It's notable how building construction is very regional.
For example, balloon framing is very rare in most of Europe - where people generally prefer brick, stone, blocks or even cast concrete. Something that won't rot away or creak in the wind.
For example, balloon framing is very rare in most of Europe - where people generally prefer brick, stone, blocks or even cast concrete. Something that won't rot away or creak in the wind.
Understanding the requirements made me develop a lot of respect for balloon framing.
> 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.
The only injuries that occurred timber framed houses in Christchurch in the 2011-02-22 earthquake were from brick chimneys falling through the roof.
Europe doesn't really have winter compared to North America, unless you're making a quip about their energy crisis ;-). Compare someplace continental and ridiculously far north like Rovaniemi, Finland to, say, Fargo, ND; the latter has colder winters, despite being 20 degrees of latitude further south. And yet everyone in Fargo builds with stick frames.
A well-built and well-maintained wood house can last multiple generations and keep warm in the meantime. Though, granted it's probably more expensive to maintain than equivalent masonry.
Neither does most of America. You nitpicked one place in NA then forgot sweden finland and norway exists...
This is a fairly well-known concept. From a starting place in Europe, usually one has to travel 10-15 degrees of latitude south to find similar winter temperatures in North America. See:
- Helsinki, Finland vs. Syracuse, NY: 17 degrees of latitude
- Warsaw, Poland vs. Pittsburgh, PA: 12 degrees
- Berlin, Germany vs. Roanoke, VA: 13 degrees
You have to go into Russia to find truly cold winters. Kazan, probably the coldest major city in the European side of Russia, has similar winter temperatures to Edmonton, AB, only two degrees further south.