Foamed Slag houses are a post-war system-built form of non-traditional construction built between 1946 and 1951 using 9-inch no-fines concrete walls with reinforced ring beams. While relatively limited in number, they present recurring inspection priorities, particularly vertical and horizontal cracking, render spalling and moisture ingress affecting the concrete envelope. Careful assessment of structural movement, reinforcement detailing and long-term maintenance history is essential when considering purchase.

Firmcrete houses are 1960s system-built properties constructed using timber framing, cement-bonded chipboard slabs and reinforced concrete infill, typically with flat felted roofs and internal gutter systems. Around 2,000 were built, mainly in urban and suburban developments. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of reinforced concrete elements, roof coverings and moisture management when assessing these properties.

The Fidler House is a 1920s system-built property constructed using clinker concrete block walls with a concrete core and rendered external finish. Around 2,000 were built between 1926 and 1928, typically as two-storey semi-detached or terraced homes with tiled hipped roofs. Inspection priorities focus on cracking patterns, render deterioration, and potential wall tie corrosion, all of which influence long-term structural performance and maintenance requirements.

Farrans No-Fines houses are 1960s post-war properties constructed using a distinctive no-fines concrete wall system, finished externally with render and typically arranged as two-storey terraces. While not classed as defective, their long-term performance depends heavily on the condition of the concrete panels and protective coatings, making careful inspection of cracking, spalling and moisture penetration essential before purchase.

Historical Context and Origins The Edinburgh Foamed Slag house, a unique and rare property type, was constructed during a period of significant innovation in the UK housing sector. Built in 1944, these houses were a product…

Easiform Type 2 houses, built by J Laing Construction Ltd between the 1920s and 1970s, are a widely recognised form of UK system-built housing. Constructed using in-situ clinker aggregate concrete for their structural walls, they were developed to deliver durable, rapidly built homes at scale. While not classed as defective under legislation, their long-term performance depends heavily on the condition of the concrete, protection of embedded reinforcement, and effective moisture management. A thorough building survey is essential to assess cracking, carbonation risk, and overall structural integrity before purchase.

Easiform Type 1 houses were built between 1919 and 1928 as part of early post-war housing programmes and are constructed using clinker aggregate concrete. Manufactured by J Laing Construction Ltd, around 2,100 were produced across the UK. Their long-term performance depends largely on the condition of the concrete, potential carbonation, and any embedded steel, making careful inspection of cracking, moisture ingress, and structural durability essential before purchase.

The Duo-Slab (Airey) house is a 1920s non-traditional property built using clinker aggregate concrete columns with rendered infill panels. Developed in response to post-World War I housing shortages, around 4,650 were constructed across the UK, typically as semi-detached or terraced homes. While not classified as defective under legislation, these properties require careful inspection due to risks associated with carbonation, sulfate attack, render cracking and potential structural movement.

Dry Walls houses, built in the 1920s by the Victoria Construction Co., are early non-traditional concrete properties typically found as bungalows or semi-detached homes. Constructed with layered concrete walls, integral damp-proof detailing and concrete block columns, they reflect historic building methods that require careful modern assessment. Key considerations include ageing concrete, potential asbestos-containing materials, damp-proof membrane performance, and the condition of structural elements. A detailed building survey is essential to properly evaluate risk before purchase.

Understanding the Doric House The Doric house, a distinctive architectural style, emerged in the 1920s, designed and manufactured by the Modern Building Co. These properties are primarily found in suburban areas across the UK, often in…

Diatomite houses are 1920s non-traditional concrete properties built primarily in Manchester to address post-war housing shortages. Constructed using dense and clinker aggregate concrete with diatomite slabs and terracotta blockwork, they are identifiable by their rendered lower walls and brick string courses. The principal risks relate to cracking, carbonation and reinforcement corrosion, making detailed pre-purchase inspection particularly important.

The Dagenham Special house is a rare 1920s municipal concrete construction type built in limited numbers in East London. Recognised for its rendered dense and clinker aggregate concrete walls, hipped roof form and concrete window frames, it requires careful inspection — particularly for cracking and potential corrosion of embedded mild steel components — to properly assess structural condition and long-term performance.

Craftcast houses are a rare post-war reinforced concrete property type, with only around 200 built in the 1940s by Jones & Harvey to a Craftcast Ltd design. Characterised by reinforced concrete walls, floors and flat asphalt-covered roofs with cast-in box gutters, they require careful assessment of concrete durability, embedded steel reinforcement and long-term moisture management before purchase.

The Corvus House is a rare 1946 post-war non-traditional property designed by N. Rooke and manufactured by William Cowlin & Son Ltd. Constructed using reinforced concrete cavity walls with foamed slag inner leaves and pre-stressed concrete floor and roof elements, only four examples were built. Its durability depends largely on the long-term performance of reinforced concrete components, making careful inspection of carbonation, moisture ingress and structural condition essential.