Evening star., 1937-12-11
NEW STEEL HOMES
OUTPUT STARTED
Prefabricated Houses Can
Be Erected in 113
Labor Hours.
By ELIZABETH GORDON.

lSdUCh, AIC~
resistant and termite-p proof houses,
which can be erected in 113 labor
hours, are available to the public this
week through dealers in 80 leading
cities. Their introduction brings to
fruition the much-heralded advent of
steel as a major housing material.
For insulated, steel-frame panels,
welded at the assembly points, are the
basic structural unit characterizing
these packaged houses.
The company making the packaged
houses provides a choice of 116 floor
plans and 78 elevations, including a
variety of two-story models Four,
nve and six room plans constitute the
bulk of the line. Larger plans can be
created from stock parts, although
changing things around partially can
GELS the savings every buyer should
enjoy as part of prefabrication
Price for finished houses, As per
cent of whose parts are fabricated in
the factory, range from $500 to $6,-
500. In appearance these houses are
traditional, although few models are
offered which might be termed
modern.
Easements Optional.
Houses may be built with or without
Easements. Since heating, plumbing
and wiring equipment must be in
stalled after the house is erected, it is
optional whether the buyer uses equip
ment which is supplied by the manu-
facturer or other of his own choice.
1t is understood, of course, that a pur-
chaser is at liberty to buy a prefabri-
Gated home without ordering any items
OF equipment, such as plumbing fix
lures, kitchen or medicine cabinets,
heating equipment or lighting fixtures.
However, it is cheaper for the pur-
chaser to use the same equipment the
manufacturer is able to buy in guam
tity.
Wall panels embody the latest prin-
ciples known to science for construct
ing fire-safe, termite- proof, insu-
lated wall The load-bearing steel
panels are treated with a special rust
1nhibiting solution which seals the
steel against all corroding elements
before the exterior and interior sur
face materials are added This over
comes one of the hazards heretofore
associated with steel framing. Con-
denSation of moisture within the walls
Of air conditioned houses could breed
rust-that old enemy of steel, as well
as other building materials.
To the interior face of the steel
panel Is fastened gypsum board, held
away from the steel by paraffin-
coated wood furring strip. This is an
important point. All wood parts in
the panel are treated thus, the COM
panys laboratories having found that
paraffin protects wood against any rot
which might be started by condensa-
ton within the walls of an air-con-
ditioned house.
Four Paint Coats Applied.
The exterior of the wall panel is a
double wall-two 1a-inch layers of
structural insulating board held apart
by a wood mailing strip, also treated
with parafln. The exposed boards are
factory-treated with sealer-aluminum
paint, plus lead and oil paint. A
fourth coat of asbestos fiber paint is
applied to the exterior face of the
panel in the field, making four coats
of paint in all to protect exterior
surfaces.
The assembling of these materials
on steel frame panel creates a SIP
inch wall with two separate air spaces;
each air space naturally adds insulative
value to the boards which form the ex-
terror face Of the wall. The joints,
created when panels are locked to-
gether, are covered with steel batten
strip coated with enamel paint baked
on in the factory. Outside joints
also are sealed with batten strips. In
side joints are covered with perfor-
eted tape and sealed with a plaster
cement, over which any kind of in
terror decorative finish may be applied
from textured paint to wallpaper.
Windows are heavy steel easement
sash. both panels of which swing open
to allow maximum ventilation. The
sash are set in steel frames, trimmed
with wood. Each window, including
frame and trim, occupies a full 40
inch panel.
Front and rear entrance doors are
ila4 inches thick, of attractive design,
carefully fitted in heavy wooden frames
and completely weatherproofed. In
.side doors are l q inches thick. fitted
In welded and enameled steel frames.
! ALI interior trim, such as door and
window castings, cornice and Dashboard.
is made of 22-gauge stamped steel,
which comes ready to snap into place.
1t Is durably finished at the factory in
baked enamel, and requires no paint
ing on the job. Pre-engineering. that
thoughtful aid to modern comfort. has
even provided the grilles for duct re-
turns for cold air, stamping them right
into the metal baseboarding.
Double Floors Specified.
Double floors are specified in all
rooms and Railways. The rough floor
Is OF 1-inch board of dressed pine
nailed to the steel floor panels at the
factory. The living room, dining
room, bedrooms and Railways are fin
,ished with clear oak floor, laid on the
JOB. However, within the near fu-
.ture, the company will provide COM
,pletely finished floor panels, the ex-
posed surface of which will be finished
splywood. The kitchen and bathroom