The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-09-22
From the Scientific American.
70 Prevent Dampness in brick
Walls.

and more uniform temperature secured
in the rooms, by enclosing stratum OF
air il the wall A space Of about three
inches, should be left between the outside
half brick, or stretcher, and the inner
wall: this space may be commenced on the
the foundation course; where iti desirable
to have the basement story dry; where it
is not, it should be commenced at the
first floor and extended around the build
ing.
Then cut wire about thrce-sixteenths
Of an inch in diameter (or not thicker
than the joints in the wall are intended
to be- into pieces, nine inches long, bend
one inch of each end of these pieces to a
right angle, and both ones in the same
plane, for ties to connect the wall across
this space. Every three courses lay
them over it, about two feet apart, with
their ends half way across the bricks u
pom which they lay, SO as to have them not
over each other, but equally distributed
along the space, IF the space is not over
three inches wide, it may be closed at
the top by heading course, which, be-
ing sheltered from driving rains, cornicc,
and caves, will not conduct any water to
10 the innner wall. At the ends of the
building it may extend to the top Of the
jOists, and the wall be dropped off the
thickness Of the space, and then built SOL
id, or it may be continued to the rafers.
At the door and window jambs the band
may be kept as usual, by clipping the
headers; and at the chimney, the space
may be stopped at the fues, and greater
thickness of the chimneys viii insulate
them.
As atmospheric air is one Of the very
worst conductors of heat, it viii prevent
the wall from being suddenly heated or
chilled through by changes in the wealth
er. In very cold climates it would be
better to have strips of sheet iron, three
and half inches wide, laid along over
the space at the top Of each story, with
one edge resting in the joint of the outer
/ wall, or upon the wires, and the other
leaning back against the inner wall SO
as to be highest on the inside, and the
partition walls to extend across the space
and connect with the outer wall This,
by cutting off the communication, would
prevent the air, as it acquired a more ell
evated temperature by the heat Of the
room in which the fire is kept, from ris-
ing, and its place being supplied by the
colder air from other parts of the build
ing; rnd then by having duplicate sash in
the windows, with stratum Of air be-
tween them, the insulation would be COM
plete. Topreyent injury to the wall, from
the expansion Of the enclosed air, small
openings should be left between the ends
of the bricks, near the bottom Of the SPACE
about one half an inch wide, or not large
enongh to admit rats. The pieces Of
wire may be dipped in pitch or oil paint
to keep them from rusting.
These pieces Of wire may appear to be
slender tie to many, but it should be
remembered, that though single hair is
quite slender, horse may be pulled out
Of the mirc by his mano, and any re-
quired strength may be attained by in
creasing the number Of wires. But
placed as above recommended, the wires
would bind the wall better than it is Of
ten done by the present mode of binding
it with heading bricks, for as the tie is
hidden by the first course that is laid O.
Yer it, X is liable to be forgotten and ne
elected; and this may be one cause Of the
frequent falling Of walls in our great city;
the wires across the space will, at any
time, be visible: until the space is closed.
For the imperfect mode Of binding the
outside wall, it would be better to leave
the space nearest to the inside wall, as
the thin part would then be less exposed
But superseding the old Flemish or Eng
lioh bonds, with the present modes in
common use, the gain in beauty is not
commensurate with loss in strength, and
mechanics generally are too much In
clined to sacrifice the latter to the former
Those, however, who acquire character
for doing the most substantial durable
work, should have the preference; they
at least have the pleasure which arises
from the consciousness of having done
their duty.
BY having bricks of double width
moulded, and every fifth of fsixth course
laid with them, the bond of all stretches
might be preserved, without at all dimin,
ishing the strength of the wall; but so far
as my observation has extended this ha:
not been done.
BGS- 1t is stated that the present area
of New Orleans comprises nearly fort,
square miles, which is nearly double the