Why do you build houses out of wood?

[jaqie]

That argument is so spurious and off-base that I can't even begin to fathom a way I can convince you of the truth of matters, so I will just let you and other nuts have the thread. Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and firmly set.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles

Originally posted by: BradAtWork

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
uhhh...

well, in california, you cant build brick buildings because of earthquake codes

Good point, I didn't think of that.

We just avoid earthquakes.

How do you avoid them? Duck?

Its not the price, but the labor, that makes brick building so expensive. A house made of brick would likely take three times as much time to build. A house with stick walls that can ultimately last 40 years is good enough. Also, you could imagine that changes which might need to be made based on the preference of the owners would be more difficult.

Damm i guess i should get out now. My house is 20 years over it death age.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: sygyzy

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Because we Americans love to chop down forests which provide us oxygen and protect wildlife all for the sake housing developments. And brick is an old school home design. I would imagine it doesn't insulate very well.

Which is funny, because an ever increasing amount of lumber used today is from trees specifically planted for the purpose of cutting them down.

That is really a dumb argument. Would you say there are more trees and more forests in the US now or 200 years ago? 100 years ago? Not only pure numbers, but the quality and age of trees? It's akin to saying "Oh slavery isn't an issue because now we rape women for the purpose of producing child laborers"

That is one of the dumbest statements I've seen here in awhile, and that takes some trying.

QFT. But I'll also add....

Originally posted by: Colt45
The same reason american cars last 5 years.

Mine's a 20 years old Ford that I've had for 6, what does that mean?

Shhhhh... They'd rather be ignorant and pay more $$$ for a Toyota that is less/as reliable as a late model GM/Ford. There is a reason why a number of Toyotas have been removed from Consumer's Report as highly recommended, and why a number of American cars have been added.

 

[waffleironhead]

Well I guess I would rather we make something out of plastic that was intended to last(fences and decks) rather than be thrown away(packaging and food containers).

 

[Fritzo]

Brick is 3x the cost of wood, plus you can't really build a modern framework without 2x4's. They do use a lot of brick facings however.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: bonkers325
because wood is a more flexible building material

Yep. No matter what your house is made of it will move, shift, settle et...al. If it was solid concrete built on concrete then brick would be fine, but alas, most houses are built on soil. So, if you had a solid brick house and say it settled or shifted. CRACK. Collapse.

 

[oddyager]

Older development areas in the NE are almost entirely brick and stone though recent ones are made of wood unless specially ordered to be built otherwise. Only reason is cost. Wood cheaper.

 

[rh71]

we have some brick houses here and I think they're just plain ugly and dated.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BradAtWork
Hi Americans.

If i'm generalising please correct me, but from TV/Films it appears most of your free standing homes are made of wood?

Why is this. Can most people not afford to build out of brick?

Where I come from (Australia) only older/low cost homes were built from wood.

Brick homes last longer and I imagine would maintain temperature better.

Is it just the abudance of cheap wood you have in the states, or is it just tradition or whatever.

Just curious.

Bricks are more expensive than wood and since brick houses just crumble and fall apart during an earthquake they pretty much never build houses out of brick in California.

 

[Modelworks]

Brick is expensive compared to wood.
Brick is also bad for areas that have soil that is soft or unstable.
Wood homes can be built on block foundations that can be adjusted over time.

Some just like the look of wood.
Most houses built with wood do not have wood on the exterior, its vinyl or cement board lots of the time.
The exterior is covered with a plywood made from chips of wood, so even small trees from tree farms can be used.

As for wood not lasting, I strongly disagree.
There is an old home in a field near where I grew up that is constructed of wood timbers and is held together with iron nails and wood pegs.
Its estimated to be about 200 years old and has survived several floods.

Wood can last centuries if it is taken care of.
Even brick falls apart when neglected.

