Concrete house

I would like to know if you have ever heard of or have any info on concrete houses. I am considering buying a house that the realtor says was designed by Thomas Edison, except for the roof, the house is made of poured concrete. I had never seen or heard of this construction before and have been trying to find out some information on it. So far I have had no luck, but I came across your Home Page during my search and thought you may know where I can look.
In some parts of the world this is practically the only way houses are constructed - including the roofs. In the US tradition tends towards wood construction and even in areas where concrete would be cheaper and better there is no demand.

If constructed properly these houses will:

  • Resist most disasters - termites, dryrot, weather, storms, bullets, cars...
  • Require very little maintenance - no need to repaint.
  • Will not weaken or change with time. Concrete gets stronger with time and exposure to water.
  • Will completely resist fire (except for the roof in your case)

However,

  • They are difficult to insulate unless someone planned for it.
  • They are difficult to modify because they are so strong and solid. It may be tricky to find people who know how to adjust windows and doors for use with concrete. But most good workmen can do it.
  • You cannot nail anything to the walls. They are too strong.

By the way, where is that house and how old is it?

For articles on this subject try the "Concrete Construction" magazine which can be found on the Web. They have article index by subject. They will also give you such information by phone or e-mail.

Personally, I lived in concrete houses for many years, but with the way the market is in the US you may want to consider the resale value.
First, thank you for the information and the quick reply, I really didn't know if you would even have time to answer, it looks like you stay pretty busy. This house is located in [...], Ohio, which is [...] east of Columbus, the stat sheet from the Realtor says the house is 76 years old. It looks like it may have some minor water leaks or condensation and the exterior appears to have stucco in need of some repair. The home is 2 story with walk up attic and full basement.

By the way, I work as a firefighter/paramedic for the [...] Fire Dept. What surprised me about this house is that in all the training we have for firefighting and classes on building construction, I don't ever remember seeing this type of construction in residential buildings.

Once again, thank you for your time and the information, it is greatly appreciated.