Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1895 — MODEL $3,000 HOUSE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MODEL $3,000 HOUSE.

Complete Plana and Specification* Should Be Had for Every Building. A contract for an important building Is never made without working plans and detail sheets showing what the form and details of the proposed buildings shall be. and without specifications describing how the work shall lie done and the quality of the materials

to be used. For a house of low or moderate cost, however, which should have equally careful attention, the owner is too often content with imperfect drawings and specifications. Sometimes he simply contracts for a duplicate of some other house, not knowing that the contractor can duplicate the appearance without duplicating the value. For every dollar he saves by reason of incomplete drawings" and defective specifications, the owner may be deprived of $lO of value. Example: If the specifications do not require the sheathing of the structure, why should the contractor spend S4O l’or sheathing boards and labor? even admitting that the increased strength and warmth of the building may be worth S4OO to the owner? The sheathing is all covered up anyway. Or, if the specifications do not call for the sheathing boards to be laid close together, why should not the contractor save $5 worth of boards by following the custom of leaving wide cracks? Or If the quality of the sheathing paper is not stated, why should he not put on the cheapest, saving $5, perhaps, though dampness will soon make it

Worthless for the purpose intended? If the specifications do not call for a double first floor, which is essential to health and comfort, why should the contractor supply it?. In a hundred other things the contractor may save a little by reason of imperfect drawings and specifications at the expense of a great deal to the owner. Here is given a brief description of the design illustrated in this article: Size of structure: width (front) over all, 34 feet 0 inches; depth over all, 42 feet 10 inches. Materials for exterior walls: Foundations, stone and brick; first story, clapboards; second story, gables and roof, shingles. Heights of stories: Cellar, 6 feet 9 inches; first story, 9 feet 4 inches; second story, 9 feet. Interior finish: Plaster walls and soft wood finish throughout. Accommodations: The principal rooms and their sizes, closets, pantries, bath, fireplaces, sliding doors, etc., are shown by the plans given herewith. There is a cellar under the hall and parlor; the attic is floored and there is space for three good rooms, but the cost of finishing them is not included in the estimate. Special features: A striking and an attractive exterior, without display or pretense: ample and somewhat elegant interior, accommodating a large family. The cost: A fair but low contract price, built ns shown by the plans, including full plumbing for hot aud cold water, $3,500. To contract at $3,000 it is necessary to make the following changes: Omit the second story of the rear extension; with the bath-room plumbing aud back stairs, which saves $300; omit the side veranda, which saves SSO; use ordinary hinged doors

in place of sliding doors, which saves sls; omit mantel fireplace and hearth tiles in the dining-room, which saves SIOO. These changes will not detract from the exterior appearance. Finishing three rooms in the attic will add $l2O to the cost A hardwood staircase, handsomely finished, would add SIOO to the cost Copyright.

FRONT ELEVATION.

FIRST FLOOR.

SECOND FLOOR.