The Stick Built Vs Stone Construction Controversy Explained

[@Nerdslayer09527]

In Sweden, Norway and Finland (All countries with large woodlands and logging industries) we also build most houses almost entirely out of wood, with exception for the foundation etc, and it holds up just wonderfully, they're also easier to insulate properly for the cold winters.

[@michaelnurse9089]

Here is South Africa no houses are built from wood. Everything is brick for the poorest to the richest. I wish we could build with wood, but the cost would be 4x.

[@fishhuntadventure]

@@michaelnurse9089 Between region and its climate, the availability and volume of forestry, the type/species/size of logs, and whether or not the broadly available labor experience effects the cost and preference of construction type.

[@SealFredy5]

Basically all of Europe has a strong history of timber-framed houses. Heck, where do Europeans thing North American building came from? They just travel over and invent a new construction system? NO! It's mostly from Europe, both light wood and timber framed.

[@dhache1195]

@@SealFredy5 ''ALL'' of Europe having a ''strong'' history with timber-frame? I don't think so. North of Europe yes, South of Europe NO, still concrete and stone but going very slowly to new version of timber frame

[@SealFredy5]

@@dhache1195 You are patently incorrect. Seriously, Dunning-Krugger to the max here. Read a book on timber framing, the Romans were one of the key groups to spread timber-framed construction into popularity across the continent. The Romans pioneered the Casa a Graticcio technique that so many buildings would go on to use in the medieval era. And yes there are historical dig sights that show these houses being used, like in Herculaneum. And note that this particular technique uses timber as the structural component - modern stick framed houses with brick/stone exteriors would be a good modern equivelent (which is exceedingly common today). We could also talk about French, Swiss, German, Romanian, or Spanish traditions. Timber framing is not confined to "just northern Europe", the whole continent has a long tradition in using timber frames in construction. People built houses with literally whatever material they had. Construction techniques and craftmanship cultures followed for timber framing (and now stick framing) in every region where trees are available.

[@mcqueengraphics4973]

My favorite thing about this channel is how respectful this man is, how truly informative he is and how comforting his voice and tone is. This channel is a goldmine.

[@huckwach3074]

He is the Bob Ross of the construction trades

[@kaiwenhe5518]

This old man had good parenting back then.

[@ClintGrantham]

People speak and lash out with no actual knowledge. Thank you Essential Craftsman for sharing knowledge & reason.

[@mtwain1674]

This channel is a gift to the internet. Thank you for all the work you do and the valuable content you provide!

[@CRAZYCR1T1C]

He is a gem.. a father figure every man should have.

[@John-yf8qh]

Even though Scott in this one example is talking utter codswallop, I agree with you entirely. It's not often I disagree with the fellow as he's one of the wisest people I know of. He's a proper bloke and his videos are full of charm.

[@scenicwild]

I’m from Austria ( yes it’s a small country in Europe), and I am 100% with you! I’m a shame that so many people from Europe think that they make everything better (not only houses). I’ve visited the US very often, and also was traveling through Oregon (by the way, one of the most beautiful States) and I always enjoyed staying in the houses made out of wood. I have learned a lot from your channel, and was able to build some small projects with that knowledge. So thanks for putting up so much great content ( carpentry, concrete work, steel working, and last but not least some grate advises and personal thoughts) Many greetings from Austria!

[@jamese9283]

Excellent comment. Greetings from North Carolina.

[@formes2388]

There is a bit of a truth: If you build a brick house cheaply - it will crack, and reveal your cheap work EXTREMELY fast. And so there is a higher minimum. With wood - you can get a piss poor construction to stand up long enough with enough screws, glues, and nails. If you instead, go ahead and go all the way - a timber or well made wood house is incredible. What I'm getting at: The top end is pretty much the same - you can make amazing quality, with long lasting construction being capable out of wood and brick (or whatever). What we see - wood can be used to slap up a rather terribly poor construction made by questionable individuals.And this is where we get into building codes. Beyond this - if you have good insulation, wood is absolutely incredible.

[@alexanderkupke920]

@@formes2388 The major thing with wood is, keep it dry. Or, as that is impossible to achieve under all circumstances, as there allways is moisture, allow them to dry. Then they can last a very long time. keep it wet and you get rot. but that is the only downside to wood. although moisture in a home from masonry materials is not something that does not come with problems as well. mold and mildew are the first to think about. and even those materials can deteriorate when moist or wet all the time. So in that regard, it is workmanship and maintenance that keep any home up for a long time, no matter what it is build from. I was told a few years ago, the reason why we use stone and concrete here in most of Europe and wood is the major material in the US, is a simple economical one. The US has a lot of wood available. And allthough these days wood no longer is just cheap, it is still cheaper than masonry materials. In most of Europe, it is the other way round, especially in Germany and Austria, it looks like we have forrests and plenty of wood, but it is not as abundand and using it sustainably, together with other factors makes it a way more expensive material to build with. you will find wooden homes here as well, especially if you look at prebuild homes, where walls and floors get build in the factory and only assembled on site, those are made mostly of wood. They are not much different in the way they are constructed, than a US American home. They only are cheaper, not because of materials, but because building them on site takes only a few days, not the best part of a year. And if we look further north, in the scandinavian or nordic countries like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, with hughe forrests and an abundance of sustainable wood, you will find a lot more wooden constructions as well. It all comes down, what at average is less expensive to build. Add in a few traditions and what most people in the trade know to work with, and you get what we have. And looking back to past days, 100, 200, maybe 300 years ago, especially in America in the early times, but in the end everywhere, there have always been two main factors deciding how and what a building was made from. What was the material the people knew to work with, and what was the material more or less readily available. Of course we have way older buildings here in Europe. And yes, typically those several hundred or even a thousand year old buildings are made from stone. sometimes you may find timber frmaed buildings, where the frames were filled with wood and clay, or clay bricks. but the reason why mostly stone buildings are left from those times? time itself, as well as other hazards like fire (And no one should think a house made of bricks cannot be destroyed in a fire). But no matter what, those buildings that survived often had been the wealthier peoples homes, or like the towns magazine or town hall and just had been better taken care of. Because at those times, those buildings have been way more expensive to build and not the kind of houses everybody lived in.

[@adam-k]

Lots of houses are made of wood in Europe. 99% your building material depends on price and availability at your country. In Hungary everything is made of bricks because clay is abundant and wood is scarce. In Scandinavia 99% of houses built of wood because wood is abundant and clay is scarce.

[@iii-ei5cv]

Why doesn't the US build with steel? China builds with steel and there's no issues with their buildings

[@mariodegrazia7497]

I work in construction with many less than noble characters. You sir come across as very different. Humble, patient, reserved, intelligent, well though out and spoken. You seem honest and aligned with values I hold dear and sadly are almost completely gone in construction. The subs you work with also seem to be men of honor. You make me feel less alone in caring about my craft and having a deep respect for trades.

[@stinkeye460]

I was a mason for over fifty years and have seen the trade go downhill because our schools think that anyone who gets dirty for a living is of low intelligence and directs most students to go to college. I always taught apprentices that being a skilled craftsmen is one of the highest callings a man could make. I used to remind them that it was we masons that designed and built the great cathedrals and castles of Europe. We built the cities and bridges of the ancient world. We built the temples and Pyramids of Egypt, the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans. I used to tell them that they can take your money, your house and your old lady but only you can let them take your pride of being a craftsman.

[@ainslie187]

Yes, having to work with "less than nobles" is really the worst part of being in the construction trade. The work is hard enough, but being surrounded by hot heads, liars, corner cutters, thieves, pill heads and degenerates has made it unbearable for me. No doubt these types of people are in all job sectors, but the unrelenting rage that is simmering just under the surface of a lot of construction guys (and frequently boiling over) is on another level.

