TIMBER HOMES FOR LESS THAN £600

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

TIMBER HOMES FOR LESS THAN £600

Neat Type Of Dwelling ROOM FOR FAMILY OF SIX The erection of two groups of small timber houses at Yarraville, a suburb of Melbourne, has demonstrated in a practical way that this type of home can lie built for less than £6OO, including the cost of fencing, paving, and all services, says the “Argus,” Melbourne, iu a recent article. A study of the architect’s perspective

drawing and the plan of one of these houses shows that, while economy has necessarily been exercised, the house has an attractive appearance, and that in the planning the rooms are not cramped or inconveniently placed. Ample accommodation is proveded for a man, his wife, and four children. The rooms comprise a living-room 15ft. 9in. x 12ft., bedrooms 12ft. by 13ft. and 10ft. by lift., a sleep-out 15ft. by 6ft., kitchen 14ft. by 10ft., and laundry and toilet, all under the main roof. There are a small front entrace porch and a verandah at the rear.

Flexible Plan.

A feature of the plan is its flexibility. The rooms can be used for different purposes, according to the size of the family. If the sleeping accommodation required were only two rooms, the second bedroom could be used as a dining-room because of its proximity to the kitchen. No doubt the large kitchen, with many families, would often be used as a meals room or livingroom. The provision of a fuel stove in addition to the gas stove would make the room comfortably warm in winter. The kitchen has the sink and drainer —6ft. 6in. long—under a double window. Built-in cupboards are provided, and there is an electric power point. In the laundry, off the rear verandah, is sufficient room for a storage cupboard.

An economical feature of the plan is the provision of only one chimney stack. This serves both the kitchen and the living-room. In the main bedroom a power point is provided for an electric radiator.

All internal walls and ceilings are covered with fibrous plaster sheets. The sheets used are the full length of each

wall and to door height, so that no vertical cover strips have been needed. A picture rail, at door height, covers the horizontal joint at the top of the sheets, and a simple cornice mould is fixed at the joint between the wall and ceiling. This new method of manufacturing fibrous plaster sheets in large sizes has reduced the cost of internal walls, and gives a plaster wall of great strength which will not crack. In the main rooms the walls and ceilings are coloured in an ivory tone. The kitchen and bathroom are finished with a hard plaster dado, which has an enamelled finish. The bathroom, which is between the two bedrooms and convenient to the kitchen, has a built-in bath and basin. Hot water is provided by an instantaneous gas water heater. Adjoining the bathroom and in an annexe off the hall, is a double-door, flush-panelled linen press.

In the living-room the fireplace is faced with cream bricks. An electric

power point is provided for the radio receiver. Three large windows give the room a cheerful outlook to the front. The fully-glazed front door admits ample light into the hall, and large windows are fixed in the bedroom walls.

The full length of the window opening of the sleep-out is screened with fly wire. The walls are finished in fibrous plaster, and the ceiling is lined so that it has the comfort and appearance of an inside room. A wide over-

hang to the roof protects the screened windows against the weather. Hardwood Walls.

Externally oiled hardwood weatherboards have been used, finished with a light stain, so that the natural colour of the timber can be appreciated. The windows aud external woodwork are painted in toucs of cream, orange and green ou the various houses. In one instance they have been stained and oiled, as the weather-boards have been.

Internal joinery work is kiln-dried mountain ash, which has been given a light stain and oiled. The roofs are of salt glazed tiles, in tones of brown aud dark red for the different houses. The houses have been built in groups of four in Blackwood Street. Yarraville. Each house is erected on a 50ft. allotment, and has a low chain mesh fence and wrought-iron gates at the front. A concrete path leads to the front porch, aud provision' has been made for a car drive at the side.