Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Typographical errors have been silently corrected. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SMALL HOUSE A SIMPLE AND USEFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON THE METHODS OF BUILDING SMALL AMERICAN HOMES, FOR ANYONE PLANNING TO BUILD BY H. VANDERVOORT WALSH INSTRUCTOR OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1923 COPYRIGHT, 1923, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Printed in the United States of America Published February, 1923 [Illustration] CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. PRESENT-DAY ECONOMIC TROUBLES 1 II. GENERAL TYPES AND COSTS 7 III. ESSENTIAL STANDARDS OF QUALITY IN BUILDING MATERIALS 20 IV. TYPES OF WOODEN-FRAME CONSTRUCTION 38 V. CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASONRY AND WOOD DWELLING 49 VI. SAFEGUARDS AGAINST FIRE IN DWELLINGS 69 VII. POOR METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYED BY UNSCRUPULOUS BUILDERS 81 VIII. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF GOOD PLUMBING 94 IX. METHODS OF HEATING 109 X. LIGHTING AND ELECTRIC WORK 121 XI. CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRIM 130 XII. LESSONS TAUGHT BY DEPRECIATION 141 XIII. SELECTING MATERIALS FROM ADVERTISEMENTS 150 XIV. ROOFING MATERIALS 158 XV. PAINTING AND VARNISHING THE HOUSE 177 XVI. LABOR-SAVING DEVICES FOR THE HOME 185 XVII. CONCRETE WORK AROUND THE HOUSE 197 XVIII. CLASSIFICATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL MOTIFS USED IN SMALL-HOUSE DESIGNING 208 XIX. TRADITIONS OF BUILDING FROM WHICH OUR MODERN METHODS ARE DERIVED 219 XX. TRADITIONS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS 236 XXI. BUILDING THE SETTING FOR THE HOUSE 245 XXII. FINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION WORK 258