Let's Check the Type of Building Structure-2

Features, Advantages & Disadvantages of Building Structure

Then, following yesterday, we will explain the structure of the building. Below is a list of the features of each structure and their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of W-Structure/Wooden construction
The most notable advantage of wooden properties is that they are cheap.
Construction costs for wooden properties are kept low, and they are built in a short construction period. Therefore, it is possible to construct high quality objects at low cost. It is a big advantage that the rent is often comparatively cheap compared to other structures. The advantage of wooden construction is that it is suitable for the climate of Japan. Trees have the effect of keeping moisture by releasing stored moisture into the air during winter when the air in the room is dry. It absorbs moisture in the air during the high humidity season such as the rainy season. 
In addition, it has excellent breathability, so it matches the climate of Japan with four seasons and high humidity.

Disadvantages of W-Structure/Wooden construction
It is a pity that the wooden structure has the best air permeability, but the sound insulation is the lowest among all the structures. In many cases, the walls separating the rooms are thin.
The point that air conditioning is difficult to work is that it is easy to complain when living in a wooden property. Compared to steel frames, wooden properties are less airtight because they are less airtight than steel frames. If air conditioning is not effective, utility costs may increase.
Also, the wooden structure has low fire resistance. Due to the characteristics of wooden construction, a building fire will set fire quickly. However, there is also the aspect that "even if the surface is scorched, it will take some time to burn to the inside," and this does not mean that the entire apartment will collapse immediately if a fire occurs.

Advantages of RC-Structure/Reinforced concrete construction
Since the main material, concrete, is a non-combustible material, it has extremely high fire resistance. As a base for daily life, living in a room with excellent fire resistance will give you peace of mind. It also has a high durability because it has both compressive force and attractive force. There are many properties that can withstand an earthquake. Basically, the heavier the material, the higher the sound insulation capacity, so it is easy to imagine that concrete with an overwhelming weight has high sound insulation. Especially for those who want to put 5.1ch surround speakers in the room because they block the bass sound well, let's live in RC without hesitation. Due to the characteristics of pouring concrete, there is a high degree of freedom in shape, and there are also many design variations. This is because there is a high degree of freedom in design and you can live in a modern property.

Disadvantages of RC-Structure/Reinforced concrete construction
The bottleneck is that not only construction costs but also dismantling costs are high. In the case of rent, high rent is a disadvantage of RC construction. The rent is often set higher than the wooden and S structures.
Compared to the SRC structure described later, it is slightly weaker to shake because it does not contain steel frames. But you don't have to worry about the earthquake as much as the wooden and S structures.

Advantages of SRC-Structure/Reinforced steel frame concrete construction
SRC construction has the best earthquake resistance and fire resistance of all structures. It boasts top class fire resistance and durability. The weaknesses of S-Structure, which are "weak against heat" and "prone to rust", are overcome by wrapping it in concrete, and the weakness against shaking is covered with reinforcing bars and steel frames. It is also superior in strength and earthquake resistance compared to RC construction. Therefore, it is often used for construction of high-rise or super high-rise apartments with 10 or more stories. High seismic resistance can be secured even if the size of columns and beams is small

Disadvantages of SRC-Structure/Reinforced steel frame concrete construction
Construction costs are the highest and rent is the highest in the property structure. Although there is a sense of security against fires and earthquakes, delivery times are longer, construction costs are higher, and rent is more expensive than other construction structures.

Summary: Recommended property structure changes depending on what you emphasize

Structure	Cost Performance	Sound Insulation	Earthquake Resistance	Fire Resistance
W-Structure	◎	×	×	×
S-Structure	○	△	△	×
RC-Structure	△	◎	○	◎
SRC-Structure	△	◎	◎	◎

If you want to reduce the construction cost or if you want to use the traditional construction method, you can use W-Structure or S-Structure.

RC-Structure or SRC-Structure if emphasis is placed on earthquake resistance and fire resistance
You can't miss the function of the house. In terms of strength and durability as well as earthquake resistance and fire resistance, RC-Structure and SRC-Structure will be favored. In the past, it was generally recognized that seismic resistance was “SRC-Structure>RC-Structure”, but in recent years when technological progress has been remarkable, there is almost no difference for newly built properties.

RC-Structure and SRC-Structure are also advantageous for sound insulation. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the boundary wall.
Since concrete is cast into the RC and SRC structures, sound and vibration are less prone to sound insulation.  However, similar to the above earthquake resistance, the functional difference between the two is not large.
So what should we look for in the property overview if we want to be particular about soundproofing? It will be the material and thickness of the wall.
Even if the building itself is made of RC or SRC-Structure, if the wall with the next room is thin, you can expect only a soundproofing effect. The wall between the dwellings is called a party wall, and its thickness and material greatly affect sound insulation. The condominium party wall is around 180 mm to 250 mm. With a thickness of around 200 mm, you can expect the same soundproofing effect as a condominium. It also depends on whether the wall material is only concrete blocks. For a simple way to check, please knock on the wall when you check the property by looking inside. Although it can not be said unequivocally, when it is made of concrete, it generally feels as if it is packed with contents. On the other hand, if it is hollow and separated only by plasterboard, there will be a loud sound. This will give you a good idea.

Choose a property with no regrets
Property structure with advantages and disadvantages. What matters is where you prioritize. You don't want to compromise because it's your new home. When you look at a new property from now on, let's look not only at the inside and the appearance, but also at the invisible structure.