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OW T O R E D U C E C O S T S
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CONTENTSPage
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Style or design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Interior arrangements. . . . . . . . . . . . .
K itchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bathrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Laundry . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . .Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selection of materials . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Walls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fireplaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windows and doors . . . . . . . . . . . . .Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handling materials . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working tips and precautions . . . . . . . .
Construction practices . . . . . . . . . . .
Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Heating, cooling, and ventilating . . . . . . .
Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wiring and lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance othe members of the Western Region Plan Exchange Committee of theCooperative Farm Building Plan Exchange.
W hington D. C. Issued August 196For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 Price 10 cents
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warmth and summer breezes for
cooling? Large picture windows
should faca south for maximumsunshine in the winter.
epwte distance from otherGldings.-Winds can carry odorsfrom animal shelters or other
buildings.
STYLE OR DESIGN
Design or plan the house to meetyour familys requirements. Too
small a house, for example, wouldbe false economy. Here are some
principles of economical design :l Two-story houses cost less per
square foot to build than single-story ones. The main reason is that
less roof area is required to cover anequivalent amount of living area.
l Rectangular floor plans costless per square foot to build than
L-shaped, u-shaped, or other irregu-
lar floor plans.l Simple gable roofs are the most
economical. F lat and shed roofs are
Consider Your Futtire e sIn planning your house, consid
your future needs as well aspresent. In time, you may need m
bedrooms or another bathroom
two.
The space for additional brooms can be an unfinished attic
a clean, dry basement. The heatiand electrical work can be roughin.
For. future bathrooms, you c
rough-in the plumbing in the aor basement, or in a large walkcloset.
This additional construction
increase the initial cost of the houof course. However, it may be m
economical in the long run becasuch work can usually be do
cheaper at the time the housebuilt.
cheaper but have poor drainage ahigh maintenance cost.. Ridges
valleys increase (thecost of a ro
Well-drained, gently sloping sites are ideal for basements. Economical feat
of this house include the one-story rectangular design and the plain gable r
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Shed dormers provide more usable space than the gabletype.
l Basements add low-cost spa.ce toa house. I f well lighted, well venti-lated, ,and dry, t,hey can be used forliving quarters.
l At tics also add low-cost space.And shed dormers, while they may
cost a little more, provide moreusable space t,han gable dormers.l Slab-on-grade construction is
cheaper than crawl-space construc-t.ion. However, crawl space may beused for militie s equipment such aspumps, furnaces, air conditioners,water tanks, and piping. This will
free valuable space in the living3rea.
l
In most climates, large porchesare an expensive feature becausethey provide usable living spa.ceonly during the warmer months oft he year.
INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS
As with the overall house design,plan the interior arrangements to
insure your familys comfort andsabisfaction. Yet there are manyways to economize :
l Make rooms mult.ipurpose asfar as pracTica1. For example, com-bine family room and kitchen orfamily room and dining room.
Large openings between roomsmake small areas functiona.llylarger.
l I f room dimensions conform to
standard rug sizes, carpet widths, or
resilient flooring sizes, you can savea great deal when furnishing and
finishing the house. Standard rug
sizes, in feet, are 3 x 5, 4 x 6, 6 x 9,
9 x 12, 8 x I O,10 x 14, and 9 x 15.Carpet,s ,aresold by the square yard.Standard widths are 12 and 15 feet.
l Limit hallway space 0vvhat isnecessary for good traffic circula-tion. Hallways that include built-in
storage and laundry equipment
areas become multipurpose.
Kitchens
A good kitchen can be designed
for a limited space. In fact., small
kitchens can be more efficient thanlarger ones. In an efficient kitchen,
the work areas and equipment arearranged for use in a step-saving
manner.l Make maximum use of the
space in an economy kit.chen. F,orexample, you can install an under-counter hot water heater in tanotherwise unusable corner basecabinet. Or, you can turn t.he un-
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LIVI NG
Rectangular floor plans are the most economical. Other economical features o
this arrangement are the combination kitchen and dining area and the compact
utility room,
usable corner space into a conven-
ient passthrough to the adjoining
dining room.
l Plan storage carefully, keepingcabinet space t.oa necessary mini-mum. Seldom used items may bestored on top of cabinets or in the
attic or basement. Leave adequate
space for any cabinets you plan to
add later.l Both wood cabinets and metal
cabinets come in a wide range ofprices. However, if well made, cus-tom-built cabinets may be more eco-
nomical in the long run. Cabinets
that are to be painted may be madeof less-expensive wood.
l Open shelves are cheaper thancabinets. Closures can be addedlater.
