TERING, ROOF, &c., for a few details relating to the art of building, a few words of a general nature may be here introduced.
The article BRICKWORK relates simply to the modes of arranging the separate bricks or component parts into a solid and adhesive wall. The builder must further combine the several portions of a wall broken or separated by openings for doorways and windows, and tho several walls of a house, into a self-sus taining structure, every part of which should, as far as possible, lend support to every other part. The effect of openings, for example, must be counteracted by inverts or inverted arches beneath them, and discharging arches over them ; these being either left visible or concealed by a facing of other brickwork, ac cording to circumstances. Wood bricks, or blocks of seasoned wood, must be inserted in the walls to facilitate the fixing of door and window frames, or other woodwork. Lintels, or bars of wood surmounting square-headed apertures, are sometimes used in lieu of arches, but should always be surmounted by dis charging arches. Templates are pieces of wood larger than wood bricks, inserted to sup port and distribute the pressure of the ends of beams, &c., and wall-plates are still longer pieces let into the brickwork to support the floor-timbers. Bond-timbers are sometimes inserted to distribute and equalise strain ; but the liability of timber to shrink and swell, to rot and to be destroyed by fire, render it de sirable to insert it in brickwork as little as possible, and that under such circumstances that its total destruction may not affect the stability of the walls. The plans recently in troduced for preserving timber [TIMBER, PRE SERVATION OF] somewhat lessen the objections to its use.
In the erection of any building it is desirable to carry up all the walls as equally as possible, to avoid the risk of unequal settlement. Inte rior partition walls are often formed of lath and plaster, on a timber framing ; but, where weight is not an objection, of brick-nogging, or brickwork 4i or 3 inches thick, strengthened by timber framing. Some use half brick walls, built in cement, and strengthened with iron hooping laid in a few of the joints. The tops of brick walls are protected by COPING, which should be so formed as to throw off water.
Other modes of building than with brick are noticed elsewhere. [MAsoNRY.] Flints and earth are also advantageously employed in cer tain districts. Buildings of flint depend much for their strength upon the quality of the mortar or cement employed, and upon the judicious introduction of bonding-courses and quoins or angles of brick or of larger stone. Building with compressed earth, or building as pise, is a very cheap mode, long used in some parts of France, but less known in this country than it deserves to be. Another mode of building well adapted for cottages in which no great strength is required in the walls, is with hollow walls of brick laid on edge, but stherwise arranged like ordinary Flemish bond. In this plan a space of 3 inches is left in the middle of the wall between each pair of stretchers. Walls thus constructed exclude lamp and cold far better than solid walls. For modes of constructing FIRE-PROOF Burrnrsos, see that article.