Metal Construction House
 

I realize that now, due to high steel costs, is not the time to build metal
buildings. But my question is this: have they ever made all metal/steel houses?


We all have seen spacious metal buildings, generally rectangular in shape. But,
could a man make a house-shaped metal building, with say the interior floors
and supports for interior stairs out of steel? The floor for the upstairs
portion could have steel trusses and then plywood layed out on that, then
flooring boards. I have never seen this done, but when I win the Powerball I
might just do it --to satisfy my own curiosity.

MilkyWhy wrote:
I realize that now, due to high steel costs, is not the time to build
metal
buildings. But my question is this: have they ever made all metal/steel
houses?


We all have seen spacious metal buildings, generally rectangular in shape.
But, could a man make a house-shaped metal building, with say the interior
floors and supports for interior stairs out of steel? The floor for the
upstairs portion could have steel trusses and then plywood layed out on
that, then flooring boards. I have never seen this done, but when I win
the
Powerball I might just do it --to satisfy my own curiosity.

Sure. The White Castle people (think little square hamburgers with
holes in them and lots of onions on them) made some back in the late 40's or
50's. ( http://www.whitecastle.com/ ) They designed a building system for
their restaurants using a modular porcelain steel panel system. They built
about a dozen homes with the same materials on James Rd in Columbus Ohio.
They featured a number of very modern ideas for their day. Several of the
homes are still in existence and in use. They were not received well as
people just did not like the idea of metal homes even though they were very
maintenance free.

The company also made other porcelain steel products like Scotts Lawn
spreaders. It appears that today the powered coatings are taking over that
market.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

On 30 Aug 2004 06:39:42 GMT, (MilkyWhy) wrote:

I realize that now, due to high steel costs, is not the time to build metal
buildings. But my question is this: have they ever made all metal/steel houses?


We all have seen spacious metal buildings, generally rectangular in shape. But,
could a man make a house-shaped metal building, with say the interior floors
and supports for interior stairs out of steel? The floor for the upstairs
portion could have steel trusses and then plywood layed out on that, then
flooring boards. I have never seen this done, but when I win the Powerball I
might just do it --to satisfy my own curiosity.


Having worked in an engineering firm, for clean room hvac, I was a
bit stunned to see how far some of the industry had come.

Using 1/16 aluminimum and then using a "Honeycomb" interior, they
basically made a "Walkable" ceiling. About 1 1/2 " think could easily
support 500 lbs.

Walls made of the same, with aluminmum struts. That was an
interesting place to work...I'd guess you'd need the powerball to
build something like that though :)

Yes they have made all steel houses. Right after WWII they did. There was a
company called Ludstrom (I believe this is the correct name of the company
or something similar to it) who made them. I believe they are not in
business anymore. Some of the older folks who read this NG may remember them
and could comment.


"Gene" wrote in message
...
On 30 Aug 2004 06:39:42 GMT, (MilkyWhy) wrote:

I realize that now, due to high steel costs, is not the time to build
metal
buildings. But my question is this: have they ever made all metal/steel
houses?


We all have seen spacious metal buildings, generally rectangular in
shape. But,
could a man make a house-shaped metal building, with say the interior
floors
and supports for interior stairs out of steel? The floor for the upstairs
portion could have steel trusses and then plywood layed out on that, then
flooring boards. I have never seen this done, but when I win the
Powerball I
might just do it --to satisfy my own curiosity.


Having worked in an engineering firm, for clean room hvac, I was a
bit stunned to see how far some of the industry had come.

Using 1/16 aluminimum and then using a "Honeycomb" interior, they
basically made a "Walkable" ceiling. About 1 1/2 " think could easily
support 500 lbs.

Walls made of the same, with aluminmum struts. That was an
interesting place to work...I'd guess you'd need the powerball to
build something like that though :)

Yes they have made all steel houses. Right after WWII they did. There was a
company called Ludstrom (I believe this is the correct name of the company or
something similar to it) who made them.

The porcelain steel houses were tradenamed LUSTRON and made by US Steel for
several years after WW II. There is one in our neighborhood about 2 blocks away
and after more than 50 years it is still looking good. Amazing...

Joe

On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 13:31:52 GMT, "Ace" wrote:

Yes they have made all steel houses. Right after WWII they did. There was a
company called Ludstrom (I believe this is the correct name of the company
or something similar to it) who made them.

"Ludstrom?" That musta been the Swedish Division! In the USofA it
was "Lustron!" :-)

My wife's father bought one of those when he returned from WWII. It
was, indeed, all steel. The roof was stamped panels to simulate
shingles (sorta), the interior wall panels stamped to simulate
vertical planking, the exterior walls were large rectangles. All
interior doors were sliding pocket-type.

The entire interior was painted gray! They lived there till about
1975--never (re)painted any of the interior. Grim!

Good grief! I just did a Google on "lustron" and came upon
http://www.lustron.org , and there was the exact, same dining room and
exterior view of the house I remember from my courting days!

I think I need to go lie down for a bit....

--John W. Wells

"John W. Wells" wrote in message
Good grief! I just did a Google on "lustron" and came upon
http://www.lustron.org , and there was the exact, same dining room and
exterior view of the house I remember from my courting days!

I think I need to go lie down for a bit....

--John W. Wells

That is very interesting. I'll bet the construction and trades unions
fought like hell to get rid of this idea.
Ed