i9i I-] 
Labourers' Cottages. 
iron ties to each superficial yard, must be the weaker of 
the two. To ensure sound work, not less than 16 in. cavity 
walls should be constructed — at any rate, up to the first 
floor level. As an alternative, if n in. cavity walls are used, 
the brickwork should be built in stretcher bond in 
either blue lias lime or Portland cement mortar, and the 
roof plate bedded on the inner 4J in. wall. Additional 
strength might be obtained by inserting a band of hoop iron 
at about every 2 ft. 6 in. or 3 ft. in height, well tarred and 
sanded. In either case, the cost would be increased, but the 
weight and thrust of the floors and roof on the walls are 
important factors to be taken into consideration with regard 
to 11 in. walls. 
Chimneys and Fireplaces. — Expense is saved by forming 
the fireplaces on internal walls and grouping the flues into 
one stack. The chimney will be less likely to smoke, and 
the rooms should benefit by the warmth of the flues. There 
will also be less cutting and trimming to the roof. It is 
better to provide fireplaces to all bedrooms, as, apart from 
the convenience in cases of illness, there is no better ventilator 
than a fireplace. Where, however, this cannot be done, a 
suitable ventilator, or air brick, not less than 9 in. by 6 in., 
should be fixed in an external wall. One sometimes 
encounters people who still cling to the foolish prejudice 
against fresh air, and it is no uncommon thing to find these 
people closing the register stove-flaps or covering up the 
ventilators in their bedrooms. 
Floors. — In many existing cottages, one frequently finds 
the whole of the rooms on the ground floor either cement or 
quarry paved. It is preferable that the living rooms, at any 
rate, should have boarded floors on account of the extra 
comfort and warmth derived from them. Wood block floors 
laid in mastic on a bed of concrete, and ordinary flooring 
boards laid in mastic and nailed to a breeze concrete bed, 
are sometimes adopted, but where board and joist floors are 
provided, it is important to keep a clear space of 12 in. 
between such floors and the ground. Sleeper walls should 
have openings left in them, and the external walls should 
have sufficient air-bricks built in to ensure ample ventilation. 
Windows and Doors. — Casement windows seem to be 
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