[@stinkeye460]

Here in Virginia illegal aliens have taken over most of the trades. In 2008 our Local bricklayers union agreed to a $2.00 and hour cut in pay and no raises for three years. Over six hundred of us were laid off and the rest didn't get a raise until 2016. Most of us that got laid off never returned because there are so many other jobs that pay more and don't destroy your bodies. When I became a journeyman in 1973 my take home pay was $9.50 an hour and my health insurance was $40.00 a month. I paid $165.00 a month for a beautiful new apartment just off the oceanfront in Va. Beach. I bought a new Ford pickup and the payments were $63.00 a month. When I was laid off my take home pay was $20.00 and hour and my contribution to health care was $790.00 a month. Even if I had 52 forty hour weeks I could barely support myself let alone a wife and kids. Now they are begging for skilled craftsmen and wonder why they can't find enough. Even the Mexicans are demanding better pay now. I saw an ad several years ago for entry level positions with the Postal Service. Starting pay was $20.00 an hour plus better benefits than anyone in construction gets. @@ainslie187

[@stinkeye460]

I remember the older bricklayers telling me that when they were young the bricklayers came to work dressed in bibs, a white dress shirt, bow ties and and a Newsboy cap. It was considered to be an honor to be a mason in those days. Now we are considered low intelligent manual laborers. At least when we come home from work and our kids ask what we accomplished that day it won't be I sat in a cubical behind a computer entering shit in and shite out hating every minuet of it.@@ainslie187

[@robgrey6183]

Do you really think you would be dealing with a better class of people if you were working with, say, lawyers or hedge fund managers?

[@ndunguwanjenga4635]

Am from Kenya here we run everyday with you sir i learn everyday. Thank you for sharing.

[@bikerchrisukk]

UK Design and Builder here, genuine respect for your gentle handling of this query from Europeans, in or out of the construction industry.

[@rogermiller8708]

The phrase I heard often growing up “Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water” is still true. I’m 71, and your commentary is a welcome breath of fresh air. Open and inquisitive minds are essential to making fewer poor decisions. Thank you for this and your series of videos. There is always more to be learned.

[@stephenholland6328]

The impermanence of wood is a feature. Buildings evolve over time. Frame construction is easy to change. Stone walls no so much. The hollows in walls allows easy insertion of utilities. The outer wall airspace is easily insulated. Frame construction is cheaper, easier, easily remodeled, used renewable wood, and allows easy running of utilities. Great approach.

[@CydeWeys]

Building structures out of wood even sequesters carbon! A tree that falls in a forest and decays releases its carbon back into the atmosphere, but a tree that is turned into a building keeps that carbon sequestered for as long as the lumber that comprises that building survives. Concrete, meanwhile, releases carbon into the atmosphere as part of its manufacture. And once the structure has reached end of life, you can't reuse concrete like you can wood.

[@AndrossUT]

Actually brick and stone is really easy

[@k.d.8924]

I'm right there with ya Scott, before becoming a carpenter, I spent seventeen years planting trees in the southeast and the north. I figure I've personally added upwards of two million trees to this planet. Some of them will already have been harvested.

[@AlanTheBeast100]

If you planted trees 6 months per year and took your weekends off, that would be over 900 per day or 103 / hour in 9 hour / day shifts. Was that mainly mechanized?

[@jboyd85]

Canadian tree planter of 6 seasons (now long ago) here@@AlanTheBeast100. They're seedlings, generally. A 'normal' planter doing piecework here in the great white north usually manages between 1800-2200 a day. Costal planters manage less, but get pair more per tree, and are climbing a mountain whilst doing. A really good planter - a 'baller' - can do 4K plus a day in most kinds of terrain. Think one tree every 10-20 seconds all day long. You eat your sandwiches while you 'bag up' 200-300 more trees from boxes or plastic cassettes at the site of the cut block road. There have been experiments, but so far no cost-effective, fast, mechanized method has been produced. I met exactly one planter wo had cracked the 2M mark - it was a glorious day.

[@k.d.8924]

@@AlanTheBeast100 No sir. All hand planted. 3-4 thousand most days, sometimes 6-7, depending on site conditions. 500 an hour on average.

[@AlanTheBeast100]

@@k.d.8924 500 / hour? Outstanding!

[@k.d.8924]

@@AlanTheBeast100 It was piecework, so we hauled ass.

[@stevemepstead2694]

Scott, as a British carpenter in the south of England, I’ve been building timber built garden offices post Covid and been in my element. Some of them have been quite high budget builds. I ended up building my own at the bottom of my garden as a music room/office under a 300+ year old very healthy oak tree clad with Canadian red cedar shakes, insulated and soundproofed. It is beautiful! It’s quick to heat and retains it so well. I’m sure it will still be here in a hundred years.. hopefully the oak will be also..

[@campingintheforest_]

Wonderful comment.

[@thefreedomwarrior]

Well said sir. The overall point. Every region of the country/world will require different methods based on the environment in which the structure will stand. Even here in Virginia (although relatively rare) we have earthquakes. But more than that are very high winds in the winter months. Our home is a wood framed home that is now 150 years old and shows no signs of structural wear. We have enough timber on our land to build over 25 homes. So we are good.

[@puckerwilsonsofficial2802]

Such a respectful and humble communicator. This channel is one of the few reasons I still engage with this platform. Keep up the good work

[@mcmillanstu]

Here in Scotland, timber framing is very popular, but often with CMU outer skins, then remdered. It suits our colder, wetter climate very well. It allows us to add a lot of insulation tp the walls, a big plus of the timber frame, but then the waterproofness of concrete on the outside to protect the timber.

[@efklijzing]

Dear sir, It is such a pleasure to listen to you. The tone, the story, the 'search' for the right words and message. Thank you for this. And thank you also for the shared insights, knowledge and warmth of heart. It is always a pleasure to put on the short films you present, containing the lessons in so many different areas of work, family, friendship and richness is all. Thank you, Sincerely yours, Ernst Klijzing, Carpenter (and general builder) Amsterdam The Netherlands

[@racheledwards4833]

As someone else said, your channel is a gift and I appreciate all the effort and invaluable information that goes into your videos. I admire the manner in which you acknowledge and address the issue that was brought up in a matter of fact, open and informative way. Something that I would really like to cultivate in myself. It was very refreshing to see a difference of opinion be addressed like this after all the drama and mess we see on the news and social media daily. 🖤Thank you 🖤

[@dlorien7306]

Seriously, is any craftsman smarter, more articulate, or more humble? This is a perfect video

[@MikevanHattum]

I used to think like the nimrods that say boo to wood construction, until I started working in construction. Each material have their purposes, upsides and downsides. It all comes down to cost, location and time (how long does it need to last). i love this channel, because he can explain it in a great way :)

[@jeffc6832]

Expertly explained as always. There are no "bad" building materials, only bad (or lacking) building practices. The wide variety of construction materials and building methods is a testament to our ability as humans to adapt to our individual environments in a sustainable and economical way.

[@stantheman5163]

Well stated. I noticed all of those comments as well. I now live in Oregon. I have lived in the Southeast. I now work with wood as a hobbyist, but as a young man I trained as a brick mason. People have always used what they have around them to build their homes. I can appreciate the beauty of a stone edifice, but the warmth and functionality of wood is hard to beat.

[@richardross7219]

My father and both grandfathers were carpenters' union members and master carpenters. I was a Civil Engineer for 35 years. When I built my house it was stick built. I was able to mostly do it myself and the costs were much lower. You are absolutely correct about earthquake survivability. A chimney becomes the main vulnerability. There are very few masons that can build a good house of stone anymore. Brick and stone finishes are expensive and most seem to cause more trouble that normal siding. I've seen many stick built houses that are 150+ years old. Most that failed were because of stone foundations or termites. On your next project, look at passive solar heating. Passive solar has no mechanisms. It is simply orienting the long face of the house to a true east west line and putting non low E glass on the south side. To be cooler in the summer the roof has to overhang enough to shade the south glass from May thru August. Be sure that the south side of the house won't be shaded in the winter. Building in thermal mass storage will help it work better. Good Luck, Rick

[@fireant128]

100% agree about wooden structures. In the north of Australia where I live we experience some of the worst cyclonic conditions on earth yet many of the structures we build are timber structures. With proper bracing, tie downs and engineering these structures perform very well in extreme winds. Block (CMU), timber and steel panel frame construction with truss roof framing and steel roofing are the most common types of construction designs used. And they perform extremely well. Concrete buildings being used primarily for commercial purposes only.

