Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 309, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1910 — The American Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home

WILLIAM. A. RARFORD Editor

-A- Radford will answer and give advice FREE .OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building for the readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he Is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address •» Inquiries to William A. Radford, No. IM Fifth Ave., Chicago, HI., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. The man who builds a home adds something to the wealth of the nation and builds himself a monument That being the case, his monument should be a lasting one. The use of concrete in hotne construction is firmly established, and that material seems to be a providential substitute for the lumber that Is fast disappearing. The construction of large concrete buildings in the cities has been an object lesson to the people. It has given them much food g*r thought, and as thought begets investigation, they are fast putting two and two to«at the conclusion or the hard-headed who has scientific must also be good tely they are not proposition Invotvtering problems of there is, however, one point to be made clear, and that is the cost This, to the masses, means much.. In talking with people about concrete, invariably the first -question asked Is "How does concrete construction compare as to cost with other building materials?” In answering this question let us take up an analysis of the cost of the different materials briefly and see where con-

crete construction really stands. Stone, or stone backed with brick, Is admittedly much higher in cost than other materials. Frame construction has not the same standard of cost of other materials. We cannot, therefore, give reliable data. One contractor offers to build a house for $2,000, and another wants for the same work $2,500. What do you get? Simply what you pay for, no more and no less. The first house Is thrown together, good only a few years and then apparently la an old house, Its value having depreciated fully 50 per cent It will always be in need of repairs. The second house, of good construction, will be good for ten or fifteen years, with repairs beginning about the third or fourth year. Brick construction will cost for .a 13-lnch wall 36 to 50

cents a a 9nch a * g U 1 ' Muring, Md the Metlon, M brick Mragea Mcrete Me adMction M*e le fterly Mnere E Mheir >. ■

blocks as bad, when a fafly poor block will give good satisfaction if the mason will do his work right. The cost of block construction Is from 18 cents to 35 cents per square foot of wall having a thickness of 8 to 12 inches inclusive. For the finished wall add the cost of the white finish coat, which is put directly on the concrete, thus saving the cost of furring, lathing and the brown coat of plaster. Blocks are condemned by many be*

cause the outward appearance does not please them. Architects say that the rock face is imitative and Inartistic. Admitted, but 90 per cent, of the people who use them use this surface.

It is said that blocks have a sameness. This also can be said of brick. The design of the house shown In this connection presents the opportunity of construction with blocks. If the wall Is laid of blocks and plastered on the exterior with cement mortar the objection to the sameness of the blocks can be removed. This house Is 30 feet, 6 Inches wide and 33 feet long. The porch columns can be built up of blocks or made of frame work, lathed and plastered with cement mortar. Entrance to the house is afforded from the porch through a cozy vestibule and immediately beyond is the hall and stairway. On the left la the sitting room and on the right Is the parlor. The sitting room. It will be noticed. Is provided with a fireplace. The dining room at the back of the sitting room has beam celling and the walls of this room may be finished with panel work and plate rail. The kitchen Is provided with a large pantry and there is a back porch. The second floor has four large chambers, a linen closet, a bathroom, and closets !'i each bedroom.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.