4 ms·

It doesn’t have to be. I live in a house in the Netherlands that was built in 1675, and this isn’t terribly unusual. It’s not a special old house or anything, j

by j4yav 6y ago

It doesn’t have to be. I live in a house in the Netherlands that was built in 1675, and this isn’t terribly unusual. It’s not a special old house or anything, just an old one in an old city center. I know it’s not super common in the US for various reasons, but it’s certainly possible to build a house that will outlast you, your children, and their children.

chrisco255 6y ago
Wild, how was it constructed out of curiosity and what materials?
- j4yav 6y ago
  Timber and brick, I’m unfortunately not an expert on home construction and can’t give a more interesting answer but maybe someone else around knows. A lot of homes and construction in the New England area is brick and I bet it will last quite a long time.
  - psalminen 6y ago
    Can confirm. I know many people who live in New England houses ~150 years old.
    - jefftk 6y ago
      This is mostly not a matter of construction materials. The oldest houses in New England are all wood frame (much cheaper for the colonists, still is today). As long as you keep the wood dry (maintain the roof and siding), it will last indefinitely.
    - RHSeeger 6y ago
      My in-laws' house is from around 1750, and it's not unusual in New England.
  - mikeg8 6y ago
    To piggy back: "timber framing" uses 6x6 or larger posts and beams for the structural members of the house and then is cladded over with brick, mud, or other materials to keep out water and air. Although we use still use wood (timber) studs in the form of 2x4s/2x6s, this is usually referred to as "stick framing" because the boards are much smaller. These smaller framing members require more fasteners to hold on claddings ie siding, vapor barriers, etc which means each nail/screw penetrations allows water and air to potentially ruin the house. Stucco and other masonry cladding like brick are naturally porous and water permeable. Another interesting tid-bit is that while older houses are much draftier and usually less energy efficient, this "airiness" of the house allows them to dry out and avoid rotting. There have been countless class action lawsuits in the US because builders in the 80s and 90s created situations where exterior wall assemblies trapped water against the studs and didn't allow them to dry out in an effort to make the "air tight" and energy efficient. The brick cladding on old New England style homes either have an air barrier between the brick and wood framing or weeps holes in the mortar to allow water out from behind the brick. This allows them to last much longer.

by j4yav 6y ago

chrisco255 6y ago

Wild, how was it constructed out of curiosity and what materials?

j4yav 6y ago
Timber and brick, I’m unfortunately not an expert on home construction and can’t give a more interesting answer but maybe someone else around knows. A lot of homes and construction in the New England area is brick and I bet it will last quite a long time.
- psalminen 6y ago
  Can confirm. I know many people who live in New England houses ~150 years old.
  - jefftk 6y ago
    This is mostly not a matter of construction materials. The oldest houses in New England are all wood frame (much cheaper for the colonists, still is today). As long as you keep the wood dry (maintain the roof and siding), it will last indefinitely.
  - RHSeeger 6y ago
    My in-laws' house is from around 1750, and it's not unusual in New England.
- mikeg8 6y ago
  To piggy back: "timber framing" uses 6x6 or larger posts and beams for the structural members of the house and then is cladded over with brick, mud, or other materials to keep out water and air. Although we use still use wood (timber) studs in the form of 2x4s/2x6s, this is usually referred to as "stick framing" because the boards are much smaller. These smaller framing members require more fasteners to hold on claddings ie siding, vapor barriers, etc which means each nail/screw penetrations allows water and air to potentially ruin the house. Stucco and other masonry cladding like brick are naturally porous and water permeable. Another interesting tid-bit is that while older houses are much draftier and usually less energy efficient, this "airiness" of the house allows them to dry out and avoid rotting. There have been countless class action lawsuits in the US because builders in the 80s and 90s created situations where exterior wall assemblies trapped water against the studs and didn't allow them to dry out in an effort to make the "air tight" and energy efficient. The brick cladding on old New England style homes either have an air barrier between the brick and wood framing or weeps holes in the mortar to allow water out from behind the brick. This allows them to last much longer.