A Tuskegee Institute Self-Help Program

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Prairie View A&M University Digital Commons @PVAMU Frederick Douglass Patterson Collection PVAMU Faculty and Administrator 1946 Low Cash Cost Housing From Native Materials A Tuskegee Institute Self-Help Program Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/frederick-douglass-patterson-collections D lOW CASH COST HOUSING FROM NATIVE tATERIALS A TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE SELF-HELP PRO~RAM ~Jork Sheet for MAKING AND LAYING CONCRETE BLOCKS Early in December, 1946, a special story in the New York Times called attention, nationally, to Tuskegee Institute 1s Low Cash Cost Housing Program. 11The principal departure from usual low-cost housing projects," said the Times correspondent, 11is the iniection of the maximum amount of self-help." ,ind the program 11 is attracting considerable notice from architects and builders," A leaflet issued by Tuskegee Institute in the Spring of 1947, stated that during the past two years, experiments have been conducted here on materials and construction methods which may be utilized by the farm family. Continuing, the leaflet says: 11The important advantage of this type of construction material is that the blocks may be made from sand and gravel, available as a by-product of erosion in ditch banks in the immediate surroundings, at almost no cost, Little technical skill is reouired for making and laying the blocks, This type cf construction lends itself conveniently to small town and rural areas, where individuals may pooJ. their efforts, during spare time. In this manner, the cash cost is held to a minimum, the actual cost being ¼ell within the means of the average farmer, and the major reruirement being labor on the part of a small group of people working cooperatively." Subsenuently, ne1 ,spaper stories and magazine articles describing the pro-gram brought many renuests for more detailed information. This leaflet is designed to answer such questions and to provide information which will enable any individual or group to proceed with construction. '\.'!e are grateful to Mr . Royal Dunham, Head of the ilasonry Division, for the detailed instructions contained in this leaflet, to his Assistant, t'.r. 0. L. ;._fcDonald, and !fr, Withro ~kSnge, Head of Department of Industrial Arts. For e;eneral assistance in workin~: with farmers, we express appreciation to :,1r . L. P •• Locklair, Rev, ~ - T. Dixon, and other members of the Rural Life Council. Tuskegee Institute, Alabama June 10, 1947 F, D. Patterson, President ' TUSKFliEE IN.STITU'fE 101·r CASH COST HOUSING T''Oill< 3H~T 1;:P.KING MID LAYING CONCRETE BLOCKS A. Materials Used. 1. PIT OR CREEK RUN ShND - A mixture of sand and gravel as found on stream bank or in banks as deposited by nature. a , Some pit run gravel contains from 10 to 30~ gravel and 90% to 70% sand. This variation will affect the strenP.th of the mixtur~. b, If only 10 to 15% gravel is found in sand, use a mixture of 1:5, This mixture will produce 20 blocks per sack of ~en~. c, If onl~• 15 tc- 30% of gravel is found in sand, use a mixture of 1:6. This mixture will produce between 20 to 22 blocks per sack of cement. 2, PLAIN COARS" ' S/iND -- -ITH LITTLS OR NO rm,,v;~L MAY BI!: USED TO Vi/1KE Cctlc'Q,;;;TE BlDCKS. a, Use a mixture of 1:4½. This mixture will produce approximately 18-20 blocks per sack of cem1mt, 3. CINDSRS - Cinders co!:1posed of only h,ird clinkers aru to be used in J!l,')king cinder bJ.ocks. NOTT-~: Tiiu chafts and scft portions cf cinders shculd he screened out and only the hard clinker portion is to be used, a. Use a mixture of 1:3:3 (1 part cement, 3 parts sand 8nd 3 parts cinders). This mixture will produce 20 blocks per sack of cement. 4, PORTLAND C'QfENT - The only cost outlay material. 5. WATER - Clean water, free from vegetable matter should be used. a. Use an amount to produce an easy to work mixture that is not too soupy or stiff to be float~d smoothly. ' B. Making Concrete Block Forms and Platforms. 