• 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA 
 
 A TWELVE -MAN BUNKHOUSE 
 
 L. W. NEUBAUER 1 and H. L. BELTON 
 
 This plan is one of a series prepared to aid 
 farmers in the selection of suitable farm-labor 
 housing during the war emergency and in secur- 
 ing, at the same time, a semipermanent structure. 
 The bunkhouse is simple in design, provides ade- 
 quate floor space, and is well lighted and ven- 
 tilated. When properly arranged in a camp group, 
 it presents a neat appearance. It meets, more- 
 over, the requirements cf the Stats Labor Hous- 
 ing and Sanitation Act. 
 
 Restrictions on Materials 
 
 Farmers contemplating construction should fa- 
 miliarize themselves with available local materi- 
 als. They should make certain, through county 
 war boards and other federal agencies, that they 
 are conforming with regulations regarding criti- 
 cal materials. The use of substitute materials 
 may sometimes be necessary. 
 
 Size and Arrangement 
 
 The illustration on page 2 shows a twelve-man 
 bunkhouse, 20 x 36 feet, to accommodate twelve 
 cots. The size of this unit may easily be in- 
 creased or decreased, in elements 6 feet long, 
 each allowing for one pair of cots. The maximum 
 recommended size, 20 x 72 feet, is adequate sleep- 
 ing capacity for twenty-four men. The bathroom 
 is also suitable for a group of this size. 
 
 The finished floor is about 14 inches above 
 ground level, with the 4x4 inch stringers set 
 on concrete piers or walls. A tight tongue-and- 
 groove floor, laid on 2 x 8 inch joists placed 
 on 2-foot centers, is recommended. The framing 
 for walls and roof is 2 x 4 inch stock, with the 
 studding and rafters placed on 2-foot centers. 
 Bracing and bridging in the walls, and ties 6 
 feet apart across the ceiling line, with 1x6 
 inch boards for trusswork, should all be included 
 to provide rigid framing. 
 
 The bath and entry room, attached to one end 
 of the bunkroom, occupy 16 x 20 feet, making a 
 combined building size of 20 x 52 feet. This 
 arrangement will generally be found satisfactory 
 and complete, except that a separate bath house 
 may be advisable when more than one bunkhouse is 
 required. The bath and entry room should have a 
 concrete floor , sloped to drain water from showers 
 
 Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineer- 
 ing and Assistant Agricultural Engineer in the 
 Experiment Station. 
 
 2 
 
 Associate in Agricultural Engineering. 
 
 and around lavatories. For a concrete floor of 
 this type, the exterior foundation must be con- 
 structed of concrete or masonry, and the earth- 
 and-gravel fill within the walls well tamped in 
 place to support the concrete floor, which should 
 be 4 inches thick and finished to the level of 
 the bunkroom floor. 
 
 Wall Exteriors 
 
 The wall exteriors may be sheathed, over a 
 layer of building paper, with one of the several 
 styles of stock siding laid horizontally, or 1 x 
 12 inch boards and battens placed vertically. 
 Only dry material should be used for the exterior 
 siding. Under war conditions very little dry 
 lumber, suitable for siding, is available. Green 
 lumber shrinks so much that it may have to be re- 
 moved and relaid after one season of exposure. 
 
 Roofing 
 
 The rafters should be tight-sheathed, prefer- 
 ably with shiplap; and this surface may be covered 
 with a heavy grade of roll roofing. If possible, 
 however, a more permanent type of roofing material 
 such as shakes, wood or composition shingles, or 
 galvanized iron sheets, should be applied. 
 
 Windows, Doors, and Screens 
 
 The windows are preferably of the double-hung 
 type, 3 x 3£ feet in size. These are tighter fit- 
 ting and easier to manipulate than most others. A 
 drop-in sash 3x3 feet in size, supported by wood 
 shields or hinged at the bottom, or a horizontally 
 sliding window, may also be used. All windows 
 should have screens. For the exterior openings, 
 standard full-panel or panel-and-glass doors may 
 be used; for the interior openings, common panel 
 doors. Screen doors may be either the full-screen 
 or panel-and-screen type. 
 
 Closets 
 
 The clothes closets are constructed of panels 
 or 1-inch lumber. Each should have a tight top, 
 a hanger pole, and a shelf. A door is not neces- 
 sary. A 12-inch shelf, supported by wood brackets 
 and placed on the closet wall above each cot, will 
 prove convenient. 
 
