The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-21
LUMBER HOUSE
ADVAN TAGE:S
MANY
Original Cost Smaller Despite
High Price of Material.
Labor Expense Lighter

BY FRANK G. WIsNER,
President Of the National Lumber
Manufacturers Association.
So much has been published in
advocacy Of the universal use of
other building materials for dwell
ings that it may be timely and
helpful to review the cunsidera-
tions that point to preference FOR
lumber under certain conditions.
Unless he gives due attention to
such considerations a prospective
home-builder or buyer may unwit-
t1ngly do himself an injustice.
Type for Everyone.
Az q natural by-product of com.
mercial competition there is a good
deal of rivalry between the various
basic building materials, such as
brick, concrete and lumber, for the
favor Of home-builders. There is,
however, no such degree of intrinsic
competition, for, speaking broadly,
there Is for every builder, according
TO his tastes, his purse and his loca.
ton, an automatic choice.
In the congested parts of a city,
lumber is ruled out for use in ex.
terror walls at least. In the
country, in the outlying parts Of
cities, or In suburbs, on the other
hand, the prospective builder finds
IL permissible to use any of these
materials, and his choice then will
be wholly an individual one.
So far as taste is concerned. one
person Is naturally intrigued by the
IDEA OF concrete house, and an.
other inclines to brick or stone,
and q third can see nothing for
detached homes but lumber, The
latitude given to taste will. of
course, be determined with manv
persons by the question of cost.
Doth as to original construction and
maintenance, although the former
IS usually the major consideration.
Lumber Little Higher.
In practically all parts Of the
United States, but in some regions
more than others, the original cost
factor invariably indicates the Sc.
lection Of lumber-built house. It
IL true that lumber costs more than
It used to. but not to the extent
commonly believed.
The cost Of houses is largely Re. |
pendent upon the labor factor, and
that In turn upon type of labor re-
ou1red. In the lumber-built i1ouso
the carpenters naturally perform a
much larger proportion of labor
than they do in houses OF other
types ana carpenters are not SO
and masons.
We'll paid, as a rule, as bricklayers
Aside from taste, cost, and the re.
qCirements of location, lumber has
certain qualities wnich command |
careful consideration from the home |
builder. Owing to the fact that # |
- a naural non-conductor of heat |
IL makes a comfortable house IN |
Doth hot and cold climates and
weather; as its lumber built wallis
DO not precipitate or hold moisture.
lt makes for a dry, wholesome. and
neaIthful house, in moist regions.
Lumber House Cheaper.
In general. it is safe to say that
q lumber house may be built of tbe
pest materials and the best design |
and workmanship for from Is to 20
per cent less than for a house of
any other material. Such a house
may be counted upon to last with. !
out general overhauling for at least
q generation; and with good care.
Tor several generations. In Amer.
lea, however, it is ordinarily the first
Lirteen years, and at the outside the
1lrst thirty years of the house that
are OF practical concern. During
such periods the cost of nnaintenance
or lumber-built house win be h,1t
little more than that of a CORE.
spending one Of ordinary masonry
construction. Those therefore IN
Whom lumber appeals as the fav.
orlte material for home building
need not hesitate, other factors per.
mlttlng' to yield to their inclinations.