Chile Forum

I wonder what is wrong. People tend to think things are done the right way at home, and everything else is... a mistake. Americans are the best. Everything in America is the best of the world! Wow! In Chile they don't even have guns for nails!... Of course... the construcction in Chile is made most of masonry, brick, reenforced concrete. I mean, the good one. I have lived in Chile for a while. Also in Argentina for a longer while. If you look al along Chile (and it is long) you will find a broad degree of houses. In Temuco, many are made of wood, especially where people are poor. Also in Valdivia. In Constitucion the things change a little. In Santiago, you will find everything. Have you ever been in the very north of Santiago where you have the mansions of the wine and copper companie owners? I have seen a house been built in Los Andes, by a middle class family.. of course: massive walls in brick. Everything wet construction. A house for 200 years at least, like the ones in most of western Europe. In contrast, have you been in West Virginia and seen the "average house" that can be placed and left there in a camping zone, where you only put a mailbox? Talking about trailer parks, you have a lot in Utah and many other states. If I compare the worst in Chile with the best in America, America will seem better. If I compare the worst of America with the best of Chile... wow! What wonderful civil engineers they have in Chile... what wonderfully perfect the construction is in Chile, and even the system of aproving all the plans previously, then control the reinforced concrete, and then not bother the builders so much with all the small little inspections, until the end. It is another concept of construction. Have you seen in /Santiago the tall buildings? They don't fall, even when they are in a zone of heartquakes. I have been there during more than one!!!... OK... now we compare equals...the best with the best. Again, take the mansions of the wine producers in the north of Santiago, and compare them with houses of rich people in America. Let's say, for example... the owner of Limited Brands in New Albany, Ohio. By the way, a lot of rich people live in New Albany. The houses are all wood framed. How long can they last? Have you ever fliped a house in America? Have you seen what happens with the wonderfull drywall when it gets wet due to condensation over time? Have you seen the houses in Enkhuzen in the north of The Netherlands? Enkhuizen turned 650 years old in 2006, and many houses are from that time... historical houses built in wet construction, in perfect state, as all over Europe.
I don't know why so much criticism to the construction in Chile, but perhaps someone wants to start a construction company in Chile for making wood framed houses, and need to destroy the concept of construction in Chile. In Argentina, in the 80's they started bringing those "canadian houses" and I have seen 2 in Mar del Plata. After some years they looked miserable compared with the traditional houses that have: masive walls in brick, reinforced concrete in all horizontal and vertical joints, and more depending on the project, many covered with natural stone, roofs in Spanish or French tile, or at least, metal whole plates with epoxy paint cover, finished at high temperature. House for middle class. Houses made forever. I am sorry, but comparing equal to equal...I would never chose the wood framed construction, although that is the only thing most American construction companies know about. And they don't understand the rest... why should they... Are things not the best in America?

Hi Tatiana, having built in Europe (the UK) and the US, in some of the highest budget homes in the ritziest areas, I have perhaps a "builder's eye" view of your criticism. I'll agree that the masonry construction of yore was splendid stuff, I go back to London or Oxford and I marvel at the craftsmanship. Same with Santiago or BA, there are some beautiful and well preserved buildings there.
BUT..times change and demand for new housing or office space is such that modern, more cost effective, more efficient and faster techniques are coming to the marketplace every day. The point of this thread (that you appear to be missing) is that there are right and wrong ways to use these techniques. Chilean builders appear to be embracing the newer, faster technologies without taking the time to learn the nuances that ensure a successful outcome. We're trying to discuss ways to get the outcomes we want, that's all.
Energy efficiency and being "green" is the new thing, few structures do this better than a wood framed house. I've worked on many here in the US that date to the late 1800s, yet I've worked on many poorly waterproofed masonry structures that are ready for the wrecking ball after 10 yrs. A quality build is what we're after.
As for the nail gun point, anyone who's ever built a house without one, then tried it with one will know how obtuse your criticism is.