08/05/2024
Newer is not necessarily better.
Home Buyer: I want a house built after 1980.
Me: Actually, you don't.
Let me explain.
Newer isn't always better, and this picture sums it up pretty well. The quality of modern lumber is simply far inferior to the quality of lumber they were using to build homes in the early and mid-20th century. Wood quality began dropping on a serious scale in the 1980s due to old-growth timber being almost completely depleted.
Most wood used today is grown very fast - not only can you visibly see the difference in quality, but the newer lumber is more prone to rotting due to a lack of heartwood. Slow growth wood yields much more heartwood, which is the longest lasting part of the tree, whereas sap wood (new growth wood) will rot very quickly. Modern lumber is also a lot more prone to termite damage as it is softer and easier to consume whereas old lumber is extremely resinous and naturally termite resistant. A good rule - as long as the plumbing and electric has been updated, a well-built home from the mid-20th century is a better investment and will likely outlast a newer build.
Clarification: Yes, these two pieces of lumber come from two different trees. The expert in the attached article is not comparing the lumber of the same tree over time. He is comparing the lumber that was commonly used to build houses 75 years ago versus the lumber commonly used to build houses today
