24

On a building subject to deterioration, mainten-
ance and depreciation increase from year to year—
in other
words, no matter how carefully or system-
atically maintenance
may
be performed, the building
can never be made as when new. Maintenance of
those parts of a structure which can be replaced may
be carried on indefinitely, but many of the most
vital
parts of a building are practically inaccessible,
therefore do not permit easy replacement. Nor can
such parts always be reached with treatments or
coatings that would tend to prolong their useful
life. It is therefore impracticable to maintain indefi-
nitely buildings whose vital parts are subject to
rust or rot.
Concrete grows stronger with age. Many city
building departments recognize thin by allowing
greater loads to be placed on a concrete building
several years old than would be permitted when the
building was new. Because of their ability to re-
sist the usual destructive agencies, concrete build-
ings require but little maintenance, and for all prac-
tical
purposes are permanent. They do not require
painting, there are no joints to be pointed up, no
wornout or rotting structural parts to be removed
and replaced, no sagging or warping of floors or
floor beams. Concrete floors will wear indefinitely
and their smooth, dense surface is easy
to clean
and keep clean. Germicidal or other cleansing solu-
tions may be used on them without fear of injury.
Concrete floors i(n a concrete building maintain their
original level. Machinery mounted on them stays in
adjustment longer, shafting keeps in line. The effi-
ciency of concrete buildings therefore does not grosv
less with time, while in a building subject to de-
terioration there is the inevitable reduction in
operating efficiency.
In comparing the economy of various types of
buildings, maintenance
may
be taken as an average
of 1 per cent per year of the cost of the building.
When th'js charge is capitalized at 6 per cent it is
seen that over $l6 more per $lOO original cost could
be
spent for a maintenance-free concrete building
than for one of depreciable type. Yearly main-
tenance, however, must be considered separate from
gradual depreciation which, after a term of
years,
the structure unfit for use, regardless of
the maintenance done on it.
As concrete buildings are now designed they have
great reserve strength. The unit stresses used in
designing them are very much below the stresses
to which concrete may safely be subjected.
Any well-built concrete structure may be used for
light manufacturing purposes or for an industry re-
quiring operation of rapidly-moving machinery.
Non-inflammable occupancy may change to inflam-
mable occupancy, a mercantile building to a ware-
house, a warehouse to a manufacturing plant, and
vice versa. If the changes in environment are so
radical as to preclude the profitable use of the build-
ing in its original location, it may
be
moved, pro-
vided its construction is such as to withstand the
racking effects of moving without injury. Concrete
buildings being monolithic possess
the
greatest pos-
sible rigidity. When necessary such buildings can
be moved with the assurance that they will suffer
no serious damage in the process. The expense of
moving will be minimum since the great strength
and monolithic nature of the structure permits mov-
ing it with greatest facility. Recently a three-story
reinforced concrete building in Detroit used as an
office building by the Hyatt Roller Bearing Co. was
moved 450 feet, the full length of a city block and
across street car tracks, while the office force car-
ried on its work as usual. This work was done by
the L. P. Friestedt Co. of Chicago at a cost of only
20 per cent of the original cost of the building. As
the concrete building which can be moved does not
suffer any ill effects from moving, its value as a
usable structure is preserved and may actually even
increase in the new location. Concrete buildings,
therefore, are the type most likely to escape obsol-
escence.
Concrete buildings possess many qualities that
make them most adaptable to practically any occu-
pancy. It is difficult to express in dollars and cents
the value of certain qualities inherent in a concrete
building. It is evident that buildings in which peo-
ple work should be sanitary. Sickness, poor
health
and generally low vitality of employes affect in
a vital way
their efficiency and therefore the effi-
ciency of the business or industry. Concrete con-
struction affords the utmost sanitation. Monolithic
floors, columns and beams provide no recesses where
filth
may lodge. The dense, smooth surface of con-
crete is non-absorbent; cleansing solutions
may
be
applied in any quantity to maintain surface cleanli-
ness and concrete floors will protect lower stories
from water damage. There are no interwall or in-
trefloor spaces where rodents may lodge or nest
hidden
spaces inviting the accumulation of vermin,
rubbish and filth to propagate disease germs.
Wlrle industrial buildings are primarily design-
ed to serve in the best possible manner a certain
definite use, they may. nevertheless, be made archi-
tecturally attractive at small
expense.
This will
greatly improvel their
appearance. Ornament may
easily be added in the form of concrete cornices,
balustrades and raised or depressed panels. Proper
attention given to the selection of
aggregates, lead-
ing to special exterior finish, will result in pleasing
effects. Stucco in considerate range
of color may
also be used as a surface finish.
Warmth and dryness are Dualities desirable in
all buildings. These may easily be obtained in a
24 October, 1920.
THE CONCRET E AG E