We spent a week with family on holiday at Edisto Island in South Carolina.
During that week I saw a house go up from the slit tops - 1st floor, 2nd floor, roof and cladding.
There were 4 workmen on site + 1 guy with a super sized bakkie who fetched all stuff from the builders merchants.
They team was highly organised, with proper bench saw table equipment for trimming and sawing boards etc.
They all worked all the time - no standing around looking at others working.
Each worker had a tool belt and at least one portable power tool or compressed air tool hooked to his belt
It was a pleasure to watch.
The main reason for the speed is that there are no wet trades involved that require a setting / drying period.
Everything is simply nailed together - something which makes me cringe as I am a "screwed and glued" person when it comes to wood construction..
US construction grade timber is standard sized, cured properly, is straight and with minimal twists and bowing.
Compared to US timber products, ZA's construction timber is only good for plywood, matches and paper because it grows too fast in our sunshine.