Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Feb 16th 2006, 4:48 pm
#31
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
The only difference being that any shed of mine would have been stronger and had a better foundation. I've assisted in inspections here and in the UK. Some of the concrete work here would get torn out and re-poured there 
lol ohhh stop it but you're right...
Feb 16th 2006, 4:52 pm
#32
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
Also, in a country that is home to vast areas of termite and carpenter ant territories, I fail to understand the logic of building houses out of their favorite food 
Feb 16th 2006, 4:52 pm
#33
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
Also, in a country that is home to vast areas of termite and carpenter ant territories, I fail to understand the logic of building houses out of their favorite food
Feb 16th 2006, 4:55 pm
#34
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Giantaxe
Well, anywhere on the west coast, it's a good idea not to build with bricks - they don't exactly hold up very well in earthquakes. Personally, I think steel framed is the way to go as I don't think termites eat that for supper.
Exactly, even steel studwork would be a step in the right direction, then some decent insulation...
Feb 16th 2006, 4:55 pm
#35
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Giantaxe
Well, anywhere on the west coast, it's a good idea not to build with bricks - they don't exactly hold up very well in earthquakes. Personally, I think steel framed is the way to go as I don't think termites eat that for supper.
Feb 16th 2006, 4:56 pm
#36
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Titchski
To keep Terminex, Orkin, et al in business? Its that vicious cycle of screwing as much dosh out of the homeowner as possible
True, and thats all bollocks too. You can do a better job yourself if you go to a chemical supplier do your homework.
Feb 16th 2006, 4:57 pm
#37
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Partystar
My mum's house in England was built in the 40's & has steel girders running through it.
Feb 16th 2006, 5:01 pm
#38
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
True, and thats all bollocks too. You can do a better job yourself if you go to a chemical supplier do your homework.
Feb 16th 2006, 5:31 pm
#39
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Every day on the news I hear of yet another family that have died due to a house fire. Why do they build these timber homes that burn down in minutes? When we first moved into our house a friend said 'so good that you have more than one staircase, makes it easier to get out when the house catches fire' :scared: Very reassuring. Not to mention that they give little protection in floods, tornadoes, landslides etc.
This is something I've wondered about ever since I got here. There are regular house fires in our town , especially in the older areas- more so now with wildfires springing up all over the place. I asked the husband about it, he is American. His version is that in this part of America at least (Oklahoma and the west) originally dwellings were made from whatever was available - wood, canvas, stones - and it's not that much more than 100 years ago when the boom in population started in these parts. Later as more and more people arrived, the houses needed to be put up quickly. It would have been too difficult to import enough bricks, so wooden houses were the norm.
I notice now that all the new residential areas in our town have brick houses, I've never seen a wooden house being built. I think it's a progression, slow to come, but on its way now. We tend to forget that in England some of our houses and buildings are 2, 3, hundred years old - here in Oklahoma a building of the early 1900s is looked on as AMAZING !
Having been the victim of a fire in the UK I was adamant that we buy a brick house - and I got my way! However, I was told that a house opposite was destroyed by fire a few years ago due to their log fire grate causing a problem. No log fires for us!
Feb 16th 2006, 5:32 pm
#40
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
She probably has a fancy roof or some big open rooms, right?
Feb 16th 2006, 5:40 pm
#41
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Dimsie
This is something I've wondered about ever since I got here. There are regular house fires in our town , especially in the older areas- more so now with wildfires springing up all over the place. I asked the husband about it, he is American. His version is that in this part of America at least (Oklahoma and the west) originally dwellings were made from whatever was available - wood, canvas, stones - and it's not that much more than 100 years ago when the boom in population started in these parts. Later as more and more people arrived, the houses needed to be put up quickly. It would have been too difficult to import enough bricks, so wooden houses were the norm.
I notice now that all the new residential areas in our town have brick houses, I've never seen a wooden house being built. I think it's a progression, slow to come, but on its way now. We tend to forget that in England some of our houses and buildings are 2, 3, hundred years old - here in Oklahoma a building of the early 1900s is looked on as AMAZING !
Having been the victim of a fire in the UK I was adamant that we buy a brick house - and I got my way! However, I was told that a house opposite was destroyed by fire a few years ago due to their log fire grate causing a problem. No log fires for us!
I notice now that all the new residential areas in our town have brick houses, I've never seen a wooden house being built. I think it's a progression, slow to come, but on its way now. We tend to forget that in England some of our houses and buildings are 2, 3, hundred years old - here in Oklahoma a building of the early 1900s is looked on as AMAZING !
Having been the victim of a fire in the UK I was adamant that we buy a brick house - and I got my way! However, I was told that a house opposite was destroyed by fire a few years ago due to their log fire grate causing a problem. No log fires for us!
I have yet to see a brick/block cavity walled house in the US.
Feb 16th 2006, 5:54 pm
#42
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
A lot of "brick" houses are just brick cladding, with a crappy timber frame holding everything together on the inside of it
I have yet to see a brick/block cavity walled house in the US.
I have yet to see a brick/block cavity walled house in the US.
Feb 16th 2006, 5:59 pm
#43
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Dimsie
I notice now that all the new residential areas in our town have brick houses, I've never seen a wooden house being built. I think it's a progression, slow to come, but on its way now. !
!
!
Feb 16th 2006, 6:02 pm
#44
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Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
Originally Posted by Chorlton
A lot of "brick" houses are just brick cladding, with a crappy timber frame holding everything together on the inside of it
I have yet to see a brick/block cavity walled house in the US.
Feb 16th 2006, 6:11 pm
#45
Who?
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Location: Stepford
Posts: 3,098
Re: Apart from the $$$ why do they insist on bldg wooden houses?
In the UK we had an old victorian house with 15" thick brick walls. Nice and warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Here we have the usual wooden thing with a shed roof. I think there might be some bricks somewhere. My new neighbours have commented several times about how glad we must be to have bought such a "substantial" house and my look of amazement seems to baffle them. When I start to tell them about brick walls and the slate roof we had in England, they just switch off 
We are having some remodelling done at the moment and I have been surprised at some of the building materials and techniques. What happened to properly plastering walls?
We are having some remodelling done at the moment and I have been surprised at some of the building materials and techniques. What happened to properly plastering walls?