BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 34, 29 November 1912, Page 5

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

_ v _. — A NEW IDEA.

HOLLOW WALL OONCBKTE,

We mentioned in. last issue that a new style in building construction was being introduced into Balclutha The jßystein is patented under the registered name of "Oratonu," signifying everlasting, and the patentee is Mr James Annand, the well-known Dunedin builder. The great difficulty with concrete houses in the past has been the tendency to dampness, unless the buildings were very carefully constructed, which was not always the case. The same objection applies to brick houses, but vested interests guarded against it, and as a result they have- enjoyed a greater popularity than concrete. In the case of brick the manufacturer is always on the lookout for" business, and of course the sale of bricks is pushed with business energy. As to gravel, it may picked up on the boaches and gravel beds, and there is uo one to push 'its sale. The carter is the chief man interested and usually he gets as much for the carting of bricks as .gravel. Mr Annand has for years been impressed with the possibilities of concrete in the erection of buildings, especially dwellings, and as a result of study, practical experience and knowledge, he has perfected a system the features of which are economy, durability, comfort and attractiveness in appearance.

His design may be described as follows:—The foundations aro laid the same as for the usual buildings in brick or concrete, with special course and ventilation to prevent damp. There are two miter walls built simultaneously, two inches of concrete then five inches air space, and on the inside another two inches of concrete, the two walls being laced at intervals of 18 inches with galvanised wire. The outer wall may be finished in "rough-cast," any desired color, or plastered smooth. The inner side of the inner wall can be finished in oi\e coat of. plaster, papered if desired, or may he T and G. lined, for which purpose, and also for picture hanging and other inside decoration, hardwood battens are embedded in the walls. These walls are thus nine inches in'thickness all over. The internal or partition walls are made solid, three inches in thickness, and may be finished as already described. This is for a single-storey building; for higher buildings the walls are proportionately stronger.

The building may be made to any design of architecture, and the construction lends itself readily to display. The boxing is made in sections, and to ensure good work requires to be very oarefuliy done. It must bo well-fitting and smooth, so as to leave a clean oven surface. The usual way in concrete building is to use a temporary boxing of rough timber, which leaves an uneven surface, which adds to the cost of plastering and finishing. Mr Annand's plant is all of a permanent nature, easily removable from building to building, various designs of boxing being used according to the style adopted for the building. The chimneys are also constructed of concrete, large-size drain pipes being used for their inside lining.. Mr Annand has a large quantity of plant, and he has brought four trucks of it to Balclutha. With plenty of plant the work can go on expeditiously, row after row of concrete being laid continuously. As soon as the walls or any part of them are sufficiently dry the boxing is removed. The question of cost naturally arises. Before it was decided to adopt this system in Balclutha the cost was gone into very carefully. Of course, the transport of plant for two or three houses amounted to a good item, which if spread over, say, half a dozen houses, would not add so much to the cost of each. But the building of so many houses was not taken into account, and the prices were taken out for two houses, and optionally three. The prices were made up for each in concrete, wood, and brick. The final outcome was that Mr Annand's system was found to be vory considerably loss than brick, and about 10 per cent, greater than wood. This was at first cost, allowing nothing for the recurring cost of painting, nor, in tho course of years, repairs and renewals in wood, besides which there is an immense saving in insurance, and additional comfort and security. Mr D. T. Fleming, who is responsible for the introduction of this system in Balclutha, had arranged to build two or three houses in wood before he heard of Mr Annand's system of concrete. He was impressed with inquiries lie made, 'and inspected several nouses of this construction in Duncdin and suburbs, one of them a large two-storey residence costing about £2OOO. After several interviews with Mr Annand and his foreman (Mr J. Minn) the proposition was reduced to the hard fact of cost, and he eventually had no hesitation in entoring into definite arrangements with Mr Annand. As it happened the timber for one house was already on the ground, but he cancelled the order for the second one and fixed up with Mr Annand for two. If he can dispose of the timber already delivered he will build the third in concrete also.

The arrangement with Mr Annand includes all the foundations, walls, partitions, and chimneys, with all outsides finished in rough-cast and windows and door frames built in. The buildings compriso six to eigfyt rooms, with washhouse, scullery, bath, hot and cold water, etc. The design in each case is Mr Fleming's, elaborated by Mr William Henderson, who, with his brother, ■ is to do the carpentry work. The houses are not large, and there is no effort at expensive show, comfort and convenience being the chief consideration's. "Mr Minn arrived on the ground on Monday, and after completing final arrangements made a start with the foundations of the first house on Tuesday, his work in connection with which he hopes to get finished by Ohrißtmas. Ordinary, river gravel without' screening, Bupplied by Mr Holgate, is being

used, *Qd itii proßOttocta bjr Mr Mian to be first class.

From thg quality of the gravel and the price at -which it can he supplied Mr Minn is of opinion that "Oratonu" houses should put wooden houses oat of the running here, as unless for jerry* built houses he.affirms that concrete will compete with wood on nearly, if not altogether, equal terms. Moreover, Balclutha has now arrived at a stage when houses of a more substantial structure than wood should find acceptance. . He will no doubt be willing to givo every, information desired, and if plans are submitted he will be able to quote a price for the concrete work, which can be done apart from the carpenter's work. As for brick, it is simply not in it with "Oratonu" as to cost.

It is just 18 months since Mr Annand took out his patent, but unfortunately a serious illness overtook him and he has not been able to push his business. There are five or six of these houses in Dunedin, and quite a number in Christchurch. A fine house has just been built for Dr Church on his farm at Balfour, and several at Invercargill aim other parts of Southland, where two housoß are now in hand.