Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/302

 243 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [October, Four Designs for Porches. THIS plate contains the sections of four porches, each of a different design, drawn to such a scale that their distinguishing features can be clearly and readily comprehended. Porches are useful as well as orna- mental appendages to a dwelling, and are more especially brought into requi- sition in suburban and rural localities. For city houses the} 7 are not generally well adapted, and hence not often to be met with. They are capable of being made as simple as may be desired, or, on the other hand, of receiving an infinite amount of embellishment ; but this, of course, will, in every case, depend upon the taste and judgment of the owners; always bearing in mind that they should be designed strictly in keeping with the style of the building of which they are intended to become a portion. If this is not adhered to, an incongruity — dis- pleasing to the eye, and detracting from the general effect of the structure, of whatever nature it may be — will be the natural sequence. Porches are sometimes constructed twoVor more stories high, but, as a general rule, only one. This latter we should strongly recommend, owing to the difficulty encountered in making them of two stories, arising from the numer- ous joints of the timbers, &c, that must necessarily be made in the construction of the middle floors, which are at all times exposed to the weather, and hence liable to decay. In the construction of porches, it is always best, whenever possible, to ex- cavate or extend the cellar beneath them, in order to obtain a better circulation of air. This is the more especially neces- sary where it is designed to terrace up close to the floor. The cost of such excavation or extension of the cellar would be but a trifle beyond that of sinking the foundations, to be more than repaid by the additional advantage gained thereby. The floors of the porches in all cases should be laid with an outward descent of at least two inches to ten feet. The flooring boards should be of uniform width, say about four (4) inches, and one and an eighth (l£) inch thick, running outwards, or across the porch, laid with square joints, and not entirely close to one another, to allow the air to circulate through the joints, in order to dry the moisture that penetrates. We should recommend that these joints be painted before the boards are laid. The ceilings, in all cases, should be lined with boards, of uniform width, and one inch thick, tongued and grooved, the joints beaded, and all dressed off to a smooth surface. The ceiling joists should be three by four inches, square cross section, also smoothed off — the corners moulded or chamfered — and rest two feet apart, with the ceiling boards nailed on the upper side, thus forming panels, which, when of pine, should be painted, or stained to represent hard wood, and all finished in oil, without varnish. The roofs of porches should always be covered with durable materials. Being for the most part flat, we would recom- mend tin in preference to any composi- tion. Slate or shingles would hardly ever be available, owing to the pitch of the roof. Gutters should be formed along the eaves, and the water conveyed to the ground through conductors. These latter, sometimes placed inside the posts to conceal them from view, should always be made square, or corrugated, to admit of the expansion by frost, which causes the seams of round conductors to crack and open, but which has no effect what- ever on the kind we have here recom- mended. Balustrades are often introduced on porches, and are absolutely indispensable where there is an elevation to the porch of upwards of two or three risers. In all such cases the lower part should be left open, to admit of a free circula- tion of air. Where there is a cellar