• luddybuddy [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    68
    ·
    25 days ago

    It is largely due to seismic requirements, yes. Platform framed wood construction is very good in an earthquake. Brick sucks for seismic, and concrete or concrete block can be good for seismic loading, but is expensive. Concrete might pencil out if you were building apartments, but that’s usually illegal in most parts of a west coast city.

    • btfod [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      25 days ago

      Thanks for the reply. The older I get the more I wanna live in a dope concrete apartment building, and I don’t even live in an earthquake or fire risk area… (yet, who knows what’s in store)

        • btfod [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          24 days ago

          Yes… severe storms and tornadoes are unfortunately a factor where I live. I’ve seen neighborhoods here that look just as ruined as the one in the photo, sans ashes… and of course most of the new construction is lumber frame. I even saw a 4 story apartment building go up last year, all lumber. Seemed wild to me. One of the many ill effects of housing being considered a commodity instead of essential to human life, I guess.