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

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

An open upper porch, not having the heavy wear of a porch downstairs, can be floored with heavy roofing canvas, which is made for the purpose. The flooring should be of goodquality tightly laid boards, with ridges and raised parts planed smooth. This is covered thickly with white-lead paste somewhat thinned with linseed oil, both as a bed and a cement for the canvas, which is laid smoothly, pressed or rolled into tight contact, the edges secured with copper tacks. When dry, the canvas is finished with at least two coats of any high-quality floor paint or floor enamel. The canvas will remain in good condition for a long period with repainting every 2 years, oftener, should there be heavy wear.

To make a porch floor watertight, as might be necessary when there is a finished room underneath, a new floor can be laid on top over a thickness of roofing felt. Before the new floor is laid, the backs and edges of the new boards should be painted. With this precaution and the painting of the finished floor, cracks between the boards should not develop, and floor paint should last through several seasons.

A wood floor can be surfaced with concrete, but only when it has strength to carry the extra weight. Concrete weighs approximately 121/2 pounds per square foot for each inch of thickness. The surfacing should be 2 inches thick, which means that the floor must be able to carry the added weight of 25 pounds per square foot. For a porch floor, this may require the installation of additional supporting posts and possibly a girder. The concrete should be reinforced with mesh weighing 30 pounds or so per 100 square feet, at the center of its thickness. The wood floor should be covered with heavy tar paper to avoid absorption of moisture. When set, the concrete should be covered with wet burlap for 3 or 4 days for the curing of the cement. (For instructions on the concrete mixture, see the chapter on Concrete.)

CARE OF WOOD

FURNITURE in good condition and worth the effort should be frequently dusted with soft cloths that do not cast off lint. Frequent rubbing will improve the luster and appearance of the finish. Dust that is allowed to accumulate will absorb oil and fumes from the atmosphere and form a film which will be difficult to remove. Dusting should be with clean cloths; soiled cloths will smear.