Developers in Florida are rolling out new homes built with wooden frames, undaunted by the risk that wood can be less reliable than other materials for withstanding hurricane-force winds. Homes with wooden frames are cheaper and faster to build than those framed in concrete, one reason why wood-frame construction is the norm in much of the U.S. But… South Florida contractors phased out wood-frame construction after Hurricane Andrew’s 165-mile-per-hour winds flattened communities built from this material in 1992. The state changed its building codes not long after that, and the share of wood-frame construction has declined dramatically. …Developers of wood-framed homes say this construction is considerably sturdier than before. …Wood frames can also be built to withstand hurricane-force winds, according to architects and structural engineers. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed across the state, and in particular for wood-frame structures. But wood homes are still usually cheaper to build. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]