October, 19 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



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plaster much too fast, and the re- 

 sult will be a great number of 

 cracks more or less small. 



The great item of expense also 

 enters in on the subject of build- 

 ing in the Fall. Owing to the 

 work becoming scarcer at this time, 

 contractors, in order to keep their 

 Parsonage first floor plan organization intact, will estimate 

 work more cheaply. The reason for this is that, as stated 

 before, good mechanics are not plentiful, and the employer 

 wishes to keep his good men, so that he can be prepared 

 at any time, should an influx of work appear, to distribute 

 his good men among his different jobs, and the results of 

 poor workmanship owing to taking on incompetent help 

 will be minimized. 



By commencing to build in the country in the Fall, it will 

 be possible to get the surrounding grounds into much bet- 

 ter and quicker shape than when finishing in the Fall or 

 late Summer. Very little is then done. Completing in 

 the late Winter or very early Spring gives one plenty of 

 opportunity to properly prepare the grounds for laying 

 them out and getting shrubbery and trees planted, so that 

 the house may seem part of its surroundings. 



The selection and purchase of a site for building of the 

 house is naturally the first step. If one have the selec- 

 tion of a number of sites of nearly equal attractiveness 

 the exposure of the house should be the deciding factor. 

 Plots with a southern or eastern exposure are in greater 

 demand than those with a northern or western frontage. 

 Frequently the mistake is made in buying property that 

 careful restrictions are lacking, and many a promising de- 

 velopment at first was later ruined by inroads of an un- 

 desirable character. When buying your own plot it would 

 be a wise idea if you are financially able to purchase 

 adjacent property on both sides, as a future protection or 

 to sell to a friend whom you would like to settle near 

 you. The matter of the healthfulness of any site should 



be governed by common knowl- 

 edge and need not be gone into 

 here. After you have bought your 

 ground, don't be in too much haste 

 to commence building. It should 

 be stated here that in the selection 

 of an architect, claims of acquaint- 

 anceship or solicitation on the part 

 of an architect should not be con- Parsonage second floor plan 

 sidered. Experience in house building and the artistic 

 quality of his finished work should be the guiding factor. 

 A local architect, if he has the proper qualifications, should 

 give you better service, other things being equal, as he is 

 acquainted with all local conditions, and could probably 

 give you more superintendence. The architect should be 

 given plenty of time in which to study and prepare his pre- 

 liminary sketches. The sketches usually consist of the 

 plans of each floor and a perspective sketch of one or more 

 elevations of the exterior. Before these sketches are given 

 you the architect has made a number of rough sketches, 

 as only by continuous study of the problem in hand, and 

 every new building is another problem for him to solve, 

 can the best results be accomplished by him. The prelim- 

 inary sketches having been accepted by the owner, no doubt 

 after changes more or less in number have been made to 

 finally satisfy him, the preparation of the working plans 

 and specifications is the next step. 



When you start out to build, you must give some con- 

 sideration to the material you desire to use for the walls 

 of the building. Stone, brick, concrete, hollow tile or frame 

 will take up your attention right at the start. Further- 

 more, this little study of materials should be accomplished 

 before you start your plans. 



The working plans are usually made to the scale of a 

 quarter of an inch to the foot. It is also an excellent idea 

 for your architect to have the more important interior 

 details made at a larger scale and incorporated with the 

 other plans, as it will permit of closer estimating by the 



Parsonage of the First Presbyterian Church, Ridge Road, Rutherford, New Jersey 