1, FORl}S SHOULD BE MADZ AS SHOWN ON DRAr.iING. See Types 1 and 2 - page 2. 2. CONCRETE PLATFOHJ.fS SHOULD BE MADE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE NUMBER OF mJLTIPLES (Types 1 & 2 Forms) OF BLOCK FORMS TO BE POURED. a 0 Hake a wooden form for concrete flat, Forms to remain around flat during pouring of blocks. b, Pour concrete and bring to a smooth finfsh, . so as to prevent blocks from sticking to flat. NOTE: A wooden flat may be used as a substitute for concrete flat. c .. After forms have dried, lubricate them with used motor oil, 1. Forms and flats should be lubricated after every fifth pouring. C. Procedure of mixing Concrete to Fake Blocks, 1, HAND POURING. a, Make 1 cu, ft. measuring box . This box to be used in measuring materials according to mixtures being used, b, . Make mixing platforms 8 1-011 x 8 1-0 11 , c. Measure up 1/2 amount sand reouired for the batch and pour into mixin8 platform. d. Pour 1/2 amount of cement on top of sand pile. NOTE: 1 sack cement eauals l cu. ft. e. Continue Steps c and d until all dry materials have been measured out on mixing platform. f. Mix dry materials thoroughly until a uniform color is developed in the mixture. g, Cut a hole in the center of the pile of mixed material and pour in water. h, Chop water into mixed material thoroughly to develop a workable consistency. i. Pour concrete· into prepared forms. j~ Level off blocks with wooden float. 2. SMALL CONCRETE MIXpR METHOD. a. Measure out required materials (accurately) and pour into machine. • b. Pour concrete into prepared forms • . c, . Level off blocks with wooden float. 2 D. Removing Blocks from Forms. 1. Turn sectional forms on edge of platform. Type 1. 2. Tap top stringer (see Fig, 1) lightly to unloosen from cross piece, 3. Remove top stringer, holding blocks in place by cross piece. 4. Pull block forward out of form, with face side of block towards worker, NOTE: As a measure of economy, it is suggested that two persons work together in removing blocks from forms. 5, Stack blocks - Blocks should be stacked only four high when being removed from forms. Blocks should remain in forms at least 24 hours in summer and 36 hours in winter, or until such time as the blocks will not chip off and break when they are removed from form, E, Laying of Blocks. 1. Layout Building, a, Use 6-8-10 metho1 of souaring building. See Fig. 1 2, Lay off Bond. Use dry blocks. Place block on footing . 1 stretcher (16 11 long) 1/2" space for head joint and header (3" long). Continue process until opposite corner is reached. 3. l,iake a Course Ilod - Using a piece of 1 11 x 2 11 x height of story of blocks. e. Saw marks 8 11 apart on Rod. This helps to space courses at corner. 4, Lay Corner Blocks. a. Level corner block. b. Plumb corner block. ' c, Check corners for squareness. d. Build corner to window sill heieht. See Fig. 3(d) l'. Check all corners, so that all have same number of courses to each required height. 5, Build Wall between Corners. NOTE: Always cover walls after each work day or v1hen stopping work for a given period. 3 • //jJ,Tf:. -~ le} I( 'v;J/.J l l _/!,c., Tl v AJ . ........ _ ____ __ ----- ·-- . ·----·- --- __ ._ _ :=- · - ::: - ~ 7 "'-/;:.- / {--,.. ;:, () '/4•' V )/, Ji.,} TUSK£GEE INSTITUTE LOVi CASH COST HOUSING I 7 t:, .;:,;:/~ t)/~' Fb V-.Jjl//,,r/) 01£ . I TUSKEr;EE WSTIT!JTE LOI'! S@SH COST HOUSING /n-y1cr9.L Whl i, _,,,/J. ·-c:T 1{; 1~v - - - ------ ----·--•·- •-- ·- -- --- -·-·- •• ·----- - ···----- -- - ·- --.;-· ··-·· · .. . \o - ·-· · ··-- • - ---,.i,., . ~,..... 1-.1:·.1r•7H 1.(, :1y~ .... ,1" 1..,·,,,r.n-! ;:r 7,.,,:; , .. ,~,..J,..£'1 ,U' if" 1t,.-l'/1!;i'£ INt-'r-1' 1 l?tr -CIJ-1 1,1. · .1 '//..1.r., ~·),1.'/ ' F.~ ,0,1.. \ 

Low Cash Cost Housing From Native Materials

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Low Cash Cost Housing From Native Materials

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