HOMES IN A HURRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 93, 23 April 1946, Page 8

HOMES IN A HURRY

AMERICAN PLANS UNUSUAL MATERIALS Chicago. The housing shortage in major U.S. cities continues to grow more critical as troops return Horn overseas, but America plans to meet this crisis with a great wave of new construction. Home builders are being advised that timber is not the only material from which houses can b? built. For instance, at a large exposition held in Chicago by the National Association of Home Builders, concrete blocks, steel, and fibre board were some of the outstanding woodless materials shown. One exhibit featured lightweight concrete blocks produced by a number of firms. The blocks—the standard size is Bin by 16in—can be used in constructing the outer walls, basement walls, and partitions. Exterior walls may be left unpainted, painted, or covered with stucco or one layer of face brick. Interior walls can be plain or plastered. The ‘complementary wood-laths, door and window frames, and trimming—can be nailed to the blocks. If the owner desires, he can use precast concrete joists, cement asbestos shingles, and concrete flooring made in slabs at the plant and glued together with fresh concrete on the home site. STEEL FRAMEWORK. Another exhibitor showed how the framework of a house can be built of light steel. The steel ribs forming the structural skeleton can be assembled, bolted together, and anchored to the foundation by a carpenter. Insulation, siding and shingles can be nailed to the steel. With this sort of framing, the various sections are made by welding two pieces of steel together, back to back, leaving a small space just large enough to admit an ordinary nail between the two pieces. Driven into this groove, the nail follows a curving channel, and is clinched in place.

Also displayed was a building board that can be used for the outside walls and inside partitions of a residence, consisting of a core of insulating flbr* made from sugar cane, with a layer of cement asbestos on either side. Exterior sections are 2in thick, interior sections, 1 l-Bin thick. The board is cut to pre-determined size in the factory, shipped to the construction site, and assembled there. No plaster or laths are needed. Lumber is used in the framework and in door and window frames.

Another idea, carried out largely in wood, was the “GI house,” parts for which are fashioned in the factory, and sent to a building site, where the foundation and first floor joists have been laid. The parts are put together, and the place is ready for flooring, plumbing, and wiring., An odd-rooms-as-you-need-them plan is being developed for this type of housing. For example, one can buy a basic, factory-cut house that includes a living-room, one bedroom, a kitchen and bath, all on the first floor. Later on, two bedrooms and a second bathroom can be added on the second-floor level. Should more ground space be desired, a wing can be added to the living-room, and part of the original living-room area can be reconverted to a dining-room. A garage can be built as an extension to the other side of the house. An aluminium garage door that swings up and open when the handle is turned was demonstrated. For a single-car garage the door measures Bft by 7ft and weighs 110 pounds. Sealed within the door is an automatic spring mechanism.