. use standard-size cabinets,countertops, and appliances. C,us-tom-built cabinets should conform
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to the 3-inch kitchen module sizes
(6-, 9- 12-inch etc.) to facilitatelater additions to or remodeling of
the kitchen.
l Conventional ranges take up
less space than separate eyeleveoven and counter top range unitsAnd they are cheaper when you
add the cost of cabinets to contain
U-shaped kitchens are very efficien
arrangements.
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Maximum use is made of the space in this kitchen.
the separate units to the cost of the other, two or three persons can use
units themselves. t.hebathroom at the same time.l Single-bowl sinks cost l s than l Utilize &he space above the
double-bowl ones and take up less toilet (water closet) for storage
space. Porcelain sinks are the cheap- cabinets for bathroom linens andest type. supplies.
Bathrooms
laundryBathroom facilities may be full
bath, half bath (lavoratory and Laundry equipment should be intoilet), or lavatory or shower only. a convenient but inconspicuous
l For the most compact, efficient, place :
and economical fixture and plumb- * Besement.s or utility rooms ining arrangement, install tallof the basementless houses are the favoritebathroom fixtures along one wall. locations for washers and dryers.
l For the most economical l Combina.tion w a s he r-dryerplumbing arrangement, install two units or stacked washer and dryer
bathrooms one above the other or uni,ts take up less floor space thanback to back. separate units.
l Well-planned compartmented l In warm climates, washers and
bathrooms cost less and take up less dryers might be located in the car-space than two separate bathrooms. port or garage. This is relativelyWith t:he tub and toile,t in one sec- cheap space and more convenienttion and one or two lavatories in the to outdoor drying lines should they
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FAMILY BATHROOMS ONE PERSON
LIMITED I LIBERAL** MINIMUM BATHROOMS
THREE FIXTURES
d-
.
Many different bathroom arrangements are possible. In the top group, a
fixtures and plumbing are along one wall. This is the most economical arrange
ment. Fixtures and plumbing are along two walls in the bottom group.
be needed. Also, you save in the cost also need more convenient everyof venting the dryer. day storage room:
l Storage walls may be used i
Storage lieu of conventional walls. You ca
buy them as assembled or ready-toAttics and basements (dry ones) assemble units, or you can buil
provide good storage space. But you your own. They help buffer soun
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F O U R F I X T U R E S
Compartmented bathrooms are more economical than two separate bathrooms.
between rooms as well as provide
storage space.
l Shop around to get the most for
l Use well-planned closets. Make
them no deeper than necessary. Un-less arranged as walk-in deep,dark closets waste space.
l Make walk-in closets wide
enough for storage on both sides.Single hung doors are satisfactoryfor these closets.
l Gain space by installing hooks,
racks, or shelves on the back ofcloset doors.
SELECTION OF MATERIALS
Your builder may buy most of the
materials, but you mainly decidewhat to use. Mutual agreement on
the type of materials, the sources,and the prices is necessary. Here aresome general ways to economize:
l Buy locally to avoid shippingcharges and in quantity 0avoid thehigher cost of small deliveries.
l Buy stock ma.terialsin stand-ard sizes.
l Buy the cheaper material whenit will do the job satisfactorily.Never compromise, however, on thequality of plumbing fixt,ures andfittings light switches; furnaces,pumps, and other mechanical items
subject to wear; paint ; and lumber.
y o u r m o n e y .Check independent
performance ratings of materialsand equipment. Take aIdvantage ofsales and pre-season promotions.
l Know what materials you need
and where you oansubstitute shouldyou find a bargain..kLimit the number of differenttypes of materials used. This willreduce waste and save on construc-
tion custs.W
l Walls made of materials that
form both the exterior and interiorwall surface are moe economical
than composite walls (several layensof material) of similar quali(ty. Forone thing, they mt?,sT, require lesslabor to build. Concrete block wallsare a good example.
* L arge-dime.nsion wall unitssave time and labor. For example,
8- by 16-inch concrete blocks go upfaster than by 8-inchbricks. Or,4 by foot sheet.s of plywood go upfaster t,han sheathing.
l Use insulation board instead ofshe.athingwhere it will be strongenough to resist the wind load ands~z rtthe other loads that it must.
l Prefinished wood, hardboard,and gypsum wall paneling are rela-
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tively expensive. But they are easyto install and require no finishing
which saves time and labor andhelps offset the higher cost.
F l o o r sHardwood floors are expensive
both to buy and to install. Prefin-ishedwood flooring is even more ex-pensive, although thetime and laborsaved by not having to finish it helpsto offset the additional cost. Con-
sider using! tile flooring or carpetinginstead of finished hardwood floors.
l Thick .tile flooring costs morethan the thinner type, but it lastslonger. I t may be more economical
in the long run for areas ofwear such as t.he kitchen andways.
l Dark-colored tile costs lessthe lighter colors. Dark aspllais the cheapest type. It is sat
tory for use in all areas excepkitchen. Asphalt tile c.oa ted wplastic film should be used the
l Vinyl asbestos tile and s
vinyl floor coverings, whichcomparable in cost to light a
tile, are favored for general ulow-cost housing. Vinyl asb
and asphalt. tile may be use
basements or ground-level flol The new indoor-out-door
carpeting is easy to install a
Storage walls, which may be used in place of conventional walls, com
ready to assizmble units.10
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Assembled storage wall units can accommodate a variety of items.
maintain. While it may be slightly Windows and Doors
more expensive than regular car-peting, it is also more durable. l Buy standard-size window and
door frames from mill stock.
