Thread: Concrete vs. Wood

Can any American (builder) tell me why the most houses / small buildings are still being built with a wooden structure? There probably is a reason why they stopped building with wood in Holland (/Europe) decades ago, but there undoubtedly are reasons why it still gets done overseas.

Just a small question, but it comes up to me every time I check the construction forum.

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good question, i'm gonna look into it

here's a start

Wood Frame vs Concrete Block Construction Part I

Where I live wood framing is cheaper because that is what we are used to and nobody builds with concrete because it is actually more expensive. We stick build all of our cabinetry because that is the norm around here.

wood is cheaper...and to most builders that are not high end or custom...cheaper usually=better
builders around my area mostly pour basement walls and wood from there up

+1 wood is cheaper..... Americans want big houses for little money (in general).

I think some of the European move away from wood is environmentally influenced, but many houses in Europe do still use wood for interior walls.

Timber framed construction is actually getting more common over here, finally overcoming a historical resistance to it from a fear of damp/dry rot and woodworm/beetle infestations, and resistance from banks to lend on anything other than 'traditional construction' ie bricks and mortar.

But timber frame construction is more efficient, buildings can go up quicker, prefabrication is easier, higher insulation is easier and the finished building doesn't have to look like a 'wooden house' anymore.

No matter what reason you may find or hear or read, wood is simply cheaper. Period.

Concrete is quality.

Originally Posted by Hovy

No matter what reason you may find or hear or read, wood is simply cheaper. Period.

Concrete is quality.

Wood is cheaper, true

Concrete is quality, true as well but this implies wood is not quality and that is false. Wood also is quality. But more importantly both are only quality if they are installed properly