CONCRETE HOUSES

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 2

CONCRETE HOUSES

‘Granite” writes; ‘ As an interested reader of your columns for the past nine years and the owner of a concrete bungalow, I crave space to present to your readers my experience. My pioperty, which is locally situated, is a bungalow of four large rooms, with the usual offices and outbuildings. the outer walls are double, each 3tin thick with 3tin air gap; inner walls, single, ■tin thick. Tim exterior finish is roughcast and the interior mainly granite plaster. No structural defects have appeared, and there is absolutely no signs of sweating or dampness. After a period of driving rain I have several times removed the shaving cabinet from an exposed wall, and no penetration of the outer wall by dampness is apparent. Ventilation of the cavity is provided by ventilators at the bottom of the walls, and feathers or pieces of paper released in the opening usually occupied by the shaving cabinet aie earned upwards between the two walls by the air current, and pass into the space between the ceiling and the root. It would appear, therefore, that ventilation of the wall cavity is such that dampness could scarcely pass from the outer to the inner. wall, even if it succeeded in penetrating the outer wall. “ In winter the temperature inside is even, and no colder than one finds it in any other type of house; in summer the coolness inside is often appreciated. It is in the upkeep and general expenses that one finds a point or advantage. I have once redecorated the outside at a cost of £l2, against from £26 to £3O for a wooden dwelling ot similar size. Insurance is 2s 8d per £IUO (less -Id per £100), against Os 8d per £IOO in the case of a wooden dwelling. As these rates apply also to furniture, the saving on £I,OOO qf insurance is worth while. Depreciation also is a factor of importance. A concrete house lias a long life, and presents a hard chew to Mr Borer. “I have by no means exuausted the subject, but have presented those views in the hope that they may.be helpim to home builders. lam perfectly satisfied with my property, and would not hesitate to invest in another of similar construction. 1 have no connection with the building trade, _ and 1 am in no way interested in Mr Buss. .My home is no., one of his construction; nevertheless, Mr Ross has spent time and money in an endeavor to produce something in keeping with the purse of the masses. We should rather encourage than despise men of his calibre, even although we may. not see eye to eye with them in details and methods of execution Tenacity of purpose and tireless efforts are to be admired. 11ns is the age of concrete, and why not ot concrete dwelling houses.” Another correspondent, . High Country,” writes in connection with tne criticism of Mr Ross’s concrete houses. The writer, who lives at Arthur's Point, stated that the house built by Mr Ross for bis son has stood the test ol a particularly severe winter exceptionally well. Notwithstanding the intense frosts, the floor of the bathroom, which was built on the ground of solid concrete on rock foundations, have been quite dry, ana remain perfectly sound. u There is no doubt,” ho adds, that concrete is a splendid material for constructional work in Otago, whore clean gravel of good quality lies at the door in limitless quantities.” referred to is at an altitude oi approximately 1,400 ft.