How come more new builds don't use all concrete?

[Anonymous]

IDK about anyone else here, but I cannot stand on concrete for long. DH has an aunt who built a lovely house with her husband. The floors are lovely but concrete. I'm glad they live a kinda long plane ride away - I couldn't walk them every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Concrete is terrible for the environment.

https://amp.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/25/concrete-the-most-destructive-material-on-earth

https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/11/3/cement-and-concrete-the-environmental-impact

https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/concrete

https://www.fairplanet.org/story/concrete-climate-change-environmental-injustice/

https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/environmental-impacts-of-concrete/

Maybe the initial cost upfront is more to the environment, but concrete structures use a lot less heating and cooling over the lifetime of the structure. How much environmentally better is building a home with cheaper materials if you have to constantly fix it or even knock them down and build new again when they've

reached their end of life? Concrete can last for way longer.

I'm still waiting for you to provide the r-value numbers that show that a concrete building is better-insulated.

Concrete or wood isn't the only thing providing the r.

But 60lb concrete has r of about .52/" 4" would be +/- 2. 1" Sheathing is about 1.25. But there are still a lot for places for loss. ie joints/intersections of multiple elements, fasteners etc.

No kidding. Have you heard of the new miracle substance called "insulation"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Concrete is terrible for the environment.

https://amp.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/25/concrete-the-most-destructive-material-on-earth

https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/11/3/cement-and-concrete-the-environmental-impact

https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/concrete

https://www.fairplanet.org/story/concrete-climate-change-environmental-injustice/

https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/environmental-impacts-of-concrete/

Maybe the initial cost upfront is more to the environment, but concrete structures use a lot less heating and cooling over the lifetime of the structure. How much environmentally better is building a home with cheaper materials if you have to constantly fix it or even knock them down and build new again when they've reached their end of life? Concrete can last for way longer.

I'm still waiting for you to provide the r-value numbers that show that a concrete building is better-insulated.

Concrete or wood isn't the only thing providing the r.

But 60lb concrete has r of about .52/" 4" would be +/- 2. 1" Sheathing is about 1.25. But there are still a lot for places for loss. ie joints/intersections of multiple elements, fasteners etc.

To put those numbers in perspective, this is what is currently code minimum in DC:

Walls have to have either R20 inside the wall and R5 of continuous insulation, or R13 inside the wall and R10 of continuous insulation.

Construction has to be tested for tightness using a blower. The air infiltration can be no more that 3 ACH50.

That is code minimum -- the worst house you are legally able to build.

So tell us: what R-value is your concrete house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you say concrete, do you mean brick? Most homes in Europe are built out of bricks, even the cheaper new builds. It blows my mind to see bits of 2 x 4 thrown up on new housing developments over here and then the for sale sign saying ‘starting at the low 900’s’ !! As if I’m paying $900k for a house made out of wood. No f-ing way.

A properly built and maintained wood house lasts essentially forever. There are wood houses in Europe that are a thousand years old.

We dont build houses in the US to last thousands of years. New houses start having major problems 20 years in.