THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



81 



SMALL FIREPROOF GARAGES 



To keep the automobile safely and in the most 

 efficient order and to preserve its appearance, there 

 should be provided a permanent, fireproof garage. 

 Concrete is the most suitable material for this pur- 

 pose. A concrete building is warm in winter and 

 cool in summer very important considerations for 

 the motorist who likes to "tinker" on his machine 

 and its fireproof qualities are self-evident and of 

 the utmost importance where gasoline is so freely 

 used. 



The garage should not be planned of too small 

 dimensions. It is desirable to provide space for a 

 work bench fitted with a good machinist's vise and 

 rack for tools, and allowance made for room to 

 store oil, gasoline, extra tires and other supplies. 

 For a single car a size of 18 feet long by 14 feet wide 

 b\- < feet high (inside measurements) will be ample. 

 Method of Construction 



The foundations should be 12 inches wide by 3 

 feet deep, and should extend 5 inches above ground 

 level to provide for a concrete floor of this thick- 

 ness. The concrete for the foundation should be 

 made in the proportion of 1 part Portland cement 

 _ _. parts sand to 5 parts screened gravel or 



crushed rock. Upon the foundations the 6-inch wall 

 will be placed. Make the walls of 1 to 2 to 4 con- 

 crete. The walls are reinforced with %-inch round 

 steel rods, spaced 14 inches apart, and running both 

 horizontally and vertically. The forms for the 

 walls can be built the full height, or movable forms 

 of a height of about 3 feet can be used. Forms are 

 made of 1-inch siding, well supported by 2x4 lumber 

 to prevent bulging when concrete is placed. The 

 movable forms are filled and raised each day until 

 the entire 9 feet is completed. In order that the 

 car can be easily run in and out of the garage, it is 

 well to leave the entire entrance side open and fitted 

 with large swinging doors. In the sides of the door- 

 way imbed bolts with heads in the concrete. These 

 bolts will be used later for fastening the wooden 

 door jamb which carries the hinges for the doors. 

 Provide a good sized window in each of the three 

 walls so that there will be plenty of light on the 

 car when it is to be repaired or washed. 



The concrete floor will be 5 inches thick, made 

 of 1 to 2y 2 to 5 concrete, and rests directly on the 

 ground. The ground should be scraped and well 

 rolled or tamped to secure a good foundation for 



the floor, which is laid after the walls are finished. 

 Where the car will stand the floor should be sloped 

 to a drain at the center to carry off the water used 

 in washing. If running water is obtainable the 

 pipes should be laid before the foundation and floor 

 are started. It is a good plan to provide for an 

 underground gasoline storage tank with a pump ex- 

 tending up through the concrete floor. 



The roof can be made either peaked or flat. 

 The flat form is much easier for the average person 

 to build. Such a roof should be constructed with a 

 slope of about 4 inches toward the back of the 

 building to drain off water. Make the roof 6 inches 

 thick, of 1 :2:4 concrete, and reinforced with ^-inch 

 round steel rods spaced 5 inches apart for the short 

 lengths and 9 inches for the long lengths. These 

 rods are located 1 inch from the bottom of the roof. 

 Where the rods cross, wire them together to pre- 

 vent shifting when the concrete is placed. Over the 

 doorway, where there is no wall to support the roof, 

 the weight is carried by a concrete beam 6 inches 

 wide by 14 inches deep, including the thickness of 

 the roof. Both beam and roof are built at the 



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same time. Two inches from the bottom of the 

 beam place two ^4-inch square twisted steel rods. 

 The form for the roof consists of a flat platform of 

 1-inch boards on joists supported by upright stud- 

 ding. Be sure that the forms are strongly made 

 and well supported so as to safely hold the weight 

 of the wet concrete. This form should remain in 

 place for a week or two after placing the concrete. 

 Make provision through the roof for a concrete 

 chimney or sheet iron smoke pipe for a small coal 

 or gas stove. The garage should be heated in win- 

 ter to prevent freezing of the water in the cylinders 

 and radiator of the car. 



Materials Needed 



For a garage of the size given there will be re- 

 quired : 38^2 barrels of Portland cement, 12 cubic 

 yards sand and 24 cubic yards stone or gravel. 



Send $1.00 for 1 year's subscription to the IRRIGA- 

 TION AGE and bound copy of THE PRIMER OF IRRIGA- 

 TION. If you desire a copy of The Primer of Hy- 

 draulics add $2.50 to above price. 



