Construction of houses from light materials recent times has become widespread. This technology allows you to quickly build walls and basic structures without the use of heavy construction equipment.
When using lightweight materials, you can significantly save on foundations, the cost of which can be approximately 30% of the cost of the entire building. To understand which house is better, frame or built of timber, it is worth considering the features and benefits of each option.
What are the main features to consider
For a building, certain indicators are extremely important. Before starting construction, it is worth deciding on the approximate amount that can be spent on work, it also all depends on the expected results. When deciding which house is better, you need to answer the following questions for yourself:
- you need a building "for centuries" or housing for one generation;
- in what climatic region is the construction planned, how severe are the winters here;
- whether there is a desire to independently understand the intricacies of the construction process;
- what aesthetic requirements are imposed on the house, whether it will fit into the environment.
Having answered all these questions for yourself, you can begin to study the advantages and disadvantages and choose the best option.
This construction technology has been used for a long time. She managed to win the trust and popularity among the population. The advantages of making a house from a bar include:
- environmental friendliness and safety for health;
- good ventilation, subject to properly selected facing and heat-insulating materials (walls wooden house"breathe";
- attractive price for wood, the availability of this material;
- the ability to refuse finishing, both external and internal, subject to the completion of a full range of works to protect the walls of the house from a bar from negative factors environment(moisture, fungus, mold, etc.);
- reducing the load on the foundations and their cost, under a wooden building there is no need to arrange powerful supports, even on weak soils, screw metal piles can be enough.
Sectional diagram of the wall and floor But besides the advantages of a building made of timber, they have their drawbacks. In many ways, they are expressed by the properties of wood. The disadvantages include the following features:
- wall shrinkage. A log house must be left unfinished for 1-2 years. During this time, the height of the walls decreases. An exception to this rule will be a building made of laminated timber. But in this case, it is better to wait a couple of months before finishing work. If this feature is not taken into account, the finish will be damaged during the period of active shrinkage of the wall material.
- Restrictions on the choice of thermal insulation materials. A building made of timber is not recommended to be insulated with polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene. These materials are characterized by low vapor permeability and air permeability. They create a greenhouse effect inside the building. Part positive properties wood as a wall material is lost. Mineral wool is suitable for thermal insulation, which has good vapor permeability.
- The need to eliminate cracks and caulking walls. Timber walls dry out over time. At the same time, gaps appear between the individual crowns, into which cold air penetrates. To prevent such a phenomenon, it is necessary to carefully caulk the building at the construction stage. It is highly likely that the procedure will have to be repeated during operation.
- High fire hazard. Wood is flammable and burns quickly.
A log house can pose a serious danger when neighboring buildings ignite, as well as during forest fires. To increase the resistance of the material to fire, special impregnations are used. Such substances are called flame retardants. But it is important to remember that they cannot guarantee complete safety, but will only increase the time for evacuating people.
The cracking of the timber does not add aesthetics to the facade, and can also cause the appearance of cold bridges. Many of the disadvantages of buildings made of timber are devoid of structures made of glued material. When deciding which house is better, it is worth remembering the disadvantages of glued timber:
- Presence in the composition chemical substances, which significantly reduce the environmental friendliness of the building. It is important to control that components harmful to human health are not used in the production.
- High price. Building from glued laminated timber can be more expensive brick house. Here, all the advantages of relatively less powerful foundations come to naught. The price for construction is often strongly and unreasonably high.
The advantages of glued material deservedly include high strength. But in private construction, it is rarely necessary to block large openings. Often high costs are not justified.
When deciding which house is better, it is worth considering the time for construction. A house made of timber will be warm, durable and reliable, but it will take several years to build and finish it. Only if the technology for performing work is observed, all the advantages of this option are relevant.
This technology has been used relatively recently. The option has not yet managed to earn confidence, many are suspicious of it. Often these suspicions are completely unfounded.
The frame option, subject to compliance with the construction, can become a reliable home for the whole family. There are a lot of advantages to this construction method:
- No shrinkage. Exactly the same wood as in the previous case can be used as a frame. But the important difference lies in the spatial arrangement. Across the fibers, the material gives a fairly strong shrinkage, and almost zero along the fibers. When installing frame racks vertically, it is possible to solve the most important problem of wooden houses.
