I think it's not that people in Europe prefer sturdier stuff, I think it's that all the wood has already been cut down, so timber construction is not priced che

I think it's not that people in Europe prefer sturdier stuff, I think it's that all the wood has already been cut down, so timber construction is not priced cheaply enough to offset its disadvantages vs. masonry. > Something that won't rot away or creak in the wind. Even in parts of the US that have a much harsher environment than any part of Europe -- extremely hot and humid weather conducive to wood rot, termite infestations, hurricanes and tornadoes -- people still build with wood because it's a lot cheaper. Sometimes I think it's strange, but it also makes sense, I suppose.