182 



HOUSING 



Exercise No. 39. — Leveling the Runners and Squaring 

 the Corners. — The next process should be to level both run- 

 ners by the use of the spirit level. Place pieces of board or 

 bricks under the runner, and on them the spirit level. When 

 the bubble in the center of the spirit level is in the center 

 of the glass tube, the runners are level. Next square the 

 corners by using the large steel square; after all of them are 

 perfectly square they should be held so permanently by nail- 

 ing cleats diagonally across from corner to corner (Fig. 99). 



Fig, 99. — The runners and floor rafters in place, showing the stick used to hold them 



square. 



Exercise No. 40. — Laying the Rough Floor. — Select from 

 the pile of lumber the yellow pine shiplap boards, which 

 were ordered for the rough or lower floor, and lay them diag- 

 onally from corner to corner. The best plan is to begin at 

 the center and work towards the ends. The boards should 

 be securely pressed together, then nailed, and finally sawed 

 , off to make the work neat. All sawing should be to a line, 

 and straight and even. Each board should be fastened with 

 two nails in each floor joist and runner. 



Exercise No. 41. — Erecting the Posts. — Select the two by 

 four sticks ordered for posts. Cut two posts eight feet long. 