- Frame type buildings are inexpensive. It is possible to save both on the material of the walls and on the foundations. The walls are not fully laid out of wood; the use of a frame reduces the consumption of materials.
- The frame version is assembled quickly without the use of special equipment. Unlike a bar building, work can be done alone. It's difficult, but doable.
- The wall consists of a frame, insulation and cladding. After the erection of the walls, an already insulated structure with a flat base for finishing is obtained. There is no need to additionally level the surface or eliminate various defects. This reduces both labor and time costs.
- The frame house allows you to easily lay communications or wires in the walls. In a wooden building, this will have to provide special gaps between the wall and the finish or lay wiring open way.
- The walls of the building are thin. This allows not only to reduce the consumption of materials, but also to increase the usable area of the building.
- The frame option involves work at any time of the year. It is only important that the temperature does not fall below minus 15 degrees. All processes are carried out without water, the site remains relatively clean.
When choosing which option is better in an earthquake-prone area, without a doubt, it is worth giving the palm to the frame house.
The frame house provides reliable protection by cold. Thanks to thin and light walls it heats up quickly. But also be aware of the rapid cooling. The option is perfect for permanent residence, and as country house. If necessary frame type buildings can be moved to another site. But such a possibility should be provided at the design stage.
What to choose
If there is a choice, which option is better if you need to quickly build a house, then you should give preference to the frame. But more monumental buildings are obtained from wood. They can last more than one generation, provided that they were correctly designed and built.
It is better to entrust the project of a building from a bar to professionals. They will be able to pick optimal thickness walls for reasons of heat engineering and strength. It is also necessary to perform a full calculation of the foundations.
A frame building is an option for one generation. If it's built well, it might last longer, but that's the original idea. The option is perfect for dacha construction, but this does not mean that it is not suitable for permanent residence.
When choosing, it is important to take into account the seasonality of operation. If a wooden house is not used for half the winter, and then moved into it, it will take a lot of time to warm up. The frame will warm up faster, so it is good for breaks in living.
It is also worth considering the aesthetic features. The bar always looks attractive and presentable. The frame house, if necessary, can be easily given any look. Modern finishing materials open up a huge scope for creativity and experimentation.
The decision is always made in individually depending on the existing conditions and preferences of the future owner.
Before choosing a material for building a house, it is important to weigh all the positive and negative qualities, and only then take up the construction of housing.
Wooden houses from year to year are becoming more popular. The reason for this was that the domestic market a wide variety of building materials that are used to build wooden buildings or serve as an additional interior and exterior decoration.
Also, new technological methods have appeared that can effectively counteract the formation of fungus and rot, which was the main problem for all owners of wooden buildings 20-30 years ago.
Experts say that with proper care, a house built of wood using modern technologies can stand for more than 100 years.
It is worth noting that the construction of a wooden house does not require a lot of time, especially when it comes to structures made of high-quality timber or frame buildings. However, structures made from these popular materials are very different in properties, and in order to answer the question of which house is better - frame or timber, you can comparative analysis and consider the main pros and cons of the proposed buildings.
Advantages and disadvantages of using timber
The primary task before building a house from a bar is the choice of the type of building material. Now on the market you can find both cheap options in the form of raw timber, and high-quality analogues in the form of glued laminated timber.
Often, houses from profiled timber are produced with the involvement of special companies, and they are already delivered to the consumer in the form of a large wooden constructor. In this case, raw timber is practically not used due to the fact that there is a high chance of deformation of the erected buildings after drying. Manufacturers of wooden houses usually do not take such a risk.
The use of dry or glued timber is more practical. This material is made mainly from wood. conifers, which initially contains a certain amount of antiseptic substances.
Based on the opinion of experts, the following advantages of timber houses can be distinguished:
- Thermal insulation. Standard profiled timber and its glued counterpart are very good thermal insulation materials that do not require additional finishing materials for warming the room. Laid in compliance with all necessary requirements wooden beam perfectly prevents the penetration of not only cold, but also moisture into the room.