[@Ciridan]

In Florida, stone block construction will last infinitely longer than a stick house. Winds, rain and humidity all will cause problems way before it would with block. Different shit works best different places and for different budgets

[@tbelding]

@@Ciridan - Depends on the part of Florida. Certain areas, the heavier the house, the more likely it is to have stability problems. Just like most of the Gulf coast.

[@Matt-wl9gc]

100% spot on. I build houses in Florida, and here in Indiana. Yes in Florida it's concrete, usually h block and so many cells poured solid with a tie beam. Yes a few of the insulated Crete houses also. Here it's stick built. Diffrent techniques to solve diffrent problems. They are all built to code to help weed out some of the more shotty work. The bad thing about codes though, is that the guys that halfass work can charge less, and still underbid projects put it passes "code".

[@martinpoulsen6564]

Thank you Wadsworth, for putting some perspective on a very very important topic. Probably the most important one in the entire building industry. This from someone with hands on experience from Denmark, Germany and WA state, so yes, also directly on the ring of fire. A 6.7 tore most of the remaining old brick buildings in downtown Seattle down, just months before I arrived. One thing I never understood, when I was in WA, was the lack of rainscreen construction, where the siding is ventilated and kept from the structural stuff to keep it dry, in what was also a fairly moist climate. Now, 20 years after, this has also arrived in the US. As far as stone vs. timber, there is no discussion. The lumber wins on the ring of fire, hands down. It would make absolutely no sense using other material than the locally sourced, as it is the best suited for the job. Steel and concrete both lose on the green aspect and general comfort of both working with the material as well as living in it. Certain things have to be observed of course, in using wood, but that goes for just about anything. Build to suit the material. I get the feeling many people see houses torn off the foundation from an F5, and equate that to malpractice across the building industry, when in reality, nothing will stand for it. Personally I've never built structurally stronger houses, than when I was in WA, not even in Germany. And our buildings here in Denmark are all built to withstand hurricane force winds, so that should tell people a little something. As for the economy in the building industry, greed and sustainability, they're all interwoven. IMHO, there are way too many freeloaders of little to no value, making the building process entirely more expensive than it needs to be, whether insurances, membership associations to stamp lumber, thereby more or less monopolizing which vendors are available at which price, and most certainly if they have created cartels, which has been seen throughout the value chain in nearly any branch and market. The flip side of this of course is the possibility of getting something sub par, but it seems to me the risk of getting that is there anyway, stamped and with no coverage from the insurance, hence why I dare designate them as freeloaders. Human trafficking in more or less legal ways, subs hiring subs hiring subs, but still a cost that could be avoided, had the builder or contractor hired directly. Another thing is the increase in industrial products... yes, they might be quick and easy, but usually not very sustainable. Even though some of the product might be recycled whatever, it's usually in a mix that makes it throwaway and non-repairable, besides many times toxic. Although everyone wants to greenwash it to sell, it is very much not sustainable. Then there is all of the chemicals... tapes, paints, glues, lubricants and so on and so forth. "OH! This is the bees knees! Use some of this!" ...well sure, but what's in it? Is it going to kill the fish and cause people cancer? ...not enough demand actual documentation for any of this. We all should in common interest, but... All I can say is that none of our governments are going to look out for us in that sense, when you look at the numerous environmental disasters around the world, how many get sick from doing their jobs or living in their houses, but nobody wants any of us to know. It's bad for business, and then we'd be forced to live in houses built in the same materials they had available 150 years ago.... and actually. That wouldn't be a bad thing. We DO have the technology. Just not using it right. Anyway.... That's enough ranting from me. I wish in the future more people at any level wake up in the morning and ask themselves why they have a job in construction. And if at least one of the answers isn't to deliver a quality product to the customer, that will add to their life in a positive way, preferably for generations, that they find a different way to make a living. That I hope. Hope. Not counting on it. The bottom line is: The one and only thing none of us can afford, is people who don't care. And I don't care whether it's politicians, framers, architects, builders, suppliers, manufacturers, apprentices, customers or anyone else. They/we have to be brought around to think. And care. Otherwise it's game over.

[@SeattleCoorain]

Well, said, thank you. I might only add Prof. Joe Lstiburek has observed 50 years ago when energy was abundant and cheap, or available on your own land for the price of harvesting it, we built wood houses in America that, in the main, did not suffer mold, mildew, bad air or rot. This was, he says, because the somewhat leaky walls and ceilings allowed cheap energy to flow thru and dry out water that might have intruded. Today's energy and building codes mandate air-tight home envelopes which have led to a cascade of problems: mold, mildew, sick house air and rot. As you mention, the building industry profits from the layers of complexity it brings forward to address these issues: tapes, paints, vapor-barriers and glues, yet rethinking the problem toward simplifying is taboo. We can disagree on whether steel in particular isn't green (highest rate of recycling value from used into new material), or is uncomfortable to live with in a home. I'm fortunate to have the resources in retirement to invest in my own project to design and then produce affordable kit-homes manufactured from structural steel and panelized wood elements. -- many regards, from Seattle, WA

[@martinpoulsen6564]

@@SeattleCoorain There are vast amounts of resources going to waste, simply because the industrial lobby has sat itself squarely on both marketing and legislation. I'd take a timberframe insulated with straw, hemp, grass and/or cellulose fiber and plastered in clay over anything else, any day of the week. Besides the obvious time consumption, there is no way to get as low an environmental footprint from a building, and you'll be VERY hard pressed to find anything with as good an indoor climate, even with the help from modern forced air, filters and heat exchangers. Which of course just as easily can be adopted in such a building, in which case no other option stands a chance in what would be considered Northern climate, where insulation/heating precedes (cold)air conditioning over the year. In warmer climates, such as Arizona etc., rammed earth might very well be the best choice, to utilize the thermal mass, and spread temperatures over the full 24 hours. No modern building techniques stand up to the old ones, except in speed and large open flat spans. But the extra running costs and maintenance just make them unattractive to anyone who knows anything about actual construction physics and biology. What turns most people off is when it comes to mortgages and insurance, since banks and brokers are in cahoots with the industry, and so housing continues to be something out of a fast-food restaurant. All the same, barely sufficient, very uninteresting and gross when you start picking the components apart... and it doesn't last. They found a wallsection dating back to the 15th century in an archeological excavation in Germany, which some engineers decided to do a full set of calculations on for comparison. Structurally it was only a question of slightly tighter stud spacing, and for thermal properties, it would without any problems whatsoever, live up to mid 1990s specs without any alterations at all. And that's a 5-600 year old wall, dug out of the dirt, insulated with grass. So... whatever wondeematerial they keep telling us is the best, newest, most complex... bahh humbug! Nothing but the emperors new clothing!

[@darrenwilkinson1742]

I moved to Christchurch NZ from the uk, and was buying a house for the second time, (first time was in the UK). I found it really hard to process the concept of buying a house made of timber (sticks), until I looked around more. Every house I looked at with any use of stone or brick had major structural issues from the Christchurch earthquakes from a decade ago. Meanwhile the 110 year old timber house I ended up buying had no major earthquake damage…. It did have some rot and wood bora issues but your spec house videos showed me the way… And being timber, I did it all myself, (following NZ standards and the tips you’ve shared.) I’m finally just starting my painting and finishing. Thank you! Watching your videos inspired, guided and soothed me through the last 2 years of work. And taking your advice I’ve learned to take 20 minutes at the end of some days (a nice summers evening) to sit back and feel the pride of accomplishing each job, a job well done. 😊

[@jaycarr1517]

You don't see a lot of stones growing back, no matter how many you plant.

