Sloan's Homestead Architecture

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: From the importance of good walls as a primary demand in all buildings, it follows that the consideration of the quality of materials of which they are composed, as well as the manner in which the conjunction or adhesion of parts can be most thoroughly effected, is a matter of no small consequence....
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: From the importance of good walls as a primary demand in all buildings, it follows that the consideration of the quality of materials of which they are composed, as well as the manner in which the conjunction or adhesion of parts can be most thoroughly effected, is a matter of no small consequence. Stone.?Being a natural production, and not only adapted to the requirements of building with but little preparation, but from its nature conducive to the permanency of artificial structures, stone, as an element of wall building, is entitled to the first rank, and therefore to early notice. Without going into a geological disquisition on the subject, we may speak of the relative value of different kinds of stone; not always with the certainty we could wish, from the fact that time enough has not elapsed since an interest has been awakened to the vast importance of knowing the qualities of the stone employed. Experience seems to be the best test; although the science of chemistry may be sufficient for the geologist, the architect is better satisfied with the proofs oftime. Granite, according to geology the primary rock; exists in great abundance in this country, and hasalready been employed to a great extent for building purposes. The best specimens within our knowledge of granite for public buildings are from the quarries of Quincy and Fall River, Mass.; but there are qualities of lighter cast, and therefore better adapted to rural architecture, found in various parts of the country, of which the quarries at Lieperville, Pa., furnish an instance. The elementary formation of granite renders it of great value in point of durability, and it is recommended for foundations preferably to all other kinds of stone. It may be known by its granular structure, from which it takes its nam...