Mensuration instructions directed at the early 19c artisan.
Two hundred years ago, the independent artisan was more numerous than today and it was important to know your work and how to price or charge for the materials and skilled labour involved.
Of Masons work
Masons measure their work sometimes by the foot solid, sometimes by the foot superficial, and sometimes by the foot in length. In taking dimensions they girt all the mouldings as joiners do.
The solids consist of blocks of marble, stone, pillars, columns, etc. The superficies are pavements, slabs, chimney pieces etc.
Masons reckon all such stones as are above 2 inches thick, at so much per foot, solid measure. And for the workmanship, they measure the superficies of that part of the stone which appears without the wall.
Of Pavers work
Pavers work is measured by the square yard, consisting of nine square feet. The superficies is found by multiplying the length by the breadth.
Of plasterers work
Plasterers work is principally of two kinds; namely, plastering upon laths, called ceiling, and plastering upon walls or partitions made of framed timber, called rendering.
In plastering upon walls, no deductions are made except for doors and windows, because cornices, festoons, enriched mouldings, etc. are put on after the room is plastered.
In plastering timber partitions, in large warehouses, etc, where several of the braces and larger timbers project from the plastering, a fifth part is commonly deducted. Plastering between these timbers is generally called rendering between quarters.
Whitening and colouring are measured in the same manner as plastering, and in timbered partitions, one-fourth, or one-fifth of the whole area is commonly added, for the trouble of colouring the sides of the quarter and braces.
Plasterers work is measured by the yard square, consisting of nine square feet. In arches, the girt round them, multiplied by the length, will give the superficies.
Of painters work
Painters generally calculate the contents of large articles; such as wainscotting, stuccoed walls, doors, and window-shutters, by the square yard; and every part upon which the colour is laid is measured.
Cornices and mouldings are estimated by the lineal foot, window frames and reveals at a fixed price for each, sash-frames at a certain price per dozen, according to their size; sky-lights, window bars, casements, etc. are charged per piece.
Painters proportion their price to the nature of the colouring, and the number of coats which the work receives.
Of plumbers work
Plumbers work is generally at so much per pound, or by the hundred-weight of 112 pounds, and the price is regulated according to the value of lead at the time.
Sheet lead used in roofing, guttering etc. weighs from 6 to 12 pounds per square foot, according to the thickness; and leaden pipe varies in weight per yard, according to the diameter of its bore in inches.
Chimney shafts.
That part which appears above the roof, are measured by girding them round the middle for the length and taking the height for the breadth.
The thickness is generally reckoned half a brick more than it really is, in consideration of plastering, and the trouble of scaffolding. In some places, double measure is allowed for workmanship, on account of extra trouble.
Some good early nineteenth century cement remedies
Two hundred years ago, the independent artisan was more numerous than today and it was important to know your work and how to price or charge for the materials and skilled labour involved.
Of Masons work
Masons measure their work sometimes by the foot solid, sometimes by the foot superficial, and sometimes by the foot in length. In taking dimensions they girt all the mouldings as joiners do.
The solids consist of blocks of marble, stone, pillars, columns, etc. The superficies are pavements, slabs, chimney pieces etc.
Masons reckon all such stones as are above 2 inches thick, at so much per foot, solid measure. And for the workmanship, they measure the superficies of that part of the stone which appears without the wall.
Of Pavers work
Pavers work is measured by the square yard, consisting of nine square feet. The superficies is found by multiplying the length by the breadth.
Of plasterers work
Plasterers work is principally of two kinds; namely, plastering upon laths, called ceiling, and plastering upon walls or partitions made of framed timber, called rendering.
In plastering upon walls, no deductions are made except for doors and windows, because cornices, festoons, enriched mouldings, etc. are put on after the room is plastered.
In plastering timber partitions, in large warehouses, etc, where several of the braces and larger timbers project from the plastering, a fifth part is commonly deducted. Plastering between these timbers is generally called rendering between quarters.
Whitening and colouring are measured in the same manner as plastering, and in timbered partitions, one-fourth, or one-fifth of the whole area is commonly added, for the trouble of colouring the sides of the quarter and braces.
Plasterers work is measured by the yard square, consisting of nine square feet. In arches, the girt round them, multiplied by the length, will give the superficies.
Of painters work
Painters generally calculate the contents of large articles; such as wainscotting, stuccoed walls, doors, and window-shutters, by the square yard; and every part upon which the colour is laid is measured.
Cornices and mouldings are estimated by the lineal foot, window frames and reveals at a fixed price for each, sash-frames at a certain price per dozen, according to their size; sky-lights, window bars, casements, etc. are charged per piece.
Painters proportion their price to the nature of the colouring, and the number of coats which the work receives.
Of plumbers work
Plumbers work is generally at so much per pound, or by the hundred-weight of 112 pounds, and the price is regulated according to the value of lead at the time.
Sheet lead used in roofing, guttering etc. weighs from 6 to 12 pounds per square foot, according to the thickness; and leaden pipe varies in weight per yard, according to the diameter of its bore in inches.
Chimney shafts.
That part which appears above the roof, are measured by girding them round the middle for the length and taking the height for the breadth.
The thickness is generally reckoned half a brick more than it really is, in consideration of plastering, and the trouble of scaffolding. In some places, double measure is allowed for workmanship, on account of extra trouble.
Some good early nineteenth century cement remedies
rescuingthepast.co.uk
Preserving rural bygones
Preserving rural bygones
Artisans - Practical measuring & pricing
© rescuingthepast.co.uk 2006-2010