HEARTH : : And HOME

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20102, 4 December 1930, Page 4

HEARTH : : And HOME

(By "Builder.")

"Builder" invites contributions from readers on any matters of interest which they might like to propose. Correspondence on various subjects pertaining to building will also b« accepted.

NOTES.

Mr W. Comber is erecting a brisk bakehouse at 546 Moorhouse avenue, for Mr W. Bougen. The amount of activity in the building trade in Invereargill during November was small compared with that for the corresponding month of last year. Details of the permits issued for the month ended on Sunday are: Five new dwellings, £3842; 10 other buildings, £1293; three alterations and additions to dwellings, £B9; five alterations and additions to other buildings, £487; total, £5711. Tor November, 1929, the total was noarly three times as great, beiug £15,987.

Continental architects are introducing very large windows in some of their .domestic and public buildings. The window framework is in reinforced concrete with many divisions, as if to form relief from the severely plain vralls. These windows can be very beautiful, and in some measure echo the pierced and glazed lattices. When filled for churches with small coloured glass designs—not necessarily Biblical subjects or stories, but pure design tending more directly toward pure docoration —they form the modern expression of some of the best of the old teachings.

1 f one were asked to sum up in ono word the tendency of post-war years, surely that one word must be "standardisation," says a British authority. In almost every phase of life one sees rnd regrets this movement towards a compion level. But, while deploring this following on the prevailing fashion in so many directions, we cannot help noticing, to our considerable joy, that in home planning, furnishing, and decoration there never was a period when more individualism was shown. Our homes to-day are infinitely less stereo-tj-ped than they were, our furnishing is more definitely varied, and, perhaps the greatest asset of all, in creating the break away from the slavish following of tradition, is in our greater use of colour. Not many years ago our use of colour for walls and woodwork appeared to be chiefly confined to browns nad white, with an occasional green. Nowadays, however, there is no colour in the rainbow which we cannot and do not use in our decorative schemes, and bo arc able to express our own individual tastes and characteristics in a way which was never done until quite recently.

STAINED GLASS.

EXPERT MANUFACTURE. Mr Norman Carter, vice-president of the Society of Arts, recently delivered a lecture before the Institute of Architects of New South "Wales on the designing and manufacture of stained glass windows. The lecture was illustrated with lantern views. The term "stained glass," said Mr Carter, was unfortunate, in bo far as it was only partly correct. It should be called "painted glass." Although it was 1' .own that painted windows were made in the 10th century (some authorities say earlier than this), it was not until the beginning of the 14th century that staining of white glass with chloride of silver was discovered. The staining was applied in liquid form, and when baked in a hot oven turned yellow. According to the strength of the stain and by manipulation of the firing, tones could be made to vary from the palest lemon to the deepest orange.

There were few crafts about which there was so much ignorance. The painter, for instance, did not colour the glass except when using the silver stain or when enamel colours were used, which was very seldom, and not satisfactory. The mediaeval glassmaker made his glass by mixing sand, lime, and potash made from the ashes of plants of seaweed and melting them together in clay pots in a furnace. When hot, these ingredients fused together, making a liquid glass. The scum, when it rose to the surface, was skimmed off, and the furnace allowed to cool until the liquid glass or metal became thick enough to be dealt with as required. Coloured glass was obtained by mixing various metallic oxides with the materials used for making white or colourless glass.

