Cons of Wood Frame Condos. First and foremost, the building must be of good construction and well operated by a proactive strata council and management company. For over 100 years, wood-frame construction has been common in the United States because it is quick, light, renewable, and easily customizable. Being in Vancouver, we can get a lot of rain. Eco-Friendliness: Timber removes carbon emissions from the surrounding environment and is typically sourced from sustainably managed forests. Timber is commonly used in residential construction and is safe to use for buildings of up to five stories. We are not affiliated with, and do not receive any compensation from, any of the companies or products mentioned in this blog. • How can I tell if the exterior walls of a house are concrete block (CBS) or wood or brick? Wood frame buildings are built to a maximum of 6 stories and in general have fewer suites than most concrete buildings. Iron frames are the higher tier solution for wood frames. What are the common problems of different types of house foundations? Wood construction also does not require heavy equipment or tools. One method is engineered frame wood construction and the other method is concrete block construction or CMU construction (short for concrete masonry unit). Not always. The sun’s energy could stay in wood frame construction for three hours. • How can I tell if a diagonal crack in drywall at the corner of a window or door indicates a structural problem? • What causes cracks in the walls and floors of a house? • Should I buy a house with a crawl space? One must look at each building individually; if a buyer eliminates all wood frame buildings automatically, they may be missing some great opportunities. It is important to note that building developments are a type of community and this will be an indicator of the lifestyle you choose. Lower Initial Costs: Many wood structures cost less initially than precast concrete, making it the preferred choice for many smaller architectural projects. 35 comments. Concrete is, in most cases, more expensive per square foot to build and to buy, this does not make concrete a superior product for condos. Concrete prices may increase in areas far from a supplier, since this heavy material costs more to ship than wood. Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair? A great example of a solid 92-year-old wood framed strata building is The Leicester located at 1545 W 13th Avenue in Vancouver. Stephen Claus says: September 17, 2020 at 11:15 pm. What would cause long horizontal lines of brick mortar to fall out? If wood-frame buildings are as safe as buildings made of concrete and steel, then it’s only a matter of time before developers come to understand the benefits as well as the risks associated with the new mid-rise construction method. Solid concrete walls retain heat better, so less air conditioning in the summer and less heating in the winter means less energy used, less energy production needed, and a smaller carbon footprint from building use. Vancouver Houses, Condos and Townhouses Sold by Don Urquhart. Written by Don Urquhart Vancouver real estate agent since 1987. Wood Frame Versus Concrete Block Construction The type of building material you should use will vary greatly depending on the area of the country that you are building in. • What causes a horizontal crack in a block or brick wall? The biggest benefit of wood frame condos? These wood framed buildings are some of the most solid performing structures in all of Vancouver and offer great investment condominium ownership. There has been a long debate about whether you need to buy a concrete block and steel (CBS) home in Florida vs. a wood frame home. How can I tell if the exterior walls of a house are concrete block (CBS) or wood or brick? Wood-frame construction is subject to termite problems. If you buy a newer two-story home anywhere in Florida you will likely get the equivalent of a chocolate-vanilla swirl cone: concrete block first floor and wood frame second floor. And don't even think about wood frame construction; there's no competition versus a concrete home. The conditions for wood frame structures in accordance to ASTM C 1060 require an 18°F temperature difference (ΔT) from the interior surface and outside surface for at least four hours before the inspection. There is only one type of frequency that has a higher tendency to transmit to the floor below; the small sharp heel of a shoe. However, there is also some great low rise concrete developments with fewer than average total number of suites. While there can be flimsy wood frame houses a well-constructed frame house is probably better than CBS for many reasons. of steel vs. concrete framing systems for typical commercial buildings in Canada. What causes cracks in the walls and floors of a house? This video is about how to tell the difference between Wood Frame and CBS with a Stucco Exterior. Another important factor is to determine who the developer was and research how their projects have lasted over time. Because termites love wood, wood frame homes are more likely to have termite problems than concrete homes. • What causes the surface of old bricks to erode away into sandy powder? What type of walls were tested? Cons of wood construction. What is the difference between soil subsidence, heave, creep, and settlement? • How much ventilation is required for the under-floor crawl space of a home? • How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not? • Should I buy a house with structural problems? 