- Aesthetics. In the manufacture of timber, its edges are cut as evenly as possible. Immediately after construction, the house will not require any finishing works, but it will look very presentable.
- Security. Fire retardants are used in the production of timber (special impregnations that reduce the possibility of ignition of wood). As a result, the material practically does not burn, and it is rather difficult to cause significant damage to it with the help of fire. The wood is also impregnated with other substances that help the wood resist decay, fungus and various types of insects.
But, despite the large list of advantages, timber buildings have their drawbacks:
- Time to shrink. Any kind of timber after the construction of the house should stand for some time without tenants. This period can take from 3 to 6 months, and even more in the case of raw material. Such a process is necessary for the shrinkage of the building.
- Material selection. Despite the fact that timber is a very popular material that can be purchased everywhere, it should be understood that its choice is a very responsible process. It is not always possible to independently determine the quality of raw materials, especially when it comes to the construction of capital housing, where the durability of the house will depend on the quality of the timber used.
Pros and cons of frame buildings
Frame houses can be divided into buildings for seasonal living and those that are used all year round. The latter are called capital. They are often used in their construction. Additional materials in the form of sheathing from siding or trim from natural stone, which increase the duration of operation and make houses warmer.
Seasonal buildings are built using panels consisting of insulation and materials made from waste from the woodworking industry. They are additionally treated with substances that help the wood resist moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Such structures are often used as summer cottages or summer houses. In the autumn winter period living in them is uncomfortable, because such housing has poor characteristics regarding thermal insulation. In capital buildings, this problem is solved by using panels made of denser materials. This applies to both wood and various heaters.
Advantages that can be identified in the material for frame houses:
- construction time: frame houses do not require downtime and are built almost instantly, the panels are quickly assembled into a single structure without additional adjustment;
- frame: the basis of the house can be built from a variety of materials, but the most popular are metal and wood.
- sheathing: for interior and outer cladding or house cladding, you can use a wide variety of materials, making allowances only for the properties of the frame and its capabilities, thanks to this there is a chance to independently choose the style of home decoration.
Unlike a wooden frame, metal structure retains integrity for a long time and does not change physical properties.
The main disadvantage of panel houses is that it is necessary to involve professionals for its construction. Especially when it comes to the construction of capital housing. In addition, panels for frame houses are a fairly rare building material. Usually it is made to order, because such a product can have various variations in terms of combining raw materials.
The cost of frame houses
Many people think that a frame house or cottage is much cheaper than timber housing. To some extent, the statement is correct. However, it should still be noted that significant differences in the cost of capital frame structure and there are practically no buildings made of timber.
If you make a comparison, you can really notice that glued or even standard timber will be noticeably more expensive. However, a house built from panels does not require interior or exterior decoration. In addition, the all-season construction of panels requires additional costs for the purchase of insulation and work aimed at increasing the level of waterproofing.
In this case, if we take the total cost of building both houses, we can calculate that their total cost will be almost the same. Cheaper than a building made of timber, only the construction of a frame summer house will come out.
It should also be noted that the investment in construction frame house should be one-time, and the construction of housing from a bar is carried out gradually, which allows it to be financed in parts. This, of course, does not make a timber building cheaper, but it significantly relieves the financial burden during construction.
Additional Analysis
Despite the fact that each material has its pros and cons, we can say that choosing from two options, it is best to give preference to timber. This is due to the following factors:
Before choosing a material for building a house, it is important to weigh all the positive and negative qualities, and only then take up the construction of housing. published
Traditional building materials such as bricks and logs are increasingly being phased out. modern technologies, which allow you to build a house much faster and cheaper. Frame houses and timber houses are now in the greatest demand in the suburban construction market, so we propose to understand the main features of these two technologies.
Which house is better: frame or timber?
This question is perhaps the most common among owners. suburban areas, and the dispute between the happy owners of both types of houses can continue indefinitely. In fact, in order for this question to sound more correct, and the dispute to be constructive, many individual factors should be taken into account - the characteristics of the site, the climate, the personal needs of the owner. We, in turn, offer you an overview of the most important features these two technologies.
