5G2 



DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION. 



aware of this fact, many of them have 

 endeavoured to place them so as to be 

 completely un- 

 Fig. 806. geen> With the 



^ exception of the 

 chimney shafts in 

 some of our old 

 English houses, 

 which form cer- 

 tainly the most 

 prominent and 

 agreeable fea- 

 tures of the style, 

 we have no other 

 examples of anti- 

 quity left us. 

 One general fault in chimney shafts and 

 cans is, that they are too 

 Fig. 807. short and diminutive, and 

 scarcely indicate the purpose 

 for which they are intended. 

 They should in all cases rise 

 boldly into the air above the 

 roof, and so form conspicu- 

 ous features in the outlines 

 of all buildings against the 

 sky. Like all architectural 

 or sculptural objects, the pots 

 should be always set upon a 

 proportionable plinth or base ; 

 and all grotesque and fantas- 

 tic forms should be avoided. 



(TV) 



§ 8. — PAINTING. 



Carson's original anti-corrosion paint is 

 a very durable out-door paint for the 

 preservation of iron, wood, stone, brick, 

 and cement. For such purposes it has 

 been used for upwards of sixty years, but 

 generally in large establishments, dock- 

 yards, &c, and is by far too little known 

 or employed in country places. Painters 

 have also a prejudice against this paint, 

 because it is more difficult to use — that is 

 to say, it takes a little more time, and 

 wears out their brushes. We use it 

 extensively for the iron work of hot- 

 houses, iron gates, fences, &c. 



Todd's patent protoxide paint is used for 

 the same purposes as the last. It neither 

 cracks nor blisters by the hottest sun, 

 and is excellent on that account for 

 painting the insides of hot-water tanks, 

 as well as hot-water pipes. Its adhesion 

 is so great to iron and wood that the 



hardest friction will hardly remove it. It 

 is said also to prevent vegetation on stuc- 

 coed buildings and soft sandstone, and is 

 not affected by sea-water. Its concealing 

 properties, according to the patentee's 

 estimation, are as compared with white- 

 lead paint as 75 to 50; therefore 1 cwt is 

 equal to \\ cwt. of white-lead. It maybe 

 used in houses without inconvenience, as 

 it is perfectly innoxious. We have used 

 it, as well as the former mentioned, and 

 can speak most favourably of both. 



Gas liquor, coal tar, fyc, considered as 

 paints, are found to accelerate rather 

 than prevent oxidation, both in damp 

 and dry situations. They are often re- 

 commended for painting rough wood- 

 work, such as pailings, gates, &c. : our 

 own experience is, that they are rather 

 injurious than useful in this case also. 



Spirit of tar, being a vegetable extract, 

 is no doubt valuable for preserving 

 timber ; but both its colour and smell are 

 highly objectionable. It may, however, 

 be advantageously employed for saturat- 

 ing the ends of posts or poles, as far as 

 they are to be inserted in the ground. 

 If laid on with a brush, it will require 

 four or five coats, according to the size of 

 the timber operated upon. 



Mulgrave cement, made into the con- 

 sistence of paint, by being mixed with 

 sour milk, sweet wort, or, indeed, clear 

 rain water, is a much better paint for 

 such purposes, as well as for walls, and 

 is not only as cheap, but gives a much 

 more cheerful colour — that of a soft 

 stone colour — which may be darkened by 

 a little lamp-black to the tone or shade 

 required. 



Smith's economical paint, for outside work. 

 — This paint is described by Mr Smith, 

 in " Art of House-Painting," as formed of 

 " three parts of unslacked lime, two of 

 wood ashes, and one of fine sand, or of 

 finely-sifted coal-ashes. These are to be 

 mixed with linseed oil, or the whole 

 ground together, which would be better, 

 till they become of the consistency of 

 paint, so as to be laid on with a brush. 

 Lay on the first coat pretty thin, and 

 the next considerably thicker ; it will last 

 for years, and become harder as it gets 

 older." 



Common anti-corrosion paint. — We have 

 used this article extensively, and with the 

 greatest success, both on iron, timber, 



