Live data from Hacker News

Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

wikihouse.cc

41–50 of 223 posts

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#41
post #2

Seems pretty expensive to make everything out of pure plywood. Does anyone have a sense of how cost compares to 2x4's plus drywall? I assume either construction method will need exterior cladding and insulation.

In a stick frame building, everything still gets clad with sheathing (plywood) and subfloor (thicker tongue and groove plywood).

Structural insulated panels (plywood/foam sandwiches) have been around since the 70s. They're a useful building technology.

There's no way they can provide an equivalent amount of product to a SIP cheaper. They're operating at small scale, and CNC machining everything which is expensive. The math ain't mathin'.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#42

If you live in California, you can potentially build one of these as an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). Local agencies are required to approve an ADU within 60 days, and recent state bills (AB 976, 434, 1033, and 2221) make it easier to build/sell/rent ADUs on your property. You'll have to wait until 2025 before every locality is forced to have a process for pre-approved ADU plans (at which time you could potentially…

required to approve or required to decide, and they can reject? is the approval criteria checking mechanistic? (ie. every criteria is quantified and "objective"?)

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#43
post #42

If you live in California, you can potentially build one of these as an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). Local agencies are required to approve an ADU within 60 days, and recent state bills (AB 976, 434, 1033, and 2221) make it easier to build/sell/rent ADUs on your property. You'll have to wait until 2025 before every locality is forced to have a process for pre-approved ADU plans (at which time you could potentially…

required to approve or required to decide, and they can reject? is the approval criteria checking mechanistic? (ie. every criteria is quantified and "objective"?)

> ADUs subject to State ADU Law must be considered, approved, and permitted ministerially, without discretionary action.

https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/ADUHandbo...

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#47
post #2

Seems pretty expensive to make everything out of pure plywood. Does anyone have a sense of how cost compares to 2x4's plus drywall? I assume either construction method will need exterior cladding and insulation.

Since it’s a UK company/project they will be primarily comparing to brick costs since that’s what the vast majority of UK houses are (still) built with. They claim comparable cost as brick/block construction. £230/sqm. They also seem to be touting their accuracy and since plywood is dimensionally stable (well, more so that 2x4s anyway) that’s probably why ply.

Is double brick still built in the UK, or is wooden framing with brick cladding more common?

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#48
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a lesson here: Lay your foundation with strong types.

What type are you supposed to use to represent total cost when spending infinite money for 0 days?

In Javascript? probably a different type than if you took 0 days to spend infinite money.

Re: Wikihouse: Open-Source Houses

#49
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't plywood cheaper than solid wood?

A 1x6 which is probably thicker is usually around $4-5 a 3/4 plywood at 4x8 is $51 ish, so 8*1x6 ($4.5 at 8ft length) = $36, and $51 for plywood. So no, plywood is not cheaper at apples to apples comparison. If you chop the thickness down you can get it to be comparable or cheaper. But plywood is stronger then a bunch of 1x6.

> A 1x6 which is probably thicker

A 1x6 is .75 x 5.5 inches.

Plywood is still more expensive with your numbers. OSB may cost a little less than the plywood though.

Post reply on HN