Evening star. [volume], December 03, 1938, Page B-2, Image 20

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Steel Frame Homes
Add to Durability,
Style Unimpaired
r
Individuality Possible
Without Thick Walls
\
Or Heavy Columns
The demand for homes that are
fireproof, 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 im
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
voke a vision of ponderous columns,
huge beams and mighty derricks—
with a building cost utterly out of
the average home owner’s 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 a house
with a 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.
6uch a house is remarkably rigid
and durable. It will successfully
resist earthquakes and tornadoes
that would wreck masonry and
frame construction. It should re
main serviceable and structurally
erect well beyond the third genera
tion. 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
struction. Because the materials
are thus so closely and firmly knit
into an intensively reinforced mono
lith, the thickness of the slab need
be only a fraction of the thickness
required for a brick wall or one of
poured concrete. Thus, there is a
great saving on materials required
for the wall slab, as well as for the
foundation upon which the house is
constructed. •
Steel-frame residences are of two
general types. On? has "curtain”
walls, the other “bearing” walls. In
•the former type, a skeleton of light
weight steel columns and beams
support the ceiling and roof, also
the upper floor in a 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 a frame house
•re erected with Wood studs. The
Walls support the roof and other
•tructural load, hence are called
“bearing” walls.
A sample steel-frame residence
With “bearing” walls, recently was
•ompleted in Northfield, 111.
The walls are studded with three
tnch by three-inch angles, made of
•teel v only 1-4-inch thick—so light
that bolt holes were easily punched
•s 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
iwder to reduce construction time
and cost. However, for this house,
many short lengths of steel were
eut during course of erection, and
the curved members required for
the rounded comer of the living
room were shaped on the job.
Reinforcing Rods in Place.
Small reinforcing rods, placed
horizontally and spaced 16 inches
apart, were attached to the outer
edges of the steel studs by means
of special clips, and to these rods
metal lath was secured with wire
ties.
Plasterers then completed the
brown coat, or second coat of con
crete stucco on the outside of the
wall. A similar coat was applied
to the inside of the wall also, thus
thoroughly imbedding the metal
lath and creating an intensively
reinforced concrete slab V/2 inches
thick that will withstand a terrific
Impact.
A pleasing effect was achieved. A
lombination of colors and textures
could be used in almost endless vari
ety on such walls, thus no two
bouses need look alike. The surface
also could be molded and colored
to 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.
It also is practical to use a stand
ard 4-inch brick veneer with such
a frame. When this is done the
usual practice is to start the erec
tion 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 on the wall. As the ve
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
To
Build, Buy or Rofinanco
Your Home
Long-Term Loans With
Monthly Payments as Low as
$6.60 per $1,000.00
Straight 3-Year Loans
V fQUITAELE .
LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY .
>« I4rt> l>. MErillT
NEW GRASSLANDS HOME—Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Sanders have purchased this new home at 4433
Windom place N.W., from Meadowbrook, Inc., builders. The property was sold by Cyrus Kelser, jr.
—Star Staff Photo.
modern, as in the case of the resi
dence here pictured.
The insulation of this house is
unique. It consists of waxed sheets
of corrugated flberboard, attached
to the inner faces of the steel studs.
Entirely inclosed by fireproof mate
rials, it creates no fire hazard.
Wire clips attached to the steel
studs protrude through the sheets of
insulation and hold in place the
light steel plastering channels that
form a framework for the metal
lath used as a base for "the room
plastering.
In separating rooms and closets in
this house liberal use was made of
2-inch solid partitions of metal lath
and plaster. Such partitions have
gained much favor among home
builders because of their durability
as well as low cost and economy of
space.
The concrete floors are supported
by 7-inch “junior" steel beams. Bed
room floors £re surfaced with hard
wood, other floors with rubber tile.
Architects
(Continued From First Page.)
act within the basic regulations of
the institute, but with service to all
of the home owners in the United
States as the chief objactive.”
The three great professions of
law. medicine and architecture are
very directly related to the welfare
of every person in America, says
the report, commending as a step
in the right direction efforts by the
American Bar Association to pro
vide legal service for those unable
to protect their liberty and prop
erty rights because of lack of funds.
