Wood vs masonry in energy efficiency

By Frank E. Davis Lumber Consultant

IrHE INTENTION of this article

I is to diminish neither the masonry nor the wood industry, but to ungarble misleading advertising and, most important with today's increasing utility costs, discuss the energy efficient home.

In 1965 (when I became executive vice president of the Arizona Lumber and Builders Supply Association) wood frame construction controlled only l09o of the home construction in Arizona. Today, wood frame accounts for at least 7oo/o. A factor in this change is increased masonry construction costs due to stricter building codes.

Twenty years ago masonry walls w€re not adequately reinforced. In 1972 a hurricane hit the eastern Phoenix metropolitan area with high winds, damaging homes with masonry walls more severely than those with wood frames. As a result, the City of Phoenix reviewed housing building codes. Changes adopted for masonry required spaced reinforcingbars and a reinforced bond beam on the finished walls. The only change regarding wood frame construction was addition of a clip to tie the roof trusses to the wood frame wall.

To offset the shift in preference to wood, the Masonry Institute of Arizona has aimed their advertising towards consumers through television, radio, newspapers, brochures, bumper stickers and billboards. I consider the phrases "Wood Bums," "Termites Eat Wood" and "Paint Peels on Wood" to be scare tactics.

I would like to point out that the wood industry has taken a positive approach in advertising by publicizing the importance of well insulated walls through documented studies. They have not downgraded the structural qualities of masonry. They could use such statements as "Repair Your Cracked Block Walls With Wood Siding" or "How About Earthquakes?" to panic the homeowner.

Is is justifiable for the masonry in- dustry to use scare tactics in their advertising to undermine the wood industry? I believe truth in advertising is an obligation.

Story at a Glance

A rebuttal of the advertising claims ol the masonry industry against wood construction in Arizona university and government studies back wood's claim how the wood products industry could lose market share.

Point-by-point, let me deflate the masonry advertising claims concerning wood frame construction.

(1) Wood Burns

All homes regardless of wall construction, either wood or masonry, have wood floor systems, wood roof systems, wood interior framing, wood cabinets, furniture, etc. The fact is 9890 of fires in residential construction start in heating systems or from careless cigarette smokers igniting furniture, drapes and carpets.

A house constructed entirely of noncombustible materials would be beyond the financial reach of most home buyers. Plus, building codes are designed to protect the public; regardless of statements such as "Wood Burns," wood meets strict building code requirements.

(2) Termites Eat Wood

So say pest control companies and our masonry friends, but in truth Arizona has the tenth lowest termite problem in the U.S., according to a government-published termite map.

(3) Paint Peels On Wood

Of course paint peels on wood if the proper paint product is not used on exterior wood such as sidings, trim, etc. Again, it is a matter of selection of the right finish to fit the product used. Maintenance is a requirement on any home, masonry or wood.

(4) Sound Control

Wood is a softer material than masonry. Wood absorbs more sounds and prevents the transfer of sound in a house. Harder materials such as masonry ricochet noise.

(5) Fire Insurance

Fire insurance rates on wood frame construction are slightly higher than those on masonry, but one must take into consideration the lower construction costs of wood frame.

Since we have covered the arguments against wood, it is only fair to elaborate on the point of mass. The Masonry Institute claims the mass factor of block is adequate for insulating a wall without much additional insulation. They cite days when the Indians and settlers used adobe walls one foot thick. Yet, four inches of solid wood is equal to five feet of concrete in R Value.

According to the Institute, the Arizona State Energy Comparison Study is "fiction." Furthermore, they question R Values as being inaccurate. Yet, the majority of masonry adver-

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