Fireplaces l Factory-assembled w i n d o wunits ready to drop into rough open-
Fireplaces are neither an efficient ings save labor.
nor an economical source of heat. l For large window areas, pre-One may .betoo much of an expense fabricated window walls may beunless you use cheaper materials and used. These consist of a wall, frame,do much of the work yourself. window frame, sash, ,andan integral
l Stick to a simple design. Raised exterior trim.hearths, mantels, and decorative l Consider standard ready-made-molding are attractive but unneces- drapery measurements when choos-sary features. ing window sizes ; custom-made
l Prefabricated fireplaces and draperies are expensive. Standardchimneys are cheaper than masonry drapery lengths are 36,45,54,63,72,ones. 81, 84, and 90 inches. Standard
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pleated widths per pair are 4, 6, 8,and 12 feet.
l Double-track storm windowsare cheaper t,han triple-track ones.
l Door prices vary consid erablydepending on the material and qual-ity. Consider factory-hung doors,
especially if an experienced door
hanger is not readily available.
CONSTRUCTION
Handling Materials
Keep the handling of materials toa minimum. This will save labor
and speed up the work:l Schedule deliveries to corre-
spond with the work progress.l Unload and stack or pile the
materials as close as possible to the
place of use.
l Stack lumber in separate pilesaccording to the sequence of use. Ifspace is limit,ed, stack it in one or
Wide, shallow closets are convenientfor storing frequently used items.
Note the additional storage pro-
vided by the wide-opening, doublehung doors.
Prefabricated Fireplaces usually cost
less and heat more efficiently than
comparable size masonry Fireplaces.
two piles with that to be used first
on top.l Lift materials into place by
means of ,a. front end loader on atractor or other such equipmentwhen possible.
Working Tips and Precautions
To speed up the work and preventpersonal in jury-
. Avoid working on your kneesand tiptoes. These positions are un-comfortable, time-consuming, and
dangerous.l Avoid working on ladders and
scaffolds. I f necessary to do so, be
sure the ladder or scaffold is secureand stable.
l Keep scrap and debris clear ofthe working area. Clean up after
each days work.
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. . l
pnstruction Practices l Fabricate trusses and gable
ends on the ground where a jig canThese construction practices can
speed up the work, save labor, andbe used to speed up the job and im-
reduce costs. All may not be appli- prove workmanship.l Build the w p n ls on thcable to your house, however. platform of the house.
l Grade and stone the driveway l Omit non-load-bearing parti-before you start construction of the tions until after you finish the floorshouse. It will be convenient for and ceilings. you can then installmaking deliveries of materials andfor getting to and from the site in
the flooring .landceiling in two ormore rooms at one time and save
bad weather. some cutting and fitting of mate-* Place all utilities before Y rials.
pour the concrete slab in slab-on- 0 In crawl space construction,grade construction. floor joists generally span about
l Install all uti lities before you half the width of the house withenclose and finish walls and floors. the ends near the center of the house
l Place drains and sewers before supported by a beam. Shorter spans
you pour the foundation footings. will allow the use of smaller joists.
Foundations must be carefully designed to avoid uneven settlement of the house
or other trouble. Increasing the thickness of the concrete slab under loadbearing walls saves pouring separate footings.
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Support the joists with two or threebeams. However, dont spend moreon beams than you save on joists.
l In concrete-slab construction,
increase the thickness of the slabunder load-bearing walls instead of
pouring separate footings.l Design to meet the minimum
structural standards for loads set bythe Federal Housing Administra-
tion (FHA) or local building
codes. FHA standards, which cor-respond to most of the predominant
building codes, are :
Pounds per square
tExterior walls. . . . . . 20
Interior walls. . . . . 15
Steep roofs. . . . . . . 15Low-pitched roofs. . . . . . . 20
Flat roofs. . . . . . . . . . 40
l Design to meVet maximum codedeflection. FHA standards are :
Rafters . . . . l/l80of span or1 inch maxi-
mum
Floor joists. lj360of span or1/Zinch maxi-mum
Ceiling joists. . . I 24 of span ora/hinch maxi-mum
Girders . . . l/360of span or:/ainch maxi-mum
l Have the structural strengthrequired for foundation walls cal-
culated by a well-qualified person.Considerable material can be savedif a thinner wall will be strong
enough.
