Since plastic doesn’t biodegrade, why aren’t more houses built with plastic instead of wood parts?

Question

Since plastic doesn’t biodegrade, why aren’t more houses built with plastic instead of wood parts?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Structural plastic is softer (weaker) and more expensive (or at least it was until the recent lumber shortage), and it’s also susceptible to damage from UV rays in sunlight (plastic exposed to sunlight will become brittle and crack and break). Plastic with additives to deal with the UV are even more expensive.

We do use a lot of plastic in home construction, just not structurally. Plastic sheeting for moisture barrier, plastic water pipes, plastic (or more accurately polymer) electrical junction boxes, plastic (polymer) wire insulation, kitchen cabinet veneers are sometimes made of plastics, etc.