CONCRETE HOUSES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 6

CONCRETE HOUSES

CHEAPER THAN WOOD. The use of permanent materials, in place of timber, for the building of houses, was urged by Mr R. W. de Montalk, architect, when giving evidence before the Industries Committee yesterday. If, he said, the Government would supply the ' necessary plant, he was convinced that houses could be built of permanent material cheaper than of timber. A four-roomed house, with all fittings, etc., and with the best sanitary conveniences, could be erected in concrete for £550 to £6OO, or by his method probably for £SOO. liis system of concrete building in parts comprised four methods of wailing, of which it was proposed to adopt but one at present. A complete building—namely, the walls, partitions, floor, stairway and roof was constructed with the use of two parts only, one part being a slab at right angles, to which is a web or flange. The web portion was either a wall slab, a floor slab, a roof slab, or a stairway, and the web, or flange, was the stud, joist, rafter, or riser, as the case might require. The rafter might bo a separate piece in order to take a different method of roofing, whilst a joist might be a separate piece whore it was desired to have a "wooden floor instead of concrete. The other part was a slab which might be used as a wall slab, either inside or outside, and forms the other side of the wall before described; or it might bo used as a roof slab, or tile. Ais a wall slab, it was fastened by steel to the stud web or flange, and the joint between the slabs was filled with cement mortar. =

The outside of the wall might be finished to represent rough cast, or smooth plaster, as also _ rough or smooth masonry. The inside of .ne walk _ would bo plastered, hut provision is mode to take wood panelling where this was desired. . Floor pieces were eminently suitable for the floors of shops, offices, and warehouses, and were placed in a building in a most simple manner. They could be put in without the use of framing or false work, and as • the parts are factorymade and - seasoned .beforehand, the floor might be -made full . use of as •bon as it was laid.' It was said that a fireproof building could bo erected, otherwise for similar finish, but at the 1 same cost as a good wooden building.