l Design the foundation and
footings carefully. Too often chim-14
ney or column footings support
heavier load per square foot thsidewall footings. This causes u
even settlement of the house whin turn causes cracks. Size the foings in proportion to their loalarge footings for heavy loads asmaller footings for lighter loa
l Wall studs may be placed inches on center instead of the us16 inches, if building codes perm
l Allow beams to be continuoacross supports. I f two beams mover a center support, overlap th
and fasten them together securWhile this will not strengthen
beam appreciably, it will redbeam deflection (make the be
stiffer) .l Allow beams to overhang t
supports when possible. This w
create a balancing force on the beand reduce deflection of the inmediate spans. It will also decrethe intermediate beam span (m
ing it stiffer).
l Wall sheathing is not requif the structure is strong enough
resist the racking of a 20-pound-psquare-foot wall load. A rackload is one that acts parallel to
wall.
UTILITIES
Economy is possible not onlythe installation of utilities but
in the operation.
Heating, Cooling, and
Ventilating
l In basementless houses, cen
heating and cooling equipment mbe inst.alle,d in ,an attic or cra
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AIR DIFFUSION SYSTEM USING UNDER-FLOOR PLENUM WITH PERIMETER SLOT
The peripheral circulation type heating system is economical For one-story houses
with crawl space.
space to free space in the living
area.l Large windows facing north
a,ndsouth are cooler than those fac-ing east and west. And with win-
dows facing south, you receive more
winter sunshine. This helps keepthe house warm.
l Light-colored roofing materials
absorb much less of the suns heat
than darker materials. This keepsthe house cooler.
l Shade the house against directrays of the sun with trees, awnings,
and other natural or artificial shad-ing. This too will keep it cooler.
l Black-top or concrete areas ad-jacent to a house reflect or radiatesolar heat into the house. This
makes it harder to keep the house
cool.l A hood and blower unit over
the range or oven is a good way to
ventilate a kitchen, alt.houghwall
and ceiling fans may be less expen-
sive. I f the range or oven is alongan outside wall, it will be cheaper
to exhaust through {thewall insteadof the roof.
l Attic fans provide good ventila-
tion at relatively low cost.l Install air-duct systems with as
few turns as possible. Turns create
resistance to air flow and thus re-duce effective heat distribution.
l Pipeless furnaces are more eco-nomical for houses with crawl space
than furnace-and-duct systems.l The peripheral circulation type
heating system is especially adapted
to one-story houses wit.h crawlspace. It is illustrated in the draw-
ing above, and described in USDA
Production Research Report 99,Economical and Efficient HeatingSystem for Homes. For a copy ofthe report, see the box on the next
page.
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Plumbing
l Concentrate plumbing fixturesas mu as possible to reduce theamount of piping required. In a
two-story house, stack the fix-
tures-locate the bathroom directlyabove the kitchen or a downstairs
bathroom with all fixtures on thesame wall. Or, in a single-story
house, locate the kitchen and bath-
room or kitchen and laundry room
back to back with the fixtures back
to battk.l Install an electric water heater
in an area notsuitable for other use.For example, you might put it
under a st airway in t.lle crawl space,or in a corner base cabinet in the
kitchen.
l Automatic washers, dishwash-
ers, and garbage disposals increase
the load on a septic tank. Too small
a tank will ne.ed more frequent
I
cleaning. It is much cheaper to in
stall a large tank at the time oconstruction than to replace an
inadequahsystem later on.Wiring and lighting
Never compromise on the quality
or safety of your electric wiring. Installation by an experienced electrician is recommended and may be re
quired in m.a,nyareas. In all caseshave the wiring inspected.
l Install adequate outlets and
switches. Wire for your futurneeds as well as your present.
l Switch-controlled outlets mabeinstalled instead of ceiling fixtures. This is more practical if youalready have lamps. I f you have tbuy lamps, it might be more expen
sive.l Omit lights in closets wher
hallway or room lights will provide
sufficient light.
Free copies of the following publications are available from the Office
of Information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250Send your request on a post card. Include your ZIP Code in your returnaddress.
F 1869, Foundations for Farm Buildings
F 1889, Fireplaces and ChimneysF 2227, Fire-Resistant Construction of the Home . . . of Farm
BuildingsF 2235, HomeHeatingG 100, Equipment for Cooling Your Home
M 1006 3-Bedroom Farmhouse-Masonry Construction, Plan No. 717f1011, S-Bedroom Farmhouse-Slab on Grade, Plan No. 7167These publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, at the priceindicated.
M 1020, A House-Farming System for L ow-CostLConstruction (15cents)
PRR 99, Economical and Efficient Heating System for Homes (20 cents)
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U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 O-335-276
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