PREFACE TO THE FIFTEENTH EDITION

Although not very many years have elapsed since the publication of the first edition of this work, the art of construction has advanced so rapidly that it has become desirable to rewrite a large part of it, so as to bring the whole into accordance with modern practice and modern standards. In regard to stone buildings and wooden dwellings the changes need be only in detail, but it has seemed advisable to change the third part entirely, taking up, with some minuteness, a steel-framed office building, for the reason that the modern American steel-framed structure differs from everything else, and must be specially studied; while the rapidity with which this sort of construction is being adopted throughout the country makes it particularly necessary that young architects, as well as owners, should know as much as possible of the practical points involved in it.

BUILDING SUPERINTENDENCE

THE DIRECTION OF BUILDING OPERATIONS

ALL who have had any experience in the supervision of building operations know the importance of having a systematic plan in pursuing their examination of any given work, and the difficulty, without such aid, of giving adequate attention to all the innumerable matters of construction which require attention at their proper time, and before they are covered up or built over, so as to make changes inconvenient or impossible; and there are few who cannot recall instances of vexatious mistakes, costly alterations, or buildings left insecure, through want of attention at the right moment to defects which an hour's labor would then have remedied. To the young architect, especially, a manual which may help to direct his attention to all the various details which should be noticed, and put him in mind of the defects to be looked for at each stage of a given construction, can hardly fail to be of use, and such a manual, it is hoped, the following pages will supply. Although the practice of different localities varies in certain details of construction, the principles of good work are the same everywhere, with unimportant local variations.

The general subject of superintendence may with advantage be considered under the three heads of Stone Buildings, including heavy and massive constructions generally; Wooden Buildings, under which may be taken up the details of domestic convenience which are particularly connected with dwelling-houses, and Mercantile Buildings, as represented by a steel-framed structure, whose construction involves the use of iron beams and columns, and their connections, and the modes of casing them securely with

stone, brick and terra-cotta; and under this head, also, may be considered the details of boiler and steam work, for heating and power, together with such matters of electrical engineering, and of the proper installation of elevator engines and power plants, as a young architect most needs to understand. Under each head the progress of a typical building is described, from the first breaking of ground to the completion of the work, showing the successive stages of construction, and the order of delivery of material on the ground; and some general directions for judging of the quality of materials are given at the time they make their first appearance on the premises.

So far as possible, a standard is presented, in treating of the different kinds of work, by which each sort can be judged. Contractors and owners frequently differ in regard to what constitutes a "good, substantial and workmanlike manner" of executing any particular piece of construction, and as the architect has to decide between them, it is important, not only to avoid doing injustice to one or the other, but to secure respect for his decision, that he should be familiar with ordinary practice. Young architects rarely have much opportunity, in their student days, for gaining this familiarity by experience, and it is believed that the descriptions of good ordinary work, as distinguished from work theoretically perfect, may be of use to them, as well as to owners. At the same time, in connection with the discussion of the usual practice in different kinds of work, it is of advantage to point out such improved methods as are sometimes used, with the caution, however, that, under the common contract, the builder cannot be compelled to adopt them, at his own expense, unless they are recognized in the best ordinary practice of the locality to which he belongs, or are particularly mentioned in the specifications.

For the discomfiture of bad workmen, the young architect is warned against some of the ways in which defective materials or construction are covered up, and is reminded to look for bad work before the building arrives at so advanced a stage that it can no longer be detected or remedied.

To save space, it is supposed that the reader is familiar with the principles of construction as given in the text-books and with the common forms of specifications and building contracts. Any