Comparison: a house made of timber or frame?
1. Construction
When making a decision, some features of both technologies should be taken into account, such as erection speed, choosing the right time of year to start construction and others architectural nuances.
How long does construction take?
If we compare the speed of construction of a light frame-panel house and a house made of timber, then the first one wins by a wide margin - construction and finishing here will take several weeks. More serious frame-based buildings will require more time, but even in this case, a team of skilled craftsmen is able to build and put the house into operation within one season.
One more an important advantage of frame houses is that they practically do not shrink, so you can start finishing immediately after construction is completed. In the case of timber houses, it is necessary to wait some time before starting finishing work. It is known that houses made of non-glued timber shrink for at least a year.
When to start building?
It is more often recommended to start building a house from a bar in winter, since in this case the tree will not tolerate the aggressive effects of the sun and high temperatures, and therefore will not crack and will shrink more evenly. A frame house can be built at any time of the year and in a few months it will be a housewarming party.
And what about the utility networks?
As for the gasket engineering communications(water supply, sewerage, telecommunication lines, heating system), then in frame houses this, as a rule, does not cause any difficulties. The small diameter of the pipes makes it easy to mount them inside any partitions. Everything is more complicated in a house made of timber: communications are laid either in an open way, placing them in special boxes, or closed, for which it is necessary to drill channels in the walls, which can weaken the structure.
architectural nuances
Do you think it is better to make a simple 6x6 house - from a bar or a frame one?
Timber construction assumes the classic shape of the house - square or rectangular. The scope of the frame is much wider than that of the timber. A serious advantage of frame buildings is the ability to implement not only simple projects, but also the most bizarre ideas of the architect. Wrong geometric shapes, original and complex facades - all this is easier to implement with the help of frame technology construction.
2. Service life
From the point of view of durability, which is better: a house made of timber or a frame? The advantages of timber include a longer service life, although the quality of wood harvesting, foundation and waterproofing will play a big role here, proper care already after the completion of construction and climatic conditions in general. Longevity estimates for log houses typically range from 50 to 100 years., and the longest period is usually given to a profiled beam, which provides a tighter fit. So if you are wondering which building will not require serious repairs longer - a house made of profiled timber or a frame house, then the advantage will be on the side of the first.
However, if we are talking about a winter log house that requires additional insulation, then its durability will depend on the service life of the insulation used after which it will need to be completely replaced. Thus, timber houses here lose their advantage over frame buildings.
Modern frame houses are usually given from 30 to 80 years., this indicator will depend on the professionalism of the builders and the materials used in the "pie" of the walls. With high-quality assembly and proper care, frame houses can stand longer without requiring major repairs.
3. Thermal insulation properties
Which house is warmer: frame or timber? This issue is especially important for the inhabitants of central Russia. In this regard, frame technology can easily challenge the advantage of timber buildings. A frame house provides almost perfect tightness, while a timber requires regular caulking - from season to season, with changes in humidity and temperature regime the dimensions of the gaps between the bars also change.
Wood is known for its low thermal conductivity, but performance modern heaters, used in the construction of frame houses, still surpass it.
Let's take a look at specific numbers and calculations:
Timber house without insulation
GOST R 54851-2011 sets standards for heat transfer resistance (indicated by the letter R, unit of measure: m² °C / W), for Moscow and the Moscow Region this standard is 2.99 m² °C / W. If we use the program http://www.smartcalc.ru, popular with builders, we will see that in order to comply with the standard, the thickness of the walls of a log house must be 515 mm, otherwise the house will have to be insulated additionally, which negates the desire of many to have an environmentally friendly and warm house without additional insulation: 
Timber house with insulation
It is clear that it would never occur to anyone to build walls with a thickness of 515 mm (namely, as much as we found out is necessary to ensure compliance with thermal insulation standards), so a winter house made of timber will require additional insulation: 
Let's make similar calculations for a frame house, for the protection of which mineral wool 150 mm thick is used as a heater, wind and moisture protection and vapor barrier membranes: 
findings
If we compare equally well-insulated frame house and a house made of timber, then the construction of a log house in the second case seems completely redundant. Using the example of calculating the heat transfer resistance for a frame building, it can be seen that good thermal insulation can be achieved without spending money and time on assembling a house box from an expensive timber.
