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Show SgggjteiOy- E DITOR the building or the shrinking of the frame. Iiy insisting on thicker stucco stuc-co walls the liability of cracks is reduced re-duced to a minimum. The price of lumber is steadily advancing and the desire for fireproof exteriors, especially espe-cially in the suburban districts, as well as artistic effects that may be obtained from stucco, are creating a universal demand for this type of Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice l''RKE OK COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building for the readers of tills paper. On account of bis wide experience expe-rience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, Manufac-turer, he Is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. R.-idford. No. Hit Fifth Ave., Chicago. 111., and only enclose en-close two-cent stamp for reply. It has been said it is a very commendable com-mendable fact that rapid advancement has been made by all connected with building operations toward better and improved construction methods, but at that there are certain types which are not given the amount of attention that they should receive. The element ele-ment of the cost of materials is entering en-tering more and more into the problem. prob-lem. Lumber is growing scarcer by the process of natural consumption, :and lately we have witnessed the enormous destruction of thousands of .square miles of forests by fire. This does not tend to lower prices for materials. ma-terials. Cement stucco as a finish for the exterior seems to be the salvation of the home builder. There have been some failures with stucco, but not through the fault of the material, but because of ignorance in the proper manner of handling it. So much depends de-pends upon the selection of proper materials, thorough mixing, the proper amount of water and the proper application ap-plication that only skilled mechanics should be employed. There has been the whole trouble. A novice cannot do good cement work. The material involves chemical action that only the mechanic with an understanding of it can handle. This truth should not be EUTH J Bed Rm. Q7'k.l Bud Rm. s--fij Room I 7-3"X6:0- I Second Floor Plan., house. The additional feature that stucco house requires no painting except ex-cept on the trim adds to its advantages. advan-tages. The house we show here is a stucco llllillltll Sliilliilig i forgotten by anyone who is going to have a stucco house. A stucco house costs about the same as a frame house now and certainly is much more imposing and substantial substan-tial in appearance. Some trouble has arisen from a lack of uniformity in the color of Portland cement finishes. This is due also to ignorance on the part of the workman. He does not use the same amount of water in each batch. The result will be a variation in the color, or a mottled appearance. Trouble arises also from the use of dirty sand. Clean sand will make a uniform color with thorough mixing and a uniformity in the amount of water wa-ter in the batches. If there is any loam in the sand or other foreign substance there will be trouble. The use of asbestos fiber and rock to take the place of sand is meeting with house to be finished with Portland cement mortar. It is 20 feet six inches wide and is 30 feet long. The design is simple and well adapted to the man of moderate means. This house should be constructed on a large lot that will admit of lawn decorations, shrubs and trees and possibly pos-sibly a formal garden. One of the attractions of this house is the living room, which takes the place of the parlor of the old style house. There is a window seat in the front and s similar attraction is provided In the dining room. The kitchen is of ample size and the pantry is arranged so that the refrigerator can be filled: without coming into the house. Every woman will be pleased with the second floor, and her eye will light on the sewing room the first thing. When this room not in use, it can be used as a play room for the-children. the-children. There are two bedrooms, each provided witu a closet, and a. bathroom. There is also a linen cloP' et in the hall. rtsi ti s ows 0:6"XirCT I 6WV ving Rm. L Lg ftl SEAT ikTlTi Porch lci!0X7'5 I First Floor Plan. i much success. The asbestos fiber has a tendency to hold the water which I is used to mix the concrete mass longer, thus giving the Portland ce- : ment ample opportunity to set. In : this way stucco mixes are possible that are more uniform In color and I less liable to crack, as the fiber furnishes fur-nishes additional bond. There is one point which is frequently lost sight of and that is that It is possible to ; make cement slabs that can be exposed ex-posed to the elements for an indefinite in-definite time without discoloration. Therefore, should cracks develop in a well-constructed stucco work It can j be '.variably traced to a settling of I |