The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-10-20
Don't Begin TO Build in Autumn.

There are several strong objections
against beginning to erect a building
i'm autumn with the intention of fin
ishlng it the next season, or even
completing the ctlifice before cold
weather. MasOns have often pers,Ia-
dcd dtheiremployers TO dig thecelIarand
then let them carry up the foundation
walls late in autumn, 20 "a to be ready
very early the next season to erect the
Supcrstructure. Every intelligent ma
son knows that TIE practice is not a
good one. Yet as masons are ALWAYS
crowded with Foundations work in the
former part of the scason-which is
the proper time to do such work-if
they can induce an employer to COM
mence the foundation of n building i'm
the fall, the maSOrS will gain the
benefit of a paying job. and frequently
two jobs, as q celiar-wall erected lust
before cold weather will often be so
seriously damaged by bearing and
settling that Il portion-perhaps all of
twill have to be relaid the next
season. When n foundation-wall is
built with mortar filed in the inter
sticeS-which is the only correct way
to prepare "a foundation for any build
ing-the mortar Near the middle %
the wall will not become really con-
solidated during period of six
months, if the weather were favorable.
But, if "A new wall is exposed to- cold
weather only few weeks after il iS
built, the green mortar at the middle
will he frozen before il is dry, which
Will damage the wall by bursting the
layers of stone or brick aSunder, and
by destroying the solidifying princi-
pie of the lime or cement. After green
mortar has been frozen and thawcd
two or three times, there viii he no
more strength in u wall than If the
stones and bricks had lecn laid in a
mortar made with ashes, sand, and
clay. In most instances, the earth he
meath Il foundation-wall will be frozen
more or less, which will destroy its
compactness to such an extent that
the wall will settle uncvenly, often
cracking from top to bottom before
the esupers;ructure is erected. Besides
this, the hank of earth outside of
the wall will expand by freezing
especially where il is not Of dry and
gravelly character-sO that the whole
wall will be thrust inward SO far beyond
n perpendicular position that most of il
will have to be taken down and rebuilt.
Cellar-walls are frequently thrust in
ward by the frost, even when heavy
superstructure rests on them. IL /.
sometimes as important To exclude
frost from cellar, to- prevent freezing
the earth outside of the walls. rs to
keep vegetables from being frozen.
Tho disadvantages of shorter days
also, and more stormy weather than
we are liable to have in the former
part oi the season, must be encounter
ell when one commences 10 build in
autumn rather than spring. If the
foundation-wall is built early in the
season with good mortar, the entire
structure will have ample time to
solidify before cold weather, so that il
will resist all ordinary thrtlsts of the
earth during the freezing process.
When one commences in the latter
part of the season, there will usually
be emOre or less unavoidable hindrauces
when building almost of any sort of
ediiiee, Hence, ifa builder cGmmen-
ces early in the former part Of the
season, he will be able TO meet hind
RANGES without much, if any, real
damage. 1t is always objectionable
to allow the foundation-walls To stand
any considerable time without the
superstructure. The most complete
preparation should be made before .hc
ground is broken. All tbs lumber
should be delivered and stuck up
under shelter, so that it may have
long time to dry and become seasoned
before j. Is worked. Theu, as soon "a