note for one more important point: the thickness of the walls, taking into account the ventilated gap and the exterior finish in the insulated timber house, will be at least 29 cm, while the thickness of the walls of the frame building is only 19 cm. Since caulked walls do not suit everyone from an aesthetic point of view, they are usually sheathed inside drywall. In a log house, unlike a frame house, this will require a crate, which also reduces the usable area. For clarity, you can calculate by example two-story house 10x10 m in size, how much space can be saved on this difference in wall thickness.
It turns out that in a log house the “eaten” area will be approximately equal to the area small bedroom or two bathrooms, which is not so little!
It is worth noting that the heat capacity (ability to absorb heat) of a beam is higher than that of frame structures. It follows from this that the timber will keep the temperature inside the house longer when, for example, the heating is turned off. At the same time, it will take much more time and energy to warm up a frozen wooden house. The frame house, if it is not used for permanent residence, can be very easily “unfrozen” in winter time years and quickly achieve heating to a comfortable temperature.
Comparative table of specific heat capacity of building materials
AT comparative table below is the specific heat capacity of some building materials, as well as the amount of heat that 1 cubic meter of material can retain in itself when heated by 1 ° C.:
| No. according to SNIP | Material | Density, kg/m3 | Specific heat capacity, kJ/kg*oC | Amount of heat per 1 degree, kJ/m3*oC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | Styrofoam | 40 | 1,34 | 54 |
| 142 | Styrofoam | 150 | 1,34 | 201 |
| 119 | 200 | 2,30 | 460 | |
| 118 | Wood fiber boards and chipboards | 400 | 2,30 | 920 |
| 108 | Pine and spruce across the grain | 500 | 2,30 | 1150 |
| 109 | Pine and spruce along the grain | 500 | 2,30 | 1150 |
| 129 | Mineral-cotton pierced mats | 125 | 0,84 | 105 |
4. Eco-friendly
Both construction technologies involve the use of wood, the environmental friendliness of which is beyond doubt. However, the degree of purity of the timber is somewhat higher, despite all kinds of impregnations that are used to prevent rotting, fungal attack and increase the fire safety of the tree. During the construction of a frame house, sheets of plywood, chipboard or OSB can be used, which, although they are derivatives of wood raw materials, contain chemical impurities.
Markings OSB boards, most commonly used in the construction of frame houses, are the same in Russia, Europe and the USA, but the formaldehyde emission standards differ.
- For emission class E1 the norm is no more than 10 mg per 100 g of dry matter according to Russian requirements (8 mg for the USA and Europe).
- For class E2- no more than 30 mg (15 mg for the USA and Europe).
Be sure to pay attention to certificates for building materials, while focusing on European standards, in order to get a house that is really safe for your health.
fire safety
In defense of frame structures, it is also worth noting that the use of modern non-combustible materials (for example, mineral wool) significantly increases the fire resistance of the building, while log houses, despite the impregnation flame retardant compositions, yet quite easily succumbed to fire.
5. Cost
Which house is cheaper - frame or timber? It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously, because everything depends on the class of materials used. A high-quality, properly prepared beam without defects is worth its weight in gold, and finding a conscientious manufacturer is a rare success. In addition, the transportation of long loads will also cost a pretty penny, and the assembly of log houses as a whole is more expensive than frame construction. Many point to the opportunity to save on finishing, because the timber itself looks very aesthetically pleasing, while frame buildings require mandatory interior and exterior decoration. But in fact, few people are satisfied with the appearance of caulked walls, and in the case of building a winter timber house with additional insulation on exterior finish Facades will definitely not be saved.
The concept of a frame house implies a reduction in the cost of construction, and indeed, the construction of such structures is significantly cheaper, despite the need for interior and exterior decoration.
