The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-07


he was continually being held back.
At the outset there was a slip that
caused las great deal of worry.
We had requested the architect to
let us know when It would be neces-
sary TO choose brick tor nreplacss.
Tor we were very desirous of having
certain sort OF brick. Imagine our
surprise on going out one day 10
ma the ohinneys up. and in the sit
ting and dining room firepIaces built
Of brick neither of us liked, while
those upstairs were Of ordinary brick
We fad To let those downstairs re-
main as they Were, but we paid to
have those upstairs torn out and re-
placed with brick Of our own choos-
ing.
The Essential Thing
'hTe essential thing to do before
building 4 house IS to consider every
point Well and decide just what YOU
want in every particular. You are for
tunate If you can do this, and ii win
save yon lots Of money. StiN our con-
tractor told us the most experienced
builder was in the habit of forget
ting a OF OF things.
We Were keen on hot air at first and
contracted for it, and our decision
cost lis about $2oo, And by the way.
II anybody decides 10 have new
house heated by hot water let the dis-
position of the pipes be strictly de-
terrntned upon. We went UP there
soon after the plumbing was begin
ming to be installed and found two big
pipes running up taroagh the draw
Ing room in the only place where a
sofa could be put. We had TO have
them changed
After studying over the plans for
the bath rooms we found that the
architect had carefully placed the tub
Icy the window IN each room. not
understanding the fact that there was
plenty Of room to put them out OF
the way along the adjoining wall.
Then one Of the bath rooms had to
be- on the inside of the house The
architect said he would arrange 10
-veptilate the room through chin
ney. but when the house was finished
Ii was discovered There Wasn't asZy,
other ftue IN the chimney than was
used for smoke, and a ventfiator had
10 be built a the owners expense bv
cutting hole in the roof above.
An another word about those
chtrnneys. When the inascns started
building them they discovered there
was no room for the smoke to go
up and they had 70 be altered. II
was lucky for us tire discovery was
made at such an carly time.
''For a long time the work was
hung up while q change was made IN
tiia third Story stHirwsay, The CON.
tractor put up part Of the frame
work aud then showed us that IL we
ever wished 20 get TO the third story
we would have TO crawl UP from the
second on our hands and knees, owing
to the slant in the roof. This neces-
STATED the addition Of back dormer
windows, the cost Of which, ] must
say, the architect had the justioe
Ia acknowledge should be horne by
him.
He n ad Not Stipulated.
But he had not stipulated In the coz
tract that the third floor should be
plagtered except two bed rooms up
there. and tho long slop4ng roof in
front had such n sort OF baldheaded
look that We had II cut open and dor
rler windows inserted. and thus got
another bed room. which was all an
extra contract for us. and this involved
the plastertng OF the hall ON the third
floor
differed about the cre0sote that the
specifications called for on the shin
giles The contractor said IL was bad
and recommended thai wa get red ced-
ar shingles and put no stain OF any
kind on them. SO we followed his 40
vice
Then there was the hot water boiler
in the kitchen, We had stipulated for
a copper 90 gallon tank The architect
-A.4 No. eSty , tuw
enough and told the plumber To put In
one of that size. We had 10 have this
torn out and content us with a gal
vanized tank, and had to pay the
plumber $50 besides.
In the barn no provision had been
made for lighting, We had to have
electric wiring put in at our expense.
Then there was little thing like can
vas for the floor Of the sleeping porch,
" f3sfs wS s,s4sf wqai =
fications. 1t was not and cost us an
other $50.
After the windows had been put in
we We're surprised to find litters on
only "A few. The contractor pointed out
TO us that the specifications called for
two lffters on windows over a certain
width. OF the others II said nothing.
Here we had To pay again.
Then there was the sink in the
hi'ts"i. we tuutiu tDat where the Sink
was supposed TO be placed four or five
large iron pipes ran. These had to be
torn out at our expense, We told the
architect to put a refrigerator drain
in the specifications. After the house
was finished and the refrigerator In
stalled we had to send u hurry call FOR
two plumbers and keep them working
for two days boring hole through The
walls and putting in the forgotten
drain.