> Well, in Germany it is common wisdom that stick-frame houses only live for roughly 40 years As long as the wood is protected from moisture and termites, it w

> Well, in Germany it is common wisdom that stick-frame houses only live for roughly 40 years As long as the wood is protected from moisture and termites, it will get stronger over time. I have ~100 year old 2x4s in my house and they are nigh indestructible - in a way it's a bad thing because it makes renovations more difficult. Drilling into the stuff is basically impossible. Why would it last only 40 years?