If cost is of fundamental importance to you, then it would be advisable order an accurate construction estimate a specific option and then decide what will cost more - a house made of timber or frame.
The choice in favor of a frame house or a glued beam, as can be seen from the proposed comparison, will largely depend on the operating conditions and individual requirements of the future owner of the house. Unfortunately, in the format of this review it is impossible to cover absolutely all the nuances of both technologies. But we will be happy to provide you with full advice and answer any questions that will help you make right choice!
Please enable JavaScript to view theFans of wooden houses have to choose a house made of timber or frame, which better fit for local climate and planned budget. Each of them has undeniable advantages, features of construction and operation. Let's get acquainted and analyze the principles of construction technologies for both types of houses, the required budget for construction, the speed of construction, the possible result, and what are the differences and similarities.
Construction processes for the construction of such houses are radically different. The basis of a log house is a log house, the actual box of the building.
For frame houses, a strong, built with technology, empty wooden frame. Its filling is a thick layer of insulation, a vapor barrier membrane, internal and / or external structural sheathing, and finishing.
Material selection
To build the base of a log house, you need prepared lumber - planed, profiled or glued beams, seam seals, fasteners, wood protection products - antiseptics and fire retardants.
A frame house frame only requires lumber for the frame, studs, floor and ceilings. The choice of the remaining components allows options and alternatives that differ in characteristics and prices.
foundation requirements
A pile-screw foundation is a suitable foundation for a frame house, which significantly reduces the cost of construction and speeds up the construction process.
For a heavy timber structure, a capital, shallowly buried strip foundation is needed, the installation of which requires more time and finances.
The length of the construction process
In order to estimate the construction time, consider how long each stage takes separately.
Foundation
A pile foundation for a frame house is built in one day with the help of special equipment. This is a significant savings and speeds up the process. For shallow strip foundation suitable for timber houses, special equipment is required, for example, a mixer with a foundation mortar, 14 days for the structure to dry, and additional financial costs.
box at home
Frame houses are rightly called prefabricated, as turnkey construction from prepared materials takes 1 month. It takes at least 2-3 months to build one box of a log house, additional equipment (for example, a beam crane or a winch), a team of workers.
Readiness to move in
The frame is ready for interior decoration immediately after the construction of the box. Upon completion of the finishing work, the owners can move in. A finished timber house cannot accept the owners, there is also no possibility to start finishing in it. The structure takes time for the wood to dry and shrink. The exception is the construction of dried glued laminated timber.
Which house is warmer, frame or timber
As for the level of energy efficiency, disputes of both builders and home owners do not subside. This indicator is directly affected by the quality of building materials and the accuracy of compliance with design requirements during construction.
The general indicators of thermal conductivity of houses are approximately equal and refer to energy-efficient houses. The heat preservation process is different.
The quality of the used insulation affects the microclimate of a frame house. If it is correctly selected and installed correctly, and construction technologies correspond to climatic conditions, the frame house warms up quickly and retains heat for a long time. Heating of the house occurs in an economical mode.
In a warm house made of timber, the thickness of the walls is correctly calculated, the peculiarities of weather conditions are taken into account. A wooden beam is able to naturally retain heat, but a timber house risks becoming windy and cold due to cracking, deformation and cracking during shrinkage. But for the northern regions, log houses require a mandatory additional insulation.
It is difficult to conclude whether a frame house or a house made of timber is warmer. Each individual building is individual, its operational properties depend on compliance with technology, wall thickness, quality of insulation, and so on. Both timber and frame houses can be warm, durable, comfortable, with light comfortable atmosphere inside. Also, both types of houses, in case of violation of construction technologies and improper operation, will become freezing, cold, with poor ventilation, large gaps in the seams or corners blooming from mold.
A frame house or a house made of timber, which is stronger and more reliable
Since frame houses in our country are still young, it is impossible to say in what year of its operation the supporting elements must be replaced. In theory, the life of frame houses reaches 50 years. Houses made of timber, as experts say, are ready to stand without repair for 80 years, provided that the walls are regularly treated with special protective equipment. Both types of houses will serve the owners for many happy years, if you take care of them and monitor their condition.
