Construction of Houses by Direct Labour

The construction of a council house.

Presented as the construction of a particular house from first to last, it appears to use examples from the construction of different houses and flats to demonstrate different building techniques. For example fixing of first floor hy-rils and placing first floor concrete. This is used on 'R' type’s flats only. The first sequence shows the preparation work, marking out, digging and putting in the foundations. Older buildings are visible in the background. Other shots in this sequence show wooden workmen's huts. Throughout the film there are shots showing partially built houses in the background. The process of mixing cement is shown along with brick laying and putting in a damp course. The door frames are fitted. An upper concrete floor is laid and the chimney is built. A long sequence shows the construction of the roof. The roof timbers are cut, the fascia boards are fixed into place and the tile battens and tiles are fixed. Interior shots show plumbers, plasterers and decorators at work. The floors, the staircase, the fireplace and the ceilings are put in. A cement floor is laid by a specialist company, the front door is fitted and finally the glazing and painting of the metal window frames is shown. The scaffolding is dismantled and the film ends with a brief shot of a completed row of houses. A man cycles past along a tarmac road.

Keywords

Building construction; Council houses; Housing; Local government

Intertitles

Digging foundations and setting pegs for concrete.Laying pipe duct for electric cables.Mixing and laying concrete to foundations.Unloading bricks, setting out foundations, mixing mortar and placing brickwork to foundations.Soil filling to concrete floor level and placing surface concrete. Fixing door jambs etc., building chimney breasts and internal partitions.Fixing first scaffold.Making and fixing pre-cast lintels.Fixing of first floor hy-rils and placing first floor concrete. This is used on 'R' types flats only. Fixing front entrance door hood in situ.Building chimney and parging flues.Roof timbers.Fixing fascia boards. (Note:- the only place in the construction of the roof where the nails are punched in.) Fixing tile battens and tiles, nailing every fourth course.Plumber dressing lead to chimney stack and vent pipe. Fixing internal partitions.Cutting chase for electrical conduits. Plumber fixing indirect cylinder, taps to sink and flushing cistern. Fixing plaster boards to ceiling.Fixing herringbone strutting to first floor joists. Laying first floor and forming mitres to hearth.Fixing and wedging staircase. Mixing plaster and work on finishing coat to walls.Mixing and laying composition flooring by specialist firm. Note skirting board fixed prior to laying of floor. Cement grouting to kitchen floor pavements.Kitchen breeze floor prior to fixing floor boards.Priming and hanging front door. Glazing windows and painting window frames. Dismantling scaffolding.Construction Of Houses By Direct Labour.