 Interior Wall Surface 
 
 No finish for the interior walls of the bunk- 
 room is suggested for the present. If a more fin- 
 ished structure is desired for post-war occupancy, 
 
 [1] 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
 DAVJS 
 
the interior walls may be sheathed with tongue- 
 and-groove lumber, boards and battens, or wood 
 or composition panels. With tight, smooth-sur- 
 faced roof sheathing, a ceiling should not be 
 necessary. The entry room may be finished in- 
 side the same as the bunkroom. 
 
 The bathroom finish requires additional at- 
 tention. Exposed surfaces should be waterproof, 
 because of the continual presence of moisture. 
 A cement plaster is recommended, on a backing of 
 rough boards and wire mesh. For alternate finish, 
 waterproof plywood or composition panels may be 
 substituted. This item is not included in the 
 list of materials. 
 
 partitions may be in- 
 ing laid flatwise. The 
 o the concrete floor 
 ts or header. The 
 ned with a waterproof 
 d iron, plywood, 
 -cement sheets. The 
 be over 6 feet high, 
 above the floor, ex- 
 should have a water- 
 do not require a 
 
 Bathroom Partitions 
 
 Shower and water-closet 
 stalled on 2 x 4 inch fram 
 front studding is pinned t 
 and nailed to ceiling jois 
 shower stalls should be li 
 material such as galvanize 
 pressed board , or asbestos 
 three partitions need not 
 with the lower ends 1 foot 
 cept the center one, which 
 tight base. Water closets 
 moistureproof finish. 
 
 Plumbing 
 
 All plumbing work is to be in full accordance 
 with local ordinances or the standard code 
 drafted and sponsored by the Pacific Coast Plumb- 
 ing Inspectors' Association. Cement laundry 
 trays, two shower heads, two water closets, and 
 four wall-hung lavatories, complete with faucets, 
 valves, fittings, drains, and traps, should be of 
 simple standard design. Water supply and dis- 
 posal lines outside the building are not included 
 in the estimate. A large septic tank or cesspool 
 is recommended for sanitary disposal of waste 
 water. 
 
 The floor plan of the entry room shows a hot- 
 water heater, which may be of optional type, ac- 
 cording to the fuel available. A stove is also 
 shown, since additional heat will often be re- 
 quired. 
 
 Chimney and Ventilator 
 
 When a chimney is necessary, one of galvanized 
 iron of stock design, lined with a 6-inch terra 
 cotta flue, and equipped with metal brackets, 
 cleanout plate, and roof cap, is recommended. A 
 ventilator in the bathroom ceiling, over the 
 showers and toilet seats, will aid in removing 
 odors, excess heat, and moisture. It can be 
 tapered from ceiling to roof and protected on 
 top by a small hood raised a few inches above 
 the roof and screened on the two sides. 
 
 Electric Wiring 
 
 Electric wiring shall be exposed wire with 
 knob and tube installation of a type that meets 
 the minimum requirements of the Electrical 
 Safety Orders of the California Industrial Acci- 
 
 dent Commission. Materials for three lighting 
 outlets are listed for the bunkroom, two for the 
 bathroom, and two for the entry room. All should 
 be controlled by wall switches. Five convenience 
 outlets are listed, three for the bathroom and 
 two for the entry room. 
 
 Painting 
 
 Two coats of a good grade of lead-and-oil paint 
 are recommended for all exterior woodwork. Paint 
 for the interior of the bath is also advisable, 
 particularly if wood finish is used. 
 
 Bill of Materials 
 
 Foundation . . 
 Concrete floor 
 
 Sill bolts 
 Stringers 
 
 Joists . 
 Bridging 
 
 Floor 
 Plates 
 
 24 concrete piers, 12" x 12" base, 
 6" x 6" top, 12" high 
 
 ;i-2f-4 mix) 
 
 30 sacks Portland cement, 
 4 cu. yds. sand 
 4 1/2 cu. yds. gravel 
 
 16 only, 1/2" x 7" carriage bolts 
 
 4 pes, 
 6 pes. 
 
 4" x 4" — 18' 
 4" x 4" — 12' 
 
 2" x 
 
 20' 
 ■12' 
 
 19 pes 
 
 6 pes. 1" xlO" 
 72 lin. ft. 2" x 8" 
 
 900 bd. ft. 1" x 4" tongue-and- 
 groove 
 
 9 pes. 2" x 4"— 16' 
 
 12 pes. 
 9 pes. 
 
