330 HOW TO MAKE A COUNTRY PLACE 



ments on some interesting view, and transforming jarring effects to 

 those of harmony. 



The last word in building is never spoken new methods of 

 construction are frequently advocated by the experimentally inclined 

 architect and builder and sometimes prove aggravating failures com- 

 mon sense makes the best guiding rudder. 



Building Fundamentals. 



The "do it," and "don't do it," in building are legion, but a few 

 fundamentals should be rightly settled : Do not build too close to 

 the highway or at a lower level ; the only excuse for the latter is 

 to obtain the sunken garden, bird's-eye view effect across the 

 lawn from the highway, in which case the land should slope away 

 from the rear of a house, and if abruotly all the better. 



A trolley and automobile traveled turnpike are desirable for 

 the rear entrance to an estate, but freedom from noise, dust and com- 

 mercialism decrees that one should never front it, unless the house is 

 placed n-ell back from the roadway. A dusty highway seriously 

 retards the growth of vegetable and flower, but parlor floor roadways 

 banish the dust nuisance. 



Just right, in mixture, mode of application and use of cement 

 and reinforced corcrete in house building is the key note to prevent 

 its crumbling, cracking and breaking. Discoloration and absorption 

 of moisture by cement are difficult problems to solve. The drying 

 out of a house through heat and non-damp breezes is a necessity, 

 requiring months to do it thoroughly and the reprehensible habit 

 of covering walls and ceilings with a^y substance before this is 

 accomplished prolongs the drying out process for a long period and 

 foundations many an ill. 



If your roof is inartistically high, drag it down with a wide 

 overhang and suitable color treatment and insist, in spite of some 

 architect's bias for an unbroken roof contour, on enough dormer 

 and gable windows to thoroughly light that third story, even if you 

 don't finish its interior aside from the necessary bracing and support- 

 ing rough partitions. 



The time will surely come when that third floor will make all 

 the differe-ce between comfort a"d discomfort, aid possibly the 

 selling of the property an hour tchich come'; to all property at a 

 substantial profit or a disastrous los. If VOM build servants' rooms 

 on the second story, locate partitions, wirdows, and doors in such a 

 manner that they will make suitable guest rooms when you or your 

 successors (in later years) move the servants higher up. and frame 

 the timbering so that if necessarv certain partitions can be removed 

 and stud in the rough for future doorways. Al c o carry main plumbing 

 and heating pipes to the third story, capping outlets. 



Roof and foundation are big factors in the cost of exterior co*i- 

 stri-ction. Build the roof to avoid an undue number of vallevs and 



