BUILDING and HOMES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 222, 20 June 1928, Page 17

BUILDING and HOMES

BY .

JACK PLANE

WINDOWS TYPES AND CONSTRUCTION POINTS WORTH NOTING In the early days windows were sr—.ll and inconspicuous. Tlicy were n-i. even used in classic temples, because the majority of public ceremonies were always held in the open air. It was not until the application of glass to window design that windows. assumed some of the importance that is to-day bestowed upon them. The window to-day is closed with glass, s in a ft—e which, may be either wood or meta), and may be fixed or else made to open at will. Commonly the sash is in two halves, either hinged at the side and opening in the r. hldle, or made to slide up and down with cords and counter-balancing wights, as in the case of a doublehung window.

Windows should bo . extensive, not necessarily in number, but in actual glass area. Full-length easement winzs have their llnutatiqps, especially in small houses. z

It is good practice to group these windows in pairs or in threes, for sev-j-easons; it increases the app.".'.":’.t sine of the room, it permits a more u„..bio expanse of unbroken wall space, and it increases the decorative interest wjthin the room aud the. architectural possibilities of the exterior. It is a more satisfactory arrangement than a single window of the same size, whibh would be awkward to hang, and more expensive to replace in the case of breakage. Every stair hall should have a window to provide light; this makes the hall more comfortable and prevents tripping up in a dark corner. Hall windows may be in coloured or stained glass. Bathroom windows should be placed high for privacy, and should have either pattern or stained glass. Bedroom windows should be in clear glass, and,"where possible, there should be windows on two walls, so as to provide through ventilation. Windows in every room should reach close to the ceiling, for the best results In lighting and ventilation. Undoubtedly a high development of scientific window .making has been attained in double-hung window construction; some of these types, representing the ordinary double-hung window both in external and internal appearance, when fully opened afford nearly 100 per cent, ventilation. They are made to close perfectly tight, permitting no air leakage, and thus effecting considerable saving in fuel. These windows are more readily cleaned than the usual type, since they can be quickly washed from the inside of the room, and 'consequently it is no longer necessary to sit out ou the sill when cleaning. 1 ?'

The appearance of the window from the outside can be greatly improved by the proper proportioning of the framing and the addition of astragals; for the reason that the window divided into small panes has more decorative interest than the single pane treatment. Some people claim that the astragals between the small panes obstruct the view, but people to-day are too busy to spend time studying the view. The small pane seen from the outside gives a sense of scale, and by being kept the same size and shape throughout the house, affords a certain character and Individuality to the house; small panes make for privacy. It is possible to have the upper part of the window glazed with small panes and the lower with' an unbroken expanse of glass; this serves the same purpose and permits the enjoyment of the view as well. The attic windows also add interest to the outside of the house by relieving monotonous expanses of roofing; to say nothing of their actual utilitarian value as windows. The dormer window, when arrange^/well back from the eaves, often means a s nail window with a confined area of floor space: to Overcome this, many architects bring these roof windows forward until they reach the fabric line, which allows a gioat r area of glass and an increased floor space in the attic room. Oriel windows must be judiciously used; if they are not to mar the aspect of the building;! projecting as they do, they are conspicuous features of the house, aud should be carefully proportioned and considered.. The well designed bay window must look like an integral part of the house, growing out of it quite naturally; if it seems detached and irrelevant (as though it were an afterthought) it is distinctly a failure architecturally. Bay windows aro a source of much interest, and their decorative possibilities are much appreciated. Casement windows, if properly made, arc useful in certain places, as well as ornamental. One of the objections raised by certain j.cople with respect to such windows is the difficulty encountered in making them storm-proof. The best way to overcome this difficulty is to make sure that the wood used has finished shrinking before its employment.

Casement windows are usually tight when made, but after they are iu position iu some cases the continued shrinkage of the wood tends to open up the joints at the meeting rails, thus leaving the top aud bottom of the window to admit draughts of air and rain if there is a driving wind. Where tho window opens outward, the lower rail should have a weather bar projecting well over the line of the sash, and it should be throated, so as to prevent the water from, running underneath.

Where the windows open inward the problem is somewhat similar, the rail and the sill being grooved and throated, and a grooved moulding being placed on the outside of the sash to keep the drip away from the joint. The meeting rails should be bevelled and rebated, and where the locking rails fit into a mullion in the frame a. groove should be placed in the centre to permit any water to run off which might work its way in. Casement windows hightip, if made with a single sash, should swing inwards, since it is almost Impossible to get at the outside of a single casement to wash it in that position. French casements or windows arc in many cases really doors opening on to a ■ veranda or on to a porch roof. In that case, where there is traffic over the sill, It is much better to arrange the joint at the bottom with a weather bar. Casement windows, if properly designed, add remarkably to the appearance of the house-. 1. Y. Dunlop, in the “Illustrated Carpen teg and Builder,

STRAY NOTES THE COLOURED BATHROOM A very big reason for the popularity of the coloured bathroom, says a a exchange, is that it does not "give oue the shivers to look at.” Consciously, or otherwise, people are chilled at the sight of the all-white room, and, according to a nerve specialist, it is better for people suffering from nerve trouble to use coloured bathrooms.

