House Exploded near Toronto

[Imp]

Happened yesterday and the local TV channels were covering it for hours. One confirmed dead right now.

I'm posting this because the wreckage is something to see. And there is some unconfirmed speculation about notes being found around the area.

Some residents told CBC News they found notes among piles of household items, building materials and other debris. The notes were handed over to police. It's not known whether the notes came from the house that exploded.

One of the letters a neighbour showed to CBC News was addressed to God and mentioned health problems suffered by both the writer and the writer's husband. It also made reference to the writer's faith in God.

"Why are we still here God?" the letter asks.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-house-explosion-letters-1.3657958

Covers story broader story. Video in link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-house-explosion-1.3657426

 

[dighn]

looks like the house disintegrated

 

[Grooveriding]

Tinfoil on windows ? Meth lab maybe ? Mississauga as well, not TO.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

It would appear to be beginning to look like suicide, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, at least two other houses right by it, will probably have to be demolished as well.

Strange handwritten notes that describe financial ruin and hint at suicide

Source:

 

[WelshBloke]

looks like the house disintegrated

Why do you guys build your houses out of toothpicks and cardboard?

The walls of my house are >12 inch thick brick, if one of those straw houses exploded next door I doubt I'd notice.

 

[Pulsar]

Your house walls are more than 12" thick and are solid brick? I find that very hard to believe, unless you live in a castle.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Why do you guys build your houses out of toothpicks and cardboard?

The walls of my house are >12 inch thick brick, if one of those straw houses exploded next door I doubt I'd notice.

Cost, ability to insulate, space efficiency, and ease of adaptation/renovation come to mind. The downside is they don't last hundreds of years or more.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Your house walls are more than 12" thick and are solid brick? I find that very hard to believe, unless you live in a castle.

 

[WelshBloke]

Your house walls are more than 12" thick and are solid brick? I find that very hard to believe, unless you live in a castle.

Close enough.

 

[brainhulk]

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Close enough.

It's probably got a cavity in the middle (hollow), depending on the age of the house.

Like this:

 

[WelshBloke]

It's probably got a cavity in the middle (hollow), depending on age of house.

Well yeah I'd hope so (it does, I've had the squirty beads put in.). I kinda means solid as in "doesnt need to be demolished when brushed by the straw that the neighbouring house was built from" solid.

Edit: although that is an internal wall so ¯\_(&#12484_/¯

 

[Anubis]

gonna be natural gas or a meth lab explosion which is like a NG explosion, not much else is gonna do that


seeing as its looking like a suicide, id guess someone let the house fill with gas until it went boom

 

[KMFJD]

I just read that it was part of a conspiracy by the ontario government to get rid of gas heating...my brain hurts now.

 

[Eug]

Thick brick builds are common in Toronto. A lot are in poor shape and not particularly strong. A new build would be strong but if next door to a gas explosion, there is still a good chance it would have to be torn down.

 

[Eug]

BTW: My house is partially a double brick build. (It was a pain for the kitchen range hood installer.)

Mine is a bit odd though since outside the brick is the insulation and then outside that is cedar siding. So it looks like a wood build from the outside, but is actually brick.

However, I am not foolish enough to think my house would survive a gas explosion unscathed from my next door neighbour. That's what insurance is for.

gonna be natural gas or a meth lab explosion which is like a NG explosion, not much else is gonna do that

seeing as its looking like a suicide, id guess someone let the house fill with gas until it went boom

It's being investigated as a homicide.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Your house walls are more than 12" thick and are solid brick? I find that very hard to believe, unless you live in a castle.

Its the UK the building was probably buit 250 years ago.

 

[Dude111]

looks like the house disintegrated

Yes quite sad!

 

[Eug]

It's being investigated as a homicide.

Or not. That was the info that was going around, but the police just made a formal announcement to deny this was being investigated as a homicide.

 

[Imp]

Why do you guys build your houses out of toothpicks and cardboard?

The walls of my house are >12 inch thick brick, if one of those straw houses exploded next door I doubt I'd notice.

They don't build them like they used to anymore. Gotta save money, yo. I worked for a reno/construction company and client bitched about structural components being oversized.

 

[Eug]

They don't build them like they used to anymore. Gotta save money, yo. I worked for a reno/construction company and client bitched about structural components being oversized.

Client complained? As in homeowner? Strange.

BTW, as I mentioned earlier, only part of my house is a double brick build. The other part, an addition, was a 2x6 wood build. I actually prefer the wood built part as it is better insulated and it's easier for me to do DIY stuff like network cabling. On the double brick side the there isn't much space to work with as they built these back then with only 1" strapping under the drywall.

Mind you, that part of the house was built with better than average materials, with one of the residents of the house there all the time watching the contractors. I was surprised when the insurance quote increased about 20% because their calculated potential rebuild costs were significantly higher than expected, as the materials used and the finishes were at least mid-end and some high end. The original insurance quote had been based on an estimate using lower end materials and finishes that you find in a typical new build suburban middle-class cookie-cutter home.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Why do you guys build your houses out of toothpicks and cardboard?

The walls of my house are >12 inch thick brick, if one of those straw houses exploded next door I doubt I'd notice.

Had a house explode a few blocks from where I lived back in 2006. The really nice brick house next door was knocked off its foundation. Sure, a brick home should do better, but it might not be enough.

 

[Eug]

Had a house explode a few blocks from where I lived back in 2006. The really nice brick house next door was knocked off its foundation. Sure, a brick home should do better, but it might not be enough.

Ouch, what was the explosion?

Note though that some brick homes are essentially wood builds with a brick face. ie. The brick is cosmetic, not structural. In my home mentioned above, the brick is structural, but ironically, it's all hidden under a face of wood siding. It looks like a Cape Cod wood design.

 

[aigomorla]

they still make houses out of brick >.<

isnt it all drywall and plywood :X

 

[shabby]

they still make houses out of brick >.<

isnt it all drywall and plywood :X

Yes, drywall>plywood>brick.