NEW BUILDING MATERIALS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 16

NEW BUILDING MATERIALS

Examination By Government

New types of building materials and methods are examined in the annual report of the Ministry of Works, and eight types of building materials are being tested by the department Although the metal weatherboards (zinc annealed) used experimentally on a house at Porirua about two years ago were in good condition, it was still too early to assess their value, the report says. An experimental cold water installation using polythene waterpipes was now two years old, and functioning perfectly The department now proposed to initiate experiments in the use of high-density polythene for hot water services. A house selected tot a P.V.A resin finish to interior joinery had been occupied for about 18 months, the report continues. A recent inspection showed that the finish had given durable results. It was now proposed to use it more widely, as one of its advantages was that the riaturai colour of timbers was retained. A combined eaves lining and spouting made of fibreglass was. being tried on a house in the Wellington area. Asbestos-cement sidings, whicn are now available with a coloured 'plastic coating, were fixed to a I house about six months ago and I showed no signs of deterioration the report continues. The experiment was not yet advanced .enough to allow a considered opinion on the suitability of the material for general use. ;

Alloy Windows Tria] installations of double-hung-type windows of aluminium alloy were made in Wellington and Auckland. Preliminary reports indicated satisfactory performance.

End-matching flooring, which was tongued and grooved on the ends as well as on the sides, wastested for strength by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and favourably reported on, the report continues. It was now being permitted for use, but kept under close ob servation. Its use should tend to lessen costs by the elimination of waste and the saving of labour. Machine priming of weatherboards was being tried, and indications were that it would be satisfactory, concludes the report on the new materials and methods.