Materials like stone in a lot of the US would be deadly without constant, properly-running mechanical ventilation, for one. In a power outage in the south, people would die without it as stone buildings spend all day getting heat and radiating it back out. That type of house suits some cold climates fine, but is very bad in 35 degrees with 80% humidity. Likewise, in high-humidity environments, mold becomes a real issue without that mechanical ventilation (opening windows does nothing when outside is that humid and particularly when there is no wind).
In earthquake zones, you WANT flexibility; stone and brick are deadly as mortar joints fail and the structure collapses.
I think you underestimate how strong properly-built wooden-construction homes can be. There are also materials and cost issues to building with other things. Finally, as I started with, home construction should be appropriate to the climate in which the house is built with consideration for the local materials and safety.
Here in Japan, we have wood and steel-reinforced concrete. Rarely, you’ll find reinforced block, but I think that was a fad that passed. Anything brick-and-motor now has all kinds of steel bracing added for earthquake protection. The house I’m in is not far from Fukushima and survived the 2011-03-11 earthquake and tsunami with only a minor thing to be fixed (and some cosmetic damage to wallpaper). It’s made of wood.
Materials like stone in a lot of the US would be deadly without constant, properly-running mechanical ventilation, for one. In a power outage in the south, people would die without it as stone buildings spend all day getting heat and radiating it back out. That type of house suits some cold climates fine, but is very bad in 35 degrees with 80% humidity.
What nonsense is this? I grew up in concrete houses on the equator.
That’s BS. In the Mediterranean we are used to be at nearly 40°C and 90% and houses are made of bricks and concrete. Even the cheaper ones. And no need for mechanical ventilation if the house is built the right way.
Depends on the area of the US. In the south, the water table is high enough that it’s usually not worth all the trouble trying to keep it dry. Same for most of Japan here.
As an example, I once lived in a brick house in the southwest. A true brick house, built in the 1930’s so EVERY wall was 3 or 4 courses of brick - 18".
The west-facing wall would bake all afternoon and then radiate that heat all night long. During the summer months that wall never cooled off, it was always warm (80°+).
Winter it was nice, but summer it was a bitch cooling that place at all.
You probably don’t know that code in Florida has required concrete reinforced cinder block 1st floor for residential houses since the 90’'s, because that’s what can withstand hurricanes and flooding. Typical block construction only requires concrete and rebar reinforcement at windows, doorways, etc, while this code requires it in every other opening, thereby tying every course together, from first to last. This prevents flood surges from weakening the structure, and also provides a physical barrier for objects flying at 100mph+.
Code has also required hurricane straps on every rafter, since forever.
There’s probably a lot more code I don’t know.
But here you’d have them build houses out of stone which wouldn’t withstand flooding, unlike reinforced and anchored block, cause in your hubris you think you know something.
Having a proper, stable house would be a better option. Those American stick and cardboard houses are not made to last.
Materials like stone in a lot of the US would be deadly without constant, properly-running mechanical ventilation, for one. In a power outage in the south, people would die without it as stone buildings spend all day getting heat and radiating it back out. That type of house suits some cold climates fine, but is very bad in 35 degrees with 80% humidity. Likewise, in high-humidity environments, mold becomes a real issue without that mechanical ventilation (opening windows does nothing when outside is that humid and particularly when there is no wind).
In earthquake zones, you WANT flexibility; stone and brick are deadly as mortar joints fail and the structure collapses.
I think you underestimate how strong properly-built wooden-construction homes can be. There are also materials and cost issues to building with other things. Finally, as I started with, home construction should be appropriate to the climate in which the house is built with consideration for the local materials and safety.
Here in Japan, we have wood and steel-reinforced concrete. Rarely, you’ll find reinforced block, but I think that was a fad that passed. Anything brick-and-motor now has all kinds of steel bracing added for earthquake protection. The house I’m in is not far from Fukushima and survived the 2011-03-11 earthquake and tsunami with only a minor thing to be fixed (and some cosmetic damage to wallpaper). It’s made of wood.
What nonsense is this? I grew up in concrete houses on the equator.
That’s BS. In the Mediterranean we are used to be at nearly 40°C and 90% and houses are made of bricks and concrete. Even the cheaper ones. And no need for mechanical ventilation if the house is built the right way.
“the right way” is like “a basement”, right? Because that seems to be something too many American houses lack.
Depends on the area of the US. In the south, the water table is high enough that it’s usually not worth all the trouble trying to keep it dry. Same for most of Japan here.
Bricks breathe. Not sure about concrete.
As an example, I once lived in a brick house in the southwest. A true brick house, built in the 1930’s so EVERY wall was 3 or 4 courses of brick - 18".
The west-facing wall would bake all afternoon and then radiate that heat all night long. During the summer months that wall never cooled off, it was always warm (80°+).
Winter it was nice, but summer it was a bitch cooling that place at all.
Does wood still catch fire? I’m fine if I never have another house fire.
Thus, concrete and steel for me.
Ah, yes, good ole ignorant jingoism.
You probably don’t know that code in Florida has required concrete reinforced cinder block 1st floor for residential houses since the 90’'s, because that’s what can withstand hurricanes and flooding. Typical block construction only requires concrete and rebar reinforcement at windows, doorways, etc, while this code requires it in every other opening, thereby tying every course together, from first to last. This prevents flood surges from weakening the structure, and also provides a physical barrier for objects flying at 100mph+.
Code has also required hurricane straps on every rafter, since forever.
There’s probably a lot more code I don’t know.
But here you’d have them build houses out of stone which wouldn’t withstand flooding, unlike reinforced and anchored block, cause in your hubris you think you know something.
That’s Florida being ahead of the game. Although it is not much of a race.
But the “houses” in Tornado Alley? Sticks and cardboard all around.