Post Apoc buildings

[nduffy]

So what sort of building materials and buildings would you see PA. I know traditional , log homes, adobe, recycled materials, etc. But what other buildings or styles would the teams see PA, 150 years later? We know many towns would still be in operation, but how would they fair with the potential lack of upkeep or potential lack of skilled people to maintain them... I can see many rural or country mountain folks doing ok, especially those in Appalachia (The hillbillies and mountain folk) The homesteaders and preppers getting by, but what about Joe Schmo? Also I think a skill like primitive engineering would be an added bonus to any team. Any thoughts?

[mmartin798]

With the relative ease to make things like Portland cement, mortar, plaster, lumber, and nails I would expect to see a resurgence of late 18th and early 19th-century building techniques in use in the larger settlements. By the time 150 years have passed, those materials should be easily traded and spread far and wide and be used in other communities as well. In some places, you would see the recycled materials mixed with these building materials.

In more isolated areas, you might see some really primitive techniques used. Things like tipis, wigwams, and longhouses using birch bark and hides to cover them. Plant fibers and inner bark fibers used to make cordage and ropes. It would be easy to get logs as well. I was at a primitive skill gathering one year where one person made a stone ax in about a day. We had a contest between it and a steel hatchet of similar size cutting down a tree. The steel hatchet did win, but only by about five seconds. So I do agree that primitive engineering would be a good skill.

[nduffy]

I had close the same idea, I can see a lot of recycle of materials and old towns looking like something from an old western to a Victorian style brick structure when I think about it, even towns still having a 20s -50s look to them.

[nduffy]

How do you think they would handle sanitation. I can see both ends of the spectrum on this.

[mmartin798]

I think enough people will know enough about sanitation so that we don't have widespread emptying of chamber pots from second-story windows onto the streets. Use of outhouses would seem likely. I think there would also be places where they may place the outhouses too close to water sources that could lead to contamination and diseases.

[nduffy]

Having grownup in the house of the head 91s (Army MOS) back in the day, and being in the water industry and holding licenses. I can easily see water borne issues. This is were I see the MP really excelling and helping people. Also making allies and winning folks over. Anything preventative in general...