Every year we see images of the devastation caused by hurricanes. The truth is that no nation is safe, not even the most developed ones, not even those in the so-called third world. The force of nature destroys everything in its path. Well maybe not with everything, but in those countries hit by tropical storms the photo is ruins. More than one may have thought, "but there are no anti-hurricane houses." It wouldn't be cheaper to build those anti-hurricane houses than to rebuild those wooden homes every so often...
Hurricanes and construction materials…
We have very vivid images of Hurricane Irma, a hurricane that has left a trail of destruction and deaths. In Cuba there are already more than ten deaths; the Caribbean country boasted until this year of an exemplary anti-hurricane protection system for its population. Once again nature puts man's pride on a lower level. We are still in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is part of the annual cycle of tropical cyclones. This 2017 season is considered moderate activity. Although it is true that a hurricane of the magnitude of Irma has not made landfall since 2005. In terms of economic cost, the 2017 season has already broken the records of 2016. The economic cost would be lower if the houses had been hurricane-resistant…
The truth is that the anti-hurricane house does not exist as such. It is true that the construction material does prevent the damage from being catastrophic or not. These natural phenomena not only bring winds that can reach three hundred kilometers per hour in the high peaks. Hurricanes form in a low pressure center, which generates strong winds and abundant rain. In many cases it ends up becoming a tropical storm. With it come the floods and those images of people waiting on the roofs of their houses to be evacuated. The material with which houses are built matters because of its resistance to such adverse conditions. Reinforced concrete would undoubtedly be, if not the best, one of those that best withstands these conditions. It is not in vain that hurricane shelters are generally built of concrete.
So why in the United States they are still committed to building their homes with wood. Especially those of those States that are susceptible to hurricanes. Why in a country like Spain the construction materials are mostly concrete and brick, compared to wood in the US. The reasons and motives for choosing construction materials are motivated both by custom and by the ease of finding raw materials.
USA and wood, versus Spain and concrete
In the United States, prolonged and recurring droughts leave us with news of terrifying fires every summer. Especially in areas like California. Tornadoes and hurricanes on that side of the Atlantic are another characteristic of the climate on that continent. Despite everything, we see that in the United States wood is mostly used for construction. In no case in those areas do we see the use of more resistant or durable materials, nothing like that. On the other hand, wood is clearly used, a weaker material in the face of these meteorological events. Does this situation make sense? The logic always varies depending on who is doing the reasoning, what we can assure is that there are reasons that justify this constructive model in the US. And at the same time, these same reasonings lead us to understand why here in Spain the model is different.
Construction models, the economy…
It was not unreasonable to think that economics could be behind the reasons that justify one model or another. The United States has an immense variety of natural resources. In general, North America has that natural wealth. And one of those riches is the abundance of forests. There is wood in abundance, it is easily accessible and it is a cheap material. If we add to that the fact that working with wood is easier, we already have the perfect equation. Another economic variable that influences the construction model is the transportation of materials. The dimensions of the US, a continent almost in itself, leave us with enormous distances between the different states. Where there is no brick or cement industry, transportation costs a fortune. But we have the wood at the door of our houses. Again another perfect equation...
Centuries ago, our country stopped being that European forest in which a squirrel could get from Gibraltar to the Pyrenees without setting foot on the ground. We suffer serious deforestation that we have been trying to alleviate for years. But the summer fires make us go back and start over. So wood is a scarce commodity, and since there is more demand, it is an expensive commodity. In addition to our perfect equation is added the type of soil that is most abundant in our country. Clay, so making brick has always been very cheap. Over time we have been including cement and concrete in our construction model. We produce these materials in abundance, and the transportation problem is not as gigantic as in the United States. Our distances are acceptable, and there is production of construction materials in many areas separated from each other.
Construction models, climate, geology, meteorology...
Climate is another of the factors that most influence the construction model in each region of the planet. In the US the winters are very harsh, the behavior of the wood is very good in those conditions. This is a warm material that has good insulating properties. On the other hand, in Spain, summers and the heat associated with them are our workhorse. So we look for materials that refract the sun's heat.
In the US there is high seismic activity, and for a long time wood has performed very well in earthquakes. Thanks to one of its characteristics, flexibility. It is true that the average height of the buildings also influences this behavior. In hurricane and tornado zones, concrete shelters are built under wooden houses. This gives the houses a solid foundation over time. On the other hand, in Spain there is no such seismic activity, on the contrary. The only thing that concerns us is building houses that last over time, and withstand normal weather phenomena well.
Constructive models, a cultural issue
The context in which societies are created gives rise to their culture, things such as the economy, climate or geology mark traditions, uses and customs. In the US, society as a whole has widely accepted the concept of geographic mobility. The movement of entire families from one coast to another is not uncommon. And it is something that can even happen a few times over the course of a generation. That is why socially there is no need to have a "home for life." Home is usually something transitory, which is why the rental culture is predominant. It is also the reason why, if they take out mortgages, they do not do so for long periods of time. Making construction cheaper is a very logical possibility. And even building your own home.
In Spain, however, we have another philosophy of life, one in which origins and roots mark. In such a way that when the time comes to become independent, the Spaniards try to do it in the same neighborhood they have always had. If it is not possible in the same city, but in the same Autonomous Community... For us, the most important investment of our entire life is our habitual residence. We think of a home that will last a lifetime and pass on to the next generation. That is why we need solid and lasting constructions.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic
The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season officially began last June 17. And its end is scheduled for November 3th of this year. This does not mean that tropical cyclones cannot occur or form outside of these dates. These are only the dates of greatest concentration of these. These are dates in which the emergency services of the most affected countries have deployed the bulk of their anti-hurricane campaign. So far two hurricanes have been the sad protagonists of this Atlantic hurricane season. Harvey, from August XNUMX to September XNUMX, which affected Texas and partly the state of Louisiana. It made landfall in Texas as category four hurricane. Other areas affected by this hurricane have been: Barbados, The Grenadines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Veracruz...
The second most recent was Hurricane Irma, which is still alive from August 30 until today. It began to be developed in the Cape Verde Islands. It quickly became a category two hurricane, although on September 3 it was already a category five. His time on the island of Cuba has been in that category.