In terms of strength and stability of the structure, the houses are considered equal. They withstand hurricane winds and tremors. The margin of safety of houses built using frame technology is not inferior, and sometimes is higher than houses from solid wood.
Fire hazard is a risk factor for wooden houses. However, the level of fire resistance of skeletons can be increased due to the possibility of choosing non-combustible building materials. Unfortunately, there are no alternatives for log houses, since its basis is a wooden beam. To increase the level of safety, lumber is impregnated with special fire-fighting agents - flame retardants, which contain ignition and combustion retarders.
Environmental friendliness of frame and timber houses
The eco-friendly of the two selected types is considered to be a house made of solid wood, that is, from raw, untreated timber. Modern materials, such as, for example, beautiful and easy-to-build glued laminated timber or OSB boards, which are used in frame technologies, are processed chemicals protection. They contain glue. Due to this, they are durable during operation, but are capable of releasing substances harmful to health. Chemical impurities are contained in almost all modern building and finishing materials.
Frame houses using OSB boards and houses made of glued laminated timber must have high-quality ventilation and constant flow fresh air to maintain a healthy microclimate inside.
Which house is cheaper, a house made of timber or frame
How much does construction cost the most important factor, which determines the choice of materials and technologies. The final price of construction is not only the main cost items, but also transportation costs, wages for specialists and special equipment.
Construction materials
It is believed that a complex set of materials for building a frame house is 25% cheaper than the same for a log house. The cost-effectiveness of frame houses is one of its most striking advantages. The tree is used only for the construction of the frame, this significantly reduces the cost.
When building a log house, you can save only on exterior decoration, since it is believed that it is not necessary. But to keep the walls in a presentable form, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the seams, cracks, and regularly update the antiseptic and fire-fighting coating of the walls with protective equipment.
Construction process
To build a house using frame technology, builders with qualifications are needed. But the versatility and simplicity of the frame design allows you to assemble the house yourself. Do-it-yourself high-quality assembly of a log house is a difficult process; special equipment costs are needed, in most cases, to attract workers. With general calculations, the construction of a frame house is cheaper than a timber house by 15%.
Practice does not always equal theory. Construction of houses of both types to obtain best result requires the use of building materials High Quality. As a result, a frame cottage can be equal in cost to log house and in some cases, prove to be more expensive.
What is the difference between a frame house and a timber house, a comparative table
| Characteristics for comparison | timber house | |
|---|---|---|
| aesthetic appearance | Yes | Yes |
| Ability to implement a complex architectural project | I have an opportunity | limited opportunity |
| Suitability for year-round living | Suitable | Suitable |
| Construction period | From 1 month | 6 months to 1 year |
| Simplicity of the construction process | Need knowledge and qualifications, but you can assemble it yourself | Requires knowledge, workers, qualifications and special equipment |
| Strength | Withstands harsh weather conditions, wind loads, suitable for seismic areas | Withstands severe weather conditions, wind loads, suitable for seismic areas (only if erected on pile foundation) |
| Foundation | Any, including pile-screw. | Shallow-depth monolithic |
| Possibility to move in after construction is completed | Yes | Not |
| Environmental level | Smaller | More |
| energy efficiency | Excellent | Requires insulation or timber thickness of at least 200 mm |
| Ability to retain heat | Smaller | More |
| Lifetime | 50 years | 100 years |
| Possibility of finishing works | Straightaway | Through the season |
| 12000 | 15000 | |
| Approximate price per square meter, thousand rubles (without foundation) | 4000 | 5500 |
| Operating costs | Not required | Wanted |
A frame house is an optimized variation of a frame structure. However, this is only a variation that is in many ways superior to the original version. In frame structures, the load-bearing elements are typesetting parts, the so-called frames, which are connected by stringers.
Through the use of this design external walls are a functional part of the building and do not give additional load, but rather make additional reinforcement of the structure. Additionally increases the strength of the thick, which is used as the outer skin. Walls are strengthened with a board like this and fix the overall geometry; for the modern construction of buildings, this is largely an innovative technology that allows you to strengthen structures without actually using additional components.
