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A big component of this is that building codes aren’t really enforced for the construction of single-family housing in Japan. Even if you wanted to buy a used h

A big component of this is that building codes aren’t really enforced for the construction of single-family housing in Japan. Even if you wanted to buy a used home, you run the risk that shoddy construction could put you at serious danger in the event of the country’s not-so-infrequent natural disasters. This is one reason why most people tear down and rebuild.

heavenlyblue 7y ago
So people rebuild houses just in case for a not-so-frequent natural disaster? Or are there other reasons too?
- claudeganon 7y ago
  Yeah there are other reasons, from related insurance concerns to cultural/quasi-spiritual beliefs that old homes acquire the “fortunes” of their previous owners. Also, said lack of building code enforcement, makes new home construction cheaper, faster, and more plentiful. But there are also A LOT of earthquakes, typhoons, and floods in Japan, so it’s not exactly a minor concern either, especially when houses are typically seen as something you buy for life.
  - SapporoChris 7y ago
    On the flip side. I have a friend she is native Japanese, divorced, clerical worker with low income. She got a used house in the suburbs of a small city. (30 minute bus/walk commute) She basically only paid for the price of the land. The house itself is in good shape and the only maintenance issues have been the ones you'd expect from a twenty year old house. Heater replacement, a kitchen vent. I've been inside the house and I see no evidence of shoddy construction. (not that I'm trained to spot it). My point the housing market like it is makes it much less likely for people to become homeless. Japan's homeless numbers reflect this.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
vidanay 7y ago
A good percentage of new homes I've seen in the last 30 years here in America are barely a step above that in quality. Most of them aren't outright dangerous, but they certainly aren't top quality.
- mandelbrotwurst 7y ago
  Houses in the U.S. are largely built by profit maximizing developers who know that the typical American homebuyer cares more about total square footage than essentially anything else about the house. Is it big? Does it have a nice facade? I'll take it! Houses are typically built exactly "to code", rarely above it.
  - vvanders 7y ago
    Isn't that kinda the point of a uniform code of building? At least here the county code requires larger studs and windload due to the weather we get.
    - aidenn0 7y ago
      There's an argument to be made that if nearly all building just barely meet the legal requirements, then the legal requirements are too steep because we haven't found the bottom. Compare with NHTSA car safety ratings. Many cars get 4 or 5 stars, but you can still build/buy a car that would be less safe.
      - vvanders 7y ago
        Yeah but you also can't build a car without seatbelts/airbags/backup cameras.
    - kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
      I've worked on homes built in the 90's with stupid stuff like flashing missing around the doors and windows. The ensuing water damage is not pretty. Pretty easy to sneak that past an inspector.
fiblye 7y ago
Yeah, walking into an average home built 35 years ago and the average one built 5 years ago, the difference is huge. Older ones definitely feel like they'll just pancake during a moderately large earthquake. They also completely lack insulation and many don't even have double pane windows. Nobody wants to buy houses like that in this day and age.

heavenlyblue 7y ago

So people rebuild houses just in case for a not-so-frequent natural disaster? Or are there other reasons too?

claudeganon 7y ago
Yeah there are other reasons, from related insurance concerns to cultural/quasi-spiritual beliefs that old homes acquire the “fortunes” of their previous owners. Also, said lack of building code enforcement, makes new home construction cheaper, faster, and more plentiful. But there are also A LOT of earthquakes, typhoons, and floods in Japan, so it’s not exactly a minor concern either, especially when houses are typically seen as something you buy for life.
- SapporoChris 7y ago
  On the flip side. I have a friend she is native Japanese, divorced, clerical worker with low income. She got a used house in the suburbs of a small city. (30 minute bus/walk commute) She basically only paid for the price of the land. The house itself is in good shape and the only maintenance issues have been the ones you'd expect from a twenty year old house. Heater replacement, a kitchen vent. I've been inside the house and I see no evidence of shoddy construction. (not that I'm trained to spot it). My point the housing market like it is makes it much less likely for people to become homeless. Japan's homeless numbers reflect this.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

vidanay 7y ago

A good percentage of new homes I've seen in the last 30 years here in America are barely a step above that in quality. Most of them aren't outright dangerous, but they certainly aren't top quality.

mandelbrotwurst 7y ago
Houses in the U.S. are largely built by profit maximizing developers who know that the typical American homebuyer cares more about total square footage than essentially anything else about the house. Is it big? Does it have a nice facade? I'll take it! Houses are typically built exactly "to code", rarely above it.
- vvanders 7y ago
  Isn't that kinda the point of a uniform code of building? At least here the county code requires larger studs and windload due to the weather we get.
  - aidenn0 7y ago
    There's an argument to be made that if nearly all building just barely meet the legal requirements, then the legal requirements are too steep because we haven't found the bottom. Compare with NHTSA car safety ratings. Many cars get 4 or 5 stars, but you can still build/buy a car that would be less safe.
    - vvanders 7y ago
      Yeah but you also can't build a car without seatbelts/airbags/backup cameras.
  - kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
    I've worked on homes built in the 90's with stupid stuff like flashing missing around the doors and windows. The ensuing water damage is not pretty. Pretty easy to sneak that past an inspector.

fiblye 7y ago

Yeah, walking into an average home built 35 years ago and the average one built 5 years ago, the difference is huge. Older ones definitely feel like they'll just pancake during a moderately large earthquake. They also completely lack insulation and many don't even have double pane windows. Nobody wants to buy houses like that in this day and age.