[@QBRX]

Yeah, but there's an almost infinite supply of them.

[@adamelliott2302]

They come back, just takes a bit longer.😂😂

[@Zonkotron]

Oh stones are growing back. Part of the geophysics of the crust. Just not exactly in the places where youd like :D

[@RichardMcDonaldJr]

Come to the Missouri Ozarks. I believe the only place on earth that actually grows stones. 😂

[@DarrenMalin]

You do not have too , here in the UK homes older than the USA are common

[@adamelliott2302]

The Soothing Sage! In this mad world a calm, sane, explanation is more of what we need to be speaking. Appreciate you taking the time to do so! From one sane craftsman to another!

[@railfan439]

You have that right, Scott. A tree sequesters carbon, and when it's made into lumber, and a house, that carbon remains sequestered. Then the forest is replanted, and more carbon is sequestered. And it just keeps on going. Thanks for the video. Jon

[@DriveCarToBar]

Concrete production is environmentally filthy by comparison. Normal concrete that is ~14% cement releases roughly 400kg of CO2 per cubic meter. You might as well burn tires for heat in the winter.

[@AARONJL92]

I respect the way you hold yourself when addresing comments from people who dont know any better. We should all learn to have debates with such respect and humility as you have.

[@ringerson4x4]

The correct roof pitch seems to be more important here in Maine than building materials. I paid extra for my 12/12 roof when I had my modular house built.

[@AlanTheBeast100]

Keeping water (moisture) out is the main thing that matters in a wood house. So the roof is clearly important - but so is the rest of the exterior.

[@JC-dt7jv]

The proper roof pitch (over a certain value) will stall out the wind and prevent roof lift.

[@jaydunbar7538]

As someone that spent my younger years shingling roofs, you and your 12/12 roof can go to hell lol

[@AlanTheBeast100]

@@JC-dt7jv It can still be pushed asside. For the cost of some anchors ...

[@columbuspalmer846]

What a amaze me about you is you come from humble structure. I think that comes from patient. And understanding about life and the people that live within it.

[@rickpratt8789]

I came up as a carpenter in South Texas over 50 years ago, and have built with a little bit of everything over the years - wood, concrete, metal, stone, composites, etc. IMHO wood will last as long as anything else IF it is protected from the elements. I love the beauty of wood interiors and masonry exteriors, and a well designed/built house will last for centuries if it has a good foundation. I could go on and on, but would need my own channel. I'd rather watch yours Scott, as we're on the same page. Keep up the good work!

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

How do you protect a wooden house from the elements? Build another house around it? 😂

[@yodaiam1000]

@@DavidLee-cw6ci No, you build a good building envelope, air exchanger (HRV), and well designed ventilation. I see a lot of concrete deterioration due to corroded rebar. As long as you use good building science, a wood frame will outlast a reinforced concrete building.

[@ozawashere]

You are spot on about us in the south east preferring concrete. Not just for the wind resistance but for tree resistance. During the last hurricane my sister had a tree fall on her house it crushed the roof but stopped at the brick.

[@plhalle]

Always love your videos and your method of looking at things with your eyes open and then offering common man translations of what you saw.

[@BrucePinkerton]

From Australia. Thank you for the respectful way you have handled this topic. In Australia, we build with a full variety of materials. As far as timber is concerned, we have naturally occurring Eucalypt forests providing all sorts of hardwood being good for structural framing, boat building and many exposed situations. We also have introduced softwood forests, Radiata Pine, and others, which provide excellent building timbers, many being treated to prevent termite destruction. In short, most of our timber comes from plantation forests which as such , are sustainable. Thanks.

[@janweinschenck7302]

Hi Scott. First of all thank you for your work. Have been watching every single video of yours since the times before the spec house and enjoyed everyone of them. I'm a carpenter and framer from germany (finished trade school 1 year ago for my framing apprenticeship and 4 years ago for carpentry). As I'm quite on board with what you said about the comparison between the different materials I think it's also worth discussing the different regions(in my case germany and the us). I absolutely get that every building is a child of its environment I see that german framing is way more detail-oriented towards ventilation, thermal protection, using sustainable materials (I e not using foam insulation or cement fiber boards)and structural rigidity. To show that here's a crossection of the latest extension we build on a home: lap siding 40 mm (that bei g two boards of 20mm) 80 mm of ventilation space, 35 mm of rigid woodfiber insulation on the outside of the stud this our housewrap basically, 160 by 60 mm studs with blown in woodfiber insulation, 15mm osb this our vapor retarder, 60mm utility space for heat and electrical, 15mm osb, 10mm drywall. I hope this helps to understand the point we as European builders are coming from. Concerning your remark on brick being for the one percent. Here it's definitely not. I would argue it the other way around. Thank you so much for your good work. I learned so much from you it's amazing. Keep up your good work!

[@a_51_]

So am I understanding correctly that the entire wall system is 415mm (~16.3") thick? 🤯 No wonder it's expensive!!

[@michaelkrenzer3296]

@@a_51_ A lot Passive House details, even if not a fully certified building, have worked their way into modern German/Austrian/etc construction in the upper end of the spectrum because it just makes sense for their economic climate. The energy to heat your home is almost 100% imported or from solar as they closed down the nuclear power and the brown coal was (rightly) deemed to dirty to produce power with. A tightly sealed R30+ wall and R60+ roof has a payoff measured in years instead of decades (for my region of the US).

[@a_51_]

​@@michaelkrenzer3296 Yeah, that's another key thing to understand: Energy costs, and climate! Definitely has a major impact on the affordability aspect that Scott mentioned.

[@mogyui2902]

I love these arguments. You nailed tons of points of the why we use lumber, cost, renewability, properties of the materials to withstand local environment.

[@michaelmar9802]

The Ross Island concrete facility in Portland, OR closed up shop a few years ago. Rock/ gravel is becoming harder to get in the metro area. Rock products are recycled, like our facility, trucked in from out of town, or brought in by barge by CalPortland and Knife River. Scott, I appreciate your perspective, consideration for the perspective of others, and careful choice of words. Thank you for being a good example.

[@paulsullivan6392]

Very sage advise from a well experienced point of view. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@tjcleland6825]

Wadsworth you are an impressive thoughtful and skilled man. This is a different video from your usual but just as important

[@Quaker-sn5fr]

I have worked as an architect in the United Kingdom, in the county of Yorkshire for 25 years and I agree whole heartedly with your comments. You are 100% correct when you say that the location of the site should be the main driver when selecting a building material. England built houses out of timber, wattle and daub infill panels and straw roofs long before we started using the new fandangled brick that was imported to the UK by the Dutch. I suspect that all the negative comments that you received, about stick built housing, are from people that are ignorant of our history of building. They obviously never took any notice in history lessons about the great fire of London. Stone was expensive and was used only on important buildings such as churches and cathedrals, of which we have many. Great videos, loved the spec house build. Your work always impresses me and it’s nice to see such improvements since the days of Larry and Joe Haun. Keep up the good work. Pete Redman.

