This section is from the book "Modern Buildings, Their Planning, Construction And Equipment Vol6", by G. A. T. Middleton. Also available from Amazon: Modern Buildings.
The bricks are to be red hards, second quality throughout. Sample bricks are to be lodged with the Architects, and none of the bricks used are to be inferior in quality to those approved of.
The lime is to be properly burnt stone or shell lime, or Belgian hydraulic as hereafter described
Sand is to be approved clean and sharp, and well worked for plaster and cement rendering, and free from all vegetable and loamy matter.
The cement is to be English Portland cement of an approved brand.
Excavate ground at back to extent shown, and for foundations under all walls, sleeper piers, drains, etc., and under all floors where necessary. Foundations to be stepped where shown on drawings.
No concrete is to be laid in trenches until the whole of same are excavated and passed by the Architects. Fill in and well ram round foundation walls when completed and passed, and level up ground where shown on drawings.
The footings under the whole of the walls are to be of concrete 3 feet wide under 14-inch walls, and 2 feet 3 inches wide under 9-inch walls, and 1 foot 9 inches wide under 4 1/2-inch walls, and 12 inches deep; concrete to be composed of five parts broken metal (2 1/8-inch gauge), three parts of clean sharp courses, and one part of Portland cement, mixed together with only sufficient water to bring same to a good consistency, thrown into trenches and well rammed.
The retaining walls to be of the thicknesses shown, and to be built right up in concrete as above, and to batter as on drawings.
Execute the foundation walls above footings to thicknesses, etc., shown in concrete as before specified, with all necessary boxing, planking, strutting, etc.
Well flush up the foundations on top to a level surface in cement mortar 5 to 1, and lay on top a course of approved damp-proof sheeting, "B" quality, the full thickness of walls and wall-plates.
Execute the brickwork generally with good sound bricks (no bats to be used) in English bond, perpends strictly kept, and no joints more than 3/8 inch thick, built in three of approved clay to one of Saldanha Bay lime, or five of clay to one of Belgian hydraulic lime. No brickwork to be carried more than 5 feet above the rest of the work at any time, and all to be properly protected during wet weather.
Build sleeper piers in positions shown, including those carrying stoep floor, size 14 inches square, on 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot of concrete as before, in 6 to 1 cement mortar.
All brickwork and chimneys above roof, copings, oversailings, 4 1/2 walls, and isolated piers to be built in 8 to 1 cement mortar.
Turn relieving arches over all openings requiring same of two half-brick rings in 6 to 1 cement mortar.
Turn arches over all fireplaces on cambered iron bars 3 inches by 1/4 inch turned up at ends.
Turn shaped arches where shown on drawings on proper and sufficient centering, and strike centres when and as directed by the Architects.
Form trimmer arches to hearths of one half-brick ring in cement, or of concrete as for foundations.
Carefully build all smoke flues of uniform dimensions throughout their entire length, - kitchen 14 by 9 inches, remainder 9 by 9 inches, jointed up smooth inside, and all bends as easy as possible. Carefully parge all flues with lime mortar as the work proceeds, and core out at completion and test same.
Provide and fix under floors, in position to be settled by Architects, No. 14 galvanised iron 9 by 6-inch louvred ventilating gratings, and form proper flue ways to same. Provide and fix No. 12 in walls, and form proper openings to same. Provide and fix 3 ditto 12 by 9 inches as first in foundation walls under stoep in front.
Provide and build in 1 1/4-inch hoop iron bond to all brick walls, one line to each half-brick in thickness of walls, and at intervals of not more than 5 feet in height, well lapped and turned up and down at ends.
Form steps where shown in concrete as foundations, and to the sizes shown on drawings and such further details as may be given. Form walls at side in concrete or picked bricks.
Lay the floor of stoep and porch with 6-inch average cement concrete 5:2:1 on cambered 24 gauge corrugated galvanised iron sheets fixed on offset of foundations, and to 4 1/2 by 3 inches R.S.J.'s where shown, and finished 1 inch in 3 to 1 cement, coloured red oxide in fine stuff in final layer, laid to fall, and form outlets in walls where required, brought out 3 inches from wall face as directed.
Thoroughly well ram and consolidate the surface under yard after excavation, and cover with 5 inches cement concrete as other, finished 1 inch thick in 3 to 1 cement, and all graded to gutters and to approval. Put similar concrete and filling in fender walls under hearths.
Provide and fix under ends of rolled steel joists 12 by 12 by 6 inches and 9 by 9 by 6 inches concrete templates composed of 4:2:1, with two layers of felt on top as seating for joists.
Perform all rough cutting, chases, indents, oversailings, skewbacks, corbelling, etc., and execute all beam-filling necessary.
Cut and pin in, in cement, or build in as may be directed, the ends of all timbers, etc. Allow for fixing grates, tile hearths, etc., provided by proprietor.
The drainage to be laid in exact accordance with plan and particulars as approved by the municipal authorities, and in every respect to their satisfaction. Pipes to be best glazed stoneware with socketed joints; each pipe to be straight, free from all cracks and flaws, and properly tested.
Excavate for drains, manhole, etc., to the various depths and falls necessary and shown, and properly and well ram and consolidate the bottom of trenches, and make good any soft places in concrete. After drains have been tested and passed, fill in to trenches and round pipes, and carefully and well ram so as not to injure the pipes.
Provide and fix approved trapped gulleys under sink, bath, and lavatory wastes, and form channel in cement to required lengths at foot of wastes. Channels to be formed in cement concrete, and gullies to be set in concrete.
Lay the various lengths of drains shown with 6-inch pipes between manhole and sewer as required, and 4-inch branches, with all necessary curved junctions, channels, etc., complete.
Provide and build where and as shown on plan the various manholes, size 2 feet by 1 foot 6 inches clear inside dimensions, and to the requisite depths, with 9-inch picked brick sides and ends in cement on a bed of 6-inch concrete as before, benched up around the half-round stoneware channels and connections. Render the sides with Portland cement trowelled smooth, and finish on top with approved galvanised iron manhole cover with keys, fitted into brickwork in cement.
Fix to the nearest manhole to sewer an approved brown salt-glazed intercepting trap bedded in cement, and connect from same to the sewer in street.
Where and as shown to this manhole fix a 4-inch galvanised ventilating pipe finished on top with mica flap valve.
The drains are to be tested in the presence of the Architect, and to his entire satisfaction, and to that of the Municipal Engineer.
Lay the open channel drains for rain water when and as shown in brick in cement cemented on top in 3 to 1 do., and to the lengths shown on drainage plan, on cement concrete as to foundations, overall size 16 inches.
Dig pits at ends of two of these channels, size 2 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches by 6 feet deep, built in rough brickwork, and fill in with loose stone, and cover with galvanised iron sheets and 18 inches earth on top.