Having been in real estate for over 34 years, I have seen a lot of homes that are in very poor condition.  The materials that are used to build homes are varied and some materials are great for Hawaii and others are not.  

Basic Building Materials

Wood is the most common way to build houses in Hawaii.

The benefits of building with wood are:

• The contractors, architects and engineers are all familiar with the structural strength of lumber and know how to design and build houses with wood.
• The materials are readily available and has been very cost effective
• Wood feels and looks good and is aesthetically pleasing.
• Contractors can cut the lumber and custom fit the look of the house.

The disadvantages of building with wood are:

• The quality of lumber that we receive in Hawaii is inferior to what is used on the mainland and there is a high percentage of unusable lumber on the job site.
• The lumber is cut at a younger age and the structural strength is not as good as lumber that was used years ago.
• The lumber is a living organism that has been cut and it will deteriorate over time and be subject to the forces of nature.
• The termites love wood and they will eventually destroy the house.
• The chemical treatments used on lumber to repel termites may be hazardous to our health.

Light Gauge Steel Frame Houses

The advantages of using steel framing materials are:

• The steel framing materials are perfectly straight and will not warp or twist
• The termites cannot eat through steel
• The cost is comparable to wood
• Steel is usually recycled and helps to protect the environment
• Steel is nonflammable
• Galvanized steel will not rust and lose its structural strength

The disadvantages of steel are:

• Not all professionals are familiar with steel and finding qualified professionals may be difficult
• The cost to build in steel has been gaining parity with wood but some contractors who are not familiar with steel frame construction will increase their price to absorb the learning curve cost.

Hollow Tile
Building with hollow tile blocks is cheaper than building a house with poured in place concrete.  Both are very sturdy and last a long time.

The advantages of building with Hollow tile are:

• All the professionals involved in the construction industry are familiar with hollow tile and are able to provide the services to build with hollow tile.
• Hollow tile is strong and has a high wind resistance factor.
• It is durable and will last for generations
• Hollow tile is termite resistant

The disadvantages of building with hollow tile are:

• There are limitations on the house design
• It costs more to build than wood or steel
• The hollow tile will crack when the ground settles or if there is an earthquake
• The hollow tile will absorb and keep the heat on hot days

Autoclave Aerated Concrete System (AAC)
    
I just learned about this system a few weeks ago when one of my students in my real estate class told me about the AAC. This product has been in use in Europe for over 70 years and over 50% of all concrete buildings in Europe use this system. The mainland USA has been using the system for a few decades but Hawaii has been slow to recognize the benefits of this system. The concrete materials are mixed together and steam baked in an oven creating a mixture of about 60-70% air and 30% concrete which allows a higher efficient use of the concrete without loss in structural strength in most applications. The AAC system can be used for homes, warehouses, office buildings, hotels, motels, commercial buildings, soundproofing walls, etc. The AAC products are fireproof, termite proof, earthquake resistant, sound resistant, insulated to R-20 to R-30 rating and the cost is comparable to wood and steel. Having been a proponent of steel frame housing for decades, I am now an avid supporter of AAC system as a viable building material.

Having built many homes as a developer in wood, steel and hollow tile, I would use the AAC system first, steel second, hollow tile third and I would not build with wood. If you need more information on how to build with the various materials, I would be glad to answer any questions.  Email me at abelee@hawaii.rr.com or call me at 808 216 4999.

I am also offering scholarships to my real estate school. If you are serious about real estate, I am offering the scholarships.  The students can become referral agents, full time or part time agents.  Go to www.abeleeseminars.com for a complete schedule of classes at the Ala Moana and Kunia offices for 2009.

Please be short and to the point, and respect the other voices in the discussion. You may edit and delete comments for up to three days after date of post. We reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate comments. For more information read our site policies »

In order to comment, you must be logged in. Login | Register

Comment

Denotes required fields.

Help me with comments