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Steel reinforcement rods in 1950s bungalow
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Mark Carver
Apr 4, 2021, 1:47:06 PM4/4/21
to
A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
few days.
I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
why ?
few days.
I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
why ?
Andy Burns
Apr 4, 2021, 4:07:12 PM4/4/21
to
Jeff Layman
Apr 4, 2021, 5:19:17 PM4/4/21
to
at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefabs_in_the_United_Kingdom>, but I
suppose there could have been dwellings built of that sort.
--
Jeff
Adrian Caspersz
Apr 4, 2021, 6:17:15 PM4/4/21
to
On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
in the 1950s. Folks had issues later with buying and selling, mortgages
and even asbestos.
https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/content/new-contributions/bisf-houses-in-harrow-london
Make money out of them by knocking them down ...
BISF houses and their known problems
https://www.yeshomebuyers.com/we-buy-any-house/bisf-house-problems
--
Adrian C
JNugent
Apr 4, 2021, 8:28:05 PM4/4/21
to
but many council houses were built in the 1950s as "Cornish Units", with
the walls made of slabs (*big* panels) of reinforced concrete and
mansard roofs.
As they were sold under the RTB, the difficulty of mortgaging them
became a problem. The remedy seems to have been the support of the upper
floors with Acrow props and the replacement of the walls with brick.
There are some not too far from here.
And see:
<https://cockrams-surveyors.co.uk/cornish-unit-type-1/>
alan_m
Apr 5, 2021, 3:49:16 AM4/5/21
to
On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk
charles
Apr 5, 2021, 4:33:20 AM4/5/21
to
In article <icvtno...@mid.individual.net>,
Steel roads and plastic panels. Must have been based on something real.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
> > few days.
> >
> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
> >
> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
> > why ?
> Concrete raft?
does anyone remember "Bayko" - a children's building set at the time?
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
> > few days.
> >
> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
> >
> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
> > why ?
> Concrete raft?
Steel roads and plastic panels. Must have been based on something real.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
Rod Speed
Apr 5, 2021, 5:20:52 AM4/5/21
to
"charles" <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote in message
news:59185002...@candehope.me.uk...
> In article <icvtno...@mid.individual.net>,
> alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
>> > few days.
>> >
>> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
>> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>> >
>> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
>> > why ?
>
>
>> Concrete raft?
>
> does anyone remember "Bayko" - a children's building set at the time?
> Steel roads and plastic panels.
> Must have been based on something real.
Not necessarily, the model railways werent.
> alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
>> > few days.
>> >
>> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
>> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>> >
>> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
>> > why ?
>
>
>> Concrete raft?
>
> does anyone remember "Bayko" - a children's building set at the time?
> Steel roads and plastic panels.
> Must have been based on something real.
Adrian Caspersz
Apr 5, 2021, 5:36:06 AM4/5/21
to
On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
may hopefully find a comprehensive council document for the location. I
found mine a goldmine of local information on building history and
amenities features of my local district.
--
Adrian C
Mark Carver
Apr 5, 2021, 6:48:46 AM4/5/21
to
On 05/04/2021 08:49, alan_m wrote:
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>> A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the
>> last few days.
>>
>> I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a
>> large pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>>
>> Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses,
>> and why ?
>
>
> Concrete raft?
>
Having made a second visit, this might be it. The footprint left is only
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>> A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the
>> last few days.
>>
>> I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a
>> large pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>>
>> Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses,
>> and why ?
>
>
> Concrete raft?
>
the exterior walls, and huge chucks of concrete slabs piled up.
Mrs C reports two days of concrete 'smashing' noise last week. So a
suspended reinforced concrete floor ? The interior walls were block,
and presumably also contributing to supporting the roof structure, so
quite a load on it in total ?
nightjar
Apr 5, 2021, 11:42:19 AM4/5/21
to
On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
the 1960s. Lots of different non-standard building techniques were
tried. Step grandson lived in a house from the period that had two
massive reinforced concrete beams running across the ceiling of the
living room.
--
Colin Bignell
Rod Speed
Apr 5, 2021, 2:37:03 PM4/5/21
to
"JNugent" <jennings&c...@fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:icv3sh...@mid.individual.net...