' Painted Windows. Describing the process of making a painted glass window, Mr Carter said that the mediaeval craftsman began by drawing on a whitewashed board on trestles. This was the mode used before the use of parchment or paper on which ! th) cartoon could be drawn. As soon as the cartoon had been completed, the glass was laid on the table and broken and chipped into the required shapes. To accomplish this, the workmen first touched a piece of glass with a hot iron, then' dropped a little water on .the heated place, and so having started a crack, continued it until he had divided the glass into two portions. He then set to -work to chip one of the smaller pieces into the desired shape. After the breaking and shaping work the duty of painting the glass began. Another set of men carried out this work. All painting and staining having been finished, the glass was then fired and allowed to cool down. The various pieces were laid out' in their proper order and joined together by pieces of grooved lead. When all the leading was finished, the panel was then surrounded by a double lead band to give it strength. The pieces were then soldered together with a drop of solder at every joint of tho lead work. Finally, a cement-like preparation was rubbed into the grooves of the lead to make the panel watertight, broad strips of lead also being solderec? on to the panels to fasten them to the supporting bars. "It is a popular fallacy," said Mr Carter, "that the medisßval glass painter was a sentimentalist, a man of high ideals, who worked chiefly for the love of God's Church, and its adornment, and to that end was content to work for very small wages. In reality the mediaeval craftsman was not called a man of craft for nothing. He had no more conscience than a plumber, and his knowledge of ways that are dark and tricks that are vain was extensive and peculiar. That explained the necessity for drawing up contracts binding the glass painter to the use of proper materials and so forth. Some of these contracts are left for the wily glass painter. Present-day methods vary very little fissia a£ t&m

GOLD LETTERS.

BURNISHING METHODS. SMOOTH SI.RFACE ESSENTIAL. We have received a number of queries lately in which the writer asked for a description of the best method of burnishing gold letters (says the "American Painter and Decorator"), and as there are, in all probability, others who are interested in the same subject, we are herewith giving a general description of burnishing methods. ■ There are some differences in methods and materials required in burnishing gold letters, depending upon whether they are on a sign for exterior or interior and whother tho letters are to form a sign or some interior decorative surface. For instance, for exterior exposure, oil or slow size is generally considered better than japan or quick size for reasons of durability. Again, the burnishing of signs of ordinary good quality is done simply by patting down the gold leaf to make it secure on the surface, and then, when the size is sufficiently hard, the surface is rubbed with the wad of cotton to burnish or polish it. The agate burnishing tools are used chiefly on high-class gilding, such as on picture frames, furniture, and fine interior wood trim having letters or carved ornament on its surfaces.

One of the first requirements for securing a fine job of burnished gold is that tho surface be absolutely smooth. Burnishing, of course, simply means polishing the gold to a very high lustre. If the surfaco is not absolutely smooth, only the high points will be polished and the low points will remain dull or matt. All surfaces to bo gilded must have all suction stopped, and that may be done by sizing with ordinary glue size of medium strength, with thin coats of shellac or with coats of paint mixed to dry flat.

If gloss paints and enamels are used, they must be bone-dry beyond a doubt, or the gold leaf will stick on parts of tho surface where you do not want it. Wood picture-frame surfaces are usually sized and given several coats of a mixture of glue size and fine whiting_ about as thick as cream. Each coat is sanded smooth with No. 00 paper, or finer. After the last coat of whiting is dry, the surfaco is rubbed over with a wet pad made of soft cloth, such as calico, to smooth it still more.

Of course, the pad must not be very wet, and the smoothing must be done with care to avoid wiping off the whiting foundation. Apply the whiting coats with a soft-hair brush of good size. A good job of this kind will have a body of whiting on it less than one-sixteenth of an inch thick, and it will bo as smooth as marble that has been polished.

Having tho ground of whiting prepared and hard dry, apply two coats of glue size, the same strength as was U3ed for mixing in with tho whiting. Otherwise, the ground may crack up if two different strengths or kinds of size ara used. Use a soft-hair brush and apply the size evenly, allowing each coat to dry hard. Next, an oil size, which is an old fat. linseed oil, is applied, allowed to dry over night, and then it becomes tacky enough about noon the next day to apply the gold leaf.

The leaf is applied directly from the book or with a tip, as you probably know; is patted down with a soft camel-hair brush or a wad of cotton and allowed to set until the size is quite hard enough underneath to allow polishing or burnishing with the wad of cotton.

