08.03.09
Stone and Cellar Work
Prices of Stone Work
Price is a matter that can only be decided upon by conditions obtaining in the neighborhood where the work is done. The prices prevailing in the town where these articles are prepared, based on a wage rate per diem of nine hours for mason work and per diem for laborer, and the style of work intended —i.e., undressed random rubble, including cost of mortar, pointing and lining up outside, and rough pointing inside—are a set dollar amount per cord of 100 feet laid in the wall.
Tooled freestone sills, when such are used, are charged extra and the carpenter is expected to set all frames, place all bond timbers and lay all joists, regardless of the tools, measuring tape, or measuring wheels required. The stone generally employed is a hard blue limestone, somewhat difficult to work. In some parts of New Jersey a sandstone is used which is very easy to work, and we have known of contracts being let per cord of 100 feet laid in the wall, while in other cases contracts have been let much higher per cord of 100 feet in the wall.
Concreting cellar Floor
While it is not customary to concrete and finish a cellar floor until the building is enclosed, yet for convenience in this special case we will suppose the floor to be completed before commencing the superstructure. As an example, say the extract taken from the specification of the cellar floor is concreted 4 inches thick. There is no provision apparently for drainage or prevention of damp. In this estimate, however, we will provide for drainage of the cellar.
In addition, also for having a smoother and better floor than a concrete one, but these additions need not prevent the estimator from arriving at an approximate cost of the work in either case. By actual measurement with distance measuring wheels or private label tape measures say the total area of the cellar floor contained inside the main walls is 1,341 feet, or 149 yards. If concrete only is used, consisting of 1 part of Portland cement, 2 ½ parts of sand, 3 parts of gravel and 5 parts of broken stone, the cost of properly laying, tamping, and finishing should be set at a price per yard, with the concrete to be 4 inches thick.
If should be finished over while wet with good Portland cement and sand, 1 part of the former and 2 parts of the latter, and well troweled, made smooth and level, worth a set per yard cost, at the present cost of a first-class brand of cement and wages per day. The ordinary concrete will make a good solid floor if properly done, but it will be rough and somewhat uneven. The latter, however, will make a floor as hard as stone and as smooth as a planed board. Both will be water proof so far as they are concerned, and if the cellar is well drained either floor will be perfectly dry.
Draining Cellar
If the excavation is made in a moist spot or water rises above the floor level during wet seasons, then the cellar should be drained and measured with tanking gauge tapes or water will surely rise above the floor at such rainy times. In order to do this properly “weeping” tiles should be laid in the floor and graded to the main drain, where a catch-basin should be placed into which the drainage will flow and find its way into the main drain, which must be connected to the catch-basin somewhat lower than the weeping tiles.
In this cellar about three lines of weeping tiles will be sufficient unless a great in-flow of water is to be provided for. These weeping tiles are simply common field drainage tiles, such as farmers make use of in agricultural drainage. The joints simply butt, which gives the water a chance to get in and away. There is a flat side to these tiles, and it is on that side they rest on the ground. When properly placed a layer of coarse gravel about 2 inches thick should be filled in between them, and on this from 4 to 5 inches of concrete, as specified, should be laid, according to one or the other of the methods mentioned.
The addition of weeping tiles and gravel will add to the cost per yard. It will be well also when water is a trouble in this matter to place a line of weeping tiles of large size all around the building just below the line of footings, which can be measuring with appropriate tape measures, grading them to the main drain and covering them with coarse gravel to the level of the footings. This would prevent water from getting under the footings and causing damp and decaying walls.
For tiles and cost of putting them in place for this service, including cost of gravel, the figure will be in per running foot, the amount being about equally divided between labor and material. The estimator is cautioned against accepting suggested prices, if local prices can possibly be obtained. He may rely with a reasonable amount of confidence on the quantities, for these are constant, whereas prices are variable.
is well drained either floor will be perfectly dry.
Draining Cellar
If the excavation is made in a moist spot or water rises above the floor level during wet seasons, then the cellar should be drained and measured with tanking gauge tapes or water will surely rise above the floor at such rainy times. In order to do this properly “weeping” tiles should be laid in the floor and graded to the main drain, where a catch-basin should be placed into which the drainage will flow and find its way into the main drain, which must be connected to the catch-basin somewhat lower than the weeping tiles.
In this cellar about three lines of weeping tiles will be sufficient unless a great in-flow of water is to be provided for. These weeping tiles are simply common field drainage tiles, such as farmers make use of in agricultural drainage. The joints simply butt, which gives the water a chance to get in and away. There is a flat side to these tiles, and it is on that side they rest on the ground. When properly placed a layer of coarse gravel about 2 inches thick should be filled in between them, and on this from 4 to 5 inches of concrete, as specified, should be laid, according to one or the other of the methods mentioned.
The addition of weeping tiles and gravel will add to the cost per yard. It will be well also when water is a trouble in this matter to place a line of weeping tiles of large size all around the building just below the line of footings, which can be measuring with appropriate tape measures, grading them to the main drain and covering them with coarse gravel to the level of the footings. This would prevent water from getting under the footings and causing damp and decaying walls.
For tiles and cost of putting them in place for this service, including cost of gravel, the figure will be in per running foot, the amount being about equally divided between labor and material. The estimator is cautioned against accepting suggested prices, if local prices can possibly be obtained. He may rely with a reasonable amount of confidence on the quantities, for these are constant, whereas prices are variable.
Tags: private label tape measures | private label tape measures | distance measuring wheels | distance measuring wheels | tanking gauge tapes | tanking gauge tapes | measuring wheels | measuring wheels | measuring tape | measuring tape | tape measures | tape measures | cellars | cellars | tools | tools