Is home construction really substandard?

[Magiver]

@sunacres

Why do the posters in this thread want to imply that all construction at particular eras was the same? It isn’t the same now, why do we think it was ever all one quality level?

Then, as now, there was a range of quality levels. Some homes were built very well, and others were built very poorly.

Sheesh. Morgenstern makes a comment that well maintained homes will “last a lifetime.” Good god, a well built and well maintained building will last many, many lifetimes. For most builders, that is hardly the objective.

I agree that construction work may always be suspect but I would prefer the quality of the wood used in older houses as well as copper tubing and serviceable fixtures. The older wiring was crap.

[Finagle]

@Fritz

This is it. My house was built semi-custom three years ago. I think that the foundation, b
Among other things, I know for a fact that standard sheet rock was used in the bathrooms…and I also know that it isn’t going to last as long as it should.

That’s sad if true. Green board costs * maybe * a couple of dollars more per sheet. So that would be maybe another $20.00/house. The only reason not to use green board would be sheer laziness – not wanting to order two different types of wall board.

[Chief_Pedant]

@Finagle

That’s sad if true. Green board costs * maybe * a couple of dollars more per sheet. So that would be maybe another $20.00/house. The only reason not to use green board would be sheer laziness – not wanting to order two different types of wall board.

Greenboard under tile is still very inferior material. It is not nearly waterproof enough. Something closer to cement backer board should be a minimum for individually tiled surfaces that get wet. OTOH ordinary gypsum board under a one-piece fiberglass shower stall isn’t really an issue b/c the fiberglas is absolutely impermeable.

For the most part construction materials and codes have given modern homes a more consistent quality, and they should last a long long time.

Most modern homes are still built much more poorly than they could be, however.

[Telemark]

@Fritz

This is what scares the hell out of me…how’s the average Joe supposed to know?

You get a good building inspector, you do your homework, and you ask around.

[slaphead]

@Finagle

That’s sad if true. Green board costs * maybe * a couple of dollars more per sheet. So that would be maybe another $20.00/house. The only reason not to use green board would be sheer laziness – not wanting to order two different types of wall board.

Well that fits with my experience. The useless sods who put ordinary plasterboard behind the tiling in my bathroom also couldn’t be bothered to run a length of duct between the extractor fan in the ceiling and the vent in the exterior wall. Lovely 1980’s craftmanship.