Since there are so many knowledgeable people here right now, I'd like to hijack a bit. I am retiring and moving to the Ozarks, where I bought an older home (mid - 60s) in the mountains that was framed in rough cut white oak. From what I understand, this is largely termite - resistant and of course very hard wood. Are there any downsides, other than being difficult to sink a nail into this stuff?
I lived in a San Jose house framed in old Redwood. A century of drying and hardening made in virtually impossible to drive a nail. The 'dimensional' lumber (sawn to no particular standard) made it hard to fit any modern fixture.
Having been modified several time over the century it was a warren of misshapen rooms and awkward hallways & stairs. Had a single 15 amp circuit for the downstairs and nothing upstairs. Wire run in conduit instead of inside the walls - and not stylish office conduit, galvanized pipes hung from the walls with nailed-in hangars!
My neighbors had it worse - no foundation! Just built on the dirt. He jacked it up and used a skid loader to build a basement and foundation, get the wood away from the termites. Lived in it the whole time! An amazing couple.
