Windows. As a part of the finishing of the inside of the house will come the adjustment of the sashes and doors. The sashes are held in place by stop beads, which are strips of wood usually one-half an inch in thickness and of varying Nvidths, according to the thickness of the ,sashes and of the walls. (Fig. 79.) These stop heads should always he secured by screws, as it «'i11 sometimes become necessary to remove them to adjust or replace the sashes. special screws are sold for this purpose, if desired, which have a wader with a horiiontal slot, which will allow of the slight adjustment inure necessary by the swelling or shrinking of the sashes, by simply loosening the screws. Before applying the stops the sashes must be care fully fitted and balanced, and as they will vary some what in weight, the matter of a perfect balance will require close attention.
The superintendent should see that each sash is so balanced that there will be no great effort needed to raise or lower it, and no danger of its hanging by reason of too much or too little weight. Ile should closely examine the hardware to see that it is as specified and is carefully put on. Sash fasts are often badly set and each one must be tried to see that it works properly and easily. Pulleys should he carefully inspected to see that they are as specified. 'These will probably have been already set in the win dow frames when they were received, and unless the contractor has paid especial at tention to them they are very likely to be of an inferior order.
The difference between a fluted bronzed face and a solid bronze metal face is often oye:looked, and the bearings will be inferior if not carefully examined. A steel axle pulley may be used for ordinary work, but for better service a turned or milled axle is preferable.
hor hanging the sashes, cords, chains and metallic ribbons are used, but for the ordinary sizes of windows a good braided cord is perhaps to be preferred, this depending upon local custom. The size and ular brand of cord should be specified and care taken to see that this is furnished. The leading manufacturers have adopted a copyrighted device of a spot or name which appears at short intervals upon their cord and if noted will prevent any other being substituted. For large sashes with no vertical bar, such as are show n in main rooms of our house, sash lifts should be used. These are metal fixtures applied to the lower or side rims of the sashes to afford a hold for the fingers when raising the sash. In windows as wide as shown,
with no vertical bar, the usual habit of starting to raise the sash by lifting up on the middle rail will result in loosening the putty and springing up the rail so that lifts are necessary. These may be of the ordinary hook shape, or may be a metal slot let into the lower sash. (Fig. SO.) Casement or swinging windows and transoms will require special fittings, of which there are a great variety, each designed to supply a special need. .
The main thing to be observed is that the ap pliances are as simple as possible and that the moving parts are noiseless and well adjusted.
Doors and Trimmings. The last of the in terior fittings to he applied are usually the doors.
These are of two classes, "stock" doors and doors made to order. Stock doors are made in certain regular sizes, generally of pine, whitewoocl or cypress, and may he obtained at all times, of the dealers. Stock doors are made in three grades, A, B, and C, of which, doors of the first quality may be used for the inferior portions of good houses, but these, by reason of their being stored for a greater or less time, are generally not thoroughly dry and will shrink and twist when subjected to furnace heat. The second and third quality of stock doors are a very inferior article and should be used only for the poorest kind of work.
Custom=Made Doors. The doors of the principal rooms 5110111d he made to order, If of pine or w-hitewood they may be made solid but must be of kill-dried stock and kept perfectly dry. The tenons should he made, as specified, with haunches (Fig. tit) and the panels put in without bradding or gluing, so as the allow them to swell and shrink without cracking. Hardwood doors are veneered upon a core of well seasoned pine and should be examined, upon delivery, to see that this is done and that the veneers are of the proper thickness. The veneers should be one-quarter inch on the face and at least three-quarters inch on the edges, to allow of fitting. If the panels are of great width they should also be veneered, with the grain of the core running at right angles to the grain of the veneer. Doors which are to show hardwood on one side and a painted finish on the other should be veneered on both sides to prevent warping, which may occur if one side only is veneered.