[@HansStrijker]

Yup, just because the construction method is different in the US from where we are, doesn't mean it's worse. Personally, living in the Netherlands, I've experienced brick and concrete homes. They're sturdy. But there's also very little option to add insulation. With wood framed homes you can pack the living daylight out of the walls with rockwool, and be very warm and cosy (provided you leave an airgap to prevent moisture buildup). Row homes though might benefit from at least concrete walls between dwellings for fire safety but there are also other ways to reduce the chance of spreading fire. One thing that I do actually consider inferior in US homes is the electric install. Loose wires in a wall is just waiting for problems if you hang a picture in the wrong place. We have everything in (flame retardant pvc) conduits here, oh, and with power plugs that have a bit of better protection. But having talked to many Americans, that opinion on your power plugs isn't unique to us foreigners. 😆

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

To be fair there are areas of the country where electrical wiring is required to be in steel conduit and in the areas where Romex is allowed steel plates have to be installed to prevent somebody from driving a nail or a screw into a stud and hitting a wire running through the stud

[@charlesviner1565]

Dutchbricklayers 👍🧱

[@TheBrokenLife]

As regards our electrical situation, this is an unexpected consequence of not having our country bombed and our infrastructure destroyed during the peak expansion era of electricity like a lot of Europe was. A lot of our general methodology here goes back over a century because we have never been forced to start over from zero. We have made improvements over time (the nail plates that were already mentioned, for instance), but it would be tough to reboot our entire code all at once and re-do everything. I'm positive that almost everyone would prefer 240V to our outlets rather than the 120V we get now. With that said, house fires here are still pretty rare. I've only known 2 people who had them. One started in an attic for reasons that were never clearly determined and another was a garage fire when some gasoline was ignited. Both houses survived and there were no fatalities (garage fire guy did have some nasty burns though).

[@HansStrijker]

@@TheBrokenLife eh, sorry? Nah up until 20 years ago most European countries still had different power plugs and electric construction codes. Nothing to do with war and destruction. Also, in no way does updating building codes mean you have to refit all homes. It just means newly built homes have to adhere to those new codes. Even for renovations, it's often not required, but merely advised whenever possible, except for things like asbestos, and natural gas lines, but only if that area is disturbed during reno. Oh, and regarding knowing people who had house fires... I know only one who had a localized fire, which didn't even require spending the following night elsewhere.

[@anthonysei]

My time in Europe was an eye opening experience with residential and industrial power distro. Plastic distro panels and conduit with 250v or 380v. Seemed like a hazard. In any sort of fire or overload, it would all just melt into a glob. And the 220/250 in zip cords for the tea kettle. Yikes.

[@allenand3760]

Sir, you are, again, spot on the mark. I spoke of you just tonight and how much I have learned from you tonight while eating tacos on the floor of her room after completing some renovation work at her her home. Today, we live in a period of time where far too many seem to feel entitled to demand all others live as they feel life should be lived. In this case, the vast majority of people fail to understand that America, like Canada, is HUGE and the west coast has nothing in common with the east coast, or the prairies or Quebec. Hence each region adapts the national building code to the needs and variations in each region. I am in a climate zone 5 bordering on 6, The western side of BC is no where near that! Newfoundland has to deal with near tropical humidity and harsh winter cold. One man's garbage is another man's dream. Sir, as you so often say on sign off, Keep up the good work.

[@ethanrchitty371]

Love the discussion... got a bit distracted by the roof leak in the background... I'd love to see your approach to making roof repairs on a pole barn (as someone who's staring down the barrel of quite a few replacements to do).

[@MossSteiger]

This channel, and Scott in particular, is a treasured resource for information and rational philosophy. Additionally, as a broadcast professional of many years, the video and audio of this channel is every bit as good as the content. Well done, gentlemen.

[@krijnkrijn]

As a European I cringed when our habit to tell others what they should do or don’t do, was mentioned. I learned a lot watching this channel. Thank you

[@nolongeramused8135]

Things Europeans constantly tell Americas we "need to do".... 1) Become soccer fans 2) Do away with air conditioning 3) Get tiny little cars 4) Live in tiny little homes 5) Get socialized medicine 6) Use trains to go everyplace 7) Speak several languages and have a passport - because you just "need to" 8) Embrace the metric system 9) Get rid of all our guns 10) Enact infinite job security Basically, what many Americans think is exactly what is wrong with Europe.

[@lewisticknor]

You or any other Euro ding dong (just joking), should never hesitate to tell others anything that is on your mind. That is how we all learn. It's perspective anyway, no one is forced to do anything mentioned on the interwebz sir. Greetings from Colorado Eurotrash....LOL. Seriously, loved my time there, you guys almost civilized me.

[@TheMonkeygrunt]

​@lewisticknor it's one thing to share how you do things at home and question why they do it deferently somewhere else. I wondered why europeans built with so much stone myself when I went there... but its something different entirely when you proceed to tell someone how they should do it, and presume your way is better. I think that's where the annoyance comes from. Not that Americans aren't guilty of that as well, we are. But its something I think we can all work on improving.

[@nolongeramused8135]

@@TheMonkeygrunt Homes are built out of whatever is a readily available resource. When you have lots of lumber, brick, or stone, that's what you use. In some situations one material is markedly better or worse for the type of natural disaster you can expect. I wouldn't build using stone or brick someplace where devastating earthquakes were an issue, for example, but those are great options for hurricane zones.

[@lewisticknor]

@@TheMonkeygrunt no doubt, we can all stand to work on ourselves sir. And of course I am sure there are competent builders in the US. Generally speaking however, European buildings are awe inspiring and generally here at home it looks like they were erected with some paste and a leaf blower, stone vs. wood notwithstanding. The guy in this video is addressing the Euros and the roof is actually leaking in the background.

[@garyminer6304]

Thanks for your message. I feel your statement from my own experiences having work in forests around the nation to include Oregon. I appreciate your commentary thank you.

[@WalterRiggs]

Looking forward to the video where you fix the leak in the shop. 😊

[@derekofbaltimore]

What would lead to the leak?

[@bboomer7th]

I honestly thought I was imagining that.

[@woodkirkworks9365]

There is a profound wisdom in this man's words. I have so much respect for anything that comes out of Scott's mouth.

[@itsfonk]

I can’t get past the shrubby looking sasquatch suddenly appearing at 1:18

[@greatalaska6429]

I didn't even notice that! Nice catch

[@RalphTorchio]

Thank you for your continuous wealth of knowledge and expertise I watch your channel every day. You bring peace Bless you sir

[@FeelingLikeThatNow]

I always thought it was about availability of raw materials. Simple as that. We have trees in in the north and we use them. Same reason we use drywall. Stone and brick is expensive and was always a sign of wealth.

[@Hoaxer51]

Labor costs can be a factor also, labor is more expensive in the north than in the south so things that are more labor intensive are used more in the south. A couple items I’ve noticed in the south is there are a lot of tiled roofs and real paver stone driveways down there. I’ve joked with some friends about the stone driveways and said up north we try to duplicate that with stamped concrete to make it look like stone. The material costs are close to same but the labor costs on laying pavers is way higher than doing concrete. The end results are the costs for labor intensive pavers in the south are about the same as the stamped concrete in the north, I’d much rather have the real thing (pavers) up north where I live but just can’t swing it.

[@FeelingLikeThatNow]

@@Hoaxer51 Very good points!

[@andreycham4797]

​@@Hoaxer51you are right about labor cost and wood stick frame construction is more expensive than EPS panels such as thermasteel panels

[@lvtiguy226]

Well said sir! There are far too many people on the internet that are quick to pass judgement without a good understanding of what they are talking about. I especially liked your comments regarding how different building materials are used in different areas. I live in the Southwest, which originally used mud adobe to construct dwellings. It is very efficient where I live, but would not likely last very long in the rainy areas of the Northwest. Thank you!

[@19Photographer76]

I'm sure you know about the 'drip' just behind you...We still have 4 old growth doug fir on our property. Funny as they were on a stretch of 'no man's land' when the first cut was done in our part of Lane Co in the 1920s. There was a wooden barrel on one of the low hanging limbs. The limb is the size of a tree they are currently cutting down.

[@relevantusername3342]

You are truly the greatest grandpa on the internet!

[@HenryTyrrell]

I am a carpenter from the UK, currently living in Australia, where much like the US there are lots of timber walled buildings. I say timber walled, as people in the UK and Europe tend to forget that almost all of the roof structures are made of timber - just the walls tend to be masonry. I personally see timber buildings as (at least in part) the solution to the housing crisis that we also very much have. As you say, timber is more sustainable, more affordable - and it tends to go up a fair bit quicker too. You’re quite right in that proper workmanship and maintenance are essential. Worth noting also that to achieve the same u value (level of insulation) as a timber build (where insulation can be fitted between studs), a brick or block house needs 2 skins with an insulated cavity - less efficient in terms of time, space, co2 and cost. In conclusion I hope the UK, and Europe more generally embrace timber buildings like North America and down under, for all the aforementioned benefits it would bring, and let go of the somewhat misinformed notion that masonry buildings are somehow superior by default.

