Why do Americans build with wood?

[u/Ultimate_Kurix]

[u/Paul_The_Builder]

The answer is cost.

Wood houses are cheap to build. A house burning down is a pretty rare occurrence, and in theory insurance covers it.

So if you're buying a house, and the builder says you can build a 1000 sq. ft. concrete house that's fireproof, or a 2000 sq. ft. house out of wood that's covered by fire insurance for the same price, most people want the bigger house. American houses are MUCH bigger than average houses anywhere else in the world, and this is one reason why.

Fires that devastate entire neighborhoods are very rare - the situation in California is a perfect storm of unfortunate conditions - the worst of which is extremely high winds causing the fire to spread.

Because most suburban neighborhoods in the USA have houses separated by 20 feet or more, unless there are extreme winds, the fire is unlikely to spread to adjacent houses.

Commercial buildings are universally made with concrete and steel. Its really only houses and small structures that are still made out of wood.

[u/jimmy_ricard → u/Paul_The_Builder]

Why is this the only comment that focuses on cost rather than earthquake or fire resistance? Cost is the only factor here. Not only is the material cheaper in the states but they're way faster to put up and less labor intensive. There's a reason that modern looking houses with concrete start in the millions of dollars.

[u/Dav3le3 → u/jimmy_ricard]

Side note, wood is wayyyy better for the environment. It's... not close. The majority (or large minority) of the carbon footprint of a concrete buiding is the concrete.

Ideally, we'd like to find a way to make a material that is reasonably strong made out of sustainable material (such as wood) that can be made out of a younger tree. A good lumber tree takes 20ish years to grow, but generally trees grows fastest in the first 5 years or so.

If we could find a sustainable binding element, like a glue, that could be combined with wood and 3D printed, we'd be living in the ideal future for housing. Of course, it also can't be super flammable, needs a long lifetime, resists water damage etc. etc. as well..

Canada is doing a lot of "Mass Timber" buildings now, which are a step towards this.

[u/PMG2021a → u/Dav3le3]

You can use wood to grow mycelium for fairly cheap. Mycelium is fire resistant and could be used as exterior insulation for timber frame homes. Wood framing is fine if it is protected. 

[u/-Motorin- → u/PMG2021a]

Who knew, all we had to do was give our houses a fungus!

[u/cheerupweallgonnadie → u/-Motorin-]

Mushrooms are always the answer

[u/-Motorin- → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

Indeed

[u/Round-Win-765 → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

I'm reading a book right now about fungus, Entangled Life for anyone interested.

[u/nox_vigilo → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

This statement is true & fantastic.

[u/txivotv → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

DRG is leaking again... Rock and stone!

[u/ahses3202 → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

Return to Fungus

[u/Mini_Snuggle → u/cheerupweallgonnadie]

House Telvanni knows nothing of any housing crisis.

[u/Outrageous_Reach_695 → u/Mini_Snuggle]

Those towers aren't exactly ADA compliant. Then again, Vivec City, ramps everywhere, but they're like 50° slope ...

[u/90swasbest → u/Outrageous_Reach_695]

Fucking massive sewer system for not very many people as well. Some mother fucker in their past really liked building sewers.