2. • What are the common problems of different types of house foundations? One thing I always pass onto the buyers I work for is: “you are not just buying a condo, you are investing in a building”. report. hide. Jul 6, 2019 @ 10:44am ... place and concrete once to the highest strength when dry, never need to do anything other than repair. Significantly higher moisture risk: moisture control is a difficult and expensive process for wood frame mid-rise buildings as they are much more susceptible to mold and rot, which is much less of an issue for concrete structures. It is important to be able to recognize the different types and styles of construction and how they will function now and in the future. • What do you look for when inspecting vinyl siding? Visit our EXTERIOR WALLS AND STRUCTURE page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. • There's cracks running along the home's concrete tie beam. • Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair? share. • What would cause long horizontal lines of brick mortar to fall out? This thread is archived. During your search, ensure that you read the building’s strata minutes to make sure there are no continuous noise complaints within the building. There is only one type of frequency that has a higher tendency to transmit to the floor below; the small sharp heel of a shoe. What is the average lifespan of a house foundation? 3. Yes, concrete buildings are, in most cases, quieter than wood frame buildings. “Developers are using concrete frame buildings in every building sector, and count on concrete for stable pricing and availability regionally,” says Alsamsam. If you want lower density and want concrete, there are many good buildings to choose from. This will give me and my client a very good idea of how the building will age over time and what kind of regular maintenance will be needed to sustain the complex in the coming decades. • How can I tell if the concrete block walls of my house have vertical steel and concrete reinforcement? « Reply #14 on: May 22, 2016, 11:19:29 PM » Pole buildings are very reasonable, I'm finishing a garage that is the basement of one of my houses which has concrete walls, but I'm going to put up a pole building eventually as well. How can I tell if cracks in the garage floor are a problem or not? How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house? • How do I recognize serious structural problems in a house? Cost of Doing It Yourself Myth: Concrete block is better for hurricanes and wood framed homes are more susceptible to wind. What causes a horizontal crack in a block or brick wall? However, architects, contractors, and building owners must contend with several challenges with wood-frame construction: disaster-, fire- and termite-resistance, moisture intrusion, compromised indoor air quality (IAQ), noise control, low thermal mass, and rising timber costs. Home » Blog » Is concrete construction better than wood frame? Only 1% of concrete buildings are demolished due to fire, compared to 8% of wood frame buildings. But … The concrete walls demonstrated significantly higher structural capacity and stiffness to resist the in-plane shear forces than wood or steel frame walls. concrete grout. • How can I tell whether my house foundation problems are caused by a sinkhole or expansive clay soil? McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of, site-built, mobile/manfuactured and modular homes, 16822 SE 92nd Danna Avenue, The Villages, FL 32162, www.thevillagesbestinspector.com ⢠Comments or questions to mcgarryandmadsen@mac.com, While we hope you find this series of articles about home inspection helpful, they should not be considered an alternative to an actual home inspection by a local inspector. There's cracks running along the home's concrete tie beam. 79% Upvoted. Another great example of older solid wood frame buildings is the company operated (Co-ops) in and around Vancouver. How much ventilation is required for the under-floor crawl space of a home? What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall? What are those powdery white areas on my brick walls? While I agree with this notion, either type of construction, in accordance with location, is designed by the engineer to meet current building codes and to withstand 140-mile-per-hour wind speed, whether constructed from CMU or wood framing (with various strapping and fastening mechanisms). If you have found a condo in a building that your agent is not familiar with, have your agent do his or her research prior to making an offer. • What causes stair-step cracks in a block or brick wall? Wood-frame buildings are particularly vulnerable to fire damage during construction before placement of fire protection over the frame. To learn more about exterior walls and structures, see these other blog posts: • What is the average lifespan of a house foundation? It’s less termite resistant. As probably the most important feature besides structural integrity when considering building materials, the difference between energy-efficiency in ICFs construction and wood-framed builds is enormous. Great post to share!! Vancouver has rapidly grown over the past 15 years and encompasses a wide variety of older and newer condo developments with numerous styles of construction. Concrete block has more boosters in South Florida, while wood frame is ahead in Central and North Florida. There are good concrete developments and poor concrete developments. Reply. Knowing the building history, mechanics and type of exterior construction is key when considering to buy. New comments cannot … Wood is far cheaper than concrete, which keeps the cost of ownership down for home buyers. Including wood frame buildings in your search you will broaden your opportunities to find a condo in a well-built development. Are concrete buildings quieter than wood frame buildings? If water penetrates the exterior of a building, reaching the actual wood frame, the … The NRMCA study compared wood frame construction, ICF combined with Hollow Core panels, and ICF combined with iSPAN Systems’ cold-formed steel framing. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, traditional wood framing cost around $13 per square foot of living area in 2002. Both block and wood frame homes can have a stucco wall finish and, to find out how to tell which type of wall is under the stucco, see our blog post, page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the. “Do stucco walls mean a house is concrete block? The age of the condo development will determine what building by-laws were in place when the structure was built; this is important particularly, with regards to the building envelope. House have vertical steel and concrete reinforcement, Condos and Townhouses Sold by Don Urquhart energy could stay in frame. 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