| Not everybody drives a Cadillac or a | | | | |
| Rolls-Royce; many people drive Fords and | | | | These vary greatly in price, but often one |
| Chevrolets. | | | | can find beautiful panels at a reasonable |
| | | | price. So, if you can't plaster, get |
| To be satisfactory, a house does not | | | | something better for the same money. |
| necessarily have to be of the very best and | | | | |
| most expensive construction in every way. | | | | A room with panelled walls will probably look |
| | | | better with a ceiling of wallboard, properly |
| It must have a good substantial foundation | | | | painted in a light color. |
| and a weatherproof roof. | | | | |
| | | | Or you may wish to reverse the usual practice |
| Few economies are possible in these two | | | | by putting wood panels with exposed beams on |
| features. | | | | the ceiling, and plasterboard on the walls. |
| | | | Either way, the effect can be very |
| There are less expensive ways, however, of | | | | enchanting, if carefully done. |
| doing many things in building a house. Here | | | | |
| is an example. | | | | Framing lumber comes in five grades. |
| | | | |
| If a person is doing his own work and doesn't | | | | In the West these are, in order of quality |
| know how to plaster, he could put up | | | | beginning with the best: select structural, |
| wallboard or plaster board satisfactorily and | | | | construction, standard and better, utility |
| get a good house, even while admitting that | | | | and economy. In some places these grades are |
| plaster is better. | | | | known as: select structural, No. 1 common, |
| | | | No. 2 common, No. 3 common, and cull. |
| Many of the subdivisions, even the rather | | | | |
| good ones, use dry wall construction with | | | | While the joists and rafters should be of a |
| plasterboard, because it is quicker to do and | | | | good grade, at least standard or No. 2 |
| perhaps less expensive. | | | | common, there is no reason why the lower |
| | | | grade, utility or No. 3 common should not be |
| For the man building his own house, it is | | | | used for studding, sheathing, sub-flooring, |
| usually easier to do, it costs less money, | | | | and various nailing blocks. |
| and it is not nearly so messy as plaster. It | | | | |
| is hard to clean up plaster, and it always | | | | Flooring is made in several grades. |
| seems to get where you do not want it. | | | | |
| | | | It is not necessary to use the most |
| A job much more charming than plaster might | | | | expensive; in fact, you will get a more |
| be possible by the use of plywood panels, | | | | interesting floor using No. 1 common than you |
| which are not very expensive and, if properly | | | | will using either clear or select oak |
| selected, make a beautiful wall. | | | | flooring. |
| | | | |
| Notwithstanding it takes a little time and | | | | If you build a house within your own |
| careful work to match them and put them up | | | | financial limits you will be a lot happier |
| artistically, the result will well repay the | | | | than if you try and spend too much and put |
| effort. | | | | yourself in a perilous financial position. |
| | | | |
| Many different kinds of wood are available: | | | | If you use a mortgage calculator it will help |
| fir, ash, birch, Philippine mahogany, walnut, | | | | you budget your new home. |
| and many rare woods. | | | | |