Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-15

Without a doubt the best time of the
year in which to build is in the fall, let
ting the contract along in the latter part
Of August with the intention Of having the
house complete by Christmas. All large
buildings are started in the spring for the
plainly apparent reason that II will take
until the late fall to complete them, It
being a mistaken idea with most people
that building can not go on in the late fall
or winter. This creates an opportunity for
the builder OF a home to get more compe-
tition and therefore lower prices for fall
building than would be possible for him
to obtain in the spring.
Every contractor looks forward to winter
with some apprehension. He is, therefore,
ready TO put In q low estimate in order To
be assured of employment during at least
the latter part of fall and even in the early
winter months. He knows by experience
that he can get better prices on material
and that workmen will work faster and
better during the fall than at any other
time OF the year. This Is a very important
matter to consider, for the labor on every
building amounts to about one-half its cost,
and II a saving of even no more than 10
per cent can be had through the increased
efficiency of labor, this is something TO
be taken into consideration. AS a matter of
fact increased efficiency of labor in the
fall over the summer months is about 25
per cent. In other words, the average work
man will do as much work in eight hours
during the fall, when the weather is cool
and refreshing, and there is even an incen-
tive TO work hard In order to keep warm,
as he would in ten hours during the heat OF
July and August, and being anxious to
have employment through the winter on
any winter jobs that his employer may
happen to have. a workman will strive TO
do more and better work on this account.
The fact that fall building will some
times run into cold weather before the
work is entirely completed is OF little con-
sequence. By the time the cold weather
comes the heating plant is in place and
can be temporarily connected up to give a
moderate amount Of heat while the finish
ing touches are being put on. II the house
Is to be OF frame construction. work can
be started on its as late as the latter part
OF october. but the house can not be in
closed enough to keep up the work through
out the winter. It would have the roof on
and the outside walls finished except paint
ing and the inside partition studding in
place ready for an early start in Febru-
ssy. A house started no later than the 10th
OF October can be finished UP enough to
complete It during the winter.
In the fall dealers are not rushed with
orders as much as in the spring. which
makes It possible to get quicker service,
with the result that even a very small or
der gets more attention, both as to quality
of work and the time In which II is turned
out, than during the previous months
when it would be apt to be pushed aside In
order to turn out larger and more profit
able orders. II a house is to be built OF
brick veneer and the construction OF IL is
not started until after the middle Of Sep
TENDER, It IL best ito leave the veener of
until spring. This ought not to %inconven-
fence the owner of the home in any way
since he always has the frame building
except the siding. ana by putting on al
extra thickness OF practically water proof
building paper. the expense Of which would
be very small. he viii be as comfortable
during the winter as the owner Of ans
frame house. He can easily overlook the
temporary homely appearance OF his hom'
knowing that he will be able to enjoy 4
complete in the following summer wher
his tardy neighbor will be wrestling will
the building problem