The Chronicle-star the Moss Point advertiser., 1941-10-17
Simple Precautions
In Framing Insure
Durability of Home

In Colonial days few @vmilis for
the refinement OF lumber were
available and he frames Of the
ssaunch. Old houses os that era wrrs
pat tneetheY with massive tlrnberx
little removed from their original
log state The excellent condition Of
80 mans Of those houses to-day Is
proof Of the durability Of that type
Of construction. The question natur-
aliy follows what Of the houses we
are building todaya What viii their
condition be IN $50 years.
The frames Of modern homes are
constructed Of smaller. but better
seasoned members and while the
old houses depended upon mere
bulk for their strength and stiff
ness. less material can actually be
made 10 do an equal and even bet
ter JOB today. II given advantage
Of being properly placed IN your
home.
Modern houses have better foun-
dakiaFls. better roofs. are much
warner and much more weather
tight than the two-hundred-year-
old Colonial homes we find along
the Atlantic Coast today. but be-
cause We depend OH good framing
design rather than mere bulk, mod
ern houses do need attention TO
their framing lay0uts.
Even as the aforementioned chain
which is only as strong as It's weak
est link. 80 too your home Al be
little better than the weakest point
IN the framing which may eventual
Il lead % more serious defects
greatly reducing the value OF your
investment.
There are no tricks TO good franz
ing which cannot be covered IN a
few important points no more num-
erous than the fingers Of your
hands. To baiid according 70 these
few @musx~ Is no more expensive
than 70 permit your house 70 be
thrown together.
ANY kind OF a foundation should
rest ON footingx wide enough to
keep the foundation from sinking
when the fun load Of the house is
applied. Footlngs should extend six
inches beyond both sides Of the
wall and be at least eight inches
deep
When there Is a basement. the
bearing posts which carry the load
In the center Of the building should
have q footing eight to twelve inches
deep and from eighteen to twenty
four square and the foosane should
extend three inches above the ftn-
laf1sa floor.
TO increase the stiffness Of the
floor and TO cut down vibration all
y0ists should be securely braced
with small members. commonly cali
ed crnss-brldgtng: Il X SIS" In the
form Of an X should be placed be-
tween the joists at intervals OF not
over eight feet
No item is more important than
floor jolSts. They support the entire
building. They should be spaced six
teen inches apart. Under partitions
and around openings double ioists
should be used. They should be
hAA * E&tOtAAA W EA&AAAAtkANE
Roof rafters should be anchored
to the walls By spiking them to two
inch blocking between the rafters
which has been spiked TO the wall
plates. This will furnish q good bond
between the roof framing and the
side walls-often Q point Of weak
ness.
Studs IN walls and partitions
should be sixteen inches on centers.
They should be doubled around
windows and doors and tripied at
corners. Sheathing on outside walls
should be applied at 3 f~orty-ftve
degree angle. Diagonal sheathing Is
seven times stronger than horizon
tai sheathing.
Sub-floortng should also be laid
diagonalIy and carried in between
the studs and outside wall Diagonal
snbflooTing Is strongest and also
permits the finished floor TO be laid
IN any direction. There should be Q
layer Of water and dust-pToof paper
between sub and finished floor.
Headers are supports over open
Ings. For ali openings Of three feet
OF less Two. q \ Il" on edge should
be used. II the opening Is wider
than three feet. the header should
be In the form Of a truss.