HOW many coats and just what kind of varnish shall I use on this woodwork? What kind of paint shall I use on my porch floors? and many other similar questions are continually confronting the home builder. "Experience is decidedly an expensive teacher," as many can testify after struggling through a faulty building contract. How vexatious it is to discover after the contract is signed, sealed, and delivered that it calls for only two coats of nameless white paint for the bathroom, when good work cannot possibly be accomplished in any less than five, or to find that only one brush coat is specified for the shingles, when they should be dipped one coat and brushed another, in order to get durable results. These disappointments and many others can be eliminated by having all matters pertaining to the painting and decorating clearly and distinctly understood before the contract is signed. The number of coats is just exactly as important as the kind of material.

PLATE A. Architects, White & Shupe, Cleveland.

These Detached Houses, with More or Less Ground Surrounding Them, Provide a Wider

Field for the Architect See Specifications, Chapter XXI (The Importance Of Working Specifications).

It is with these important points in view that the following specifications have been drawn up by the Sherwin-Williams Co. This company makes certain claims for its various materials which it cannot substantiate unless these materials are properly applied. These specifications are just as much of a protection to the manufacturer as they are to the home builder. They are complete in every detail - they tell the kind of material and number of coats for every kind of decorating. They cover a great variety of surface treatments and then provide a contract as an additional safeguard.

General Conditions

The contractor shall furnish all material, utensils, scaffolding, labor, transportation, and all such other necessaries or accessories as may be required in the judgment of the architect or owner for the complete performance of the work herein specified.

The contractor shall keep a competent foreman on the premises; shall not sublet any part of this contract without the written consent of the owner or architect; shall take all necessary precautions to protect his work from injury of every kind during progress; shall be responsible for any damage that may be done by himself or his employees to property, whether such property belongs to the owner, tenant, neighbor, or any other party.

The contractor shall be responsible for any and / or all accidents which may happen to himself, his foreman, his employees, and / or to the general public in or adjoining the premises, arising from neglect, accident, or intent on the part of himself or employees during such time as this contract is being fulfilled.

All materials used in painting and finishing shall be the same as herein specified; said materials shall be delivered at the building in the original packages with seals unbroken and labels attached; said original packages not to be used until inspected by architect or owner.

All labor shall be performed in a thoroughly first-class manner by skilled workmen; such workmanship shall be subject to the approval of the architect or owner.

The contractor shall notify the architect if anything is omitted from the drawings or specifications which may be necessary to clear understanding of the work and of what will accomplish the best finished results. The contractor will make good any damage or defect if he does not give architect such notification.

The contractor shall examine all woodwork or other surface before first-coating it, and if such woodwork or surface is not in the required suitable condition to paint or varnish, he shall report to the owner or architect and await his or their instructions before applying the first coat thereon. Drawings and specifications furnished for this work are instruments of service for this building only and are the property of..........................

They must be returned to him immediately upon completion of the work herein specified.

The contractor shall clear out all rubbish and surplus material left by him, upon completion of the work specified. He shall clean all paint and varnish spots from the walls, floors, glass, etc., and shall leave premises broom clean.

The architect reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

(For amount of woodwork to be finished see carpenter's specifications.)

Care should be taken to apply varnish and enamels in a suitable temperature, never when the thermometer indicates lower than 46 degrees; about 70 degrees Fahrenheit is the proper temperature.

Cover all sap, knots, and defects in woodwork, which is to be painted, with a good coat of pure denatured alcohol; shellac before priming, putty up all nail holes, cracks, or defects after priming.

All window and door-frames, which are built into masonry, are to be back primed and allowed to become thoroughly dry before setting in place.