“The real issue in the small house
problem is gradually emerging
from the chaos of conflicting opin
ions and is looming large on the
architectural horizon as a move
ment based on larger issues than
those which have occupied the at
tention of the profession for many
years," the report explains.
“Stock Plans” Issue.
"To date the main issue has been
the advocacy of so-called ‘stock
plans’ by one group and opposition
by another group, with the great
majority of the profession showing
little or no interest in the contro
versy, probably because of lack of
contact with problems in the small
house field.
“Now, the real issues are: How
. much longer can the profession
stand aloof from the task of design
ing and supervising small homes and
maintain a favorable place in public
opinion: and, second, how can it
prevent the advance of governmental
and other agencies into the field of
architecture. All issues are sooner
or later decided by public opinion
and all groups engaging in service
to mankind cannot long endure on
a course contrary to fair and intel
ligent public thought.
“The average citizen believes that
the wants of the public should re
ceive the thoughtful consideration
of those engaged in service of any
kind. The automobile manufac
turers long since have sensed the
desire of a great number of people
to own a car and consequently we
have the low-priced car. There are
other examples of meeting needs
which have been expressed either
directly or indirectly by consumers.
Lacking in Contacts.
“The architectural profession is
sadly lacking in its contacts with
the average citizen and finds itself
handicapped in public understand
ing and sympathy with its objectives
and its true worth. We are a small
group ‘aside,’ and before we reach
the full realization of our strength
and become recognized as a pro
fession for service to the great mass
of consumers we must find a means
for reaching the people, rendering
personal service as architects rather
than have the output of our trained
men reach the public in the imper
sonal way—by bureaus.
“The American Medical Associa
tion has insisted that two principles
be maintained: First, the right of
the patient to select his own doctor;
second, the protection of the private
relationship between doctor and pa
tient.
“Some of the principles around
which the battle in the American
Medical Association rages are simi
lar to the ones under discussion in
our own profession with respect to
the small house problem.
"It is well that there is a division
of opinion at the moment, but it is
essential that these differences
should relate to the method of ex
tending service to those of low in
come and not revolve around the
profit to ourselves.
“It is obvious thgt no professional
man can operate without profit, but
somewhere along the line some
means will no doubt be found to
maintain a fair profit and at the
same time reduce the cost to the
consumer.”
-■—-m--— . -
Delicate, Clear Colors
Delicate and clear are the colors
now offering new possibilities to fur
niture makers. Sky blue, oyster,
brick and shell pink, suntan rose,
willow and spruce greens are all used
in the new dull lacquer tones which
promise to give interior decorators
an opportunity to revel in color com
binations previously impossible. At
a recent Chicago showing, chairs and
dishes, occasional tables, card tables
and other furniture were shown,
especially two-tone bedroom suites
of muted blue or rose. It is expected
that as the interest in tinted furni
ture for other rooms than bedrooms
increases, it will be combined with
pieces in natural woods and against
carefully contrasted or harmonized
wall treatments, to obtain highly
individualized effects.
D. C. Home Building
Shows Large Gain
The year end approaches with an
encouraging residential building
situation in the Washington metro
politan area.
October contracts included a sub
stantial gain of 88 per cent over
the awards in October, 1937, accord
ing to H. A. Johns, Washington
manager of the Dodge reports divi
sion of P. W. Dodge Corp. The local
gain was ahead of the average of 72
per cent recorded for the 37 States
east of the Rocky Mountains.
With the close of October, this
year's residential building in Wash
ington neared the year-end figure
for 1937.
Last month residential contract
awards totaled $5,325,000. In 1937
the contracts of the corresponding
month amounted to $2,833,000.
January through October contracts
this year reached $35,709,000, far
behind the corresponding $47,257,
000 of 1937,
$6,950
New Detached
Brick Home
Containing 5 rooms, bath and
built-in garage. Slate roof,
screens, weathcrstripped, rock
wool insulation. Electric refrig
eration, oil burner. Bus % block
away.
8115 '
Fenton Street
Silver Sprint, Mi.
Open Sunday and Daily
Drive out Go. Are. to Sligo Are ,
right on Sligo Are. t block to
Fenton St.—Lett to II IS.
