• proudblond@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    In California we use wood because it flexes during earthquakes. There may be damage during a big one but at least the house is less likely to collapse on you.

    • MrsDoyle@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      In earthquakes in NZ the wooden houses flex for sure. What kills you is the brick chimney falling through the roof.

    • HenriVolney@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      In Europe we use reinforced concrete for the same purpose. Don’t know if it works but it’s the way it’s done.

    • lunarul@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      And also because there’s no snow or serious rain. Took me years to get used to the flimsy houses here, they wouldn’t last a year back in my country.

      • SuperIce@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I don’t know about that. I’ve lived in a typical “flimsy” American wooden house in an area that had a lot of crazy weather with extreme winds and even a couple of tropical storms. That house had absolutely no issue with those. These houses are a lot stronger than they look. They flex but don’t break.

        • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          My house is 80 years old, I’ve personally seen 3 feet of snow on its roof, it weathered hurricane Fran with no damage, hurricane Matthew caused a leak around the chimney that stained my living room ceiling a little.

          I’m ready to take anything this area is willing to throw at me except tornadoes. A direct strike by tornado will pull it down.

      • Stoney_Logica1@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains quite a bit. Wood houses are fine in the rain as long as the moisture barrier and roof have been installed correctly.