Home construction methods in Houston & TX (Friendswood, Howe: insurance, houses)

[harrygrath]

I create this new thread for an interesting topic.

It is well known that USA houses r the biggest in the world.

Americans should be proud of having the best housing conditions.

However,size & low cost is accomplished partially due to the materials used in construction.

Most single-family homes r made from wood,with an outer layer of brick.

I see on the web about companies which offer metal construction,with less or no wood.

I understand that the method using cement & brickwalls is the most expensive.

Any ideas about the cost difference ?

Is it realistic to budget & plan for a cement+bricks construction ?

Any novel methods of bringing down the cost of cement+bricks construction ?

I welcome replies from constructors , workers & customers who r concerned about the use of wood.

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by harrygrath

I welcome replies from constructors , workers & customers who r concerned about the use of wood.

What's wrong with wood? It's strong, versatile, ubiquitous, cost effective, 100% renewable, and has a smaller carbon footprint than processed metal.

[harrygrath]

Well,wood is...wood...

Cement & bricks withstand fires,tornadoes,floods...

There is no comparison...

Maybe the American way is "cheap & renewable ",but I prefer

solutions which improve the american way...

I guess the cement framing would be expensive.

Cement blocks & wall panels r n so expensive...

[Poltracker]

Cement does not always withstand hot fires so well. It spalls (sp?), loses strength and can pretty much turn to dust. Not so good for framing I would think. Bricks tend to crack or explode.

As for flooding, concrete can and does float. Learned that one the hard way during Allison when the integrated addition on my uncle's place literally floated (concrete slab foundation) and ripped from the rest of the house. Only moved about 3 inches but that was enough to finish off what 3 ft of water didn't get. The roof separated and windows popped out of the common wall as it twisted.

Nothing is perfect.

[harrygrath]

Most "foundations " r surface only...

But then,the cost increases...

Do u get insurance compensation for natural disasters ?

[arbucle]

A neighbor built a 6000 square foot house with steel and cinderblocks.He used stucco on the outside.I have never talked to him but since its Friendswood he must be scared of hurricanes.They may have been something other than cinderblocks but thats what they looked like from a distance.

[EasilyAmused]

Miami is a lot of concrete construction. Hurricane proofing. They look like mini-barracks dotting all through Coral Gables. From what I understand its almost 2x's as much to build a non-stick house here in Houston. I just don't think there is enough knowledgable labor here to build it.

[harrygrath]

Sinderblock,stucco ...?

Cement blocks r sturdy & affordable.

There r also cement panels for siding.

The frame/skeleton of the house is the hard to do & expensive part.

I remember a move about a Texan constructor trapped in Saudi Arabia,many many years ago.

He built prefab cement low cost homes.

Generally,it is fascinating to find solutions for affordable but also high quality home construction.

[harrygrath]

+ 100% than wood is unacceptable...

Up to + 25% would be tolerable...

[texdav]

I saw alot of cider block buildings get wasted during Rita. The problem is that they are not that strong unless rebar and filed with concrete.Once a window or door goes they roof follows pretty fast it seems.There were also alot of homes with attached garages that the garage doors went and then the roof of the house.Homes in puter arteas that have nothing bloacking the winds also suffered much worse and of course in easily flooded areas.