Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-18
URGES
| CARE ON CELLAR
Each Item Entering Into Its
Con structi0n Needs
Thoughtful Study.

In the majority Of houses erected
scant attention is usually given to the
cellar, which has too often been ac-
cepted rs an unavoidable evil, the
Renovize Washington Campaign Com
mittee points out. 1t is important hat
each item entering into the arrange
ment and construction Of this part Of
ceeding with the work. The cellar ioof
should be about 2 feet above the
sewer IN the street. and should be
provided with drain for easy cleaning
Seven feet clearance below the girders
Is the minimum required for head
room. Plumbing pipes leading to the
sanitary sewer should be accessible and
not buried beneath the concrete floor.
The laundry should have windows
on two sides for cross ventilation ard
the tubs set in the middle Of the room,
so that the washing machine and
clothes basket can be placed on any
sirable at the tubs and in front of the
ironing table or machine, which should
be located near window. Soaps,
irons, etc, should be kept in a small
closet. For Winter or wet weather
drying. gas heated cabinet or hang
ing space with a small uni: heater
containing an electric fan IS desira Die
The Coal Bin.
If coal is used for fuel the bin should
be large enough to hold seasons sup
chute or window located for easy &C.
livery. The floor of the bin should be
pitched toward the boiler room open
ing. Walls of the coal bin should be
made dustproof by painting the joints
OF tongueo and grooyed boards with
white lead before being put together
The partitions should fit tightly against
the floor and ceiling and nave tight
door in front of the ordinary slide
boards.
The cool cellar for vegetable storage
should be located on the shady side of
the house and have q window for ven-
tllation. Racks and bins made Of Stats
Will aid In the preservation of the veg
etables. Preserves should be kept II
dark, cool closet without natural
light, which spoilS preserves.
II a lavatory is provided in the cellar,
back water valve should be installed
to prevent the sewer from backing up
into the cellar in case of stoppage.
tool room and workshop should
have windows on two sides for light
and air. If the ceiling is plastered
dust will not rise to the floor above.
open rack to prevent their becoming
musty. Steel, pipe filled with concrete
set on concrete bases make the best in
terror supports for the Orders, which
should be of steel to reduce the amount
OF wood shrinkage.
Stairs from the cellar to the yard
should be lnclosed without resorting to
the old style bulkhead. Often this can
be accomplished by having them COM
blned with the garage or rear porch.
For the finish of the interior of the
cellar. q coat of cold water paint on
the walls will greatly improve this part
OF the house and tend to keep it neat
and clean.
Wall Footings.
Wall footings are commonly made of
concrete poured into forms made of
plank. There has always been a ten
dency to make footingS of insufficient
width and thickness. A strong foun-
dation will aid materially in reducing
the amount of plaster cracks. Soils
have different bearing capacity. such
as dryness and composition. If the
character of the soil changes at any
time, settlement usually takes place,
often causing buildings to collapse.
Cellar walls are usually built Of
poured concrete, brick. stone, concrete
plOch OF HOLLOW Tile. LII clay or rocky
soils which hold water no wall or floor
will be free from dampness, unless a
real job Of waterproofng is done by
men experienced in this line The cost
Of this work which is so important, but
hardly ever done, because it is out of
sight. is really very little. Descriptions
OF houses for sale usually contain
glowing accounts Of everything but the
water in the cellar
Cellar windows should be above grade
or have properly drained areas large
enough to admit good natural light
They should be screened to keep out
insects and be easily opened to pro-
vide good ventilation, which has be-
come more important since the advent
of the oil burner.