by Oddbod » Sat Dec 10, 2022 5:34 pm
For my location, at the time of settlement a very long time ago, the lumber quality was probably not what you would hope for to use in construction, so supply originally was used for roof structures mostly.
I think the junk wood was used to fire the kilns that made bricks.
Clay for bricks was plentiful and eventually made roof tiles as well.
Trouble is, while what we have was a very solid construction method/s, we have been slow to change and the old story that we've always done it that way so why change.
In the late 1960's we saw our first serious earth tremor and I recall as a teenager watching the living room brickwall wave as the quake continued.
That was a wake up call and over the next 50 years between economics, good science and greater appreciation for the local conditions things have changed.
Another consideration here was termites and hence folks were reluctant to install too much lumber into a building.
With the advent of treated timbers, good or bad, it has help build confidence for the used of lumber in construction.
We were told using these methods would be quicker and cheaper, but in more recent time with world supply shortages, nothing seems to be certain any more.
Generally. everything has become more expensive and labour shortages have ensured nothing is quick.
