The reason why there are many wooden houses in the United States

I've always been curious about why there are more wooden houses than concrete ones in the United States.

It turns out there are a few reasons for this.

First, the high cost of construction.
Simply put, houses made of concrete and steel are much more expensive than wooden ones.

Second, the characteristics of concrete.
To use concrete properly, you need to mix cement with other materials and transport it to the site using a concrete mixer truck.
In summer, it must be delivered within about two hours, and in other seasons, even less time. Otherwise, the concrete hardens and becomes unusable.
In North America, most residential areas lack nearby cement plants, and mixing it on-site causes significant dust pollution and is more challenging than factory-prepared concrete.

Third, wooden houses are sturdier than you might think, lasting over 100 years.
The damage caused by tornadoes or fires, which people often imagine, is less common than expected.

The recent wildfires in LA are actually quite rare.
For example, after the major fire in LA in 2018, some insurance companies went bankrupt, leaving most homes in Palisades uninsured.
It’s truly heartbreaking.

I hope everyone affected can return to their daily lives as soon as possible