When we moved to England, I set up our renter’s insurance
via a phone call. One of the questions our agent asked was, “What is your home’s
construction material? Stone, or brick?” Those were the only choices. Like most
of Europe, the UK builds homes with brick or stone. Our Yorkshire house was
quieter than any we’ve experienced in the US, as well as warmer in winter and
cooler in summer. Here, we build with wood because it’s cheap. But as I watch
the news from the wildfires in California, I wonder if it isn’t time to consider
concrete instead. The wood frame home we built three decades ago took six
months, start to finish. A concrete house can be move-in ready in days. It can
cost less than wood, and can be built to withstand earthquakes. Best of all,
concrete homes are fireproof. And, like the stone and brick homes in Europe,
they’re far quieter and more energy-efficient.
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