Systems of House Construction

SYSTEMS OF HOUSE CONSTRUCTION Among the systems of house construction re cently evolved may be mentioned the following: The Edison House. Thomas A. Edison, the inventor, is perfecting a system of construction which is popularly known as the poured cement house. By this system he intends to use cast iron moulds which will be so arranged that the entire house, a two-story structure designed for working people, can be poured in six hours after the moulds are set up. See Plate 4.

This house is for one family, with a floor plan 25 by 30 feet. It is intended to be built on lots 40 by 60 feet, giving lawn and small garden room.

The front porch extends 8 feet, and the back porch 3 feet.

On the first floor is a large front room 14 by 23, by feet high, intended as a living room; and a kitchen in the back 14 by 20, by feet high. In the corner of the front room is a wide staircase leading to the second floor.

The second floor contains two large bed rooms, a wide hall, and a roomy bathroom (7 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 6 inches, by 8 feet 2 inches high). The third floor has two large rooms.

Each room has large windows, so that there is an abundance of light and fresh air.

The cellar, 7 feet 6 inches high, extends under the whole house, and will contain the boiler, wash-tubs, and coal bunker. The main room, as well as the outside of the house, will be richly decorated.

The decorations are cast with the house and therefore form part of the structure, instead of being stuck on, as is done at the present time.

The Graham System. Owing

to the growth of our cities and the massing together of people, the demand for fireproof buildings has been steadily increasing. Engineers and builders real ize that every owner wants his building to be fireproof; but up to the advent of concrete, all methods of fireproof construction have been ex pensive and almost prohibitive, except for the highest type of building where excessive rentals can be obtained.

The more common methods of reinforced con crete construction, although fireproof, and less expensive than steel and tile fireproofing, are not extensively applied to residence or apart ment houses, nor other buildings of moderate size.

The difficulties attending other forms of fire proof construction seem to have been largely overcome in the form of building invented by Mr. George M. Graham, which is an entirely new combination of steel tubing, wire, malleable fit tings, and concrete. With the exception of piers, the concrete is not depended on to carry any of the load, but is used only as a stiffener or body to the building. The entire framework of steel tubing can be erected before the concrete work is started, making it possible to inspect the posi tion and quality of steel, and to erect a building in a much shorter time—it is claimed—than is required by any other form of construction. Also, no forms or centering are required, which gives this method of concrete construction an added advantage. The walls and floors are hol low, which reduces the weight of the building to the minimum and affords perfect insulation. The strain on the floors is carried by wire in tension, which is an economical way of using steel, and the tests have shown that an equal amount of steel used in this way makes a floor of nearly double the strength of any other form of con struction. The walls, floors and partitions form one integral mass, so that the building is abso lutely vermin proof and indestructible, even by earthquake. As every partition, floor, and ceil ing is interwoven with wire, it is practically im possible for cracks to develop. The building is absolutely fireproof, and costs very little more than the present form of brick walls, wood floors, and partitions, which are so highly inflam mable. All steel and wire are encased in cement, which prevents corrosion or rust. The exterior is of cement mortar, which permits of any finish or form of ornamentation desired.