Throughout its history, Zaruma has relied heavily on mining exploitation in the region; this was the primary reason for the city's foundation and subsequent urban growth and architectural development. However, at present, this mining activity has become illegally invasive of the urban subsoil and poses a significant risk to the city's structure and its inhabitants, jeopardizing their very existence. The present study aims to analyze the construction system of historic timber houses built between the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century when there was the most significant mining boom in the area, also considering the difficulty of the territory where they were built.