Evening star., 1922-11-18
sngtOnS Growth Reflected Real Estate and Building News
CONSTRUCTION RULES WHICH
HOME BUYERS SHOULD KNOW

5oists and rest on the top plate of a
bearing partition below. They should
have horizontal braces of bridging
placed between the studs midway
between the floor and ceiling. II
more than the weight of the two
floors Is carried by such a stud par
tition the members of the partition
should he increased In size.
THE shrinkage of wood cannot be
entirely eliminated. but 1t can be
equalized so that little harm will
result. 1t shrinks more across the
grain than with 1t. so the amount
of lumber with the grain horizontal
should be as nearly equal as possible
in different parts Of the building. A
better way to put 1t would be to say
that the horizontal grain pieces In
cross section of the outside walls and
the same. SO that their shrinkage
will be equal, thus maintaining their
original relations.
Foundations and Windows.
Though good foundation is
fundamental it can be negatived by
a poor frame. especially in the por-
tions that support weight or resist
the pressure Of wind. Plenty OF
windows are needed. but each win.
dow necessitates hole In the wall
that weakens 1T unless compensated
for. This is done by proper framing
Of the openings Their side studs studs
piece should be placed across the top
and bottom of the opening. If the
opening Is more than three feet wide
1t should be trussed across the top.
The carpenter knows how to do 1t.
and will do it II you insist. Narrow
openings can be taken care Of by
headers. similar to those mentioned
above. If these openings, as well as
those for interior doors. are not sub
stantially framed. binding or warped
window and door frames will re-
suit. necessitating replastering and
wall with a poorly framed opening
supports joists the floors will sag.
"It is sometimes said that the main
purpose of a building is to support
a roof. Anyway. house without
roof is not much. and one with poor
portant that the pitch or slope be
ample for drainage. II the cutters
are placed too high on a roof with
out sufficient pitch they will become
clogged UP with snow and ice in the
winter and water will back up under
boards and running the ceilings.
ut is exceedingly important that
the rafters be strong enough to make
a. good job of holding up the roof.
The writer recently examined
house for a prospective buyer that
was so deficient in this respect as
to be pathetic and perhaps tragic.
1t Is typical of jerry-built houses
everywhere. whose sad appearance
after a few years Is charged to frame
construction. instead of to careless
If not fraudulent work.
Tests of Safety Construction.
Most houses are safe enough so far
as the floor supports are concerned. but
the floor should be rigid and stiff to
prevent cracking plaster. sa&ging or
spring and creaking floors. Joists are
strong enough for this pur-
pose, so the stiffness is the main factor
to be considered. The determination Of
this will probably require some expert
advice. though walking or stamping on
the floor will often reveal weakness
The 1oists should have uniform bear
ings, where they enter masonry walls
otherwise uneven settling will follow
with humpy floors and loosened nails.
Where joists are not Of single timber
the two pieces making them up should
be well and strongly spiked together.
Joists should be anchored to masonry
walls about every fourth or fifth joist
with r shaped metal straps nailed to the
side Of the joist near the bottom. with
the top Of the T built into the wall. This
ties the building together Placing the
metal strap near the bottom of the joist
Is a precaution in case of fire. SO that