HOUSING 41 



wood which is clieapest in your particular community. Here 

 in the South we very naturally use pine because it is very 

 plentiful and therefore the cheapest. 



In some cases I have shown shiplap used as flooring. This 

 will work nicely but a rougli board floor will answer the pur- 

 pose just as well provided the board edges are square and 

 straight and the boards are nailed up hard against each other 

 so as to keep out dampness from below. Of course tongued and 

 grooved flooring blind-nailed would make a much smoother 

 and tighter flooring but it is far too expensive. Therefore we 

 must resort to something cheaper. In my native city there is 

 manufactured what is known as "cull roofers" which are 

 tongued and grooved boards that have been dressed and are 

 used for sheathing on cheap work. We have used this most 

 successfully for scpiab house floors and find that it makes a 

 good smooth tight job and at the same time an inexpensive one. 

 This same material is just the thing for roof sheathing on 

 which is laid the composition roofing. It is necessary to have 

 smooth even surface upon which to lay this kind jt roofing 

 material or otherwise it will become uneven and hold water 

 and this is what is not wanted at all. Composition roofing is 

 nothing moi'e or less than a roofing built up out of tar, felt, 

 asphalt, etc. 



For covering the exterior \Aalls I find sliiplap a good thing 

 and my reason is this, it makes a good vertical joint between 

 the boards ^^'bich will shed ^^-ater in a good strong rain and 

 is very easily applied. Not only tliis, it riiakes a tiglit draft- 

 proof wall if properly nailed. Never put shiplap on wjth hori- 

 zontal joints for if j'ou do rain ^^'ater will collect in the joints 

 and rot the boards. Sfiuarc-edge boards may be used and put 

 on with vertical joints and these joints may be stripped or 

 covered with a one-inch by three-inch strip. However putting 

 these strips on requires more labor, more nails and more lumber 

 so it seems as if the advantage is in favor of the shiplap. If 

 one wishes to do so lie may use beveled siding, % in. x 51/2 in. 

 showing 4^ in. to the ^^•eathel•. This will make a neat job yi't. 