Special Size Needed. When burnishing is to be done with the agate toola for a fine job on a really smooth surface, a special water size is needed to make the leaf adhere to the surface. A special gold size, which can be had in red and black, is generally used. It is a thick paste and is to be thinned with cold water to the consistency of cream. Then mix one part of good sizing glue with two parts of hot water and add to this one-half cup of the size that has been thinned to the thickness of cream. Apply this size While hot. In some instances two or more coats of size are applied, and each is allowed to dry not less than two hours.

Then, just before the gold leaf is applied, flood the sized surface with cold water, using a camel-hair mop brush for the purpose, and apply tho leaf with a gilders' tip at once. The burnishing or polishing operation is done just as soon as the leafcovered surface is dry. When tho water has apparently left the surface the size is still somewhat soft, and the gold leaf should be patted down with a wad of cheesecloth. This will also remove the overlapped pieces of gold. The polishing or burnishing with the agate tools is started immediately after patting with the cotton, and before the size under the leaf is hard dry. The operation is simply one of polishing or smoothing gently or rapidly with the agate, after having first polished a bit with tho wad of cotton. Go over the surface systematically from end to end and from side to side. Do not rub hard or the gold leaf may be broken. The process of burnishing is easy after a little practice. If you wait until the burnish size is too dry, however, the gold will not take on a high polish. The various shaped agate burnishers are so formed to reach corners and low places as well as broad flat places. . \ \

After burnishing the job is complete. Sizing or varnishing over the polish dulls it.

PERMIT SUMMARY

NOVEMBER STATISTICS. BIG DECLINE IX VALUE. The greatest decrease lor any month this year is shown by the November statistics for building in the City. Construction totalling £'25,920 in value Mas authorised, as compared with £92,013 in November, 1929. For the eight months from March 31st last the aggregate was £397,837 ; lor the corresponding period last year it was £579,516. Last month's total of G7 permits included 24 for houses, which accounted for £19,700 of the total value. Alterations and additions to houses made a total of £IBB7. The following are the figures for the six wards: 1930. 1929. Ward. £ £ Central—(lnner Area) ... .1013 44,918 (Outer Area) ... 3825 7,636 St. Albans ... 8785 13,330 Sydenham Lin wood 44C0 4,427 Spreydon 925 8,201 Woolston .-- 715 6,047 Totals ...25,920 92,013 For the eight months from March 31st the figures are: 1930. 1929. Ward. £ £ Central—(lnner Area) ... 125,417 179,227 (Outer Area) ... 73,046 111,955 St. Albans ••- 77,640 97,536 Sydenham 35,610 161,084 Lin wood 31,500 47,299 Spreydon 42,714 47,141 Woolston 11,850 35,274 Totals 397,837 579,516 AUCKLAND PERMITS. i VERY SMALL AMOUNT. !

A total of 151 building permits was issued by the Auckland City Council last month, bub the majority of these u'prfl fnr verv small amounts and the total value was only £l9 482 This is a smaller amount than has been recorded in any month tor a considerable tl! There were no large sums included in it, the largest "Being for a permit for £3OOO for four shops to be erected in Garnet road, Grey Lynn A. factory in Rutland street is to b« reinstated at a cost of £2OOO. Only four permits for new dwelling houses were issued dtirinir the month, one of these being +*£ value of £2187, and another £2OOO. The total for th ® r»P xi- - Aiirrfint ys&r is £'711,158, ss cLpa^fwTth,£l 473.023 for the first 11 months of last ~e The following are the detailed leturns:— ]g3o 192 g_ £ £ , r 63,16-5 127,599 Januar> - 59 746 141,804 February - 230 106,441 March •>. 37 Bg6 89,994 April <3O 898 108,909 124,521 302,713 67.546 95,214 T ulv , 102,110 112,V6 o Ug . US w 27,166 131,072 Septembei ••• g ' 3gg 86,968 October November __ Totals

to tlio issue of permits for several extensive blocks of flats. Altogether 212 permits wero issued in that month, of which 32 were for dwelling-places. The number of dwelling-house permits issued this year now stands at 186. Last October's total value included the figures for the new railway goods shed and the new Harbour Board building.

