What are the advantages of the cement house over a more traditional wooden house and how did this preference for cement come about?
The preference for concrete homes (made of CHB) is logical: 1. Concrete homes are stronger and won't fly away when a strong typhoon hits, and we do have a lot of typhoons every year. 2. Concrete lasts longer than wood that rots and can be damaged by termites 3. Wood is more expensive than concrete.
There is a shortage of wood in the Philippines. If you do buy it the wood is expensive and inferior. I got the brain storm I wanted a wood deck and fence. I paid dearly for what was suppose to be the best wood. Regardless of the kind of wood if it is not treated and dried before being used it shrinks. I now after six months have a very expensive patio, fence and gate with gaping holes between the boards.
Good quality wood is expensive, and termites are a big problem with wooden houses. Cement is cheaper, sturdier and it's also a better insulator than wood, which means that your house stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Cement houses are much cheaper. But I live on 50 yrs old wooden house and ventilation is an advantage, also have ancestral wooden house in Quezon Province, lot of trees.
As long as the cement houses are reinforced well why not. Wood is expensive and rots and gets termites and burns easily.
