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My guess is that the industry has been developed in one way and there is too much history, infrastructure and experience to change. In Europe builders know how
by rapsey 5y ago
My guess is that the industry has been developed in one way and there is too much history, infrastructure and experience to change.
In Europe builders know how to build brick houses because that is what they have always done. In the US they are built from wood because that is what they have always done.
- seanmcdirmid 5y agoThe USA has plenty of wood to make wood construction feasible, whereas that is more of a constrained resource. Japan has it bad in both ways: they are addicted to wood construction (quality is lower than even the USA) and have to import it all from Canada. But at least Japan is realistic about pricing in structure depreciation.
- hinoki 5y agoHaving seen quite a few wood frame houses under construction in Japan, at least the framing seems much higher quality than in Canada. Studs are thicker, cut more precisely, and spaced closer together with more cross bracing than I have ever seen in Canada. The insulation and other fittings are of course not at the same level. But winter is much milder and earthquakes much worse.
- seanmcdirmid 5y agoThe winters aren’t really more mild in Japan. They invented the kotatsu to get around poor insulation (I’ve stayed in low quality housing in Japan in the winter and it wasn’t fun). Japanese rebuild their structures much more often than in Canada and the USA and so don’t overbuild accordingly. The result is that housing quality appears better simply because the structures are newer. See https://japanpropertycentral.com/2014/02/understanding-the-lifespan-of-a-japanese-home-or-apartment/ https://japanpropertycentral.com/2014/02/understanding-the-l...
- Aeolun 5y agoFittings are getting there now. We’re not quite at triple paned glass, but the house which I bought 2 years ago (in Japan) is very well isolated, and incredibly easy to keep comfortable with help from the aircon units installed. The house feels extremely solid, though that’s not an experts opinion.
- pezezin 5y agoWinters in Hokkaido and Tohoku are not mild at all. Sure, maybe it won't be as cold as Canada, but still fucking cold, and the poor insulation and heating makes it painful.
- seanmcdirmid 5y agoEven Nagoya (or in my case Gifu) gets somewhat cold. Cold enough that poor insulation is noticed.
- tannhaeuser 5y agoSure about low-quality housing in Japan? They have a tradition of highly-skilled woodworking over there eg Shoji.
- pezezin 5y agoI have been living in Japan and I can confirm that the construction quality of most houses is very low. Shoji is a good example, the may look pretty but they rarely fit properly.
- fomine3 5y agoAnyway shoji isn't for insulation, so window frames are also not for insulation. Most behind thing for building in Japan is that aluminum frame single glass window is still allowed to build new house, and plenty of cheap houses use it.
- vidarh 5y agoBrick vs wood is not the issue. You can build high quality solid houses with wood just fine - look to Scandinavia for example.