The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-11-30

of the building. The rotting and the
consequent heating cause the sawdust
to settle and leave open spaces which
further weakens the insulation. When
sawdust is to be employed it should be
thoroughly dried before use.
There are several makes Of COM
mercial insuIators that are great
deal better than either shavings or
sawdust and are cheaper In the end,
but their initial cost is somewhat
greater. They are nearly uniform in
their insulating value, and moisture
has but little effect upon them. They
are practically fireproof, occupy but
little space, and will retain their eff-
cheney indefinitely. To get the best
results, however, they should be In
stalled by experienced men.
Drainage.
Provision should be made for thor
ough drainage In houses that have
the floor below the level of the ground.
sufficient drainage usually can be OBJ
tanned through the soil, especially IL
the soil is porous. 1t may be neces-
sary, however, with clay soil, to ex-
cavate q foot or two and fill in with
cinders or gravel, and to place g.
inch porous tile under the floor. This
drain should be properly trapped or
sealed to prevent warm air from enter
ing the building through the floor. In
place of the tile a satisfactory drain
; may be constructed in houses having
! ground floor by digging a ditch un-
! der the floor of the house and filling
the ditch with broken stone or gravel,
! well packed into place. This drain
should be led out with sufficient fall
to carry away the water.
All floors should be sloped down
ward toward the center of the room
to prevent the ice from falling against
the walls of the building and in houses
having water-tight floors to carry the
water to the drain.
Ventilation.
There is bound to be more or less
melting Of ice, no matter what the
construction of the building may be,
and this win cause moisture to settle
on the walls and ceiling of the room.
If the building is of wood construction
the moisture is absorbed by the wood,
and rot and decay follow Therefore
wooden houses should be provided
with means of ventilation which can
be controlled at will. The ceiling OF
such houses should be sloped up to
the center in order to assist the circu-
lation and carry the warm, moisture
laden air to the ventilator In those
houses in which some form of com.
mercial insulation is used that will
take a cement finish on the interior
no ventilation Is considered necessary
The building should be so constructed
that there will be circulation of all
through the outer walls and at the
caves to the ventilator on the roof
as these air currents tend to breaf
up the heat radiation through the
walls and roof.
Waterproofing.
1t is Of the utmost Importance that
brick, concrete, and wooden buildings
be waterproofed Brick and concrete
work may be rendered waterproof By
painting the outside Of the wall will
white lead and oil or by coating the
walls with preparation of parafir
or asphalt, or by some of the patented
compounds. The preparation contain
ing paraffin or asphalt should be ap
piled hot, and the walls should also
be heated previously to application.
There are on the market several wa
ter-excluding paints and compounds
for preserving wood. Creosote is con
sidered one of the best preservatiyes
provided the wood is thoroughly i'm
pregnated with 1t, but on account O
its odor 1t should not be used IL
houses where food products arr
stored.