FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about housing and their answers.
Q What is the difference between a construction company/house builder and an architectural design firm?
The difference between housing companies lies in who handles the design, construction, and supervision, and how the budget is allocated. Matsuo Design Office performs structural calculations, thermal environment simulations, and HVAC planning in-house, with one architect handling everything from design to supervision. Please compare each company's estimates and scope of work under the same conditions.
Related article: How to choose a construction company without making mistakes
Q What are the key points to consider when choosing a home builder?
When choosing a home builder, please check these four points: C-value measurement for all buildings, allowable stress calculation, in-house air conditioning simulation, and solar heat gain and shading design. These are the standards recommended by Matsuo Design Office. The ability to explain these points with numerical data and calculation documents is also a factor to consider.
Related article: How to choose between a local construction company and a house builder
Q Is a three-story wooden house more vulnerable to earthquakes than a two-story wooden house?
The earthquake resistance of a wooden house is not determined solely by the number of floors. What's crucial when comparing buildings is the structural calculation method used for each structure. Matsuo Design Office performs allowable stress calculations even on two-story buildings, ensuring earthquake resistance level 3. Please check the calculation report and the level before making a comparison.
Q Is it true that "highly insulated houses get hot in the summer"?
Even highly insulated homes can get hot in the summer if there isn't enough sun shading. Matsuo Design Office carefully considers the placement and size of eaves and windows to reduce the amount of sunlight entering the room. To evaluate both insulation performance and summer comfort together, check whether you can block sunlight from the outside of the windows.
Related articles: Solar heat gain and solar heat shading