THE Cape Cod house has been completely time tested by the American public. Developed along the eastern seacoast over three hundred years ago, this style of architecture has proved not only the most economical but, in the small house, the most pleasing in appearance. The Wantagh incorporates all the sound features of the Cape Cod home and, in addition, includes such popular modern ideas as the picture window, attached garage and use of mixed exterior finishes.
The front door opens directly into the attractive living room. This area is lighted by a large picture window in the front wall and a wide high window in the side wall, giving both double exposure and cross ventilation. Enough wall space remains for varied furniture arrangement.
A central hall divides the living room from the kitchen and dining area. The latter are combined in a single room at the rear of the house, with a counter bar separating the kitchen area from the dinette. This entire area is well lighted and ventilated by a double casement window in the side wall of the dinette, a single window in the rear wall and a third window in the rear kitchen wall. In the kitchen, cupboards, work counter, washing machine and sink are conveniently arranged along one wall. On the opposite side of the kitchen are located the range and refrigerator. Storage space includes two cabinets, two large storage cupboards, seven utility drawers, and a large space under the sink for pots, pans, soaps and large utensils. A folding ironing board and electric ventilating fan are built into the wall.
The sleeping quarters are situated on the right side of the house. The two bedrooms are accessible from the central hall which also leads to the modern bathroom. Each bedroom contains a closet and a third closet for linen is located in the hall.
The house has an expansion attic which may be finished into two more bedrooms and a bath. Among the alterations necessary to complete the finishing of an attic into livable rooms is the rearrangement and completion of insulation. When a home is constructed with an attic that is not to be used for living, the insulation is installed between the joists in the floor of the attic to retain all heat at the ground floor level. To insulate a finished attic, this attic floor insulation is removed and placed between the rafters along with additional insulating material, if necessary. The upper floor will then be able to take advantage of heat seeping upward through the ceiling of the ground floor.
Insulation is vital in a home and accomplishes a number of important functions. În a well insulated house a person will feel warmer since his body will not radiate as much heat to the cold walls. Cold air drafts from the exterior walls will be minimized. There will be more uniform heating, with a person in one corner of a room not feeling chilled and another across the room feeling hot. In summer, heat flow from outdoors is retarded, and in winter interior heat is retained. Also vital is that with fine insula- tion a smaller heating unit is needed.
Insulating materials include insulating board, solid batts of insulating material which come in ready cut sections, and quilts which come in rolls cut to the width be- tween studs and joists. There is also a fill- type of insulation, which is blown by machine into the outside walls of existing houses.
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