Ah. I think number 2 is shooting waaaaay ahead of the others. 
Status report Page 2,471
My dad is kind of scared of older houses, but the price is right, the school is great, there's lots of land and a fantastic view. It's definitely the frontrunner.
What is it with wood outside of city centres in the US? Have they banned bricks and mortar in all suburban and rural areas there, or what? Wooden frame buildings have nowhere near the life expentancy of brick, steel or concrete. But they do look pretty sometimes, is that the deal? (to use an Amerianism)
They look amazing. I'd do anything to get one!
There are a few in England, but they're mega rare.
I expect a lot of them are wood on the outside and maybe something else under the wood.
And that one's been there since 1810, so that's a pretty long life so far...
Quote: zooo @ July 25 2010, 1:46 PM BSTThey look amazing. I'd do anything to get one!
There are a few in England, but they're mega rare.I expect a lot of them are wood on the outside and maybe something else under the wood.
And that one's been there since 1810, so that's a pretty long life so far...
>I expect a lot of them are wood on the outside and maybe something else under the wood.
Often the opposite. My brothers house in New Jersey is wood-framed, but the outside of the front wall is brick.
Quote: zooo @ July 25 2010, 1:46 PM BSTThey look amazing. I'd do anything to get one!
There are a few in England, but they're mega rare.I expect a lot of them are wood on the outside and maybe something else under the wood.
Uh uh, that's what you call wood facia, that's the sort you see in Britain usually, I believe, unless it's a barn conversion. But American houses, the 'raised ranch' and the like are wooden-frame strutures, the support comes mainly from the frame itself instead of the internal supporting walls of our brick buildings.
I wondered if it was an environmental stipulation thing like it is in large parts of Scandinavia - in many rural areas you are only allowed to build wooden framed houses, which I understand the reasons of, and they do look nice, mostly.
Quote: zooo @ July 25 2010, 12:55 PM BSTNumber 2!
But I love them all.
LOVE massive wooden American houses.
I've always meant to ask - haven't American's heard of bricks? Saves them being wiped out by a twister surely.
My house has brick on 3 sides, but the supporting frame is wooden.
I think it all depends on the area and the availability of materials. There are almost no brick buildings in south Florida because there's no clay to make them. Most buildings there are concrete block construction. Much of the country is prone to earthquakes that would easily collapse brick/block and mortar buildings.
Quote: Tuumble @ July 25 2010, 2:26 PM BSTI've always meant to ask - haven't American's heard of bricks? Saves them being wiped out by a twister surely.
Brick homes are common in many parts of the country but they do nothing to protect people from tornadoes. I've seen many flattened brick buildings with my own eyes.
What about fiiiires?!
Brick buildings burn very nicely.
Andie - what a gorgeous selection of houses. Do you enjoy househunting, or find it a pain?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ July 25 2010, 2:50 PM BSTAndie - what a gorgeous selection of houses. Do you enjoy househunting, or find it a pain?
I'm enjoying it, but it's a pain trying to line up appointments to see places. And real estate agents here are really pushy. I don't know if it's like that everywhere else, but here they are exceedingly so. I like looking at places and imagining my things in all the rooms. Not looking forward to the actual move. However, our old house was close to the size of the places I'm looking at and we kept almost all the furniture, so filling a big place won't be hard.
Quote: DaButt @ July 25 2010, 2:40 PM BSTBrick buildings burn very nicely.
Yes they do. We had a bad fire here recently where a brick house was almost totally leveled.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ July 25 2010, 2:22 PM BSTI wondered if it was an environmental stipulation thing like it is in large parts of Scandinavia - in many rural areas you are only allowed to build wooden framed houses, which I understand the reasons of, and they do look nice, mostly.
We have strict zoning laws in the town I live in. Everything has to be stick built, no pre-fabricated or modular houses allowed. But this is technically a tourist/historic area. If we do have houses with brick, it's usually just on the front.
Quote: AndreaLynne @ July 25 2010, 1:07 PM BSTMy dad is actually going to be purchasing the house (whichever we pick) and then I'll be doing a rent to own deal with him.
You do realise you won't be able to claim housing benefit in that case don't you?
Quote: Oldrocker @ July 25 2010, 3:24 PM BSTYou do realise you won't be able to claim housing benefit in that case don't you?
What do you mean by that? I'm not familiar with that term...
Quote: AndreaLynne @ July 25 2010, 3:26 PM BSTWhat do you mean by that? I'm not familiar with that term...
It's where the State pays the rent for you but you can't get it if you're renting from a relative. 