The Country House 



For 15 to 20 foot span use 3x12 Southern pine timbers, set 16 inches on 

 centres, crowned one-half inch, and cross-bridged 4 to 6 rows. 



For 20 to 25 foot span use 3x14 Southern pine timbers, set 16 inches on 

 centres, crowned one inch at 25 feet, and cross-bridged 6 to 8 times. 



A -floor timber is "crowned" by making the centre slightly higher than the 

 ends and the profile a slight curve. This is done to overcome a natural settle- 

 ment or sag, and to prevent the floor from being hollow or "dished" in the middle. 

 Ordinary short space need not be crowned. 



Theoretically the floor timber sets on the girt or partition head, without 



alteration of any 

 sort; practically, be- 

 cause of the varia- 

 tion in depth, they 

 are "size d" o r 

 notched at the bot- 

 tom so that the tops 



A simple cottage, showi 



nation of hip and pitch roofs 



will all be at the 

 same level when set 

 in place. The 

 amount of cutting 

 cut is determined by 

 measuring from the 

 top. Floor timbers 

 should be selected so 

 that their crowning 



edges come at the top. If they have no crowning edges such should be worked 

 out. They are framed or notched to the sill and girder alike, their points 

 of bearing being nearly at the same level. "F" in Fig. 5 shows the framing of 

 floor timbers into the girder, with 2 inches of the sticks lapping at the top so that 

 they may be nailed together and to the girder. 



Floor timbers are cross-bridged at intervals not greater than 6 feet, and fre- 

 quently less, by the use of I x 4 strips set in a straight line in a double row (see 

 Fig- 5)- They are firmly nailed to the floor timbers by two large nails in each 

 end, thus forming a sort of truss which not only stiffens but distributes the 

 weight as well 



Partition studs are usually 2x4 and spaced the same on centres as are the 

 outside studs. They are of one-story length only, and have heads and soles or 

 their equivalent (see Fig. 5). Where set on line with a girder they set directly 

 upon it, the girder taking the place of the sole. The head is commonly 32x4 

 spruce stick, but it is much better if made of 3 x 4 Southern pine. 



The head of a partition which receives the floor timbers should be set at the 

 height of the sunk girt, so that they may be sized upon it (see "B," Fig. 5). 

 If the partition extends two stories or more, the head of the lower partition be- 

 comes the sole of the partition above it (see "A," Fig. 5). 



A partition running parallel to the floor timbers above, and extending only 

 one story, should set under a floor timber, so that no sagging of the floor shall 



