>>Most new houses in the US are built of wood frames. They then have some kind of "skin" added (a soft sheeting that provides some insulation and waterproofing). Then, the exterior layer, which may be aluminum or vinyl siding, stucco (like my house), or any of a number of other materials is applied. Very few new houses have actual brick or stone--instead, they use a brick or stone facade.
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>>That said, commercial and industrial buildings are generally built of block or steel.
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>>Tamar
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>Around here, some folks build their homes with a post and beam framework and use hay bales for the walls, covered with something like stucco on the outside and plaster inside. Supposedly very energy efficient. I think the idea originated in Canada.

Have you seen that system of building with like large, hollow, polystyrene "duplo" blocks (very quick) then infilling the blocks with ready-mix concrete? Amazing. You could get a house up in less time than it takes your kid to build a Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts