GOOD FOUNDATIONS

Te Ao Hou, October 1958, Page 47

GOOD FOUNDATIONS Our houses do not show the foundation faults which have become obvious in some of the less carefully built sheds about the district. It is important to build a solid foundation, for one must remember that each block weighs 35lbs and that over every foot of wall ten blocks are superimposed on the foundation, plus the weight from superstructure. We were meticulous in making a 15in. base to the foundation, with an 8in. wall, 15in. high, reinforced with twisted strands of fencing wire, old grader blades, piping and sundry pieces of steel which abound in most areas longinhabited and lie around old whaling stations, This is the first house built under the programme. with Mr Wehi Heta in the foreground.

This is completed house is identical with one on the title drawing. bush mills, and other places where heavy machinery has been used. Air vents were inserted in the foundations, and one of the crafty neighbours invented a mould with the aid of a penknife, teatree sticks and a board. He turned out perfect ventilators, and the cost was about threepence for the cement. They were designed especially for the job, and are unique examples of what the Maori can do in the way of improvising when he sets his mind to the job. The foundation walls were 8in. wide and covered with malthoid to act as a damp course. The 6in. wide blocks were built on the foundations, leaving an internal ledge of 2in. to take the ends of the sleepers off the floor. Intermediate blocks for the floor construction were cast in place, using box timber for moulds. Wooden topplates were made of 6in. × 2in. rimu, and fixed in position with bolts cast into a reinforced encircling concrete cap, which thus completed the top of the wall construction. Reinforced concrete lintels were built over each opening for windows, doors and other openings. No crack has developed in these houses.