“Yes, but in the old days…”

Old houses were better built: myth or reality?

Who didn’t hear their grandparents say: “Our houses were built so much better!”? Obviously, technology has been the source of many new developments in the construction industry. Indeed, it is now possible to assemble a house in 12 weeks compared to 12 months “in the good old days”. But what about quality?

Not so long ago, the building of a house required large amounts of wood, either for the foundation, the walls or the roof. Around building sites, one often heard the old saying: “Too strong never breaks”. Consequently, beams, joists and rafters took considerable space. Known for dozens of years, all the materials used were installed almost in the blink of an eye.

Durable but permeable

Actually, though durable and easy to renovate, yesteryears houses did not provide a breathtaking performance. With all due respects to our ancestors, many of them were practically sieves! Of course, air quality in these buildings was excellent, with the wind coming in from all around! Plus, aside from their voracious appetites for energy, these homes were too dry and provided limited comfort to the occupants. Among houses built prior to 1970, this is likely the aspect that leaves the most to be desired.

The evolution in materials and tools, the sharing of information and the dissemination of new techniques enabled the industry to make improvements. Thanks to computer science, there is now software capable of optimizing the design of structures and downsizing the amount of material required. Lastly, the arrival of engineering equipment has led to evolving designs and new open space concepts.

Superior energy efficiency

The oil crises in the ‘70s and ’80s have pushed research scientists and designers to focus on the performance of a home’s envelope. Construction methods were thereafter refined, construction wastes were reduced and general performance was increased. Hence, where energy efficiency, the quality of construction materials and the performance of heating devices are concerned, today’s houses are considerably better than those built long ago. It is no longer possible to compare them. And another myth is shattered!

Source: Association provinciale des constructeurs d’habitations du Québec (APCHQ)