234 



CONSTRUCTION. 



The skids which form the foundation of the house are 6x6 

 inch pieces, 11 feet long; 4x6 stock might be used, in which 

 case the pieces should be set on edge. Yellow pine or any 

 good quality of lumber will be satisfactory. The joists are 

 2x4 inch scantlings laid across the skids, two feet apart. To 

 stiffen the foundation, a 2x4 piece is spiked across the ends of 

 the joists but this piece may be omitted. The floor joists as 

 well as the remainder of the frame should be made of a good 

 quality of framing lumber, yellow or white pine being pre- 

 ferred. The frame shown in the accompanying drawings is 

 made entirely of 2x4 stock with the exception of the ridge pole. 

 Rafters 1x3 inches have been used with good success. 



.The floor is made of plain, tongued and grooved 6-inch floor- 

 ing and laid entirely over the joists before the studding is put 

 in place. The frame is nailed securely to the floor and sheathed 

 with a good grade of shiplap planed on one side and nailed 

 in place with the smooth side in. With the style of framing 

 used, it is quite necessary to nail this sheeting on horizontally. 

 After this sheeting is securely nailed in place, the whole struc- 

 ture outside of the door opening is covered with a good grade of 

 prepared roofing. The roofing is more easily applied if the 

 strips are run over the ridge of the building rather than hori- 

 zontally as is usually customary. This method also adds some 

 to its appearance. The laps should be well cemented and nailed 

 with washered nails or through a batten. 



The window opening for the rear window is sawed out and 

 the window is set in the frame against a l/2-i ncn strip used as 

 a stop. The front windows as shown in figure one and plates one 

 and three are larger than the opening and rest against the 

 frame all the way around, obviating the use of a stop inside of 

 the frame. In some styles of construction the window frames are 

 omitted, but in the judgment of the authors they are desirable 

 and worth the extra cost. To permit the hinges to be placed 

 on the windows readily, a casing is put around them of such 

 a thickness as to build the sheathing up to the thickness of the 

 windows. 



The front windows should be made of six 8x10 inch light sash, 

 although a smaller sash is shown in the illustrations. The rear 

 window is made double with two sashes of three 9x12 inch 

 lights in the same opening. As the birds roost near this win- 

 dow, it is desirable that all possible drafts should be guarded 

 against. In the summer time, the inside window may be re- 

 moved and stored inside of cleats nailed to the rafters. 



The door is made of matched flooring and made substantial 

 with three battens. The door is 1 inch larger than the open- 

 ing all around as this not only gives a tighter fit but requires 

 less labor in construction. 