T&x.EkooaM
<T <□> M WA. fcJ V
721 10th St. Ph. NA. 0765
REALTORS—Fslablishert Since l!> IS
Evenings, Phone Shepherd 2411
REAL ESTATE
LOANS
on District of Columbia, Maryland
and Virginia Properties
at
ATTRACTIVE INTEREST RATES
>
Amortized monthly for
15, 20 and 25 YEARS
A Consult Our Mortgage Loan Dept.
for Complete Information
CACIA MUTUAL LIFE INS CO
SI Lonisiina Ave. N.W. Facing the Capitol
Wakefield *CHEVY CHASE, D. C.
Highest Elevation
in the City
Adjacent to
Ben Murch Elementary
Alice Deal Junior
Woodrow Wilson
Schools
815,750
3730 Cumberlond St. N.W.
Initial offering of a truly fine Colonial home in Wakefield surrounded by new homes of refine
ment and character—convenient—uncrowded—where you con enjoy the full benefits of
suburban life, yet within five minutes walk of Washington's finest public and two parochial
schools. Center-hall plan—incorporating every convenience and comfort, including first floor
library and tiled lavatory—4 bedrooms, 2Vi tiled baths—paneled game room—rock-wool
insulation—furred walls—slate roof. AIR CONDITIONING QUIET MAY OIL UNIT. Built-in
garage. Lovely landscaped lot—70 ft. frontage. Built-in telephone conduits.
Jot. M. Stanley, Builder
Open Saturday Afternoon and Sunday
!0 AM. to 9 PM.
Daily 2 to 9 PM.
TO REACH—Co.»«. Ave. i tquarer north of , _ , ,
Albemarle St„ term left at Cumberland SU 738 15th St. Dl. 6830
Insured Mortgage
Cited in Increase
Of Home Building
New Small' Residences
Gain as Acceptances by
F. H. A. Rise 60 Pet.
The part played by the Federal
Housing Administration’s insured
mortgage system in stimulating
home construction this year is shown
by a comparison of the increases in
residential building permit figures
and in F. H. A. insuring operations,
Administrator Stewart McDonald
said today.
The total number of building per
mits for urban dwelling units in one
and two-family structures, as com
piled by the United States Depart
ment of Labor, increased 5.4 per
cent in the first nine months of
1938 over the corresponding period
of last year; the number of new
small home mortgages accepted for
insurance by the F. H. A., during
the same nine months showed a 80
per cent gain over the 1937 period.
Significance In Figures.
The comparison is significant, Mr.
McDonald pointed out, since the De
partment of Labor figures represent
issuance of building permits for one
and two-family dwellings in com
munities of 2,500 or over which re
quire such permits — virtually the
same field covered by the insuring
operations of the Federal Housing
Administration.
These figures show, the adminis
trator stated, that the F. H. A. is in
suring a steadily Increasing number
of mortgages out of the total eligible
residential loan volume. He credited
both the actual rise in F. H. A. busi
ness and the growing proportion of
all mortgages which are being in
sured to the National Housing Act
amendments passed by Congress last
February. These amendments lib
eralized the terms under which
homes may be financed with F. H.
A. insured mortgage loans.
Not Available to AIL
i Mr. McDonald pointed out that
not all mortgages on residential
poperties are eligible for F. H. A.
Insurance.
The National Housing Act places
a maximum limit of $16,000 on the
size of mortgages which may be in
sured by the F. H. A. In the in
terests of economic soundness, fur
thermore, the F. H. A. must decline
to insure mortgages on residential
structures which are considered to
be poorly constructed, located in
blighted areas, or otherwise danger
ous as mortgage security or as in
vestment for the individual home
buyer.
Lemon and Deep Green
A color scheme for a living room,
based on one in a New York hotel,
employs lemon yellow and deep green
to excellent effect. The walls and
ceiling as well as the drum table of
modern lines are painted lemon
yellow. Two upholstered chairs and
the carpet are green. Chintz slip
covers on the couch and two other
chairs combine both lemon and
green in their floral design.
!
Arlington’s Newest Community of Detached Homes
LEE
VILLAGE
13 Minutes from the
White House
Exhibit Bmh
3316 6th St. South
Furnishes be
HECHT CO.
*5,790
F. H A. APPROVED
$00.50 P«r »».
