MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Re: It's beginning to look a lot like garage-mas...

> > > Something majestic about framing...
> >
> > I've been curious about this one for years. What is it with wood for anything? Is
> it
> > because is cheaper than concrete, or is it because it's easier to renew in short
> > terms?
> >
> > I have the impression you would always go with more durable materials specially in
> > zones temperatures reach below 0°C or in places constantly exposed to natural
> > disasters like floods or tornadoes.
> >
> > Or perhaps it has to do with material availability? Governmental regulations? Here
> in
> > Mexico is easier even for low class workers to buy material (concrete, sand, brick,
> > etc.) every four kilometers and build walls, roofs and ceilings because
> statistically
> > there's always a familiar or friend who is a mason. For the same reason our frame
> > windows and doors are made with ferrous metals and protected with bars to prevent
> > burglars to get in (if possible or at least make it difficult).
> >
> > I know there's an obvious and logic reason to that, but as i've never been in USA
> is
> > difficult for me to find it. BTW, nice framing you got there.
>
> Thanks for bringing this up. I wonder for some years now why in the US (Canada also?)
> there are _so many_ buildings made mostly of wood/lumber. And especially i'm
> wondering how's about the heat insulation. At least in New England, there's often not
> much in the way than an (usually black) insulation foil or something like that. On e
> of my friends who moved there from Miami wonders why she now has to pay almost $400 a
> month for the heating... oO
>
> Here in Germany we even insulate all those buildings that are standing for like 10
> decades now, and we do it like this, using styrofoam underneath the render/plaster:

I've wondered the same thing, I can only give a few thoughts...

To frame, insulate, cover, and finish a 8' x 8' x 6" (2.5m x 2.5m x .1524m) wall with wood it would cost me about $75. To simply pour the same wall with no finish it would cost me $150. Those are "DIY" costs, but the labor is about the same in either case.

Old school insulation was for the most part non existent. That black/silver foil mentioned was about it (That is exactly what I pulled off the old garage (built in 1920). If you were lucky you had some newspaper shoved into your walls as well. These days you have a very thick cladding of fiberglass shoved in-between the studs. If done right it's pretty decent.

I'd imagine weight and soil conditions have a bit to do with it as well. As far as natural disasters, a wood frame done right with proper bracing and ties should survive a moderate tornado / hurricane. Flooding...well that is the reason my stem wall is 1ft above the rest of my yard...so yeah, advantage concrete there....

Just my 2 cents, maybe someone in the industry can add more.