Why are there no compound walls in the US?

Since US homes are made of wood, they are more susceptible to fire. So, they are made more accessible to fire-engines and evacuation by lacking a compound wall. American homes have a private open space in their back yard.

Do American houses have gates?

No, the majority of American houses don’t have front gates because they don’t have fences in the front yard. Most American houses are in the suburbs. They are safe places to live and there is no need for fences in the front.

Why Indian houses don’t have basements?

Usually individual houses in India doesn’t have a basement. Usually in India, we use Lofts (Chajja) areas for storage. Also Indian weather conditions don’t require boiler, water heater etc., The cost of construction of basement is also high. So most of the individual homes in India doesn’t have a basement.

Why do houses have fences?

The most important reason for installing fencing on your property is security. A fence acts as a deterrent for trespassers and intruders and keeps unwanted wild animals off your property as well. Fences are not just designed to keep people and animals out, but they also keep things in, like children.

Why do we have compound walls for our house?

The Compound wall acts as the first layer of protection from unwanted entrants. It protects the site and house from animals, thieves, etc and serves to demarcate the boundary of the property. If it is not possible to construct a compound wall, the site /house should be fenced off with fencing or paling.

What are compound walls?

Compound wall means a wall separating two independent plots. It may be built by the two neighbours jointly.

Why do American homes have no fences?

Many cities have setback laws that would require the perimeter wall to be built 15 or 30 feet back from the street. That would make the wall take away most of the front of the house for landscape or parking purposes. In many areas most houses have perimeter walls in the back. they usually don’t in the front.

Why are there no fences in North Carolina?

North Carolina is a “fencing-in” state, meaning that the owners of livestock are obligated to pen in their cattle, as opposed to some states in the western U.S. where cattle are allowed to graze freely and adjoining landowners who wish to exclude them must fence them out.

Why are basements common in America?

And while some homes are better built without basements because of moisture issues, there are still millions of existing basements that need help. The reason we have basements at all is because years ago people needed to have frost-free spaces before the days that heating systems kept homes above freezing all the time.

Are basement apartments legal in New York State?

Basements and cellars in residential properties of all sizes can NEVER be lawfully rented or occupied unless the conditions meet the minimum requirements for light, air, sanitation and egress, and have received approval by the Department of Buildings (DOB).

Why are there no fences in Florida?

In Florida, a fence can be considered a nuisance if its construction was motivated by malice, rather than a legitimate purpose such as preventing trespassing or vandalism.

What makes a house a compound?

Technically, a compound exists when multiple houses share a single piece of property. Each adjacent house is occupied by a member of the family community to keep multiple generations under one “roof.” This can be an especially useful strategy in areas where individual lots are relatively small.

What are the obstacles of building houses in the USA?

However the true obstacle to have better houses in USA, and especially in CA, I believe is the “professionals” who actually build houses. The cost of materials for a wood frame house is less than that for a reinforced concrete house.

Are houses better in the USA if they are built badly?

But to be entirely honest, considering that a lot of contractors in USA are pretty incompetent, a badly built wood frame house is more likely to withstand an earthquake than a badly built concrete house. However the true obstacle to have better houses in USA, and especially in CA, I believe is the “professionals” who actually build houses.

Why do builders in the US keep building with wood?

My understanding is that the US builders keep building with wood because it is the most inexpensive local construction material and US consumers are obviously not worried about durability. They also probably lack the manpower and knowledge basis for this type of work so they stick with what they know better.

Why are houses in California made of wood not concrete?

The reason is very simple. All of the above is true if you look at it from an unprejudiced inhabitant looking for the best house to live in. Americans, especially Californians, are quite prejudiced against concrete and think wood frame is always the way to go.