[@SealFredy5]

Europe also has a ton of timber framed and stick framed buildings as well. People not realizing this probably haven't left the city much. Heck a lot of housing styles in the US are straight copies of something originally done in Europe.

[@asifurrahamansajon8777]

What about security?

[@HighWealder]

I remember about 40 years ago working with an Australian and he told me about his new house he had built. Showed me photos, it was all corrugated iron, including the fencing. When I asked why, he said it was because of termites !

[@franciscodorey6026]

Brilliantly put. Europe has very little wood. We decimated our forests many centuries ago mostly to build ships. It certainly was the case where I come from (Portugal). I’m about to embark on a self build project. It would be a dream to sit with you and learn more. Thank you Scott for creating Essential Craftsman!

[@panama_dan]

Can we talk about the drip in the background over Scott’s left shoulder? (Our right of the screen)

[@forester4Ukraine]

Very well said Mr. Craftsman! I loved it and the same flora description and forestry principles apply to western Washington where I practiced forestry for 50 years. I'm building a tiny house and learn a lot from you and Larry Haun. Thank you!

[@greatitbroke]

Apart from affordability of brick stone and concrete there is a finite amount of concrete and stone. The shortage in the eastern US this past year is a prime example. That was partly from mismanagement however stone is a finite resource so is sand. Lots of areas are running out of it. as weird as that sounds.

[@acwright]

Can't regrow rock... Unless you count volcanism.

[@devandestudios128]

I mean, it IS and it isn't finite. More stone/rock/sand will form, just none of us will be around to use it. Sorry, had to. Only cause I think it's funny. You're not wrong.

[@luismoreno9529]

I drove through Oregon once in my early 20's, such a beautiful state. I don't remember the town name but it was small, it looked as if i had stepped into a scene from an old western movie. It was the middle of the night, cold and it had just snowed. I was in awe at it all! The smell of fresh pine coming through the vents, together with the scent of firewood coming from the towns people chimneys (i can only imagine them being warm & cozy). I don't know the trees name, but i remember them just as you mentioned, 4' to 5' in diameter, maybe bigger & boy were they tall! Truly a moment i will cherish forever❤

[@alanhutchins4233]

Very eloquent arguments, especially about the earthquake possibility. Affordability and resource availability coupled with locational considerations seem to be the deciding factors. You are correct about housing shortages (same in the UK) and the greed factor. I like to watch your videos to enlarge and enhance my experience. Oregon is about 2% larger in terms of square miles than the UK, but we have about 18 times as many people in that space😂. Keep up the good work.

[@stuartmcleod8490]

Thanks for adressing these comments, people so often criticize wood homes but they usually don't know the first thing about building. I especially agree with your statements at the end about how much forest is out there. People really really don't understand how much forest there is in the west! From California to Alaska

[@kosinskiarek]

Another thing to point out is, it's relatively easy to remodel a wood framed building whereas concrete/brick homes are anything but simple. The reason I bring this up, not everyone can afford hiring a tradesman to remodel your house but thanks for my home being wood framed. I have remodeled 90% of it with great success all by myself. So yes wood frame has it's own benefits that you have to experience before you knock it down!

[@jc-lk1fp]

What a comprehensive, thoughtful, fair and calm response. I just found your channel and I love your approach. You made an excellent well organized argument.

[@geico1975]

As a mason, of 25 plus years experience, I totally agree 'concrete' is way more stable and long-lasting when compared to wood. When the only concerns revolve around stability and durability. As an American, people who are not from the United States, I think really can't fully comprehend the massive size of this place. The hundreds of kilometers of just sheer vast tree landscapes and mountain scapes, coupled with swaths of prairies and hillsides alike:)

[@yodaiam1000]

I would disagree. I worked on many old concrete buildings that are badly deteriorated. Wood frame, when properly protected from moisture, will outlast many concrete structures. There are wood structures that are thousands of years old. Only concrete structures that don't have rebar can compete for durability. Rebar greatly reduces the durability of concrete.

[@JC-dt7jv]

In America, 100 years is a long time. In Europe, 100 km is a long distance. Also, the achilles heel of wood is that it burns. Wood that is well maintained will practically last forever. Remember, the cathedral of Notre Dame lasted just fine until it caught fire.

[@yodaiam1000]

@@JC-dt7jv You seem to contradict yourself by saying 100 years is a long time in North America and then confirming that the wood in Notre Dame lasted for hundreds of years. So I am not sure what you are saying about the durability and longevity of wood. A properly designed wood structure can last for hundreds of years (as you pointed out). I have seen reinforced concrete structures deteriorate after just 50 or 60 years. There are cedar beams in the bent pyramid that are 4600 years old. Wood insulation is actually harder to burn than most insulation. Mass wood is definitely superior for fires compared to many steel and concrete structures. WIth type-X drywall, even stick framed wood structures can do better than many steel structures. With sprinklers, and other modern fire safety designs, wood framed buildings are really no more of a concern than most steel and concrete buildings. You really only have to go to mass timber, concrete, or well protected steel when the buildings get very large. I don't think stone walled houses in Europe are necessarily any better for fire than a modern North American stick framing method. The floors and roofs are still wood framed except the older floors don't have type-X drywalls or many of the other fire safety features in modern wood framed structures. The Notre Dame didn't have many of the same fire safety features of modern wood frame. Fire in the roof of ND was also much harder to extinguish due to the height.

[@udopfeil6692]

@@yodaiam1000the wooden parts of ND are gone, the stone walls still standing…

[@yodaiam1000]

@@udopfeil6692 Yes, no one said otherwise. You need to understand why the wood burnt down. The conditions at the ND are not the same for the typical building. BTW, stone, concrete, and mortar do not go undamaged due to fires.

[@jeremygallimore3042]

Scott, my man… This video is a mater class in how to be measured in your response. I have been following your channels for years, years! I can tell the subject matter of this video is very important to you, as it is to me. You are a great builder this is a fact but another MAJOR personality trait that you possess is measured response. Meaning you respond to a given situation with a high level of self control. I can tell your passionate about this response and I appreciate it. Even more I appreciate your self control. It takes a lot of it to reply or respond to people that are either ignorant or trolling you. Thanks Scott

[@emilsilenhag]

Northern Europe, Scandinavia Norway and Sweden (were I come from), wood based construction dominates with a big margin. Specifically Norway, really traditional old school buildings. Wood panels inside and so on. A lot of heating are by fire wood…and so on

[@dholmes3307]

Lots of beautiful old woodwork to see there and even in a lot of the new construction. Want to go see that some day.

[@janwintraken]

The oldest german Houses still standing are also half timbered. The infamous 'Fachwerk" is also a really sustainable Type of Building. I really fell in Love with Norwegian LogHouses tho. Maybe i get to live in one one day.

[@gregferrin6078]

I'm from Arizona. My father was a roofing contractor so I saw a lot of construction growing up, of all sorts. I lived in Germany for three years and saw the brick and stone work there and admired their durability. This past summer, I returned to Germany for a few days and while riding a train, visited with a young woman who was studying architecture in Munich. We talked about the trends in design and materials and she surprised me by saying that the trend was drifting toward using lumber more frequently, mostly for it's sustainability as well as its versatility. I spent a few years in Canada and saw some beautiful wood frame homes made generations back. There is virtue in the proper use of stone, brick, and lumber, and the Essential Craftsman covered it all very well here.

[@joels7605]

100% correct. Even with respect to tornados and hurricanes, stickbuilt does surprisingly well. Brick and block walls cannot tolerate any side load or bending and the mortar joints will fail. I did a tornado recovery project years ago and there were a lot of brick and block buildings in the area. Nearly all of them failed. The only structures left standing were stickbuilt. I couldn't believe it.

