STRAY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 257, 14 July 1926, Page 15

STRAY NOTES

RAPID HOUSE CONSTRUCT t TIDN 1 r 1 An interesting example of monolithic s concrete construction is afforded by a j house recently completed for the Cor- ; poration of Winchester. . The method employed, says the “Ulus, trated Carpenter and Builder,” is that 1 of pouring concrete between shuttering; ’ but in this case, tlie concrete for the > entire house—with the exception of the - foundation and bottom flooring—is pour- - ed in at one operation, and within the space of only a few hours. Many 1 thousands of houses are said to have been 1 constructed on this system in the United States and in Canada. After the foundation and sub-floor 1 have set the inner moulds—designed to 3 accommodate any architectural scheme—- ; are erected. They are of such dimenifions as will allow them to be handled by > two men. 5 At this point of the work the bulk of . the “fittings” of the house are placed : in position—window and door frames, t conduits for electric wiring, gas pipes, z ventilators, and chimney flues. Grooves j for water and drain pipes are also formed, and reinforcing rods inserted » where necessary. When this has been 3 completed the outer moulds are erected, j The process of setting up the moulds - for an ordinary small house takes about s sixty hours, and the actual pouring in 2 of the concrete, which is done continuously, occupies from ten to fifteen hours. The pouring at Winchester was begun one afternoon and completed the following morning. By the use of rapid-hardening cement the shuttering can be safely removed within three days, after which the plastering and stucco are applied immediately. Wooden or composition floors arc then placed in position and the roof, composed of tires and of the usual sloping pattern, is erected over the concrete ceiling, which is poured in the same operation as the walls. The window casements, doors, and all interior fittings are added, and when the decorators and 1 electricians have done their work the 1 house is ready for occupation. Single houses can be completed in three weeks. ; On large contracts it is expected that 1 one of the semi-detached type per set of 1 moulds per week could be turned out. 1 Bungalows would take about twelve 1 days. 1 The constructors of the house estimate • that the average price of a monolithic 1 concrete house, including all fittings, should work out at some 20 per cent. ! below that prevailing for brick or steel i houses, or, roughly, Is. per cubic foot. ; The recovering of a shabby eiderdown ’ is an expense that one is not always prepared to face. An economical and attractive way out of the difficulty is the loose eiderdown cover, which may e slipped on to the old quilt and buttoned into position. The up-to-date ’ loose cover is an exact replica of a fixed cover, and in use it is very difficult to detect. On the other hand, there are those who have a good eiderdown and they are anxious to protect it from everyday wear. For this purpose an embroidered net eiderdown cover is a practical and pleasing solution. The net is substantial enough to afford pro- ' tection to the cover beneath, but not so thick that it hides the colour, and, [after all, the pretty things of this life are of little benefit to us if we have to cover them entirely up six days out of seven.