352 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



October, 1913 



House of Mr. George F. Parker, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey 



bidders rather than to attempt to describe everything in After the estimates have been received and the owner 



the specifications. As to the question of cost, tell your desires to go ahead, a contract should be drawn, 



architect frankly the amount you wish* to spend. The The contract should be in writing; there are printed forms 



owner of course, and it is only too often done, cannot ask in general use which cover most conditions, 



the architect to design a house of certain dimensions con- The next step is to stake out the building on the site, 



taining a stated number of rooms and be built of materials The best way is to have a surveyor make a map of the 



designated by the owner, and also fix the cost of the work, property showing the grade lines, that is, the different levels 



A great amount of trouble has arisen between architects of the ground at fixed points, and showing the location of 



and their clients in house building over the ever-present any trees. 



question of the cost. The trouble is partly due to the The right location on the property is a very important 



fact that many people appreciative of the beautiful, desire step. The question of driveways, of the nearness of future 



houses a great deal better than they can afford, or they neighbors, the preservation of trees, and the general view, 



judge by the cost of the house that has been built, for- must all be taken into consideration. A house should be 



getful of the fact that it was built a number of years ago, 

 when the cost of materials and labor was considerably less. 

 The equipment of houses has also beerfSrery much improved, 

 which all helps to increase the cost. 



An owner should familiarize himself with the plans 

 and specifications, carefully reading over the latter, as a 

 thorough understanding of what they contain will materially 

 lessen any possible friction between the owner and the archi- 



set as close to the ground as practicable; of course, due al- 

 lowance must be made for flow of water, and proper light- 

 ing of the cellar. 



Setting a house close to the ground with a proper planting 

 scheme around it gives it a homelike appearance. Care 

 should be taken at this time, to see that the excavated ma- 

 terial from the cellar is taken away at once from the 

 premises, provided, of course, it is not needed for filling. 



tect. It will eliminate any question of a possible something an The ground around the building should be roughly graded, 



owner thought was included in the plans and specifications. 

 In proceeding to get estimates, the question of who to 

 have estimate on the work is a very important one. The 

 list of contractors should be carefully selected. They should 

 be of an average as to their work and reputation. It is a 



so that the work may not be hindered, especially as later 

 on in freezing time it will be almost impossible to have the 

 ground moved — likewise, it will also hold the water around 

 the foundation walls. 



It behooves the builder to get his foundation walls and 



mistake to think that because you employ an architect he if the building is of wooden construction, the frame up, and 



can take any builder and have him produce a building of the roof on, so that the work can go on uninterruptedly 



equal quality, and the most conscientious superintendence during the Winter weather. 



cannot make an unscrupulous or cheap builder do good Of course as soon as the roof is on it is a good idea to 



work. The most carefully drawn plans and specifications get the window openings closed with temporary sashes, as 



are then of no avail. Many times a low bidder has over- the work can then proceed in the interior, such as setting 



looked something in estimating on 

 the work or later on finds that he 

 estimated too low, so that there is 

 no profit in the work for him; as 

 a consequence he may lose all in- 

 terest in the work and the house 

 is liable to suffer for it, so a too 

 great disparity in the estimates 

 should be thoroughly investigated. 



First and second story plans, Parker house 



the partitions, getting the rough 

 plumbing and heating pipes in, so 

 that the lathing can then be done. 

 During the time of plastering even 

 when the weather is below freez- 

 ing outside, the windows should be 

 partly opened during the day, so 

 that the air may circulate through 

 the different rooms, as it will 



