[To THE EDITOR OF THE ..srEctAvon."1 SIR,—For over twenty years
I resided in a part of Essex where practically all the old cottages and some farm houses are constructed of weatherboards. They are satisfactory in every way. I never knew one burnt down, and the cottagers prefer them to brick for the reason that they are dry, while the walls of cottages built of nine-inch brick let driving rain through. There are two or three points of construction which builders not used to weatherboards overlook. One is that the lower plate should be laid on the outside edge of the brick foundation and the lowest of the weatherboards should overlap the top of the brickwork and hang down about an inch outside, so that rain will run down outside. Builders not
used to the work will lay the plate in the centre of the brick- work and let the lowest weatherboard rest on the top of the brickwork in which ease the rain runs under the plate and soon rots it.
Another point is that one nail only should be driven into the width or breadth of each board, the top thin edge of each board being kept in place by the thick edge of the board above overlapping it and a board can then be easily taken out for repairs. Builders not knowing better are apt to drive the nails through both boards so that each board has two nails through it and it will then crack when exposed to hot sun. In my time in Essex a good weatherboard cottage with out- buildings could be built for £100. I find that labouring men prefer one good-sized kitchen and living-room with a small scullery at the back rather than a modern plan of a good parlour and small kitchen at back.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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