The modern bathroom has all the dignity of a room. In former days it was more like a recess. Now, it has a proper window, the lighting is studied, and it is furnished with all the .'earn paid to the colour scheme of another room. ■

'The dining-room’aud drawing-room were cot sldcred by our mothers to be the most, important. M'e are more interested in the drawing-room and bath-room.

Decorative schemes for the modern bathroom are many and attractive.

There are the bathrooms in which tbi floor, walls, and even the windowframe, aro of softly coloured mosaics in greens and blues. In Ibis room the bath and other furniture are usually white. Blue, pink, green, yellow—in these and other shades it is possible to get the bath, basin, and various fitments. 'This coloured furniture is immensely popular, and calls for walls and floor tiled in the same shades. A bathroom scheme for the wealthy consists of real marble panelled walls, a bath to match, and Mexican onyx basiu and dressing-table. The modern bathroom contains not. only bath and basin, but a shower in a glass recess, and a china, dressingtable to hold toilet accessories. Everything is for easy cleaning, and easy management. END-MATCHING TIMBER ■ Large quantities of good timber are wasted in this country because there is a very limited market for short lengths. In view of the economic saving to be effected by the profitable utilisation of material in this category, much importance attaches to a process recently developed in tho United. States of end-matching timber —that is to say, joining pieces of timber end to end with a tongue and groove just as lining and flooring boards are now joined along their edges. The following observations on the new process are made by the American “Carpenter" Although for centuries men have built themselves homes by joining together pieces of wood, it is only in the last year or two that the endmatching of lumber has come into use in general construction. Perhaps it can best be described as a sort of tongue-and-groove process, by which short lengths of lumber can be smoothly and accurately united to form what amounts to a continuous unit of any length. , „ , For several years hardwood flooring has been end-matched, as well as sidematched, but the practice of uniting pieces of soft-wbod by the tongue-and-groove process iii siding, sheathing, ceiling, partitions, and under-flooring is a new one.

If end-matching becomes a common practice, as there is every evidence that it will, many millions of feet of softwood lumber, unavoidably produced by all sawmills because of defects and taper in the log, will be utilised, whereas they were formerly wasted or found only a poor market. In laying end-matched lumber, the joints do not have to be over the joists. End-matched floors are so strong that they do not require sub-flooring. Short pieces with no support on the joists will hold 5001 b. to 20001 b. to the square inch. Even the weakest piece will not creak when a piauo is rolled over it. A contractor, enthusiastic about the economy and general satisfaction of end-matched lumber, gives an instance of the strength of end-matched flooring. At one place there were four parallel boards all joined between the same joists. To test the strength of the endmatching he jumped as hard as he could on the spot where the boards were joined. “There wasn’t a give,” he relates, “and I am a man weighing quite a little over 2001 b.” He also tells of roofing a building with cud-matched lumber.

Before the carpenters had time to apply the shingles, a rainy period started. This roof shed the water 100 per cent., there being no leakage of any kind, and the men were able to continue their work unhindered. « In garages, sheds, and other light structures with unfinished interiors, end matched wall-covering results in an important saving in studding. Because the eud-niatched joints need, not coincide with nailing centres, the studding can be spaced farther apart, other factors permitting, than is the general practice with square-eud stock, with a consequent saving of studding lumber and labour. • In diagonal application, recommended for sub-flooring and for wall sheathing, end-matched short length material is especially convenient. Shorter lengths can be handled easier than longer lengths in applying sheathing to the walls, and wall openings can be blocked out with little waste. Diagonal sub-floors take less labour with endmatched material, as no diagonal trimming is required except at the edges, and all of the cut-offs nt the end of the string will be usable as the first piece in other strings, it of sufficient length. The man who has 0 be his own carpenter will find end-matched lumber a great boon, as almost anyone who can wield a hammer can install cudmatched material. Economy in labour and lumber, increased strength in construction, and ease of application are the principal advantages of the use of end-matched material to the consumer.

Stains on water bottles, Hower vases or decanters may be removed by soaking the articles in warm water io which small quantities of vinegar and salt have been added. Small pieces of eggshell are good for dislodging stains in a narrow-necked article of glass, china, or earthenware. The aperture should then be stopped, and the vessel vigor isly shaken, states an exchange. Cut-glass or other objects with an tineven surface, sue- as lemon f it dishes, etc., arc best cleaned with the aid of a soft nail-brush. A few drops of ammonia in the washing water are a great help. SUMMARY "OFTENDERS CLOSING DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 20 TO JULY 4, R. T. .laggard, Palmerston North.— Tenders erection block shops and offices, Palmerston North. Close noon. June 20. Public Works Tenders Board.—Tenders erection huts. Close 4 p.m., June 26. Wellington .Education Board.—Tenders erection Miramar school. Close noon, June 26. Watson. Goodcr, and Dr. Wellington. —Tenders supply timber, .Close 4 July. 2.