READY-MADE HOUSES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4724, 14 July 1924, Page 3

READY-MADE HOUSES.

DO THEY MAKE FOR SAVING ? SOME FACTS TO THINK ABOUT. A good deal has been heard recently concerning the proposal for importing houses in sections from America and erecting them in this country, it being claimed that big economies can be in this way effected. Opinions on the matter are many and varied, and this is what the “New Zealand Industrial Bulletin’’ has to say in its latest issue : SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED, iniormation has reached us that a synuicate has been formed in Wellington for the purpose of importing and erecting “ready-made” houses from America, and that the promoters have been guided by previous experience of others in this venture, more particularly in respect to the weatherboards and length of stud. It is understood that specifications have already been sent to America setting out the requirements necessary to conform with Wellington city by-laws. The stud will have to be 9ft instead of the standard "ready-to-erect Bft 6in, and a sample of the “run” of our standard 6xl level weatherboarding has also been sent, so that .the “siding” may be run to this pattern—instead of the 3% x 7-16 level and lapped weatherboard in these “ready-made houses previously. The weatherboard supplied with the last “ready-made” house imported to Wellington w.as only 7-16 in thick at the thickest part and was bevelled down to uuder 3-16 in on the thin edge. Obviously two of these weatherboards were split on the bevel out of 3% or 4 x 1, and this weatherboard was passed by the Wellington authorities ! Consider a weatherboard smaller and thinner than cur standard 4 x % matchlining ! QUALITY UNCERTAIN. Another stipulation that has been made is that the timber shall, not be “Oregon or Douglas Fir,” “ut “yellow pine.” Now, yellow pine is a comprehensive and trade name, which covers quite a number of actual species of American pine, and though the promoters of this present scheme are convinced that in ordering yellowpine they are assured of getting the very best, it is quite possible that any of the following species may be supplied : Longleaf pine, short leaf pine, lodge pole pine, or western yellow pine (pinus Ponderosa). This latter is undoubtedly a very fine timber, and has been highly recommended for afforestation in this country. Mcilerfally there are some good specimens of this, timber tree in the Wellington Botanic Gardens, growing among the clumps of pinus insignis.' Ponderosa is distinguishable from the latter in that it has a cleaner barrel, more free limbs, and the needles are longer and heavier-looking than those of ing MAY PROVE COSTLY. it would seem, however, with the foregoing stipulations as to a longer stud, and probably heavier scantlings to conform to the by-laws, very much heavier weatherboards and a superior quality timber, that these American “ready-made” houses proposed to be impoited may eventually, with all charges prove a more costly proposition than building with New Zealand timbers. In any case, the syndicate will certainly find that as only 18 per cent, of the total cost of a house is represented by the cost of the timber, it is not in this item that the admittedly high cost of building can he reduced by any appreciable extent.