> On 04/04/2021 11:17 pm, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
>> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>>> A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
>>> few days.
>>>
>>> I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
>>> pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>>>
>>> Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
>>> why ?
>>
>> Harrow has a few postwar "British Iron and Steel Federation" homes built
>> in the 1950s. Folks had issues later with buying and selling, mortgages
>> and even asbestos.
>>
>>
>> https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/content/new-contributions/bisf-houses-in-harrow-london
>> Make money out of them by knocking them down ...
>>
>> BISF houses and their known problems
>> https://www.yeshomebuyers.com/we-buy-any-house/bisf-house-problems
> Not bungalows and probably not within the definition of prefabs either,
> but many council houses were built in the 1950s as "Cornish Units", with
> the walls made of slabs (*big* panels) of reinforced concrete and mansard
> roofs.
We are seeing a few bungalows done like
>> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
>>> A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
>>> few days.
>>>
>>> I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
>>> pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
>>>
>>> Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
>>> why ?
>>
>> Harrow has a few postwar "British Iron and Steel Federation" homes built
>> in the 1950s. Folks had issues later with buying and selling, mortgages
>> and even asbestos.
>>
>>
>> https://www.prefabmuseum.uk/content/new-contributions/bisf-houses-in-harrow-london
>> Make money out of them by knocking them down ...
>>
>> BISF houses and their known problems
>> https://www.yeshomebuyers.com/we-buy-any-house/bisf-house-problems
> Not bungalows and probably not within the definition of prefabs either,
> but many council houses were built in the 1950s as "Cornish Units", with
> the walls made of slabs (*big* panels) of reinforced concrete and mansard
> roofs.
that right now, not with mansard roofs tho.
Very common with new industrial buildings here.
> As they were sold under the RTB, the difficulty of mortgaging them became
> a problem.
> The remedy seems to have been the support of the upper floors with Acrow
> props and the replacement of the walls with brick. There are some not too
> far from here.
> And see:
> <https://cockrams-surveyors.co.uk/cornish-unit-type-1/>
Theo
Apr 6, 2021, 7:13:06 AM4/6/21
to
Adrian Caspersz <em...@here.invalid> wrote:
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
> > few days.
> >
> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
> >
> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
> > why ?
>
> Harrow has a few postwar "British Iron and Steel Federation" homes built
> in the 1950s. Folks had issues later with buying and selling, mortgages
> and even asbestos.
BISF is steel frame and hardboard construction. There is usually a
> On 04/04/2021 18:47, Mark Carver wrote:
> > A knackered old 1950s bungalow near me has been demolished in the last
> > few days.
> >
> > I went to look at the remains. Rendered block construction, and a large
> > pile of steel reinforcement rods ?
> >
> > Was that a standard construction method back then for small houses, and
> > why ?
>
> Harrow has a few postwar "British Iron and Steel Federation" homes built
> in the 1950s. Folks had issues later with buying and selling, mortgages
> and even asbestos.
(rendered) brick skin on the ground floor and steel sheet on the first
floor. Although many of them (eg the ones still in council hands) have been
upgraded over the years, with either brick facing or external wall
insulation. I don't believe blocks are involved. There were asbestos
cement roofing sheets which are relatively straightforward to replace if they
haven't already. Unless retrofitted there was no asbestos in the fabric -
simply a thin layer of insulation and then hardboard on top.
AFAIK there was exactly one design of BISF house, so if it doesn't look like
the ones in the pictures it isn't BISF.
They are actually comparatively spacious inside (1940s design standards) and
tend to be on decent sized plots so can be good value if the price is right.
They are in a sense on borrowed time as eventually the steel will rust, but
70 years on many are still OK.
> Make money out of them by knocking them down ...
>
> BISF houses and their known problems
> https://www.yeshomebuyers.com/we-buy-any-house/bisf-house-problems
sell the property and move on, consider a “We buy any house” service like
ours. We aren't put off by these kinds of issues, and can buy your home from
you at a guaranteed price in as little as 2-3 weeks."
- of course they would say that. The 'guaranteed' price is likely rather low.
They're a semi, so rather hard to knock them down unless you're buying next
door too.
I looked at a one in roughly original condition - I love the 'tin' look, but
to make them fit for 21st century largely needs stripping out the hardboard
interior and rebuilding the insides with proper insulation. That was a bit
too big of a job for me.
