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There is definitely a lot of corner-cutting when it comes to new housing construction in the US for the low end of the market, but it's usually seen with poor i
by dhd415 8y ago
There is definitely a lot of corner-cutting when it comes to new housing construction in the US for the low end of the market, but it's usually seen with poor insulation and energy efficiency, low-quality cladding and paints, and "builder-grade" fixtures. Very rarely have I seen chipboard or MDF used. OSB, on the other hand, is used even in high-end construction and, as an engineered alternative to plywood, has a number of benefits over plywood including increased strength, lower cost, and lower environmental impact.
As for staple gun and nail construction, I can't say that I've seen the former, but nails are a superior fastener to screws for many structural applications such as framing because they have a higher shear strength than screws. A nailed stick-frame house doesn't require specialized tools or skills to build, is relatively low-cost and uses renewable resources, and can easily last 100+ years. It's an excellent choice for many houses in the US.
- chrisdhoover 8y agoNot MDF but a cheaper fiber board is often used in trim. The trim itself is often a colonial shape and doesn’t match with the vernacular design of the area or often with the house itself. It is usually 3/8” too thin and 2 1/4” to short. You’ll often see press-formed cardboard doors in 6 panel colonial style on houses in cities that didn’t exist in colonial times. Builder grade fixtures fail quickly, while the porcilin in the bathroom may last, a complete rebuild of the toilet is often necessary in as little as 3 years. Vanities are lower grade press board that melts as soon as water hits it. You’ll see mold and dry rot form are both the sink and bath because poor water proofing