Jerseygirl

Looking at pictures of the recent devastation in Missouri the reporter commented how the brick built houses and structures were still standing. Why oh why are the houses made of wood instead of brick?

Bluegrass Lass

I wonder if those brick homes still standing are all older homes, circa 1900s. Back then, brick wasn't just a facade like it is today. I wouldn't trust a newly built 'brick' home to withstand an EF4/5.

Tarkak9

.... $$$.

Jerseygirl

That is true...I think they were older.

False economy IMO.

kimilseung

Well to get a bit boring about it, it was a narrowish corridor that got damaged. The houses to either side were OK, you have to calculate the chances of being hit by the tornado and weight that against the cost of damages.

tonrob

I've got wood, but it's still erect despite my terrible wind.

Sally Redux

You must be built like a brick shithouse.

S Folinsky

I have noted that many of the pics show the surrounding structures still standing.

Even the brick buildings won't have a roof after a wind like that.

As one living in Earthquake Country, I would rather be in a wood frame structure any day. There was an article in the LA Times this morning about a hospital there and the wind blew out the doors and windows.

Also, one thing we have learned the hard way here in California is that how one joins the components of the building are important.

sir_eccles

I feel a lot of modern housing is put together like Ikea furniture, as quickly as possible using the cheapest materials available.

I recently bought a house in the older part of town (1950s counts as old here in Phoenix) rather than the new suburbs not least to avoid HOAs but also because they built houses properly then. Thick heavy concrete block walls keep the place nice and cool as do seemingly small design features such as large overhanging eaves, single story, small windows etc. The inspector was really impressed with its condition.

Sally Redux

I love old houses for those reasons. Also the traditional adobe construction of this area withstands earthquakes and keeps the house cool. The modern approach takes little or no account of local conditions.

meauxna

Respectfully, why do you ask the same question over and over? See S Folinsky's post. I wouldn't live in a brick house here if you paid for it and gave it to me.

Jerseygirl

I wasn't aware I had asked it over and over again.

meauxna

I'm sorry. It wasn't very nice of me to be impatient, regardless.

N1cky

I thought wooden houses stood up better than brick in earthquakes as they flex. The shifting of brick houses means walls fall down and the mortar holding the bricks together rubs together and becomes sand, eventually falling down. Also, most brick houses out here have no foundations, so slide

Can't comment on tornado's though, can't imagine either structure would fair well.

Scouse Express

The chances of being hit by a Tornado, when you live in the middle of "Tornado Alley" aren't exactly remote.

Jim.