Why Do Americans Build Houses with Wood?

Why do Americans build houses with wood? Here’s 3 reasons: First, a wood framed house is way stronger than you think. Houses in our area are engineered to withstand wind up to 115 miles per hour. We use heavy duty hangers, straps, and hurricane clips for added strength. And our modern houses don’t just rely on nails but have specialty bolts and engineered screws to tie the house together and lock it down to the foundation. And why not use brick? Most people don’t realize that brick houses still have wood walls behind them that brick is just a decorative veneer. Second, wood is a renewable resource. We have lots of forest and tons of timber throughout the US and Canada, so framing a house with wood is more affordable than other materials. It’s easy to work with so you can frame a house fast, which keeps labor costs down. Third, wood framing gives us room to room to hide wiring, plumbing, and HVAC lines inside the walls. These same stud bays are filled with insulation, and because wood is a much better insulator than steel or concrete, our houses stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. @hausplans #build #howto #construction #diy #contractor