The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-05-02
Good verus Poor Foundations for Build.
ings,

1t is a common practice among job
bing luilders to lay down pine or hem
lock planks where the earth on which
the foundation walls are built is porous
and sandy. They know better; yet, if
the proprietor suggests an objection to
the use of planks in such places, they
will override all his authority by
forcing him into the admission-not be-
lief-that wood may subserve a good
purpose in such places, although their
Judgment is against it. The trouble is,
that but few men have had sufficient
experience in building to warrant them
in assuming that the practice isdecidedly
Objectionable, and that planks cannot
be used beneath their walls.
One of the best ways to commence
the foundation-wall for a building,
when the ground is sandy and porous,
is to excavate q channel from three to
four feet wide, according to the magni-
tude of the superstructure, and not less
than foot deeper than the bottom of
the cellar; then lay course of cobble-
stones as large as mans two fists over
the entire surface of the channel excava-
ted after which, every stone should be
rammed down firmly with q heavy
rammer. If the ground is sandy, pour
in water to wet the surface, so that the
stones can be settled down half their
width into the earth. After the first
course of cobbles is sufficiently rammed
down, lay two courses more above them
after which, make a grouting, or thin
mortar of good cement and sand. and
have it so thin that. when poured on
the stones, it will fill every interstice.
Three courses of cobble-stones, well
grouted with good water-lime mortar,
| will make q foundation that will endure
like solid limestone.
If the ground is at all disposed to be
wet, channel should be sunk in the
bottom of the excavation, in which a
row of 2-inch drain-tiles should be care
fully laid. with barely enough inclina-
tinn to carry all the water from one
side to the other, where it can empty
into an outlet. Such q preparation for
the foundation-walls will cost but few
dollars and after the cement has solid
ifed the foundation will be almost
equal to a solid rock.
Laying the foundation for dwelling
house or barn is job that is expected
to endure for lifetime. Mistakes made
in performing such work are like errors
in ones moral career,-not easily recti-
fed. Hence every observing builder
will at once perceive the Importance o1
preparing the foundation for building
during the former part of the growing
season, so that the cement may have
ample time to solidify before cold
@ho, Thn 20 -,
regard to carrying up any portion of q
wall. If the mason-worlt can be done
early in the spring Of the year, the
mortar will have time before cold weather
to become not only dry, bat thoroughly
solidifed thus rendering the mortar
and wall doubly strong, and far more
durable than if the work had been done
so late in the season that the mortar
would not have time to become as dry
and hard as age would render it.
The correct form of foundation wal
for large editice is frequently neglected
A foundation-stone wall eighteen OF
twenty inches in thickness is considered
sufficiently strong for a two-story dwell
ing-house. Instead of carrying it VI
eighteen inches thick, from the bottom
of the cellar to the first floor, if the
foundation were laid two feet broad
the side nearest the bank of earth bull
perpendicularly, and the inside wer,
made battering or slanting 'outwards
so that the top of the wall, when finished
would be ten or twelve inches broad
and the bottom two feet, no more ston,
and no more mortar would be required
while the wall would sustain a mucl
heavier superintendent pressure, anC
would resist a more powerful thrust in
lateral direction. AS bricks are all of
uniform size, of course it would not b
SO convenient to build brick wall bat
tering, as it can be done with stones
But, whether foundation-walls are mad
of brick or stone, the mortar should b
prepared with cement, rather than witt
caustic lime. The extra expense fo
cement would amount to only few
dollars; while the work would enhanc
the value of the edifoe several hundred
of dollars.-InduStrial Monthly.