective support and pleasant appearance.... A large saving in expense of foundations is secured by the following method of construction . The excavation is made for the cellar 2 1/2 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 x 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, 2 1/2 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 , 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 , 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, , may be divided into three rooms, the front one being 12 x 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 x 12, and the other 6 1/2 x 12. The latter would be large enough for an ordinary bed , 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:

COUNTRY HOUSE, COSTING 0 TO ,050.

A COTTAGE, COSTING 0 TO ,050.

COUNTRY OR VILLAGE COTTAGE, COSTING ,000.

ESTIMATE of materials required, and total cost.

A HOUSE COSTING ,100.

ESTIMATE of materials and cost:

A HOUSE COSTING ,600.

COST.--The following ESTIMATES of cost in detail will give an idea of the general character of the work. The prices given are for materials in the vicinity of New York. Carpenters wages are reckoned at per day; mason's work, .50 per day; and painters, per day:

Prices vary in different localities, somewhat, but when higher in some particulars, they will generally be lower in others, so that the whole cost will not be greatly different over a considerable extent of country. There are many items that can be cut down in the above estimate, where great economy is needful. For example, substitute wood for stone steps and sills; omit the blinds and bay-windows, use cheaper doors, pine-stair railing and newel, instead of walnut, etc. Our estimate is for a pretty, complete, tasteful house.

A HOUSE COSTING ,700.

COST.--The following items, prepared with care, embrace the full bill of materials and labor required in the construction of this house, together with their present cost in the vicinity of New York:

FRENCH-ROOFED COTTAGE, COSTING ,000.

ESTIMATE of materials required, and total cost:

A FRENCH-ROOFED COTTAGE COSTING ,000.

A SOUTHERN HOUSE COSTING ,000.

A HOUSE COSTING ,100.

A HOUSE COSTING ,200.

A SOUTHERN HOUSE COSTING ,200.

This plan of a simple, yet genteel Southern house, embraces ample interior accommodation for the wants of a good-sized family. It has an abundance of outside verandas and artificial shade, and may be constructed at a very moderate cost.... EXTERIOR, --The style is adapted to the Middle and Southern States, because of its elevation and airiness, the overhanging projections of its roof, and the facility with which wings or verandas may be added. The Tower is a conspicuous feature, and though without any special ornamentation, it gives an expression of unity and completeness to the whole structure. The Verandas on every side afford protection from the sun. Many persons prefer disconnected verandas , with open ends to the roofs for the escape of the heated air that would otherwise be retained in them. Moreover, disconnected verandas prevent the annoyance arising from the noise made by children who are fond of running and playing upon them.... CELLAR, --This is under the kitchen wing only; is 6 1/2 feet deep, has two windows, an outside entrance with stone steps, and a stairway leading to the rear entry of the first floor.... FIRST STORY, --Hight of ceiling in the main house, 11 feet, and in the wing 9 feet. The entrance Hall, nearly square, and entered from the front piazza through double doors, contains the main stairs, and communicates with the parlor and dining-room. Each of these apartments communicates with the library through large sliding-doors. The windows to these rooms open to the floor, and are protected on the outside by the verandas. The front parlor window is 6 1/2 feet wide, with the sashes arranged to slide in pockets at either side, by which means the parlor is apparently prolonged to, and may be used with the veranda. Each of the large rooms has fire-places and marble mantles. The closet for the dining-room is under the main stairs. The Kitchen is in the rear wing, and separated from the main house by the rear lobby and the pantry; it has a good-sized double window at each side, a large pantry, and a fire-place. In the rear entry are stairways leading to the second story and to the cellar.... SECOND STORY, --Hight of ceilings in main house, 9 feet, and in the wing 7 feet. It is divided into six chambers, besides halls and closets. The three larger Chambers have fire-places with marble shelves, and two windows in each. The window in the small chamber is placed near the ceiling, above the kitchen roof. The two Chambers in the wing are intended as servants' rooms, and have no communication with the main house.... TOWER AND ATTIC.--The Tower has an inclosed stairway, with a door at the foot. The main roof finish at the rear of the tower is leveled even with the main ridge, inclosing the intervening space; this affords room for a door leading from the tower to the attic. This story is thoroughly floored, and has small windows in each gable, and is useful as a place for storage. In cases of necessity, a portion of this attic may be used for bedrooms.... CONSTRUCTION.--The Cellar excavations are made in the ground 4 1/2 feet deep, and for the underpinning of the main house one foot. The loose earth is used in grading, raising the surface immediately surrounding the foundation 8 inches. The foundation walls are 8 inches thick, of hard brick and good mortar. The cellar walls are 6 1/2 feet high, and the underpinning 3 feet 2 inches high, leaving an exposed surface 18 inches high at completion. Only the portions of the foundation plan, shown darker in the plan, fig. 74, are walled, the intervening spaces being left open for the free circulation of air. The general character of the materials to be used in the construction of this house may be inferred from the appended estimate. The manner of putting these materials together is of great importance, and should be entrusted only to skillful and thorough workmen. The details of the exterior finish are so plain, that the work of "getting out" the several parts may be done by the mechanics employed in building, without recourse to the scroll-saw or carver. The truss-work of the cornices, and the open frame-work, and columns of the verandas, are of dressed timber, and stop-chamfered. All the roofs have sufficient pitch to allow the use of shingles, which are much lighter and cooler than slate or metal. Veranda roofs so constructed do not reflect so much heat into the chamber windows as others, which is important in a warm climate.... VENTILATION.--Large window openings, with easy working sashes, are provided, and afford the best means of changing the air of any apartment. The chimneys are large, and have open fire-places, and ventilating side-flues with registers near the ceilings. These openings, which should never be closed, will be found to afford satisfactory ventilation. During seasons of extreme heat, the tower may be made to serve as a general ventilator, by lowering the upper sashes, and opening all the doors leading to it. The following estimate includes everything necessary to complete this building in a thorough manner, at prices now ruling in the vicinity of New York.--ESTIMATE:

A STONE HOUSE, COSTING ,500.

ESTIMATE OF THE COST:

A COUNTRY HOUSE, COSTING ,600.

ESTIMATE OF COST:

The following detailed estimate of the cost of windows and doors, "complete," are given in explanation as to what is included in the foregoing and other lists, viz.:

It will be noticed that the item for Base is included in above estimate for doors. The figures are an average per door, deduced from careful calculations, and are introduced here for the purpose of aiding any one in readily making up an estimate for a whole building.

A FARM-HOUSE COSTING ,600.

A HOUSE COSTING ,800.

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