The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-02-09
PREFABRICATEDH HOUSE
Sample Dwelling Shows NelU Types Possibilities
INVENTOR
PERFECTS
PROCESS

Difficulties in the use Of con-
crete, most permanent of modern
building materials, in year-round
construction have been overcome
by Q local inventor, it is claimed,
and the inventor has actually DEM
onstrated its success in residential
construction.
Among the difficulties COM
planned of by builders in the use
of concrete have been the fact that
it could not be handled during low
temperature periods, that it was
susceptible to the attraction Of
moisture and not readily SuScepti.
BILE to decorative treatment.
The demonstration house on
Colesville Pike, across from the
Indian Springs Country Club, ap-
pears to have met all objections
hitherto raised against concrete
houses.
Decorative Plan
John ]. Farley, inventor Of the
proceSS-and it is process which
makes the structure possible-has
employed the same means in his
prefabricated house of concrete
that he used in preparing the mo-
sale ceilings which attracted ma.
tionwide attention in the Depart
ment of Justice Building. In fact
some of the decorative treatment
embodied in the house is exactly
similar to that in the new Justice
Building.
Huge slabs or panels of con.
crete, with an exterior treatment
Of fine quartz and silicates, are
cast in the Early plant in nearby
Virginia. In the plant, regard
less of outside weather conditions,
the panels are cured until they
are ready to withstand the rigors
of extreme changes of weather.
If the architects design calls
for a window at a certain place,
the metal window frame is liter
ally cast into the panel. Door
treatments, with elaborate pill
lars and cornices, are similarly
handled.
Trucked to Site
Parts then are trucked to the
building site and laid upright
against fireproof studding, where
they are temporarily locked in
place while concrete pilasters are
poured into a uniquely devised
joint that, while it is weather
tight, still allows clearance for
all possible expansion of the
structure due to changes of tenn
perature.
It is this departure from the
monolithic type of construction
that creates extreme permanency
in the design, it is said by the in
Ventor, who explains that a
poured concrete house would be
less durable since the expansion
difficulty could not be overcome.
After the outer walls are locked
in place, and it is claimed this
can be accomplished in an in
credibly short period of time the
inner walls, first insulated with
moisture-proot treatment such
as spun glass or rockwool, are
then finished off in the conven'
tional manner.
So compact is the entire house
that it is comfortably heated with
a diminutive furnace and boiler
and at surprisingly low cost.
Modern Interior
The floor plan allows maximum
efficiency and the decorative
treatment of the interior is con-
servative and attractive. One Of
the new square neo-angle bath
tub, with shower combined, fea-
lures the bathroom arrangement
Light is everywhere and summer
ventilation is simpllfied with the
expansive easement windows
placed at controlling fronts.
Permanently of construction is
not the only virtue claimed for
this unique house. It's low cost
has attracted the attention Of
subsistence homestead workers.
The house can be built for less
than $4,000, provided the owner
desires to eliminate the more ex.
penSive decorative features.
First Cost Is All
It's first cost is the last cost,
it is said, as the exterior walls
are colored with natural quartzes
and no pigment is used anywhere.
Paint jobs are not to be antici-
pated and the slate roof will last
for generations.
The house on Colesville Pike is
an exhibit house and is not for
sale. It was built primarily as
a sample for the purpose of show
ing the remarkable facility the
type of construction affords and
the wide range of decorative
treatment to which it is suscepti-
bic.