Timber Work

Next in order is the timber work, and the first thing to be done is to obtain the linear measurement of all the sills and from their size estimate the number of feet, board measure. A ready reckoner, one of the many in the market, should be at the estimator\'s elbow, in order to save time in making the estimates. Retain the linear measurements, as from these the amount of labor is determined. The labor on sills is of three kinds:

1.) Framing without gains for joist or mortises or for studding, as in common building, where the studding is spiked to the sills and the joist rest on top of the sills.

2.) With mortises for studding, gains for joist, or studding without mortises.

3.) With both gains and mortises, for studding.

Sills 6x8 inches framed and placed on the wall by the first, second and third processes will cost for labor 2, 4, and 6 cents per linear foot. Sills 12 x 16 inches require double the above prices. The intermediate sizes may be approximated. Joist are generally placed 16 inches from center to center, and when so placed the number required on a given floor may be found by taking three-quarters of the length of the building and adding one joist when they are placed on top of the sill, and deducting one when the sills are utilized to receive the flooring.

The first-floor joist may be 2 x 8 to 2 x 14 inches; the second-floor joist is usually from 2 x 8 to 2 x 12 inches, and the top ceiling joist is usually from 2 x 6 to 2 x 8 inches. A man will frame and put in place in the building about 700 feet, linear, of joist, having dimensions from 2 x 6 inches to 2 x 14 inches, provided he has not more than two stories to lift his stuff. In putting on plates, which in balloon frames should be doubled, with joints well broken, the cost will be 1 cent per linear foot for each thickness.

Studding is usually placed 16 inches from center to center, and may be 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 inches. If the former, two men will lay out and raise 800 linear feet per day, and if the latter size, 750 feet. A short rule for obtaining the number of pieces of outside studding, including plates and allowing one piece of studding extra for corners, windows and doors, is to allow one stud for every foot in length of wall. This rule for buildings having many angles, where the studding must be doubled, approximates very closely to the true result.

In smaller buildings with but few angles it will somewhat overrun. The exact number of pieces of outside studding may be obtained by taking three-quarters of the number of feet in the outside measurement of the building and adding one stud for each angle and one for each door and window. To this add for the plates and gable studding. For partitions take three-quarters of the number of feet the whole partitions measure in length, and that figure will be the number of pieces of stuff required. The length of the studs w ill, of course, depend on the height of the rooms.

This number provides for double studs at the doors. The cost of labor in putting up the partitions is the same as for putting up outside walls. When \"cut-in\" ribs are used for supporting the upper joist about 1 cent per linear foot is to be charged, which will cover the cost of \"notching\" the studs, making the ribs and spiking them in place. In estimating material for studding the gable, take three-quarters of the length of the base and the number of feet, less one, which will give the number of pieces required. The average length of each piece is the distance from the plate to the ridge of the roof, or what is termed the rise of the rafter.

The first-floor joist may be 2 x 8 to 2 x 14 inches; the second-floor joist is usually from 2 x 8 to 2 x 12 inches, and the top ceiling joist is usually from 2 x 6 to 2 x 8 inches. A man will frame and put in place in the building about 700 feet...