CHAPTER XVIII. 



PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION. 



RELATION OF COVERING TO SPACE ENCLOSED. 



The first cost of a building, when expressed in terms of 

 cubic feet enclosed, is influenced much by its relative di- 

 mensions. 



450. Relation of Walls to Floor Space. The form of floor 

 space which can be enclosed by the smallest amount of wall 

 is a circle, and Fig. 161 represents equal amounts of floor 

 space enclosed by the circle, the square and the oblong. 

 If the circle encloses a floor space of 1,600 square feet the 

 length of the outside wall will be about 143.7 feet; the 

 square would then be 40x40 feet and have 160 feet of out- 

 side wall; while the oblong would be 20x80 feet and have 

 an outside wall of 200 feet. 



141 ft. Mi ft 200 ft. 



FIG. 1C1. Shows equal areas enclosed by three types of walls. 



The square which encloses the same floor space as- a 

 circle requires 11.44 per cent, more wall, while the oblong 

 whose length is twice the breadth requires nearly 40 per 

 cent, more wall. This means that 40 per cent, more siding, 

 more nails and more paint would be required to cover an 



