The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-03-06
HONE BUILDING
LEADS IN j. s.

The proportion of residential
building to all other types of con.
struction is growing in America
each year.
The statement often is made that
one-half of Americas building ex-
penditure goes into homes. but an
accurate check of the different
classifications of construction shows
that in 1926 nearly So per cent of
the building in the United states
was residential, based upon floor
space area. The proportion in 1920
was 81 per cent; in 1921, So per
cent: in 1922, 81 per cent. and In
1928, So per cent, and 1924, 81 per
cent.
AS a home building nation the
United States unquestionabIy ex.
ceeds all others at the present time
Dividing the classes of construction
into four, residential, commercial
Industrial and educational, in 1926
we find that the second largest vol
un7e was commercial. being l6 per
cent Of the total. The next largest,
industrial, being ~ per cent, and
the next educational, " per cent
All other classifications tota1ed
ITO per cent.
1t is in this great residential
market that the brick Industry OF
the country is looking for its In.
creases during the coming years.
Although brick was freely used in
the original colonies, as develop
Elent struck westward frame be-
came the prevailing type for home
building.
In recent years the tendency to.
wards lowering the cost OF construc-
ton led to the use OF many. substi.
tute materials, producing walIs2con-.
tanning cavities Builders desiring
brick construction were under the
necessity of comparing solid brick
masonry with the hollow walls. and
the ratio of difference In cost often
was in proportion to amount OF
solid material in the wall.
BY the Introduction of hollow
wallis built exclusively of solid brick
units, brick has again come into
the field of low price residential
construction. These hollow walls
of brick are recognized in most
building codes and known to buiid-
sers as Ideal walls.
4 Under the heading Of Ideal wallis
there are several types. One type
uses the brick laid In the usual
manner in the outside Of the wall
with the backsup brick set on edge,
thus reducing the quantity Of ma
terial and labor.
This type, called the Rolok.bak.
permits the use of various bonds,
mortar joints, and patterns to which
the eye is accustomed in brick
work Another type Is called the
aIl-rolok wall. in which all Of the
brick are set ON edge.
This also produces d hollow wall
but with a distinctive exterior ap:
pearance, the larger dimension of
the brick being visible rather than
the face Of the brick, as in ordinary
patchwork.
Ideal walls are generally used
throughout the country. They have
been tested at the United States
Bureau Of STANDARD Laboratories
and other testing laboratories, and
it has been howri that their
strength and fire resistance and In
sulation value adapts them adj
nlirably to residential construction.
The hollow wall OF brick is gener-
ally accepted as being the strongest
and driest and by far the most
fire-resisting type Of hollow
use.
It's cost also generally is lower
than any other type Of hollow wall.
This brings brick again into the
field Of low.cost construction and
it is a factor in the greatly in
creased use for residential construc
ton in America.