MASONRY CONSTRUCTION Concrete. The concrete work of all footings and exterior foundation walls below grade, will be composed of 1 part Portland cement, 4 parts sand, and 7 parts screened gravel or broken stone. In order to make these proportions efficient, it will be necessary, in mixing and applying the materials, to use great care. The Contractor, under direction of the Architect, will con struct a cube about 1S inches square, of the mixture, to show its possibilities when carefully manipulated; this standard will be the one by which the work will be judged, and any portion of the con crete work which falls below this standard will be condemned. The sand and cement must first be thoroughly mixed dry, turning over at least four times, if no machine is employed, so that no uncolored particles of sand can he detected; after which, just enough water is to be added to dampen the mass thoroughly. The aggregate is then to be mixed in, wet.
It will be necessary to place plank forms for all footings and walls; and the concrete is to be placed in such forms, and thoroughly rammed. A smooth surface like a spade is to be forced down, just inside the planking, to force the aggregate back from both faces of the wall until clear mortar will only show. The walls of each portion are to be carried up the full height rapidly, and the planking to be so arranged that it can be removed from any part within two days after the placing of the concrete. Both faces of the wall are to be finished smooth with a trowel, the surface being so compressed as to make it proof against ground moisture.
Basement Floor. After the lining of the first floor is laid, the basement floor is to he put in. On the base of concrete 3 inches thick, composed as for footings, before it has set, put a wearing surface z inch thick, composed of 1 part cement to 3 parts crushed granite, troweled to a smooth, level surface.
Reinforced concrete beams and slab over sidewalk coal-cellar, are to be composed of 1 part Portland cement, 3 parts sand, and 5 parts gravel or broken stone which will pass through a i-inch ring.
This is to be tamped in the forms and around the reinforcing metal, to form a solid, compact mass. As the strength of this slab is depend ent principally on the care in mixing the material and in placing it, it must be tested three weeks after it is set, by placing five layers of brick over the entire surface. If under this test it fails or cracks, it is to be removed and replaced at the Contractor's expense.
After the completion of the building, a sidewalk in all respects matching that now in place is to be continued over the concrete slab, and the iron coal-hole cover-frame is to be built in so as to set flush with the surface.
Brick Masonry. Rough brick partition walls in basement, and all chimneys and the backing of all exterior walls, will be laid and thoroughly embedded in Portland cement mortar, 1 part cement to 4 parts sand; and all brick are to be thoroughly drenched before being laid. In backing up stone work, the brick is to be so bonded that it can be brought up approximately level with the top of each stone course; and there is to be placed in every horizontal stone joint a sheet of No. 24 expanded metal, extending to within 1 inch of the face of the stone and through the full thickness of the brick wall. This is to be free from rust, and at once embedded in the mortar joints of stone and brick to form a reinforced concrete bond.
Every fifth course of rough brick is to be of headers.
Where rough brick walls will be exposed to view, the joints will be trowel-pointed and all mortar kept off the face.
At the base of ash-pits, set doors S inches by 12 inches.
At the base of chimney flues, set doors 6 inches by R inches.
In each fireplace hearth, there is to be a small ash-dump, constructed entirely of cast iron, with cast-iron frames built in and anchored.
Terra-cotta pipe tLimI1es are to be in, 1 foot from the finished ceilings, as follows: 1—S-inch thimble in Heater Cellar, 1-6-inch thimble in Laundry, 1-6-inch thimble in Kitchen.