I9ii.] 



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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