GROUND AIR 309 



change the appearance of the brick and prevents frozen moisture 

 from scaling mortar joints or dampness from entering the house, thus 

 removing the ene possible objection to brick construction. Harvard, 

 Roman, and tapestry brick are all good. 



The so-called "mud brick" of commerce is more or less a water 

 absorber, but has holding strength in the wall; its rough surface 

 absorbs the mortar even better than the smoother face, but harder, 

 machine made, piano-wire-cut brick. Headers and stretchers, if of 

 suitable contrasting hue, and laid in Flemish or English bond, make 

 an effective building, but meddling with contrasts requires infinite 

 care and skill. The amateur often ruthlessly "stomps" "where angels 

 fear to tread." 



In a non-earthquake country, hollow tile covered with cement 

 is ideal construction if made damp-proof with tar or rough paint and 

 air spaces, and is more serviceable than stucco on wire or wooden lath. 

 A double hollow tile wall is best if brick tied. 



Floor Deadening. 



In deadening floors, an excellent light weight combination is a 

 mixture of cement, sawdust, and ashes. It brings but little extra 

 strain on the timbers, keeps out cold and noise, and is along fireproof 

 lines. 



If the room immediately over the kitchen is used for other than 

 storage, the floor should be deadened in order to bar kitchen heat 

 and noises and there must be an air space between the wall of this 

 room and the kitchen chimney. 



In all cementing of exterior walls, wire lath should be nailed 

 on eight inch centres to avoid sagging, which is bound to occur when 

 nailed to the sixteen inch spaced studding. V-irons will give 

 a half inch air space between sheathing and cement. They hold the 

 wire and cement away from the shrinking wood, and tend to prevent 

 cracks. This method is less expensive than hollow brick construction, 

 but not as durable. 



The cement cellar floor should be four inches thick, made of 

 three inches of concrete set on a bed of sand. A good concrete mix- 

 ture is one part cement, three parts sand, five parts broken stone, and 

 when set immediately finished with one inch Portland cement made 

 of one part cement to three parts sand. 



If steps and open loggia are not of stone or brick, durability 

 requires that they be of reinforced cement. Rounding very slightly 

 the edge of a cement step will delay inevitable nicking. 



Heavy buttresses at the corners of a rough foundation wall are 

 good, especially for a high veranda. As simple a thing as a piazza 

 post wrongly placed will seriously mar an otherwise beautiful house.. 

 An entasis effect flaring outward at the bottom of an exposed founda- 

 tion wall gives stability and beauty. 



