And availability of concrete and steel reinforcement? The worlds favouredconstruction technique , pretty cheap and pretty good against natures vagaries.
Post war in the UK this was tried across the board. But it has proved to be a real problem in terms of reliability and comfort. The concrete in a house is cold and prone to failure due to the steel reinforcement rods corroding and bursting the outer fabric. Hence houses of Non-Standard Construction being either valued at a vastly reduce market price, being often unmortgagable, or subject to expensive re-cladding in brick, or demolished, like many blocks of flats and office blocks. If you have ever lived in a concrete house you will know about the cold you feel and often the damp that forms on the walls.
Of course they are still trying to make concrete houses work, but for many people it is good old brick and tile that will always be the best. Not even timber framed houses can equal that. 
with a huge success too. Might not work in Britain but then you don't get hurricanes like Irma!
More's the pity... might refocus society somewhat
Author
Topic: Irma - house quality (Read 2756 times)