For example, it should be noted the products used for sheathing simple frame houses. This is lining, OSB or something similar, that is, materials that additionally load the base.
Timber or Frame?
Next, we compare frame structures and timber structures, which are very popular these days. To understand what is better than a beam or a frame, we will highlight the main parameters for comparison and determine the most important characteristics.
Design integrity
Swedish houses (frame) have much more significant stability, and this is achieved due to the integrity of the structure. If the erected timber structure has a division into a roof and the house itself, has a significant number of openings and additional connections, then the Swedish house is a solid structure that schematically resembles a cube with a beveled edge. On specialized computer programs the whole structure of the Swedish buildings is calculated, as a result, the stringers and frames create a single power structure that is difficult to deform in any way.
In addition, frame houses have a long service life, and this is achieved due to the closeness of the base of the structure from external influences. In conditions of dry ventilation, the main beams only gain strength and become louder. Wood that is aged in such conditions acquires a significant density, and in order to, for example, drill beams, powerful equipment will be required.
In contrast, in houses made of timber, the walls, as a rule, are not supplied with external sheathing and are exposed to weather influences. Such walls do not have membranes and coatings on each side. As a result, the presence of only staining and application special mixtures, does not allow the complete absence of the destruction of load-bearing walls.
Heat of construction
If you choose which house to create a timber or frame, then, as in general, thermal conductivity matters for any structure. Dry wood has a thermal conductivity of about 0.11 W / m K, and Rockwool products 0.037 W / m K. Thus, the wall of a Swedish building, for example, 100 mm thick, is identical in thermal conductivity to a wall made of timber 300 mm.
If we take into account the thickness of the beam currently used, it becomes clear: the thermal conductivity of a frame house is difficult to achieve. After all, it has a thickness of only 200 mm, and the largest one that is available in free access 250 mm.
The beauty of the design
For the interior decoration of Swedish houses, drywall is used, which is installed on metal rails. As a result, the interior of such a building becomes little different from a comfortable apartment.
Drywall has a set of advantages that are useful for finishing and decorating rooms. In particular, it is possible to perform any type of finish, and under drywall it is possible to lay a variety of communications and make functional niches. Drywall is easy to use and makes it easy to update interiors.
Use similar finish for timber buildings it is not always advisable, as well as laying communications in the walls. This is due to deformations of wood structures, which are invariably present at least during the drying process of the building after construction, and often during further operation due to the effects of weather factors.
It is really easy to make in a timber building interior decoration, more precisely, it’s easy not to do it, that is, just leave even planed walls. This looks quite nice, but imposes certain restrictions on the choice of interior style and does not allow the use of elements such as pendant lights, wall cabinets and the like.
Air exchange in the room
If you look at such a parameter as air exchange, then when choosing a Swedish frame house or a house made of timber, it is easy to lean towards a timber structure, because they have excellent breathability. They are, as they say, cool in summer and warm in winter. In many ways, this is true.
Thanks to the regulation of humidity by the walls, the air is not so dry, but when compared with a Swedish house, the difference is negligible. In Swedish houses, the humidity is five percent more than timber, but better thermal insulation. Accordingly, for heating a log house, more appliances or their more powerful work are needed, and with this ratio, the indicated difference in humidity becomes quite insignificant.
Cost Comparison
To compare the cost, a house with four rooms the size of a hundred is used. square meters made under fine finish.
If we are talking about frame houses, then they are provided for final finishing with all communications, heating system, closets, soundproofing, partitions between rooms. log houses in an identical configuration are sometimes provided without partitions, but their cost is more in the amount of about half a million.
Continuing the comparison further, we note the difference in cost between frame houses of the indicated footage with a full finish and a timber house for a final finish. AT similar variant a Swedish house costs half a million more. At the same time, a frame house completely ready for operation is a comfortable dwelling, comparable to a business class apartment. Moreover, the price includes full equipment of the building and assembly of furniture. Owners only need to purchase technical devices and transport them to their own home.