A Tale of Two Houses Pt#2

The two brothers went back to their homes and proceeded to frame them up. William decided that because of the potential for strong winds, he should use thicker lumber and add some extra strength to the shear walls. Because of the potential for heavy snow, he selected a steeper pitch for his roof, and selected stronger trusses to support it. Because of the potential for heavy rains, he took special efforts to grade the surrounding landscape to drain any water away from his house. 

Benjamin on the other hand, even though he was aware of these problems, took the attitude that the house would be sufficiently strong to withstand a windstorm, and that snow would probably not cause any problems. He took no special notice of drainage around the structure, figuring that any water would be minimal. 

Upon the completion of the framing, William's house was already in a very good state to withstand most encounters with nature and storms. Meanwhile, Benjamin had not noticed that his foundation had already started to crack, and his house had not even faced any real challenges yet. 

As construction proceeded, because William had constructed his exterior walls from thicker than required timber, it allowed him to use thicker insulation to better protection against hot and cold temperatures. Next he selected a simple yet attractive brick for the exterior, a good choice because it is durable against weather and doesn't fade or peel much with age. For much of the exterior of his home, he selected simple yet durable materials. When finished, his house looked nice, but not too fancy. 

Benjamin however decided that since he was able to save so much on his foundation and framing, had more to spend on the finish of his home. He choose very nice looking but expensive stone for the outside. He used expensive paints. He bought expensive doors and windows with shutters. He bought copper trim because it looked so nice. 

William was practical and conservative on the inside. Like on the outside, he used materials that while plain, were durable.  Benjamin on the used expensive stone for his countertops. It was attractive, but scratched easily. He spent large amounts of money on his bathrooms, using the finest marble. 

When both houses were completed, William's house looked plain in comparison to his brother Benjamin's. William's landscaping was more basic, the colors more subdued. Benjamin's house looked very handsome indeed, with its bronze door handles, copper rain gutters, expensive hardwoods, and elegant marble. 

But despite the outward elegance of the house Benjamin built, it has an underlying problem in its cracked foundation and marginal structure.