¥00 Mo. JSTA
w insnrone*
ON F. a. A. PLAN
$590 CASH
NEW 5-room brick hornet; tiled
both with shower; Harris oak
floors, full cellar, hot-water heat, oil
burner with summer and winter hot
water hookup, laundry trays, gas
range, electric refrigeration, insulat
ed, furred walls, caulked, screened,
Vermont slate roof, drain tile, copper
flashings and guttering; nice-sited
lots, well landscaped; and many
other modern features. Convenient
to schools, churches ond bus.
OPEN DAILY TO 9 P.M. JUDSON REAMY
T® Resch: Croat Arlington Me
WZ'tfWSi tTitf1122 N. IRVING ST.
proper*!/? t0 South Sth SU •Bd ARLINGTON, VA. WALNUT 7510
The neighborhood it ideol—on a wide avenue; in an exclusive section. Handy
to the community activities of Fourteenth Street end Park Road, but removed
from their distractions.
Detigned fo'r Comfort. Planned for
Convenience. Built for a Lifetime
The 6 rooms consist of o lorge Living Room, with open fireplace and built-in
bookcases, 3 splendid Bedrooms and 2 tiled baths. Handsome Recreation
Room, with open fireplace. Maid's Room and complete bath in basement.
De luxe Kitchen, with cabinets and ventilating fan. Efficient and economical
Garwood Heoting System. Air Conditioned; perfect Insulation. Big corner
lot and Detached Brick Garage.
Price and terms will appeal to you and a trade with your
present home can be effected
Come out 16th Street; or Upshur Street, turning right to Home.
/
MONROE WARREN PRESENTS
ANOTHER GORGEOUS NEW
HOME IN GRASSLANDS
4301 43rd St. N.W.
First floor—Entrance hall, spacious living room with
open fireplace, opening to a screened front porch.
Large dining room and kitchen with all electrical
equipment. Library finished in knotty pine with
lavatory adjoining.
Second floor—Three large bedrooms, two tile baths.
Large floored attic, huge basement recreation room
with open fireplace, maid's room and bath, laundry
and furnace room, two-car garage.
Ample closet space throughout.
Complete modern equipment, including automatic
air-conditioning oil heat.
Materials and workmanship of the finest quality.
A lovely home in a delightful restricted community,
Convenient to everything.
Rugs by Price, $19,500 Draperies
Manoukion ConTenient T„m, * U„.
Open Until 9 P.M. Daily
Directions: Drive out Wisconsin Avenue to Yumn
Street, left to 43rd Street, left one block to kome.
304 Baltimore Ate., Westgate
6 Roonis, 2 Baths—$10,250
^ Built by Simpson-Peak Co.
Drive out Massachusetts Ave. across Wiscon
sin Ave. on vast Westmoreland Circle—con
tinue on Massachusetts Ave. extended ii 19
mile to the Westgate sign.
WILLIAM BOSWELL,
Salt§ Raprmiantativ*
927 15th Street N.W. MEtropolitan 3303
2 SOLD • • 3 on SALE
W? 117 8-ROOM, 2-BATH HOMES
UJ WW Ri?ht in Heart of Chevy Chase,
D. C., 114 Sq. East of Conn. Ave.
3621 TO 3629 JENIFER ST. N.W.
Architecturally, these comfortable
modern homes have been cleverly
done, reflecting .the charm of the
old Georgetown Colonial. Among
some of the outstanding features
are: A very convenient location;
3 bedrooms and 2 baths; excep
tionally large, heated sun or break
fast room; attractive and bright
high-ceilinged recreation room; a
ship's cabin bedroom finished in
knotty pine with two built-in
bunks, particularly desirable for
children; gas heat ond electric
refrigeration; an exceptionally
well-equipped kitchen; built-in
garage. Houses are furred and
insulated. Most complete home*
in the city for the money.
Price
*10,500
OPEN TODAY S TO DARK
SUNDAY 10 TO DARK
DAILY 6 TO 9
BOSS & PHELPS
REALTORS
-WOT* P»T'inq
w. .ound «*£*Z!Z 53»£f ■
S80 a *»"* ‘°^*nh\d no id.* oi buJ'”’ \ month: bocau*o H
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Docombor
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