The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-19

in the right condition. 1t must
never be touched by frost while
applying, the mixture must be a
certain specification, etc. With the
right handling 1t is a fine structural
material, but when wrongly ana
carelessly applied it is very bad,
and will peal, crack, stretch, ana
will have an unpleasant dingy gray
appearance, such as can be seen IN
certain cheap houses that are
wrongly called stucco.
More fireproof than any OF the
materials already mentioned Is mol
low-tile. This is what its name i'm
plies-a hollow brick or tile which
is used both for the foundation AM
the structural walls. These inner
walls may then be covered with
stucco or with an ornamental BRICK.
The floors are also Of tile under the
wood floor, so that the construction
Is what we may term "hreproot.
It also has practically no upkeep,
repair or painting cost, since the
hollow tile and its outer brick or
stucco covering form unihed
stone-like material
Concrete Is the name given to
cement mixture Of standard compo-
sition, which when poured into
molds or forms and allowed %
harden becomes stone like pro
duct. We may have -nn"rete walks,
concrete fountains. CaN",t'e blocks
and concrete wall Naturally that
house where the walls a" made .!
cement hardened into stone aft. %
this concrete method Is more fire
proof.
AS yet we find concrete used less
for home than for office and otha'
large buildings. In these cases m"
material is even more permanent
owing to being made with steel and
metal so that we call II reinforced
concrete. have no doubt that IN
a few years the cost OF concrete
construction will bring it within tAe
purse OF the home-owner Of moder'
ate means. At present 1t is the
most costly construction Of all.
Now we come to the frame hous"
and against this believe ] have
a good case" II you look up the
fire losses Of any past year notice
how they run into millions Of do
lars, and il you consider that most a.
this loss is caused by fire in frame
dwellings you will think twice be,
fore putting up an all-frame house.
/ think the only advantage which
frame offers is cheapness. And
here again ! think it is a fictitious
cheapness.
Think we'll of the great fire risk
involved in frame construction.
Consider the much higher insurance
rates you will have to pay on an
all-frame house. Then estimate the
constant upkeep OF the all-framc
dwelling. If made with the usual
single roof you will have TO re-
single perhaps every ten or twelve
years, depending on the quality OF
the shingles. Even If you use one
Of the excellent types of rubber,
slate or asbestos roofngs you still
have the outer walls to paint about
every FIVE years.
The all-frame house as generally
built is prey to draughts, permits
crevices for insects and makes a
tight flooring and sanitary construc-
ton almost impossible, because the
frame house is constantly settling.
II the porch, cellar supports, etc,
are also wood, there is great dan
ger from rats and mice, and really
sanitary housekeeping is made i'm
possible.
Before you build consider what
material will be really the cheapest
in the end. Visit houses built Of
each kind of material and talk with
the owners of each type Of house
and get their viewpoints.
(This Is the second Of a series Of
articles by Mrs. Frederick dealing
In common-sense fashion with the
problems Of the home-builder. An
other article will appear next SUM-
day.