 2" x 4"— 18* 
 2" x 4"— 20' 
 
 Braces, rails, 
 headers . . 
 
 Studding . . 
 
 Gable ends . 
 
 Rafters . . 
 
 Fascia-gable 
 
 ends 4 pes. 
 
 Ridgepole ... 3 pes. 
 
 Ties and ceiling 
 joists .... 
 
 220 lin. ft. 2" x 4" 
 
 120 pes. 2" x 4"— 8' 
 
 8 pes. 2" x 4"— 12' 
 
 54 pes. 2" x 4"— 12' 
 
 2" x 
 1" x 
 
 4" — 12' 
 6" — 18' 
 
 Roof sheathing 
 Roofing . . . 
 
 Ridge boards . 
 
 Wall sheathing 
 
 Windows 
 
 Screens 
 
 14 pes. 2" x 4" — 20' 
 22 pes. 1" x 6"— 6' 
 
 1,500 bd. ft. 1" x 8" shiplap 
 
 13 squares, or 52 bundles of 
 shingles 
 
 3 pes. 1" x 6" — 18' 
 3 pes. 1" x 4" — 18' 
 
 1,500 bd. ft. stock rustic 
 
 Building paper, red rosin 
 sheathing, medium weight , 
 3 rolls 
 
 Corner boards and roof ven- 
 tilator cut from rustic 
 
 Clothes closets and shower 
 partitions not estimated 
 
 15 only, 3'0" x 3' 6" double- 
 hung window frames complete 
 with sash and trim 
 
 15 only, stock window screens 
 for above frames 
 
 Doors 3 only, 3'0" x 6 '8" stock panel 
 
 doors 
 
 1 only, 2 '6" x 6 '8" stock panel 
 door 
 
 2 only, 3'0" x 6 '8" stock panel 
 screen doors 
 
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Nails and hard- 
 ware 75 lbs. 8d common wire nails 
 
 20 lbs. 20d common wire nails 
 50 lbs. 3d galvanized nails for 
 shingles 
 2 lbs. 6d common wire nails 
 
 1 lb. each 6d and 8d finishing 
 nails 
 
 4 pr. 3" x 3" loose-pin butts 
 4 common rim locks 
 
 2 pr. screen-door spring butts 
 2 screen-door pulls and catches 
 
 2 1/2 dozen window-screen hangers 
 2 1/2 dozen 2" hooks and eyes 
 Stove, water heater, chimney, 
 and flashing not listed 
 
 Paint. . 
 Plumbing 
 
 8 gallons outside paint, color 
 to be selected 
 
 4 wall-hung lavatories, 17"x 19", 
 
 with faucets, traps, and 
 
 fittings 
 2 siphon washdown water closets 
 
 with seats 
 2 utility showers with mixing 
 
 valves and fittings 
 
 1 two- compartment cement laundry 
 tray with fittings and trap 
 
 70 ft. of 1/2" galvanized iron 
 pipe with fittings 
 
 2 floor drains with traps for 
 showers and laundry 
 
 Vent pipes, soil pipe, and con- 
 nections 
 
 Electric wiring. 330 ft. no. 14 insulated copper 
 wire, with porcelain knobs 
 (70) and tubes (45) 
 
 1 only, 30-amp. fused utility 
 switch 
 
 2 only, 15-amp. fuses 
 
 7 porcelain screw receptacles 
 
 4 single-pole switches, with 
 boxes and covers 
 
 5 duplex receptacles, with 
 boxes and covers 
 
 20 ft. nonmetallic loom 
 
 Rough Summary of Materials 
 
 2,660 bd. ft. construction lumber 2" and under 
 192 bd. ft. construction lumber over 2" 
 900 bd. ft. 1" flooring 
 
 3,000 bd. ft. exterior siding and roofing 
 148 lbs. nails 
 30 sacks Portland cement 
 
 Electric equipment including 4-3 lbs. 
 
 (net) of copper wire $13.00 
 
 Hardware and nails $16.50 
 
 Plumbing and fixtures #150.00 
 
 Cost 
 
 The approximate cost of this bunkhouse com- 
 plete, including labor, will be about $2,000, but 
 will vary according to the price range of materi- 
 als and labor. 
 
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 4m-12, '43(8915)