Commence in the room under No. 1 as in the room above. "Wash, stop, clerecolle, and white the ceilings and cornices, and finish the cornices in two tints to choice." This is the first item in this room, and there is the cornice extra to that above. Take the ceiling, wall to wall, as in the rooms over - and then take the round of these dimensions as the length of cornice. This will be the same length as that required for the wall paper, the length of the room and the width added together and twiced on waste, and any projection of chimney breast added. As this waste was shown for wall paper to room No. 1, it is not necessary to repeat it here. Refer back in your book for it, and enter the item thus: 65.6 Ext. for cor. finished ------ 2 tints.

In strict justice the centres of the mitres of cornice should be the points to measure to, but it is usual to take the wall-line.

The word extra is shortened to ext., and cornice to cor.

There is next in the specification, "All cracks must be cut out, and made good in plaster." This refers to the ceiling and walls, so that where they are bad and open, it will be necessary to make a provision for stopping them, the value of doing this being added to the item of " make good plastering," when the price is set down for that.

"Strip the walls, repair them where necessary, and re-paper with paper of the value of 2s. per piece, exclusive of hanging or preparing walls," comes next.

Take the round of the walls as before, but for the height take from skirting to the bottom of the cornice. Take the deductions in the same manner as before.

In writing down the description of work in the measuring book, it may be extended across the column I showed for "waste," but it must not extend across the money columns; the waste can then follow under the description as shown earlier under item of "strip walls, and repaper at 1s. 6d. (front room l. h.);" the description may be cut down at the will of the measurer, but it must be written so that it may be easily read afterwards. It is best to have someone to write while you measure; you then have assistance when you want to use the tape, and will be able to devote your attention more closely to the work of measuring. It is best for the one who is writing to repeat after the measurer what he calls out to him, figure for figure and word for word as he sets them down, to show that he hears them clearly.

The 65.6 given as a length for Ext. for cornice, as taken from length of other wall, to floor over, presumes that the two rooms are the same size. It will, of course, be necessary to see that this is the case, and not to take it for granted.

Take the next item of "Hack out the broken glass and reglaze, etc.," in the same manner as before, noting the description of glass, which generally increases in thickness or quality as you get towards the ground floor, each floor being also greater in height as you go down; this increases the sizes of sashes and glass, and therefore thicker glass must be used. Sometimes specifications give the description and relieve you of any attention beyond describing it in your measuring book.

The next item is, "Carefully wash the paint and rub down any parts requiring it, bring them forward with an extra coat of paint, and then paint with three coats of good oil colour finished in two tints to choice."

Measure this in the same manner as the former painting, altering the description to "3 O 2 tints," and note mentally the work to do in touching up, and enter.

The I may be omitted if you choose; the item may at once be priced if you prefer to, or have a bad memory.

"Repair the floors, etc.," comes next. This has to be taken as before, with the addition that the item of filling up joints which belongs to the same should be measured by the running feet after it, as follows: -

This latter description is "feather-edged deal strip, and glueing, and nailing. Sometimes floors that are very open and bad have the nails punched through, and are then taken up, the joists cleared of nails, and the old floor boards relaid close and cramped; this gathers the want through shrinkage into one place. A well-seasoned board can then be laid to make up the deficiency; this makes the best job, as there are very few old floors with joints much less than 1/16; a good many more than eight slips would no doubt be required in such a room. It is hardly necessary to enter the words "and planing after" in the measuring book, as it is understood that the slips could not be left projecting above the joint.

The next item of" relacquering" take in the same manner as before.

The next of "repair locks" requires the locks to be tried. See whether the springs are unbroken ; no keys or furniture missing. The locks will require to be oiled. Enter the items thus: I New spring to rim.

1 New escut. to do.

I Key to cupd. lock.

I Allow to oil locks throughout.

This last item will scarcely need numbering. By the time you have finished measuring you should have the number of the rooms indelibly fixed in the memory, or if the memory is bad it may be easily refreshed by reference to the measuring book.

Take room No. 2 next, and proceed in the same manner with the ceilings, cornices, walls, painting, glazing, and repairing wall and ceilings. Take the repairing to floors as to last room, relacquering to brass work, locks to repair, etc, and proceed to room No. 3, taken item by item, a mere repetition of the description for room No. 2, the dimensions alone differing. Take the new spindle to lock, with china and gold knobs on both sides, writing it down as follows : -

This description of course covers taking off the old one and fixing the new.

Take room No. 4 in the same manner as No. 2, and then as on the floor above, leave the landing and stairs, and proceed to the next floor.