The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-12-31
Concrete Buildings.

AS we have many inquiries about
making concrete buildings, we take the
following from the n. Y. Times:
Concrete, by which is meant a mix
ture of common lime, or hydraulic lime,
with gravel or broken stone, is one of the
most ancient of building materials.
Nearly all the oldest constructions which
yet remain as monuments of the skill
and industry of ancient nations are made
in part of concrete. In modern engi-
neering it is extensively used for the
heaviest. structures, and it has been
found so cheap, durable, and plastic a
material for house building that the
managers OF the Peabody fund for pro-
viding dwelling houses for the poor of
London, chose this for the construction
OF the buildings erected by them. For
several years concrete of common lime
mortar and stone has been used with the
best results for farm buildings, and it is
now becoming very popular for this pur-
pose in places where timber, stone, and
brick are scarce, lime, sand and gravel
being abuslantly found almost every
where. For ordinary use common lime,
sand and gravel, or broken stone, mixed
with larger stones are used, but for
stronger work hydraulic lime is substi-
tuted. The method of procedure is as
follows: The materials having been
! brought upon the ground and placed in
readiness, miXing-board is made Of
sufficient size; Is feet by u is large
enough for an ordinary building. The
lime is slacled and mixed with sand in
the usual manner. The gravel, first
thoroughly wetted, is then mixed with
the mortar in the proportions OF five or
SIX parts of the former to one of the lat
ter. This is thrown into a square heap,
which is divided into two portions by
throwing the mass by shovelfuls taken
from each end into separate heaps.
When all is turned there are two heaps
in place OF one: these are then thrown
back again into one heap, and the con-
crete is ready for use. In the meantime
a foundation has been made by digging
a trench foot wider than the wall is tC
be. This is filled with the concrete al
ready made, and broken stone, first vel
a wetted, is thrown upon it and rammeG
down until the concrete appears to be
: evenly mingled with stone, and every
= piece is brought into contact with the
q mortar, the gravel filling up the inter
stlces between the larger fragments
! When the whole foundation has beer
:, gone over, the first laid portion will have
: become solid enough to lay the wall up
q on it. And now begins the most i'm
portant part of the work. A frame j.
needed in which to lay the material
This is made by laying planks or boards
on edge as far apart as the wall is to b,
thick, Y or IL inches, as the case ma,
be, and holding them in place by cross
pieces nailed to them. In this way ;
sort of trough is made in which the ce
ment is laid, and is we'll rammed dow
e as before. Especial care is to be takel
n at the corners of the building to strength
! en- them with selected pieces of stone
T which shall form bond of mason worl
d squarely built up. When one course ha
y been finished the concrete will have be
come hard, and another can be laid upol
!, it. The frame boards, or plank, ma,
e then be raised to receive another course
: of concrete. In this way the walls ar,
q put up layer by layer until the top il
i reached. The frames for doors and win
a dows are put in place and built in as thu
a walls are raised. If it is desired to latl
e and plaster the walls inside, blocks O