 

[sao123]

1) Build wooden house for hot blond girl
2) Wait till hot blond girl is in shower
3) HUFF & PUFF and BLOW THE HOUSE DOWN
4) See hot blond girl with no clothes on
5) ...
6) Profit!

 

[Scarpozzi]

My house is made of cinder block.....Of course, there's wood throughout the house, but the exterior is block.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles

Originally posted by: BradAtWork

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
uhhh...

well, in california, you cant build brick buildings because of earthquake codes

Good point, I didn't think of that.

We just avoid earthquakes.

How do you avoid them? Duck?

Its not the price, but the labor, that makes brick building so expensive. A house made of brick would likely take three times as much time to build. A house with stick walls that can ultimately last 40 years is good enough. Also, you could imagine that changes which might need to be made based on the preference of the owners would be more difficult.

Damm i guess i should get out now. My house is 20 years over it death age.

In New England, you'll find a number of 100+ year old wood-framed homes.

 

[Tobolo]

My house is brick on the outside and the walls are made with wood. I think that is pretty common in 30 year old homes.

 

[Journer]

i would say a large percentage of houses in AL are brick. Maybe not the lower-class ones but i would think almost all middle-class+ houses are brick. hell the only time i even see wood is when i make a wrong turn into the ghetto

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: sao123
1) Use wood on hot blond girl
2) .....
3) Take a shower
4) Profit!

Fixed.

 

[jjones]

Living in a home built of brick, I can tell you that I'd much rather have a home built of wood, except for the fact that I live in an area prone to hurricanes.

 

[Drekce]

In Florida most houses are made with cinder blocks.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
...
Even brick falls apart when neglected.

Moisture + freezing is the enemy of brick.

Brick is also termite resistant.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: jjones
Living in a home built of brick, I can tell you that I'd much rather have a home built of wood, except for the fact that I live in an area prone to hurricanes.

Any reason in particular? Brick tends to be better at heat and sound insulation. It also requires less "busywork" maintenance - IE no repainting, residing, staining, ect.

The only downside that I know of is the already mentioned earthquake problem and cracks/tuckpointing on older homes.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: Drekce
In Florida most houses are made with cinder blocks.

You are asking for trouble if you build a wood house in FL.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: jjones
Living in a home built of brick, I can tell you that I'd much rather have a home built of wood, except for the fact that I live in an area prone to hurricanes.

Any reason in particular? Brick tends to be better at heat and sound insulation. It also requires less "busywork" maintenance - IE no repainting, residing, staining, ect.

The only downside that I know of is the already mentioned earthquake problem and cracks/tuckpointing on older homes.

plus cost, installation time and need for a skilled brick mason.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Mr Pickles

Originally posted by: BradAtWork

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother
uhhh...

well, in california, you cant build brick buildings because of earthquake codes

Good point, I didn't think of that.

We just avoid earthquakes.

How do you avoid them? Duck?

Its not the price, but the labor, that makes brick building so expensive. A house made of brick would likely take three times as much time to build. A house with stick walls that can ultimately last 40 years is good enough. Also, you could imagine that changes which might need to be made based on the preference of the owners would be more difficult.

40 years eh? damn that sucks considering most people get 30 yr mortgage on 20 yr old houses already. boy they are fucked!


or maybe they last a hell of a lot longer then 40 years?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: vi edit

Originally posted by: jjones
Living in a home built of brick, I can tell you that I'd much rather have a home built of wood, except for the fact that I live in an area prone to hurricanes.

Any reason in particular? Brick tends to be better at heat and sound insulation. It also requires less "busywork" maintenance - IE no repainting, residing, staining, ect.

The only downside that I know of is the already mentioned earthquake problem and cracks/tuckpointing on older homes.

plus cost, installation time and need for a skilled brick mason.

He's already in the house so that's a moot point.

 

[Homerboy]

Moisture + freezing is the enemy of brick.

that's a HUGE point for anyone one in the northern half of the US where the winters are harsh and unpredictable. This is obviously not a problem in Australia.