The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Estimating Frame And Brick Houses

Taking these stairs as a whole, with hard wood, suitable, costing $50 per 1000 feet and stairbuilders' labor costing $3.50 per day—for it is usual to engage a professional for this work, whose charges are high—the cost of the stairs will average about $4.50 per tread, including platforms, each of which counts the same as a tread. The seat, with ends and front and moldings, made in the same wood as the stairs, placed in position, will cost $3.50. We are presuming the hall to be wainscoted in hardwood paneling 4 feet high, in same style as paneling in the screen, panels molded, and the whole finished off with an appropriate cap molding. It may be broken into more panels if necessary without adding much to the cost, but as we are dealing with the plan before us, the cost must conform with it, and will be 65 cents a foot running measure. This means the cost of work and materials left in the wall ready for the finisher. The contractor under this estimate is entitled to half the doorways and the full length of paneling in spandril of stairs and no reduction for the lowering of the work to meet the window stools or other drops in the hight of the paneled work. The number of feet around the hall, less half the openings, multiplied by 65 cents will give the cost of wainscoting in the reception hall.

Sliding Doors.

There is one pair of sliding doors leading into the parlor, and an arch leading across the passage to dining room. The arch is finished in plaster and has a grille across the top, with pole for drapery. The cost of grille and pole will depend altogether on the style of the work, and the former may cost from 40 cents to $5 per foot. Catalogues and price-lists may be obtained from manufacturers. The opening leading into the parlor from the hall is closed with a pair of sliding doors, provided with the best door hangers and hardware furniture, the prices of which must be obtained from catalogues or otherwise. The doors are " built up " and veneered on both sides on a pine core, the veneering being in wood similar to finish in the rooms in which they show. A pair of sliding doors, 3 feet by 7 feet 6 inches, 13/4 inches thick, built up, and veneered on both sides, properly put together and well made, will cost $20. The hangers and other furniture should be of the best, and will cost $10. The extra material required for lining, frame, casings and moldings will cost at least $3. Then, for labor, there will be:

Lining up partitions and adjusting track $10.00
Setting jambs and casing frame 5.50
Hanging doors and adjusting same 5.00
Putting in lock and shields 2.00
Cutting in stops, molding frame, etc 2.50
Total for labor $25.00