Theo
Dave Plowman (News)
Apr 6, 2021, 9:35:36 AM4/6/21
to
In article <icuccm...@mid.individual.net>,
Was it once a council house? Councils seemed to experiment a great deal.
--
*Ah, I see the f**k-up fairy has visited us again
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
--
*Ah, I see the f**k-up fairy has visited us again
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
JNugent
Apr 6, 2021, 10:17:20 AM4/6/21
to
On 05/04/2021 10:16 am, Chris Hogg wrote:
> JNugent <jennings&c...@fastmail.fm> wrote:
[ ... ]
>> Not bungalows and probably not within the definition of prefabs either,
>> but many council houses were built in the 1950s as "Cornish Units", with
>> the walls made of slabs (*big* panels) of reinforced concrete and
>> mansard roofs.
>
>> As they were sold under the RTB, the difficulty of mortgaging them
>> became a problem. The remedy seems to have been the support of the upper
>> floors with Acrow props and the replacement of the walls with brick.
>> There are some not too far from here.
>
>> And see:
>
>> <https://cockrams-surveyors.co.uk/cornish-unit-type-1/>
>
> Yup. 'Cornish Unit' houses and bungalows were prefabricated, quick to
> erect, and fulfilled an urgent need for housing in the years
> immediately after WW2, a result of bomb damage and slum clearance
> schemes. Much used by local authorities at the time and whole estates
> of Cornish Unit buildings were put up all over the country. The panels
> were made at a blockworks near St. Austell in central Cornwall, and
> made use of the extensive mountains of sharp sand available as a
> by-product/waste from the china clay industry. Later, the blockworks
> became the pilot scale laboratories for the main china clay producer
> in the area.
>
> See
> https://www.metrotile.co.uk/history-cornish-units-renovation-possibilities/
> and <https://tinyurl.com/yffmjknq> for images
Thanks for that.
> JNugent <jennings&c...@fastmail.fm> wrote:
[ ... ]
>> Not bungalows and probably not within the definition of prefabs either,
>> but many council houses were built in the 1950s as "Cornish Units", with
>> the walls made of slabs (*big* panels) of reinforced concrete and
>> mansard roofs.
>
>> As they were sold under the RTB, the difficulty of mortgaging them
>> became a problem. The remedy seems to have been the support of the upper
>> floors with Acrow props and the replacement of the walls with brick.
>> There are some not too far from here.
>
>> And see:
>
>> <https://cockrams-surveyors.co.uk/cornish-unit-type-1/>
>
> erect, and fulfilled an urgent need for housing in the years
> immediately after WW2, a result of bomb damage and slum clearance
> schemes. Much used by local authorities at the time and whole estates
> of Cornish Unit buildings were put up all over the country. The panels
> were made at a blockworks near St. Austell in central Cornwall, and
> made use of the extensive mountains of sharp sand available as a
> by-product/waste from the china clay industry. Later, the blockworks
> became the pilot scale laboratories for the main china clay producer
> in the area.
>
> See
> https://www.metrotile.co.uk/history-cornish-units-renovation-possibilities/
> and <https://tinyurl.com/yffmjknq> for images
Thanks for that.
JNugent
Apr 6, 2021, 10:25:02 AM4/6/21
to
Andrew
Apr 9, 2021, 10:46:03 AM4/9/21
to
On 06/04/2021 15:24, JNugent wrote:
>
> Before: <https://ibb.co/LgPLjdP>
>
> And after: <https://ibb.co/c2P6sTq>
Those houses must have been freezing in cold weather. Zero
>
> Before: <https://ibb.co/LgPLjdP>
>
> And after: <https://ibb.co/c2P6sTq>
insulation.
ARW
Apr 9, 2021, 1:20:28 PM4/9/21
to
On 06/04/2021 15:24, JNugent wrote:
Now I would expect to one one the right to be studded out on the inside
and insulation packed into the void.
It's a while since I worked on that street.
--
Adam
JNugent
Apr 10, 2021, 11:35:48 AM4/10/21
to
liner with a fair sized air gap.
JNugent
Apr 10, 2021, 11:36:52 AM4/10/21
to
how it was before the upgrade.>
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