Cottage Building in Cob Pise Chalk and Clay Part 16

Ordinary whitewash is made by slaking about 10 lbs. of quicklime with two gallons of water.

The following recipes are taken from "_White Paints and Painting_"

(Scott), and are reliable:

(1) "_Factory" Whitewash (interiors), for Walls, Ceilings, Posts, etc._:

(_a_) 62 lbs. (1 bushel) quicklime, slake with 15 gallons water.

Keep barrel covered till steam ceases to arise. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.

(_b_) 2 lbs. rye-flour, beat up in gallon of cold water, then add 2 gallons boiling water.

(_c_) 2 lbs. of common rock-salt, dissolve in 2 gallons of hot water.

Mix (_b_) and (_c_), then pour into (_a_), and stir until all is well mixed. This is the whitewash used in the large implement factories, and recommended by the insurance companies. The above formula gives a product of perfect brush consistency.

(2) _"Weatherproof" Whitewash (exteriors), for Buildings, Fences, etc._:

(_a_) 62 lbs. (1 bushel) quicklime, slake with 12 gallons of hot water.

(_b_) 2 lbs. common table salt, 1 lb. sulphate of zinc, dissolved in a gallon of boiling water.

(_c_) 2 gallons skimmed milk.

Pour (_b_) into (_a_), then add the milk (_c_), and mix thoroughly.

(3) _"Light House" Whitewash_:

(_a_) 62 lbs. (1 bushel) quicklime, slake with 12 gallons of hot water.

(_b_) 12 gallons rock-salt, dissolve in 6 gallons of boiling water.

(_c_) 6 lbs. of Portland cement.

Pour (_b_) into (_a_), and then add (_c_).

_Note._--Alum added to a lime whitewash prevents it rubbing off. An ounce to the gallon is sufficient.

Flour paste answers the same purpose, but needs zinc sulphate as a preservative.

The following are from "_1,000 More Paint Questions Answered_":

(4) _Durable Whitewash for Outside Use._--A whitewash that will not rub off or wash off in rainy weather can be made by mixing one half-pint of flour to a batter with cold water, then stirring into this boiling water until it becomes a thick paste.

While still hot it is poured into a pailful of ready-made lime whitewash and well stirred in.

(5) Another simple method is to add to 2 gallons of ready-made lime whitewash one half-pint each of mola.s.ses and table salt. Must be stirred frequently while being used.

_Whitewash for Exterior Surfaces._--A formula for a durable whitewash for out-buildings of rough lumber. The following is reprinted from "_Popular Mechanics_":

(6) Place 1 bushel good fresh lime in a barrel with 20 lbs. beef tallow; slake with hot water and cover with sackcloth to keep in steam. When the lime is slaked, the tallow will have disappeared, having formed a chemical compound with the lime. Dry colours may be added to produce any tint desired.[10]

[Footnote 10: Experiments and tests carried out for the author by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research place this receipt at the head of the list.]

It is better to add colour before slaking the lime, but if this is not feasible mix the colour with alcohol and add it to the strained whitewash. Thin to easy flowing consistency with clear water.

[Headnote: Distempers and Limewashes]

_Cold Water Paint that will stand the Weather._--A formula for making a white outside coating that will resist the action of the weather and remain hard even under the influence of moisture and rain. Experiments with different brands of cold water paints have proved failures.

A really effective cold water paint, in order to resist the elements and remain white, should contain a white pigment of good body and some oil in addition to the water, and with this purpose in view the following is suggested:

(7) To make 100 lbs. of such paint, mix 10 lbs. white, pure in oil, with 10 lbs. bolted whiting, 8 lbs. raw linseed oil, 6 lbs. soft soap (made with potash), and 26 lbs. soft water.

One quart of pale copal varnish will improve the preparation. The formula given is of the right consistency to apply on dressed lumber with the brush. For application on rough lumber or with the spraying machine it requires more thinning with water and varnish.

The following is taken from Pearce's "_Painting and Decorating_":

(8) A London recipe for distemper has the following proportions: 4 "b.a.l.l.s" whiting, 2 lbs. Young's patent size, and sufficient water to cover the whiting.

(9) A Scotch distemper is described as: 12 lbs. whiting, size as given previously, 2 ozs. alum, 2 ozs. soft soap. It is very fast, for pa.s.sages, schools, etc. Tinting colours for limewash should be restricted to ochres, umbers, lime blue, lime greens, charcoal or lamp black, and earthy reds (as Venetian).

(10) External limewash for farm buildings, etc., may be made as follows: Lime, bushel, slaked with 1 gallon of milk and remainder of water, 1 lb. salt and lb. sulphate of zinc to make it withstand the weather.

Experiments with and practical tests of these and other kinds of whitewash are being carried out, and the author hopes that he may find opportunity at some later date of announcing the results obtained.

[Headnote: Local Materials]

II

THE IMPORTANCE OF USING LOCAL MATERIALS

(_Extract from "Country Life," November 9th, 1918_)

300,000 COTTAGES WOULD ENTAIL THE TRANSPORT OF 60,000,000 TONS OF MATERIAL

In carrying out any considerable scheme of house building two difficulties will have to be met. The first arises from the scarcity of building material; the other from the cost and difficulty of transport.

These, to some extent, can be obviated by the use of local material, which is to be commended on other grounds as well. Local material fits into the character of the neighbourhood in which it is found and maintains its traditions.

Very few people realise the bulk of materials, and in order to help them the following statement has been prepared to show the materials needed for each cottage and the total for 300,000 cottages:

Materials. Weight.

Per One Cottage. Per 300,000.

Tons. Cwts. Qrs. (Tons.) Ballast, sand, gravel 78 17 0 23,655,000 Lime 5 18 0 1,770,000 Cement 12 8 0 3,720,000 Bricks 85 0 0 25,500,000 Slates for D.P.C 0 10 2 157,500 Chimney-pots 0 0 3 11,250 Tiles 7 2 2 2,137,500 Carca.s.sing timber 7 0 0 2,100,000 Complete joinery timber 1 12 0 480,000 Cast-iron rain-water goods and sundries 0 9 0 135,000 Stoves, copper, ash-bin, etc. 0 5 2 82,500 Nails, screws, etc. 0 1 2 22,500 Hair for plaster 0 1 0 15,000 Lead flashings, etc. 0 2 1 33,750 Sink, waste pipes, draining boards, etc. 0 2 1 33,750 Sanitary goods 0 1 0 15,000 Whitening, distemper and paint 0 3 1 48,750 --------- ---------- Total 199 14 2 59,917,500 --------- ----------

It will be seen that to carry out the scheme for 300,000 cottages a total of close on 60,000,000 tons of material will have to be shifted.