Why Are Australian Houses Built with Wood

Curious to know why we build houses with timber/wood?
Have you ever wondered why countries like Brazil have not adopted this lightweight framing system and still build residences with reinforced concrete and masonry?
In this video we dive deep into this discussion.

What to watch next:
Offset Columns / Eccentric Footing / Strap Footing

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Disclaimer: While the contents of this video are believed to be accurate and complete, the information given is intended for general guidance and does not replace the services of professional advisers on specific projects.
None of what I teach should be taken as advice and you should always have your designs reviewed by a competent registered engineer.

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[gregw]

Meanwhile in Perth, Western Australia, anything built in timber is regarded very second rate. The dominate style is brick, with double brick on the outside walls, timber only for roof framing and decoration.

[hizamshahrusmi]

It’s the same in 🇲🇾 where houses are built using RC & masonry, and I always have that kind of question why here we are using timber instead 😅I got it now. Thanks mate 👏🏻

[edmarferreirajunior]

I noticed that Queensland has a climate similar to much of Brazil, that is, very hot and very humid. One question I would like to clarify is whether these lightweight walls work well without air conditioning. Where I live in Brazil, I visited some buildings built with light steel frames and observed great thermal discomfort in the late afternoon, even with walls insulated with mineral wool. Unlike the brick walls with high thermal mass that we are already used to in Brazil, light and insulated walls have no thermal delay, that is, little heat passes through, but it passes through quickly. Good luck to you in Australia. A hug from BH!

[edmarferreirajunior]

There are other points in this regard. In Brazil, we inherited the construction tradition of the Portuguese, who mostly build with ceramic brick masonry. In Europe, contrary to what many people think in Brazil, timber construction is not well regarded, except in Finland, Norway and Sweden. In Brazil, we still have a problem with the building performance standard (NBR 15.575) which requires a minimum thermal capacity of 130 Kjoules for walls in 7 of the 8 climate zones, and light timber walls have a thermal capacity of a maximum of 35 Kjoules. Strictly speaking, only in zone 8 (Rio de Janeiro, coastal region from the southeast to the north and the Amazon region) is it permitted to build light timber walls. Thanks for sharing!

[clementmunezero]

Hello Mr Gabriel nice Explanation. We still wait the second part of the Portal Frame Shed verication video. Thank You😀

[darrenmolloy]

Another fantastic video great work mate

[rasalih]

I remember when one company has hired me for the position of Quantity surveyor and the company is ITW Illinois Tool Works, they have office here in phillippines the projects is in australia which is timber now i know why australia is more on timber houses. But i don't choice that company because they are others company i choice my position is structural engineer.

[neerajprj]

what about the fire hazard in timber structure? RCC building is highly resistant to fire hazard.

[chrisk]

Same situation in Philippines as Brazil. Timber stocks used up and prominent use of concrete hollow blocks / besser blocks, which look extremely ugly architecturally and went out of favour in Australia in the 70’s.

[joaoflaavio]

Muito bacana esses vídeos de curiosidades!

[julian_online]

That's why the fly away with storms

[JeffreyHalpin]

We build with timber and we burn wood. 😉