564 



DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION. 



and other heterogeneous matter. A soft 

 stone-colour is the best, as it wears well, 

 and retains its colour better than any 

 other. We use it invariably, both for out- 

 side and inside work. 



New white paint. — Mr Forrest, the in- 

 ventor, in a paper read before the Liver- 

 pool Polytechnic Society, describes this 

 paint to consist of white oxide of anti- 

 mony. Its advantages are stated by him 

 to be, its superiority as a body paint to 

 white lead, and its being much cheaper 

 and more permanent as to colour, and its 

 capability of being spread over a greater 

 surface than the same weight of white- 

 lead. 



Graining is a term used by painters 

 when wood is painted in imitation, as of 

 oak. This is the best colour for the doors 

 of gardens, and although expensive in the 

 first application, and requiring renewal 

 every two or three years, it gives an ap- 

 pearance of solidity and finish to the parts 

 covered with it. 



Much of the durability of hothouses 

 depends on the state in which they are 

 kept as regards paint, and also on the way 

 in which it is used. Wood, iron, putty, 

 and all bodies to which it is applied, 

 should be perfectly dry and seasoned be- 

 fore it is put on. Three coats are required 

 on all new erections, and once every two 

 years it should be renewed with two coats 

 at least. One of the advantages of mov- 

 able sashes in hothouse roofs is, that there 

 is some chance of getting them under 

 cover some time daring summer, to be 

 well cleaned, the glass repaired, and the 

 old paint well rubbed down with pum- 

 mice- stone, to remove all that which is 

 loose, and to bring the whole to a uniform 

 smooth surface. When this can be ef- 

 fected, the paint should be thoroughly set 

 and dry before they are put on again. 

 Advantage must be taken of dry weather 

 to clean and afterwards paint the fixed 

 parts, such as rafters, wall-plates, venti- 

 lators, &c. Houses with fixed roofs re- 

 quire to be carefully examined during dry 

 weather, to get the glass repaired, the 

 putty carefully examined, and the whole 

 painted when perfectly dry. We endea- 

 vour to go over all our fixed roofs every 

 year; and if only one coat of paint be 

 given, it is better than to delay it longer, 

 and give two. In painting roofs, the 

 colour should be brought down so as to 



cover the edge of the glass next the putty 

 one-eighth of an inch : this prevents the 

 putty from becoming loose, and also the 

 water from getting in under it and satu- 

 rating the rebates, which, being prevented 

 from drying, soon causes their decay. 

 Turpentine is often used, particularly in 

 the finishing coat, with a view to make 

 the colour dry quickly. This has, how- 

 ever, a tendency to cause the skin of the 

 paint to crack ; it is, therefore, better to 

 use the colours without it, for although 

 longer in drying, when once dried it will 

 last much longer. In applying paint, it 

 should never be put on too thick, nor 

 should more than three coats be at any 

 one time given. 



In painting upon metallic surfaces, the 

 oil-paints in common use are found objec- 

 tionable, because the galvanic action pre- 

 vents the union of the two metals. 



Spelter or white zinc paint. — Mr Lanc- 

 ston Scott has lately brought into notice 

 a valuable paint under this name. It is 

 not only cheaper than the common white 

 lead used, but goes farther, three cwt. 

 covering as much surface as four of white- 

 lead paint. We have had some experience 

 of its use, and can speak of its merits. It 

 has the advantage of not blistering by 

 heat, the colour remaining unchanged by 

 light, and exposure to gas or sea water. In 

 using it, care should be taken that knots 

 in the wood be twice covered, and then 

 rubbed flat. Prime in unboiled linseed 

 oil, and give three coats. No boiled oil 

 should be used, nor any drier, except that 

 supplied along with the colour. Red 

 lead, vermilion, or chrome are to be 

 avoided in giving tints to the colour ; but 

 amber, stone-ochre, terra di Sienna, Prus- 

 sian blue, or any stainer that is not based 

 on or precipitated from white lead, may 

 be used with safety. 



Fleming's economical paint. — An econo- 

 mical and durable paint has been most 

 extensively used at Trentham for painting 

 iron fences'; it consists of one-third Stock- 

 holm tar and two-thirds gas tar, laid on 

 when quite hot with a brush, and spread 

 as thinly as possible. The cost of this per 

 yard, when applied to common iron hur- 

 dles, is about three-eighths of a penny, 

 and it is calculated that it will last for 

 nine years. 



Metallic paint. — The following mate- 

 rials make an excellent durable paint for 



