Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 262, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1910 — The American Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home

WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor

' Mr - William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF SCOST on all subjects pertaining to the •subject of building for the readers of ’this paper. On account of his wide expedience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all Inquiries to William A. Radford, No. >194 Fifth Ave., Chicago; 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. With the approach of cold weather there ia one feature of home building that comes into new prominence. We bear the qusetion asked, “How is the house heated?” or, more often, “Is this a warm house?” These are important questions; not more important now, it is true, than in the hot summer weather, for even then the [■wise home builder looks forward to the wintry days and provides against them by proper construction; but now that cold weather is upon us the question of adequate beating seems to be more present and absorbing. With modern heating equipment there is probably no form of dwelling that cannot be adequately heated. iSome, however, are very difficult to heat and require a much larger heattog plant and much more coal than they should. This is due sometimes to faulty construction, sometimes to •unwise design. In the first place every home builder should know that there is no money so well spent as that put into insulating felts and high grade sheathing papers; which, combined with thorough construction in other ways, will go very far toward making a residence frost proof. A house so made can be kept thoroughly warm with from one-third to one-half the amount of coal required to heat the same siruciurt if not properly insulated and put together. Insulating paper does not cost very much and it should be used freely. The entire exterior walls should be covered between the rough sheathing and the clapboards and care should be

taken to see that the paper is fitted snugly around all openings, both doors and windows. The workmen are sometimes careless in this regard and it is well to keep pretty close watch of what they are doing when it comeß to this part of the work. Good oil paper should also be used in the flooring between the rough and finished floors. This Berves a double purpose, as it not only makes the. house warmer, but shuts out all furnace dust from the cellar, or dampness if there Bhould be any. The building paper used be-

tween the floors should be turned up .six inches behind all the base boards. Another trivial expense while building that proves a very great economy In the long run Is to have the, basement lathed and plastered. Twentyfive or thirty dollars will do this on the average job, while the satisfaction and comfort resulting will be worth, many times that amount la after years. ' V. Also great care should Be taken that what are called the rough sheathing boards for the exterior vails should good matched lumber. Shlplap Is very good for this and costs very

little more than the ordinary unmatched boarding. Very often large knotholes in such boarding are allowed to go unnoticed* but this is a grave mistake. Much cold can find its way in through even one large knothole. They should all be hunted out and carefully plugged before the sheathing paper la nailed on. And in addition to thorough construction much can be accomplished in the way of easy heating/feying the house properly designed. A

long, rambling structure is much more difficult to heat than a square, compact house. The accompanying design is a good .example of a residence that is very easily heated. With either a warm-air furnace, steam or hot-water systems very good results can be had with this house. Being rectangular in outline, there are no exposed por-

tions. The solid porch at the front will be found a great protection, as It will blanket to a certain extent the broad exposed side of the living room. In other ways, too, the arrangement of this house is desirable. It is well suited for a narrow building site, its width being but 22 feet 6 inches. Even counting the side entrance porch, it doesn’t require more than 25 feet The side entrance is very popular at the present time' and thiß is a good example of the possibilities of this kind of arrangement. The living room extends clear across the front of the house, the reception room and stair hall occupy the middle of the side and at the rear are the dining-room and kitchen. There is a small den directly back of the stair hall, which will be useful for many purposes. On the second floor are three goodsized bedrooms, each with a clothe* closet opening oft from it. The bathroom is also on this floor and finds itself directly above the kitchen. This brings all the plumbing together and makes quite a saving in this factor of the expense. It is in matters of this kind that the experienced house designer can save a good deal .of money for his clients. Too often not enough thought is given matters of this kind, but there is no doubt but that substantial .savings may be accomplished in the construction of any house by having it properly designed. In exterior appearance the houße illustrated herewith is very satisfactory. It -is dignified, neat and substantial. It has the home atmosphere. A house of this kind has the advantage of being very easily kept up so that it always presents a neat and well-cared-sos appearance. The cost of this seven-room, story and a half house is estimated at $3,000.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.