These days, he says, he finds far fewer structural flaws. Technology has made new homes more livable, builders say. Carpets and countertops are more attractive, varied and durable. New synthetic trim materials look like wood but resist decay. Factory-built trusses eliminate most floor squeaks.
Many home buyers agree that materials have improved.
One in four said it's worse. But some modern building materials simply can't beat the old stuff, experts say. Before the 1980s, more of the commercially available wood was dense and durable, harvested from old-growth forests. Nowadays, most of the wood comes from fast-growing young forests. The growth rings are far apart, so the wood is weaker and more susceptible to rot.