Imperial Valley press., 1930-11-10
b. the Architects Small House
Service Bureau, Inc.

Everyone knows the difference
between inexpensiyeness that IS az
rived at By careful selection OF
sound materials yet without extray-
agarce, and cheapness by which
low costs are materiaLzed through
the use OF inferior materials and
workmanship. When two houses,
one well built and one poorly are
viewed side by side new and fresh
with paint, there is little to dis
yinguish them specifically, though
research brings out many details
cI inferiority in the cheap house.
Time brings them all out.
Here are some OF the things that
VIII not be supplied at the cheap
price, also some Of the things that
VII not be supplied at the cheap
price, also some Of the things that
happen to its flimsy construction.
The building may not have a
good foundation. The sand or
gravel used in mixing the concrete
may not be clean, not enough ce.
rent will have been used, too much
water may be employed in the mix.
the footings. designed by guess and
not by science are thin and 90 not
spread far enough nor are they
adjusted to changing weights in
the walls. Separate footings may
not be prepared for the basement
posts or columns that support the
superstructure Concrete bases
raised above the level Of the base
ment floor may not be devised for
the setting Of wooden posts.
Basement Poorly Built
The wall may not be made water
tight. Footing drains may either
not De installed or not properly
made Of well graded material be-
ginning with coarse stuff TO insure
wall drainage. The mortar between
the wall units may be thin, left Un-
pointed on the outside where il
must be pointed.
Then what happens? The walls
will crack from uneven settlements
spring floods will come through the
walls, the base Of wooden posts not
set above the floor level will rot,
plaster will crack, floors will sag.
Again, the super5tructure walls
may not be good. If they are o.
wood frame construction the braces
and bridging essentia! for sound
wooden walls viii probably be omit
ued. Sheathing Will be put on
crosswise instead Of diagonally
TWO nails will be used at the base
Of studs where fould should be used
Inferior siding may be used, wood
With knots. thin. inaccurately mi
tired and nailed at the outside cor
ners, the nails not set below the
surface Of the wood 10 receive
putty.
Important Details Sighted
If the walls are Of masonry, the
mortar may be thi and weak, the
brick courses not straight. the
tricks themselves not fully imbed-
ded in the mortar. Window frames
set in these walls may not be
caulked with oakum, or the oXter-
ior joints sealed with caulking
paste. Adequatei insulation may be
omitted, or not sealed tightly so as
10 be really efficient Sheating pa
per may be improperly installed.
metal flashings over window caps
/ omitted.
Then the will will get out Of
plumb. plaster will crack, the NOR
! tar will wash out the brick work
will looked crooked and ungainly.
( Siding boards viii crack. Pitchy
knots and sap vii ooze and stain
the paint Cornices win open.
Walls will be damp inside. Cold
walls will collect condensation and
heat will be lost The furnace will
be fired harder. Burning fuel costs
money which might have been
saved If put into the walls. The
house will get old and cold before
its time.-Copyright, 1880, The Ar
chitects Small House Service Bu-
reau, Inc.