Panthera:
"Unfortunately, nearly all of the newly constructed homes did not make use of these materials properly, many were so poorly put together that I can only conclude they were put up by illiterates who couldn't get a job at McDonald's."
There's some truth to what you say: the potential for misuse of synthetic building materials is high. In my book "PreFAB Elements" (2005, HarperCollins), I advocate the use of prefabricated systems that eliminate much of the margin for error. There are prefab systems for every part of a house, from foundation to roof, and unlike "prefab houses" of old, the result can be completely customised. Basically, prefab elements are like building blocks for the house you want- you can select the best wall system for your climate and needs, and so on. There are wood wall systems for the Northeast, and fireproof metal-and-shotcrete systems for brush-fire-prone California, for example.
Another big problem in houses today is consumers who know little or nothing about repairs, safety or maintenance. People don't know where their circuit breakers are, they don't know where the water shutoff is, they don't know that furnace filters need frequent replacement, and they MAJOR don't know that you shouldn't store flammable materials near HVAC equipment, dryers, and water heaters. When I got the house before this one, I damn near fainted when I checked the dryer vent. It was totally clogged with lint, and there were huge wads of lint on the floor where the former residents' dryer had been. The only reason the place hadn't burnt was a merciful God.
People move their gas grills under vinyl soffits when it starts raining during a cookout, they clean hot coals out of their fireplaces with their vacuum cleaners, they never clean the ducting of their range's vent hood, they use corrugated plastic dryer ducting in spite of the fact that many localities ban its use by code. They take the batteries out of their smoke detectors so they can smoke or use the Jenn-Air without an alarm going off. There's no fire extinguisher, or if there is, it's two years past its recharge date. There's NEVER the full compliment of extinguishers there should be: one within six feet of EVERY heat-producing appliance- furnace, range, water heater, dryer and gas grill. And a chain ladder to escape a burning second floor? Fuhgeddaboudit.
I personally have seen so many insane safety situations in people's houses that I think it's a miracle there aren't more fires than there are.
