16 Jun
2007
16 Jun
'07
5:29 p.m.
> why americans (and other people) build houses all
of wood :oO
> Greetz from Brazil
> Alexandre Souza
On Sat, 16 Jun 2007, Teo Zenios wrote:
Because most houses are not in an earthquake zone,
building with wood is
faster and cheaper, and the US and Canada is full of forests.
The old addage "When in Rome do as the Romans do" applies here. In a previous
life I was a general contractor in South Florida. The vast majority of homes there are
Masonary blocks on a concrete foundation with wood truss roof system. The reasons are
simple:
1) Termites - Zillions of them! You gotta keep wood away from the soil. Subterrainian
termites can do massive damage in a relatively short period of time.
2.) Maintenence - Environmental exposure (Sun / Heat / Humidity) destroys wood.
3.) Insulation... In that climate large R values are not needed in walls or floors.
4.) No basements - Water level is too high. No basement means there's no need for wood
flooring systems.
5.) Material availability. The ground in South Florida is largely limestone. It's one
of the primary ingredents in concrete and it's easily crushed to make the aggregate
(gravel). Concrete is probably cheaper there than anywhere else in the US.
6.) Hurricane protection - A concrete block structure with reinforced concrete tie-beam is
MUCH stronger than a wood structure.
7.) Availablity of tradesmen familiar with the materials.
I recently moved to North Carolina where almost every home is wood frame construction.
Once again "When in Rome..."