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Story
February 2, 1931
Imperial Valley Press
El Centro, Imperial County, California
What is this article about?
An article explains why cheap houses, built with inferior materials and poor workmanship, ultimately cost more due to defects like inadequate foundations, cracking walls, rotting posts, sagging floors, and omitted structural elements.
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CHEAP
HOUSES
EVENTUALLY ARE
MORE
EXPENSIVE
Everyone knows the
difference
between inexpensiveness that is arrived at by careful selection
of
sound materials yet without extravagance, and cheapness by which low costs are materialized through the use of inferior materials and workmanship. When two houses,
one well built and one poorly built,
are viewed side by side new and fresh with paint, there is little to distinguish them superficially,
though research brings out many details of inferiority in the cheap house. Time brings them all out.
Here are some of the things that will not be supplied at the cheap price, also some of the things that happen to its flimsy construction.
The building may not have a good foundation. The sand or gravel used in mixing the concrete may not be clean, not enough cement will have been used, too much water may be employed in the mix, the footings, designed by guess and not by science are thin and do not spread far enough nor are they adjusted to changing weights in the walls.
Proper footings may not be prepared for the posts or columns that support the superstructure.
Concrete bases raised above the level of the grade may not be devised for the setting of wooden posts.
Then what happens? The walls will crack from uneven settlements, moisture will come through the walls, the base of wooden posts not set above the grade level will rot, plaster will crack, floors will sag.
Again, the superstructure walls may not be good. If they are of wood frame construction the braces and bridging essential for sound wooden walls will probably be omitted. Sheathing will be put on cross-wise instead of diagonally. Two nails will be used at the base of studs where four should be used.
Inferior siding may be used, wood with knots, thin, inaccurately mitered and nailed at the outside corners, the nails not set below the surface of the wood to receive putty.
If the walls are of masonry, the mortar may be thin and weak. Adequate insulation may be omitted, or not sealed tightly so as to be really efficient.
Sheathing paper
HOUSES
EVENTUALLY ARE
MORE
EXPENSIVE
Everyone knows the
difference
between inexpensiveness that is arrived at by careful selection
of
sound materials yet without extravagance, and cheapness by which low costs are materialized through the use of inferior materials and workmanship. When two houses,
one well built and one poorly built,
are viewed side by side new and fresh with paint, there is little to distinguish them superficially,
though research brings out many details of inferiority in the cheap house. Time brings them all out.
Here are some of the things that will not be supplied at the cheap price, also some of the things that happen to its flimsy construction.
The building may not have a good foundation. The sand or gravel used in mixing the concrete may not be clean, not enough cement will have been used, too much water may be employed in the mix, the footings, designed by guess and not by science are thin and do not spread far enough nor are they adjusted to changing weights in the walls.
Proper footings may not be prepared for the posts or columns that support the superstructure.
Concrete bases raised above the level of the grade may not be devised for the setting of wooden posts.
Then what happens? The walls will crack from uneven settlements, moisture will come through the walls, the base of wooden posts not set above the grade level will rot, plaster will crack, floors will sag.
Again, the superstructure walls may not be good. If they are of wood frame construction the braces and bridging essential for sound wooden walls will probably be omitted. Sheathing will be put on cross-wise instead of diagonally. Two nails will be used at the base of studs where four should be used.
Inferior siding may be used, wood with knots, thin, inaccurately mitered and nailed at the outside corners, the nails not set below the surface of the wood to receive putty.
If the walls are of masonry, the mortar may be thin and weak. Adequate insulation may be omitted, or not sealed tightly so as to be really efficient.
Sheathing paper
What sub-type of article is it?
Consumer Advice
Construction Warning
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Cheap Houses
Poor Construction
Foundation Defects
Wall Issues
Building Failures
Inferior Materials
Story Details
Story Details
The article contrasts well-built inexpensive houses with cheap ones using inferior materials and workmanship, detailing defects in foundations, footings, posts, walls, siding, mortar, and insulation that lead to cracking, rotting, sagging, and other failures over time.