Chav. ni, CARPENTRY.

17
even tlieii they are liable to rust. Wherever the iron work used for securing a system
of
franiing is exjiosed to the luunidity of the atmosphere, it should be rendered
d.irable by freciuent i)aiuting. Vrxcti
{
Britixh Carpenter, 1759) observes thus:
"
'I'here is
oae particular that had liked to have escaped my notice, concerning the jjlacing of iron
straps on any truss, thereby meaning to help its strength, which is by turning the end
square (as shown at E,Ji(/- 671.). This method embraces the timber in such a manner, to
make it like a dovetail, w/iic/i cannot draw from
its place ;
another observation is, to bolt on
vour strajjs with s(]uare bolts, for this reason : if you use a round bolt, it must follow the
auger, and cannot be helped ; by this heliiing the auger-hole, that is, taking oft' the corners
of the wood, you may draw a strap exceeding close, and at the same time it embraces the
grain of the wood in a nnich firmer manner than a round pin can jiossibly do." The
example given by Price, liowever, for turning s(iuare the strap, is injurious to the rafter,
which must be partially cut to admit of it.
FLOORS.
2013. The assemblage of timbers in a building, used for supporting the flooring boards
and ceilin"' of a room, is, in carpentry, called nahed flooring, whereof there are three
different sorts, viz. single flooring,
double flooring, and double-framed flooring.
But before
enterino- on the particulars of either of the sorts, we will make some general observations
on the construction of floors, which require the architect's attention. First, the wall
plates, that is, the timbers which lie on the walls to receive the ends of the girders or joists,
should be sufficiently strong and of sufficient length to throw the weight upon the piers.
Secondly, if it can be avoided, girders should not lie with their ends over openings, as
doors or windows ; but when they do, the strength of the wall plates must be increased.
'J"o avoid the occurrence in question, it was formerly very much the practice in this
country, and indeed is still partially so, to lay girders obli(juely across rooms, so as to avoid
oitenings and chinmeys, the latter whereof must indeed be always attended to. 'J'hiiidlv.
Wall plates and templets must be proportionately larger as their length and the weight of
the floor increases. Their scantlings will, in this respect, vary to
4i
by 3 inches, up to
7^
by
5 inches. Foukthly. The timbers should always be kejit rather higher, say lialf to three
(|uarters of an inch higher, in the middle than at the sides of a room, when first fr.imed, so
til it the natural shrinking and the settlement which occurs in all buildings, may not ulti-
mately api)car ;itter the building is finished. I^astly, when the ends of joists or girders are
supported bv exiernal walls whcse height is great, the middles of such timbers ought not
at lirst to rest upon any )).irtition wall tiiat does not rise higher than the floor, but a space
sliould, says Vitruvius (lib. 7. c. 1.), be rather left between them, though, when all has
settled, they may be brought to a bearing upon it. Neglect of this precaution will induce
unecjual settlements, and, besides causing the floor to be thrown out of a level, will most
probably fracture the corners of the rooms below.
2014. Single Flooring is con-
structed with only one series -of joists
(as shown in
flg.
672.). In this way
of framing a floor, if a girder is used,
it should be laid as nearly as pos-
sible over the centre of the apart-
p
ment. A single floor containing
the same (piantity of timber as a
double floor is much stronger
;
but
the ceiling of the former is liable
^
to crack, and cannot be got to so
good a surface when finished. Hence, where the bearings are long, it is much better to
use double flooring.
'2015. The scantlings of fir joists for single flooring are exhibited in the subjoined table,
and are founded on our own practice. The weight of a square varies from 1 1 to 1 8 cwt.
Length in Feet. Wiiltli in Inches. Depth in hiclies.
(>
2 6
8 'Ji,
7
10
'^i 71
1
2
2i
8
14
2^ 9
18
2^
12
20
.'5
1
2
These scantlings may be varied if wanted, according ti. the laws laid down in the
section Beams, Pillars, &c. ;
1622. el sey.
2016. li^
flg-
6T-2. AA.\ a le the joists, and B the floor boards. The laths for the ceiling
arc nailed to the under side of the joints .V.\.V.