Tornados

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by rasorinc, Mar 2, 2012.

  1. Ad Hoc
    Joined: Oct 2008
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    Ad Hoc Naval Architect

    I think that depends where you are and who is building it.

    In the UK, my house was, as all properly built houses are, double leaf. That is 2 walls separated by a gap of approximately 100mm. Internal load bearing walls are brick and RJSs.

    I have seen some "cheap" brick houses, where they are made from single leaf (1 wall) and internal load bearing walls are made of wood and plasterboard. I am not referring to these cheapo types. These are made for profit, not longevity!
     
  2. Wynand N
    Joined: Oct 2004
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    Wynand N Retired Steelboatbuilder

    Although tornado's are rare in South Africa a small tornado hit my town (Welkom) in 1991 and one cannot belief the destruction it left in its wake...

    Solid brick houses (99% of homes built here are double leaf brick construction) were totally demolished - a family member on the wife's side home was flattened to the foundation and my mother in laws home barely two blocks away escape totally unscathed and it seems these things destroys in a narrow path as they travel if one looks at the remnants of the event.
    Massive trees were uprooted or broken like match sticks, caravans thrown on house roofs an block or two away and even a swimming pool lifted clean out of the ground, in short chaos.

    Im really glad I do not live in the USA tornado belt and I pity those in the path of twisters. I had seen the damage a small one can do and cringe at the thought what those big ones can do.
     
  3. Leo Lazauskas
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    Leo Lazauskas Senior Member

    That would be my preference too. I do like the idea of using the local terrain
    for walls. I know someone who built a house in amongst some large granite
    boulder outcrops. He just had to put in a floor, and fill in between the boulders
    with doors, windows and a minimum of earth and mud bricks to make walls.

    I've also thought about shipping containers for outside walls, but I
    haven't costed that lunatic idea yet. Using shipping containers as part of a
    ship's hull structure is even crazier, but I'm working on it :)
     
  4. Red Right Return
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    Red Right Return Junior Member

    Earth beamed homes were big here in the 70s energy crisis. Simple problem is you have more micro bugs and critters climbing over your house. A harsh barrier is needed to keep the bugs out of any permeable material or door or window screen or roof or vent.
     
  5. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    All houses in Uk have to pass building standards, they are inspected at stages, one critical stage is footings -or foundations, if it is not to specifications construction will be stopped. You can NOT build a house from what you want neither can the design, it has to pass local planning permission.

    Usually 2 walls called cavity wall insulation and they are tide together at windows and doors. The brick work being decorative and can be distinguished between differing brick layers and styles particularly from different areas, even brick work of Sydney can be recognized from its artistry and therefore its location of the brickies that laid them.


    ********* of wood and plaster can not be used for human habitation but can for a car, it is considered to be temporary to such that it is not rate -able and needs no permission.

    To build such a building in typhoon areas is eye opening to say the least.
     
  6. Red Right Return
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    Red Right Return Junior Member

    Having brick carry the compression load makes sense to me. The cheapo subdivision brick houses turn me off. Don't get me started on drywall. Horrible material. Heavy but no strength. You can put your fist thru it. A bucket of water turns it to oatmeal. Paper wrapped powder mush board.
     
  7. whitepointer23

    whitepointer23 Previous Member

    double brick is old tech. now most homes are brick veneer or steel or timber frame and 75 mm foam panel. my last house i had built in double brick, never again, it heats up during the day and retains the heat at night. i am looking at tilt panels for the next house, they have insulating propertys superior to most other materials. i am talking about australia . i work in new houses everyday and have not seen a double brick in 2 years. i also like the container idea leo.
     
  8. whitepointer23

    whitepointer23 Previous Member

    why do houses need to last so long anyway. in the uk you need to be 5 ft or less to save banging your head in those old doorways.
     
  9. GTO
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    GTO Senior Member

    I live outside of Huntsville, Alabama and had tornado tracks north and south of me, and a friend's subdivision took a direct hit just a few houses away from him. His subdivision has well-built brick homes around 4000 sq. feet. About 5 were totally demolished with over a dozen severely damaged.

    My house was built on a slope, so I had a shelter made under the front porch. 3 sides are underground while the exposed basement side is concrete-filled cinder block, with a steel door. If I ever have to use the shelter, I expect to open the door afterwards and have a lovely, unobstructed view of the river.

    Tornadoes are unpredictable, so after a while, you learn to duck and cover if it looks really bad (and is heading your way) and otherwise go about your business. Like watching wall clouds pass by as you golf, sail, or sit eating at a diner. Builds character.
     
  10. Boston

    Boston Previous Member

    yup they corkscrew through a neighborhood as can be seen in most images of ground scouring. No telling when one will jump or turn. Brick doesn't have a prayer, all its strength is in compression. solid concrete and steel is about the only thing that tends to survive a tornado. These safe rooms are pretty much most peoples only option

    [​IMG]
     
  11. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    May 8, 1979 an average Florida tornado tore up 32 mobile homes in my neighborhood and demolished a CB auto repair shop across the street from my block in Hillsborough County.

    I don't remember if it was the same tornado or a second tornado the same day but one died and forty were injured in Polk County to the east of us. http://www.ocala.com/article/2011052...9870?p=2&tc=pg
     
  12. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    Whilst I admire the tenacity of the spider to constantly rebuild its web in the face or relentless repetitive destruction there comes a time when stupidity holds it head higher than tenacity.
     
  13. Leo Lazauskas
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    Leo Lazauskas Senior Member

    Our spiders seem to be very tenacious!
    These photos show spider webs covering fields (and dogs) after the
    extensive floods in New South Wales.
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2015
  14. Red Right Return
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    Red Right Return Junior Member

    What does the brick do in the new tech?
     

  15. whitepointer23

    whitepointer23 Previous Member

    not much apart from decoration.
     
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