> Nowadays code won't allow you to skip insulation (or solar), but with earthquakes and high land prices you still aren't getting stone or brick homes. Struct

> Nowadays code won't allow you to skip insulation (or solar), but with earthquakes and high land prices you still aren't getting stone or brick homes. Structural stone and brick homes aren't really a thing in the US that much any more. Beyond seismic issues, when it comes to insulation and efficiency and air/water leaks, homes built using bricks and stone are terrible, because those materials are very difficult to seal. Most newer homes that have brick or stone exteriors use it only for aesthetics, and do not rely on it for structural integrity or resistance to the environment. Their actual skeletons are wood frames, and the weather resistance is provided by layers of materials over that. You can build incredibly sturdy homes with wood - not ticky-tacky at all. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-design/advanced-house-framing https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-des...