Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-12-03
Steel Frame Homes
Add 10 Durability,
Style Unimpaired
individuality Possible
Without Thick Walls
Or Heavy Columns

Or Heavy Columns
The demand for homes that are
f1reproof, yet possess individuality
is credited with increasing interest
In steel framing for residences
Today's discriminating builder in
sists upon quality construction-but
the materials used and the system
of construction employed must i'm
pose no restrictions upon room ar
rangement and architectural treat
ment of the house.
The suggestion of steel framing
for a residence need no longer pro-
woke vision of ponderous columns
huge beams and mighty derricks-
with building cost utterly out of
the average home owners range.
The steel used for framing resi-
dences is of comparatively light
weight. Some of the pieces, or Sec
tions as they are called, are little
heavier than wood studdings and
joists, and are erected quite as
readily. A residence with a steel
frame should compare favorably in
cost with a brick dwelling of equal
size and equipment.
The walls and ceilings in house
with steel frame are never cracked
by the shrinkage of seasoning Of its
structural members, nor Is there ever
any danger of termite damage. And
there are other upkeep advantages.
Such a house is remarkably rigid
and durable. 1t will successfully
resist earthquakes and tornadoes
that would wreck masonry and
frame construction. 1t should re-
main serviceable and structurally
erect we'll beyond the third genera
ton. When grounded its frame is
a shield against lightning.
Walls Need Not Be Thick.
The outer walls of a steel-frame
house frequently are built-up slabs
of concrete, formed by troweling
successive coats Of cement mortar
onto both sides of metal lath con-
Etruction. Because the materials
are thus so closely and firmly knit
into an intensively reinforced mono
18th, the thickness of the slab need
be only a fraction of the thickness
required for brick wall or one of
poured concrete. Thus, there is q
great saving on materials required
for the wall slab, as we'll as for the
foundation upon which the house Is
constructed.
Steel-frame residences are of two
general types. Ons has curtain"
walls, the other bearing walls. In
the former type, skeleton of light
weight steel columns and beams
support the ceiling and roof, also
the upper floor in two-story house.
Because the outer walls are hung
from or supported by the skeleton
frame. they are called curtain"
walls. They bear none of the struc-
tural load.
In the other general type of steel
frame residence, walls are studded
with small steel angles or channels,
much as the walls of frame house
are erected with wood studs The
walls support the roof and other
structural load, hence are called
sbearing" walls.
A sample steeI-frame residence
with bearing" walls. recently was
completed in Northfield, Ill.
The walls are studded with three
inch by three-inch angles, made of
steel, only 1s-inch thick-so light
that bolt holes we're easily punched
as the steel was erected. The gen.
eral practice is to have all the steel
members for such a house cut to
measure in the shop, where labor
saving equipment is available in
order to reduce construction time
and cost. However, for this house,
many short lengths of steel were
cut during course of erection, and
the curved members required for
the rounded corner of the living
room were shaped on the job.
Reinforcing Rods in Place.
Small reinforcing rods, placed
horizontally and spaced Is inches
apart, we're attached to the outer
edges of the steel studs by means
Of special clips, and to these rods
metal lath was secured with wire
hes.
Plasterers then completed the
brown coat, or second coat of con-
crete stucco on the outside of the
wall. A similar coat was applied
10 the inside of the wall also, thus
thoroughly imbedding the metal
lath and creating an intensively
reinforced concrete slab ~ inches
thick that will Withstand a terrific
Anpact.
A pleasing effect was achieved. A
combination of colors and textures
could be used in almost endless vari-
ETY. on such walls, thus no two
houses need look alike. The surface
also could be nodded and colored
10 simulate the finest of cut-stone
work of varying hues. Split-brick
veneer applied to the brown coat
would give the appearance of brick
construction.
1t also is practical to use stand
Ard 4-inch brick veneer with such
a frame. When this is done the
usual practice is to start the erec-
ton of the veneer before any mortar
Is applied to the metal lath. A
space of half an inch or more is left
between the brick veneer and the
metal lath OH the wall. As the We
neer is built up this space is slushed
with cement mortar.
Style Not Restricted.
Architectural style is in no wise
restricted by the use of a steel
frame. The treatment can be Co.
lonial, Georgian or English, just as
readily as Spanish or so-called
9. "