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.

Hm. I have some friends in commercial construction, I can ask them...

- Stiletto