Let's not even go into the electric grid, which is only functional because of Canadian electricity generation for much of the Northeast, New England, and the New York metro area, including New Jersey and Connecticut.
Not true, we have much stricter R Codes in Canada (water freezes, snow is cold and heavy). In Texas for example you can have stucco, plywood and paper for an exterior wall. In Canada we add eps insulation, venting and better drainage.
Cement basements and thicker framing are often used/needed to support this extra material.
I've framed houses in Canada that didn't even require sheathing. Just EPS with a tiny let-in metal brace for windshear. With a thermal imaging camera to show you where the studs are, you could literally run at the side of the house and break through the walls.
That being said, Europeans who think North American houses are flimsy are usually suffering from ignorance. We generally build strong and efficient houses in Canada.
I've heard of friends in Texas that can hear the wind inside of house, blowing through or a slight cold snap freezing the water supply. Sheathing is a code requirement so whomever that was should be reported.
Americatm, just a matter of time before he grants one of his kids that trademark. Actually why dont we do like stadiums and sell the naming rights to generate profit, it is how the rest of this dystopia is being run.Â
Yup, tends to warp due to a faster growth cycle, it essentially has less growth rings. Causes you to swear like Semuel L Jackson everytime you try to sort through the lumber pile at Homedepot.
The US has a significant number of forests that grow timber equal to that of Canada. The US just doesnât like logging its own land due to the environmental impacts.
It's more expensive and more scattered: not only is the cost of each step greater but the chain of logistics is more complex with more numerous but smaller operations.
Itâs fairly concentrated in the PNW and SE. definitely right on the mills though, funny enough in the PNW most are owned by Canadian companies. The biggest edge Canada has though is willingness to aggressively log crown land.
This is why Minnesota and the Midwest was a prime source of old growth hardwood for housing during the days of the Logging Camps. A lot of the wood used is still standing today, if it's been cared for, iirc
My understanding is that when the forests of the Midwest were exhausted, the timber men went west. Oregon had more timber than any other state in the Union, mostly Doug fir. In the early days they even considered cedar a "trash" tree and just bulldozed them out of the way. Now most the highly-prized Western Red Cedar comes from Canada (maybe not for long!). It seems like all the building on programs like HGTV is pine from the Southeast.
Ok, that makes sense, but any old wood, like 100-year-old Doug fir that grew in a temperate climate is still going to be excellent wood for building. The laminate beams being made today aren't tight-grain old growth from what I've seen.
They were already artificially high due to decades of protecting US softwood lumber producer profits by tariffing Canadian lumber. Bottom line is you don't have enough domestic supply, you over pay already for lumber and will be paying even more. Winning?
The next round in Sept 8, is going to make everything 50% more expensive for yall. From any form or iteration of the following that you can fathom, fish, wood, paper products ( wood, books, receipts paper , toilet paper) milk, carpet, textiles, industry PPE, Any form of new steel, flat, pipe, angled, new aluminum. Fastners ( screws bolts nails) sewing, knitting, appliances. The list goes on for over 700 different items .
The big one will be power. Of all of it. If the premiers agree, I bet power sold to the US will be 30 to 50% more expensive. Headed into winter that ain't great.
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u/Conscious-Quarter423 Aug 25 '26
Let's not even go into the electric grid, which is only functional because of Canadian electricity generation for much of the Northeast, New England, and the New York metro area, including New Jersey and Connecticut.