[@LinusScrubTips]

As a Floridian, I’d never live in a wood home. There’s a reason any home worth it’s weight is concrete block

[@lk7195]

​@@LinusScrubTipsI'm in Florida and live in a block home. It's really the best way to build here.

[@dennissmall8419]

Love this. We are the same age and have very similar views on these things. Thanks for your thoughtfulness as well as your craftsmanship.

[@rleeAZ]

Agreed wood is a very sustainable material. When you speak of the shrinking stump size of successive timber harvest I wonder how much shrink is sustainable. Here in southern WA, I notice average diameter loaded on log trucks to be quite small. Also... pains me to see ships headed down the Columbia and out to sea with their decks loaded with timber. I'm not a forester, but seems that is not sustainable for long.

[@Frozty]

Worry not! Those shrinking stump sizes are mostly due to engineered beams and boards becoming more and more prevalent. Cutting down big old trees is simply not needed to make things like OSB I-beams that you can see in episode 40 of the Spec House playlist here on EC, or in drop-trusses made like the Perkins Builder Brothers just used in their current build (I know EC is a fan of the Perkins bros). In more and more "modern" building these days, massive beams are simply less cost effective when the same thing can be done from engineering together all those smaller trees from tree farms :)

[@factzilla1868]

There is the issue of how repeated logging depletes soils and creates conditions for forest fires and flooding as we're seeing across the country. There's also the fact the destruction of old-growth forests and their ecosystems affect everything from bees dying and associated crop failures, to the spread of invasive pests, lyme ticks, pandemics like zika. I'm not sure we're really alive to or know the full costs of logging at its current scale, which aren't reflected in the sticker price of wood products but will certainly be paid at some point.

[@bradley3549]

​@@factzilla1868all fair points. The alternative is what?

[@aaronaasen9315]

That is garbage talk. Please talk facts, not talking points

[@adamrad2220]

I would listen to this man give me all sorts of life advice and knowledge. I wish there were more dads and granddads like him out there.

[@D2O2]

The building material of choice is often that which is most abundant. Building practices are regional. I tend to think that there are no inferior materials and instead there are inferior designs utilizing a particular material given a fixed set of requirements. Often, our designs are based on as built, when built and don't account for deterioration of materials with time due to a design flaw. Building codes are absent of performance standards over a span of time and instead are based on a particular moment in time. Most homes are not designed and built to last a particular length of time.

[@shawnlaplante2244]

To Scott: I know I don't comment on the other videos on KZbin. I just wanted to reach out and let you know that I really appreciate you and the content you put out. I try to keep up with the videos that you make and try to watch the ones that haven't seen yet. One of my favorites was the one with pocket knife at the Mill with Henry Ford. Thank you for this KZbin channel and I hope someday to see you in the field. God bless and take care my friend.

[@adammoore7994]

Stickbuilt homes can last a really long time. It comes down to a well-built foundation and good water management. Large overhangs, proper roof maintenance, and deep wide footers are key.

[@SealFredy5]

All of these also apply to stone built buildings as well. Poor water management and poor foundation will topple stone just as easily as stick. There are thousand year old timber framed buildings just like there are thousand year old stone buildings. And just like the poorly built timber framed buildings, the poorly built stone buildings fell down.

[@946towguy2]

For the very long haul, you don't see many wooden structures which survive more than a few centuries and of those, they are almost all post and beam, connected with joinery rather than nails. When I see late 19th century houses being rebuilt in my area of California, the wood in the internal framing is generally near perfect ( being almost impervious to termites and resistant to beetles), while the iron nails are compromised. The problem for contractors is that the old growth lumber does not lend itself well to straight shank nails and power nailers. Modern doug fir and pine are like sugar for termites and can be destroyed in 2 decades.

[@SealFredy5]

@@946towguy2 Unfortunately for you, a great example of Dunning Kruger you have made. There are tons of ancient wooden structures still standing. A great place to see this is Asia and especially Japan. Have you wondered why no light wood structures seem to be older than 200 yrs old? Have you thought it might be because light wood framing was invented 200 years ago? Even with fir/SYP, termites need the wood to soften up to do damage. If you keep soft wood dry, you won't have termites. Hardwood as well will succumb to termites if you let it get wet. There are some hardwoods that are more resistant to water or bug damage, but these are typically expensive and not inherently what old houses or temples were made with. If you take care of your house and follow proper weathering codes, light wood and timber framing can last centuries.

[@946towguy2]

@@SealFredy5 Nice projection, along with some incorrect statements and failure to read and comprehend what I wrote. Most of the extant buildings over 200 years old primarily use joinery, rather than nails. Nails and light wood framing have existed for at least 2000 years, but such buildings are not known for their longevity. In all of California, there are only 4 remaining timber framed buildings which date to the Spanish or Mexican period, and all of those were built by Russians or Americans of old growth redwood or cedar. Termites tend to not bother certain types of wood dry or wet, and they (especially drywood termites) can certainly destroy very dry wood if they have a source of moisture from the ground or even the air. I've examined enough recycled wood and seen enough pest reports for houses in my area of Northern California to know what I am talking about. When I've examined Victorians which have been stripped and gutted, what is usually apparent is that the old grown wood is usually just fine if not damaged by dry rot, wet rot or beetles. There are usually zero termites in either the old growth framing or the redwood siding. The iron nails are often brittle or at the point of failure, so all that is necessary is to install new nails or screws, along with possibly some strong ties. Termites are often found in later additions or remodels. Wood from the mid 1950's-1990's is usually in much worse shape than wood from the 1880's to 1940. My 1886 Victorian had termites only in the 1986 addition.

[@946towguy2]

@@SealFredy5 Your response is a great example of failing to read and understand my comment and then projecting your own issues and incorrect assumptions on me. It is a simple fact that certain woods are more inherently resistant to infestation than others. Buildings in my area show progressively worse resistance to termites wit each generation after the Victorian era. 1880-1920 structures generally have almost no signs of termites in their original wood, while structures or additions from 1945-1989 commonly have infestations.

[@carpandrei7493]

When ever I watch or simply listen to one of your videos, I always remember Michael Collin's (the Appolo 11 astronaut) take on S.T.E.M.: It should be S.T.E.E.M., where the extra E stands for English, and I can't resonate more with his take. And hearing you speak, only brings more power to his point. Sir, it always a pleasure to just listen to you! Not to mention all the stuff I get to learn from you! You just earned another subscriber today.

[@RamBo-uu9so]

My dad purchased a home back in the 70s built by stonemasons that worked at the local quarry. The home is made on limestone. The two guys that built it made designs in the stone such as fish, bear, lions, a warrior, turtle.....on and on, it's awesome. They never told anyone about their artwork. The fireplace is big and beautiful. One of the gentlemen even brought home some explosive from the quarry to remove some hugh boulders from the building zone. My dad paid $30,000 for it back in the 70s.

[@StevenCromer187]

I have worked construction for about five years in the mid 2000s. I now live in Germany and have for the last three years. The construction quality of not only the houses but just about everything is better here (except for ikea furniture). That being said, that doesn’t mean stick frame houses are crap. There are quality made houses in the US. I do think on average the regular home built for regular people is a much better quality in Germany. Love your channel and what you do.

[@chrish3e]

Always a pleasure watching this channel. Building materials vary because of availability. In Europe brick and stonemasons are as plentyfull als trees in Oregon. We built a house out of wood, Most of it's cost-savings came out of us doing the work ourselves. prefab building is catching up with timber framing. But in the hurricane season we get to see a lot off damage in america to well insured cartboard houses which makes us apply our logic to it.

[@michael-michaelmotorcycle]

Well said Scott. Personally over the years I’ve noticed the comment section is overrun by people from other regions bashing America’s way of doing things - especially lumber built house’s & structures. It gets old, glad you’ve addressed it.

