> One, houses are built out of the most abundant/cheap materials. In some places this is literally concrete. In North America it is lumber. Material doesn’t ne

> One, houses are built out of the most abundant/cheap materials. In some places this is literally concrete. In North America it is lumber. Material doesn’t necessarily dictate whether something is cheap or flimsy. Lumber is the cheapest material in lots of places. A wooden frame house built by 2x4” timber with plywood + timber cladding outside and simple drywall inside is cheap and flimsy. A wooden frame wall with 10” timber is neither cheap or flimsy. How long something lasts is also a matter of construction standards and attention to detail e.g whether the plastic moisture barriers are perfectly sealed preventing condensation in the construction, or if it’s allowed to be punctured e.g by electrical wiring.