METAL FRAMED HOUSES

The Hawthorn Leslie house, also known as HLB or Plasteel, is a 1960s system-built property type developed to meet post-war housing demand. Constructed using a steel frame with prefabricated cladding panels, these houses are most commonly found on suburban estates and appear as bungalows or two-storey detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes. While robust in concept, their long-term performance depends heavily on the condition of the steel frame, external cladding, and weatherproofing details, making careful inspection essential when assessing their suitability for purchase.

The Grid House is a mid-1960s system-built property designed and manufactured by Morrison and Partners. Constructed using a steel frame with timber infill panels and flat roof construction, around 160 examples were built across the UK. While innovative for their time, Grid Houses present specific inspection considerations today, particularly around moisture control, timber condition, asbestos-containing cladding, and the long-term performance of flat roofs.

Historical Context and Background The Grenfell Baines house, a unique architectural marvel, stands as a testament to post-war ingenuity and the drive for rapid housing solutions. Designed by the Grenfell Baines Group and manufactured by English…

Gee Walker & Slater houses are an exceptionally rare form of post-war non-traditional construction, with only two ever built in 1946. Formed using a steel frame with aerated concrete panel infill and asbestos cement roofing, these semi-detached houses reflect the experimental building methods adopted immediately after the Second World War. Their unusual construction places particular emphasis on condition, corrosion control, and asbestos management, making a detailed building survey essential.

The Gateshead Corporation house is a rare post-war experimental property type built in 1950 using prefabricated reinforced concrete panels and a steel frame. With only four ever constructed, these non-traditional houses require careful inspection, particularly for asbestos-containing materials, PRC deterioration, and steel frame corrosion, all of which have implications for condition, maintenance, and mortgage acceptance.

The Formula house is a rare mid-1960s system-built property, constructed in limited numbers using a distinctive hexagonal layout and a steel-framed structural system. While visually striking, these houses rely on flat roof construction, timber infill panels, and materials such as asbestos cement, making condition, maintenance history, and professional inspection critical considerations.

The Falkiner-Nuttall house is a post-war, system-built chalet bungalow introduced in 1947 as part of the UK’s rapid housing programme. Typically semi-detached and steel-framed with rendered external walls and steep gable roofs, these properties rely on concealed structural elements that require careful inspection. Understanding their construction, common defects, and maintenance needs is essential when assessing condition, mortgage suitability, and long-term performance.

The Duplex Sheath house is an exceptionally rare non-traditional dwelling introduced in 1924, notable for its steel frame, rendered metal lathing walls, and distinctive semi-circular ribbed roof. With only one known example constructed, careful inspection focuses on steel corrosion risk, moisture ingress, and the condition of the roof and external render.

Dorlonco houses are an inter-war form of system-built housing developed by Dorman Long & Co. Ltd during the 1920s. Constructed using an early steel frame with rendered wall systems, they reflect the engineering-led response to post-First World War housing shortages. While not classed as defective, these properties require careful inspection, particularly in relation to steel corrosion, cracking to render, and wall tie condition, all of which can materially affect long-term performance and mortgage acceptance.

The Discus house is a non-traditional bungalow developed in the 1970s using a welded steel frame and infill wall panels containing asbestos-based materials. Typically built as detached or semi-detached homes, these properties reflect the system-built approach of the period and require careful inspection, particularly in relation to asbestos management, steel frame condition, and long-term maintenance considerations.

The Dennis-Wild house is a 1920s system-built property constructed around a concealed steel frame with brick and rendered external walls. While many remain serviceable, common issues include corrosion to steel stanchions, wall tie defects, cracking, and damp-related problems. Careful inspection is essential to understand condition, maintenance history, and any risks associated with the original construction.

A Dennis house is a post-war, non-traditional property type developed in response to severe housing shortages after the Second World War. Built using a concealed steel frame with brick and tile external finishes, these houses require careful inspection, particularly in relation to corrosion risk, dampness, and long-term maintenance. Understanding their construction is essential before purchase, as condition and upkeep vary widely between properties.

A Denis Poulton house is a rare 1930s non-traditional property that combines a conventional brick exterior with a concealed steel frame. Understanding the condition of that frame, and its exposure to moisture, is central to any informed purchase decision.

Cussins houses are post-war system-built properties constructed between 1945 and 1946 to address the UK’s housing shortage. Typically semi-detached with steel framing and PRC or brick external walls, they reflect both the urgency and material constraints of the period. In practice, the main concerns centre on corrosion within the steel frame, movement or deterioration of PRC panels, and moisture-related defects. The overall condition of these elements—particularly at stanchion bases, panel joints, and areas prone to damp—has a greater bearing on performance than the original construction itself.

Cruden houses are a post-war non-traditional housing type built between 1947 and 1950 using precast reinforced concrete and a steel frame. While robust in concept, these properties require careful inspection due to known risks of steel corrosion and concrete deterioration that can affect long-term structural performance.