[@lindacgrace2973]

Love this discussion! Construction is SO regional; and Europeans simply on't "get" how varied our landscapes in America truly are. Adobe (and its mass-wall cousins concrete block, rammed earth, etc.) make perfect sense in the Mojave or Sonoran deserts. Break-away storm walls and pier-and-beam construction makes perfect sense in our stormy east coast. Basements are de rigueur in the north where you have to dig down 6 feet to get past the frost line to place footings (hell, you're already down there, might as well dig another foot or two and get a basement out of the deal). Stone houses (popular in the colonial north east) is rooted in rocky soils and stable geology (no worries about earthquakes). As you pointed out, brittle, heavy, inflexible buildings are ridiculous in California! Europeans readily understand that the home styles of Sardinia and Crete are inappropriate in Denmark, but fail to understand that we have even more varied climate and geology than Europe. Please keep championing common sense! Thank you for your content.

[@benhampton9593]

My home here in Florida. Is 3 stories,is a stick home built in 1892. Yes we spent loads to bring it back in the 90s. Fact it’s still here. Hurricanes. And all. Great video. Luck and craftsmanship.

[@mikes1345]

In the 70's i visited my carpenter grandfather in Oregon. They lived in a canyon and surrounded by forest, crooked roads, logging trucks and deer. They took us around their part of the state showing us the close up beauty. Having been from Louisiana to Alaska i have seen beautiful country with many styles of structures nestled into the scenery. Even in the desert people seem to beautiful and simple homes. There is no one right type of construction. What is available and practical for the region. I live in the tornado belt of Texas in a brick veneer home down the road from timber framed home and manufactured homes and old farmhouses and even a couple of 100 year old sandstone farmhouses. They each have benefits and weaknesses so whats the best? Whatever the owner can afford is my answer.

[@martinpoulsen6564]

The owner rarely knows what's best. That should be the main reason why they hire pros. They have an idea what they like, what the neighbor's got and what they see in magazines, on vacations and TV. Then they might hire an architect with certain tastes that align their own...

[@bobcopland6157]

I grew up and I built in the Uk for +25years, now 15 years in Christchurch New Zealand and living through the rebuild after the massive earthquakes, I would agree 100%. Great video and well said.

[@bmay8818]

One big benefit of masonry houses is how quiet they are. You don't hear people walking around, you don't hear water going through plumbing, you don't hear people in the next room. That's a pretty big bonus, as is its fire resistance. That said, a properly built wood house, with good attention to waterproofing details, will last a very long time.

[@wayneburbage8900]

Thanks for letting us know about wood and sustainable practice. I lived on the Martenson family plot east of Clackamas. They built the families homes on just 10 acres and saved and replanted generations of trees. There, I learned how such good stewardship of the land logging companies are. They control erosion, build solid roads for the public to enjoy. Even provide fire protection for the forests. I have explored the cascades and the coast range . And flew over them. What a beautiful place.

[@Ttamlin]

Just a heads up, in case you missed it, but it looks like your roof's leaking a little. Just above your left shoulder, every 6 seconds or so. Here's to it being a fast and easy repair!

[@johnrobinson5156]

Lucky to be in a 90 year old cabin in mountains above LA, near ski lifts, ~hour from beach. Basement/ foundation made of thick, natural stone on rocky hillside. Open timber framing was milled when lot was cleaned. Stick old growth redwood. Hand made, hand tools, lost arts, Solid!

[@jakes.5591]

Our oldest wood frame homes are still staying strong. Those that fail are mostly failing due to the failure of the stone foundations that they sit on. The wooden structures are 2 hundred years old.

[@Saltytoxico]

In a world of extremist opinions this chap is a calming and much needed voice. Greetings from Europe!

[@RobertJLessard]

The UK is having a huge problem trying to reduce heating costs right now because they have so many stone houses. It's very hard to insulate a stone house after it's built.

[@briancorboy1042]

DISSERTATION! Thank you! Much love from a carpenter on the other coast.

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

Here’s a newsflash. Europeans love to criticize Americans. “Americans don’t have passports” and “Americans use different words like Soccer because they’re rebellious and refuse to speak properly”, and my favorite “Americans aren’t nice, they’re being fake nice”. I’ve actually encountered these from European friends. The lack of understanding of how different a culture and its circumstances can be can take them by surprise. They’re also willing to give grace and respect to other cultures that developed different traditions, languages, and operating methods EXCEPT the US.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Don't forget how horrible and uneducated we are for not using the Metric system...

[@asdqwe4468]

I'm from Europe and I never heard Americans aren't nice. I haven't been to the US but I heard that in general Americans are more hospitable than Europeans. I guess it is true that Americans mostly travel inside the USA because it's huge and has so much variety unlike most very small (European) countries. I don't think there's a quality difference between wood or stone. Both can be great. As many have said building tradition mostly developed based on what is available. And most people in Europe don't have to worry about earthquakes. It's perfectly possible to build concrete buildings that withstand earthquakes but most houses here won't (I guess). They are not designed for that. Building houses became expensive in Europe too. I don't really want to mention the metric system but somebody already did. Would it be the rational thing to use it? Yes. But people need to understand it's nearly impossible to change it. Imagine switching from driving on the right side to driving on the left side. It's just impractical considering the cost involved and the benefits you get. I find this channel interesting because I can see how people build houses somewhere else. There's that Japanese carpentry channel that's also very interesting. I guess we should understand that it's not important to judge everything. I like brick houses, I like half timber houses and I like wooden houses. The best way to use less resources is to maintain and use houses as long as possible and avoid demolition whenever possible. Especially cement has a pretty big impact and you can't really recycle it. You can't even burn it to get some energy back. I'm sad to see when people around here gete a new roof and just smash the old roof tiles. But that's how it is today. People want something new, labour is expensive and nobody got time to pick up old roof tiles although they could last several lifetimes.

[@HansStrijker]

... Could I direct you to a home depot or something? I think you need a mirror. 😂

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

@@asdqwe4468 I LOVE watching Japanese carpentry. Just amazing what they can do.

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

@@asdqwe4468 Oh the fake thing is that some Europeans think that when we smile at strangers or say “how you doin” we don’t really care about them. It’s the opposite for most of us. There are certainly pockets where people aren’t nice to each other, like New York where they think you’re mental if you smile and say hi, but for most of us being nice to strangers is borne out of a worldview that you don’t ever know what someone is struggling with and having a stranger smile, or say “have a great day”, or “gorgeous sweater!” is something you can do to brighten their day. I totally get why these things wouldn’t fly some place like Germany, but it’s a misunderstanding of motives and what is particularly irritating is when people assume a motive, criticize you for the motive you don’t have, and then won’t believe you when you tell them your actual motive.

[@nikomikkola4564]

I am from Europe and 100% support wooden structure. But. Based on my limited view you there are building cellos and violins. Lot of open air inside the structure must create echo and rumbling sound environment inside the building. Another thing why I love your videos is the time lap. Seeing you building is like what was the construction in my childhood in 70's and 80's. Especially the videos about using handhold circular saw. Pure retro and nostalgia. I am also from country which has also according people with better knowledge destroyed all forests. Only one is left and it is covering the whole country 🙂

[@tarkwright6511]

Very nice commentary. I have a farm on the eastern side of our country & I wish I could keep up with all the really neat stuff you build, but I build a lot with wood and there’s nothing quite like it. There is also a satisfaction that comes with woodwork unlike any other. Keep it up. I love learning from your experience.

[@jctai100]

I HAVE driven through Oregon and it IS beautiful country. With respect to logging I will say I hope it STAYS beautiful. Please keep those old growth tracts intact. Thank you. Systems and civilizations grow and evolve their building sciences to suit their availability of geography, resources, and funds all over the world. Well said.

[@nathanaeldaum9948]

I love your channel. Whether you meant to be or not, you are a roll model for how to live life well and how to make the most of the time we have.

[@mangusta289]

Not come across this channel before… What a nice chap with a very balanced view 👍👍