It only costs additional 10% if people chose steel over wood.
So cost is not the reason why people choose wood.
It is the lack of expertise among contractors who do the construction. Wooden houses are part of American civilization since centuries, so it is tough to replace that expertise (unless they bring Indian civil engineers and mestris on H1-B to the chalgrin of MAGA)
Also most of the country except CA doesn’t face wildfire (or atleast not as often) but they do get bone chilling cold.Wood is better insulator for cold than steel/concrete so heating costs are reduced for common man.
Rich hollwood people have option to rebuild with most effective deterrent against wild-fire but my heart goes out to all the working class people who lost their homes. Wind is again relentless today. I hope it doesn’t start new fires
When there was wildfire in paradise in 2018, one person thought of re-constructing in steel/concrete but he was discouraged because if your whole neighborhood with wooden house is burning, your house alone will not survive due to extreme heat.