BUILDING PROJECT

NEW METHODIST ORPHANAGE. The Methodist Church authorities propose to construct a large new building in Papanui shortly for the South Island Children's Home and Orphanage. For many years the Board of Management of the Home and Orphanage has pursued the ideal of new premises on modern principles for the work which, has outgrown the present buildings. Recently a bungalow was erected for the bigger - boys; but it is anticipated that this will be readily saleable, together with the old premises, when the new quarters are available. The Board lias a site ol : eleven acres on Harewood road on which it is proposed to erect the new buildings.

The principal aim in. planning the new children's home lias been to house the girls and boys in separate buildings, keeping them as far as possible in units of ten, grouped according to age, with an attendant in charge of each unit. The dormitory blocks for both girls and boys are each designed to accommodate 30 children, and provide excellent sleeping and recreation accommodation, the dormitories being so situated that they will get all the sunshine possible, and can b© thrown entirely open on two sides, or partially closed when the weather is rough. In addition to tho necessary staff rooms, sewing room, and dining-room, which can be used for entertainments, and is approached by separate entrances for the girls and boys, the administrative block has been designed to accommodate ten of the older girls, with liberal recreation room. A sick room is also provided, fitted with every convenience. The kitchen will contain every modern convenience,- including a refrigerator. All these buildings will be served with hot an,.d cold water, and central heating from a boiler house to be placed at the rear of the administrative block. Each boiler will be fired by an automatic stoker controlled with a thermostat, so that the firing will be entirely automatic and economical. Over the boiler house will be. provided a modern laundry and drying room, utilising all the waste heat from the two flues and boilers for drying clothes in wet weather. The buildings throughout will be of reinforced concrete and brick, fireproof, almost sound proof, and will require practically no maintenance, and it .'*l hoped when finances permit to build a gymnasium on the flat roof of each of the dormitory blocks. •

WELLINGTON BUILDERS. PAST YEAR'S ACTIVITIES. Ihere was a representative attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Master Builders' and Contractors' Association. Mr W. I. Clark, president, presided. The annual report, which had previously been circulated to members, J 5 ?! 5 1 51 tlle activities ijoadocted fee Aasociaiioa

tlio past year. The report -was fully discussed and unanimously adopted. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr W. I. Clark (re-elected); vice-president, Mr A. H. Mildenhall (re-elected), committee, Messrs W. Parkin, H. Mainland, H. T. Boddy, D. G. Whitmore, C. H. Downes, F. Stewart, J. W. Andrews, and A. B. Fraser; lion, secretary, Mr A. Fletcher; lion, auditors, Messrs J. Riddell and G. D. Dick; representative, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. H. Meyer; representative, Wellington Manufacturers' Association, Mr W. Mill; Wellington Technical College Building Trades Advisory Committee, Messrs C. G. Johann and C. H. Downes; Employers' Representatives Carpentry and Joinery Trade Apprenticeship Committee, Messrs W. Parkin, C. G. Johann, C. H. Downes, and H. T. Boddy. Messrs A. B. Fraser, J. W. Andrews, and A. Fletcher were appointed to represent the Association at the annual conference of the New Zealand Master Builders' Federation, to be held at Invercargill on February 25tk and 26th next.

The meeting unanimously resolved that the sum of £7 7s be given for the purpose of providing prizes for bona fide apprentices attending the carpentry, joinery, and building and construction classes at the Wellington Technical College, the allocation of the prizes to be left to Messrs C. G. Johann and C. H. Downes. Mr G. D. Dick, a member of the Board of Governors, paid full tribute to the work of Mr W. H. Bennett, chairman of the Wellington Technical College Board of Governors, who for many years past had wholeheartedly devoted himself in the interests of the students and the college. The principal, Mr John H. Howell, and the staff, also came in for special praise. Mr Dick, in commenting on the value of the services rendered by the members of the numerous advisory committees, who gave gratuitously of their counsel and guidance in the interests of the ''tradesmen of to-morrow," spoke in appreciative terms of the improved work of the students, whose numbers continued to increase year by year.