New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
SOME POINTS ABOUT BUILDING A BUNGALOW

primer is the rock which much painting literally
splits. 1t is the under coat visible. and ma Y
be composed OF any material without affecting the
looks OF the finished Job right away. Yet in a
sense. the primer is important than the upper
coat II Is the anchorage OF the paint. and when It
fails to grip the wood the entire layer peels on
The practice OF using ochres and other earthly
materials in printing is long established. but the
better and surer way Is employ the same pure
paint for the under that is used FOR the upper
coat By thinning with one-half Iinseed oil the
regular lead and zinc paint first class primer is
obtained. a gallon of paint thus tlinned with oil
will about twice the surface that the former
material wiI cover undiluted. The object OF priul-
ing is to I'LL the pores OF the wood give base
or anchorage for the surface layer.
Enough turpentine or benzine may be contained
In the primer counteract a glossy surface
which initiates against the adherence OF the next
coat Hardwoods need thicker priming coat
than absorbent, porous woods. like poplar and soft
pine There is always more danger of putting on
too much than too little paint. A thin coat well
brushed in. is the proper thing. Several days OF
very dry weather or a week OF ordinary weather
should be allowed the primer I'm which to dry but
II Is bad practice delay the second coat until
the first has become weather worn. The more
slowly paint dries the longer its lasts. The only
reason that 'driers'' added to paint IS con-
venence and because sticky surface. exposed too
long. accumuiates dust and insects The last coat
should be put evenly and thinIy It Is not
wise 10 attempt COrreCtOn or characterization in
the primer; a top coat which is too thick will
not hold. While two are often deemed suf-
hcient three coats Of paint will last longer In
this case the second should not be as heavily
compounded as if IT meant for the surface
layer.
There is no reason why bungalow owner with
a little spare time and inclination to follow direc-
tions carefully should give himself the pleas
ure Of doing his painting. He will need only
hnx 70 stand on. short ladder from which to
hang his paint pail at the convenient rung and a
suit of overalls TO receive the surplus paint
stopped from the pail and ficked from the brush.
II he begins at the OF the bungalow VIII
probably teach himself how 10 do pretty fair
work by the time he gets the 'front.'. 1t is a
C. Inc in the gymnasium
Wood stains cost from 81 so gallon upward
There are different kinds to suit different varieties
of wood. oil stain for whitewood and alcohol
stain for hardwood. II is not often that
since paint is protective and durable. Greco
shingle stain costs Go cents 81 a gallon
and may be had in green. brown. red and other
coors. The green color is most expensive. The
shingles be dipped individually In tub OF
the mixture before being used rather than
painted with the stain after they In position
on the The stain will dry in half day.
When shingles painted in position 1t is mani
fest that only portion OF their surface receives
the stain and there is usually formed at the upper
part a ridge of paint which banks water and
causes decay. Creosote stain preserves well
as ornaments. good red cedar shingIe does not
need preservative much a softenng TO the
eye of its newness.