Illustrated by the author.

Release date is 2020-04-20

Present-day economic troubles -- General types and costs -- Essential standards of quality in building materials -- Types of wooden-frame construction -- Construction of the masonry and wood dwelling -- Safeguards against fire in dwellings -- Poor methods of construction employed by unscrupulous builders -- Essential features of good plumbing -- Methods of heating -- Lighting and electric work -- Construction of the trim -- Lessons taught by depreciation -- Selecting materials from advertisements -- Roofing materials -- Painting and varnishing the house -- Labor-saving devices for the home -- Concrete work around the house -- Classification and construction of the architectural motifs used in small-house designing -- Traditions of building from which our modern methods are derived -- Traditions of the construction of doors and windows -- Building the setting for the house -- Financing the construction work.

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"The Construction of the Small House" by H. Vandervoort Walsh is a practical guide on the methods of building small American homes, written in the early 20th century. This work is aimed at individuals planning to construct their own homes, offering essential insights into design efficiency, cost considerations, and the selection of materials. It encompasses various construction types and addresses economic challenges in the post-war housing market. At the start of the book, Walsh outlines the economic troubles facing potential homeowners following the war, emphasizing the drastic increase in construction costs and the resulting housing shortage. He provides a snapshot of the building landscape during this period, including speculative building practices and the rise in high rents that dissuaded many from pursuing home ownership. Through detailed analysis, he categorizes small house construction into distinct types—wooden frame, masonry and wood, fireproof, and economical approaches—while also discussing the importance of designing within financial limits to ensure a practical and livable home. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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