The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-31
TINS nor 81 FIREPROOF'.
Concrete Walls. Floors, Roof, stairs.
RnrcheS end PCrgOla.


There a, been built at New Dorp, Slater
Island, a concrete house which 10 in many
respects a pioneer in fireproof residence
construc ton.
With walls and partitions Of hollow con-
crete blocks, floors and roof of reinforced
concrete. it is the first building Of this char
acter to he constructed in New York city,
says the Fireproof Maya zine, the first in
which hollow concrete blocks were used as
supporting walls.
The New York building code is very
strict upon the subject OF concrete blocks,
and apparently treats them with the great
est suspicion. believing hat where there is
such a chance to make poor blocks or blocks
without a sufficient quantity of cement it
is wiser to condemn them ell a. the start
thar to permit them to be used in such a
manner as to leopard the lives of the in
habitants OF the buildings.
Three sizes of blocks were used in the New
Dorp house; T. inch for the basement walls,
s inch for the walls above the basement
and 6 inch for interior partitions.
The floors are supported by 3xl0 inch con-
crete beams reinforced with liars. and over
these il aid a concrete floor in n con-
tinuous slab, having embedded in it mailing
strips for the finished floor.
Where partitions occur in the second story
other than over first story partitions, they
are carried by reinforced concrete girders,
which show below the ceilings of the first
story. The faces of these partitions, as
well a the walls and ceilings, are in the
main pIastered with pulp plaster. which
a; a soft and pleasing effect and a
he tinted or adapted to various applied
decorations. some of the walls are covered
with buriarta rhed to half inch strips, put in
after the walls and partitions were COM
pIeted.
The house stands hv itself on a large
corner lot. the two priucipal. sides being
tlarked Ivy u terrace. the wall oil WHICH
is built Of blocks with rock faces. The
front entrarce i covered with n porch built
entirely of concrete, the braces and roof
leing reinforced with plain round rods.
On one side of the house is Il veranda, the
columns Of which are built up OF large
blocks and carrying a balustrade of inter-
laced blocks, Or the same side Of the house
IL a pergol1. the columns OF which are built
mp squ-rs, with Girders o reinforced con
crete carrying Filters of mail poles left
with the bark on.
Thu ROOF ia Of q somewhat novel con
t,ructioa,. the hre?rooii1g, system being
fIso carried out here, The ~rafters are
REINFORCED with bars, over which is laid a
tl1b Of coNcrete reinforced with plain round
rods pIaced both vertically and horizon
tally or the roof surface. The slab forming
the roof extends down to form n %cornice,
thus completing the frame without a single
yiece Of wood. The cutters are formed
H. the roof by embe idinR y wire mesh bent
to the proper angle and tine concrete trow-
elle1 around and through this; The ser
vices Of the timer were required only for
the running Of The roof leaders.
The steps to the rear entrance are cast
in one piece in place, a few rods being suf-
fcient reinforcement for the purpose
The interior stairs are also Of concrete and
there are two cement fireplaces in the din
ing room. The house is as nearly fireproof
es is possible.