Which house is better made of timber or frame? Frame house or timber house: which one is better to choose? Foundation requirements

The construction industry has various technologies for using wood. Having decided to build from wood, the owner of the future house is often faced with a choice - to build a frame house or from timber. Let's try to figure out which of these is better in our article.

Houses made of timber began to spread and gained wide popularity before frame houses. Perhaps this is precisely what explains the prejudiced attitude towards framers, which is found among both amateurs and professionals. When deciding for yourself what is better - a frame house or a house made of timber, it is correct to look not for advantages (which is quite categorical), but to compare all the pros and cons of technologies and materials. Having assessed the parameters, you can make a decision.

To select, a comparative analysis is required from the point of view of year-round use

Beam and frame: types and quality of material

To build a practical and modern home, you should pay close attention to the material.

timber

Several types of timber are used in construction, the first two are recommended for country houses:

Regular (massive). It is obtained after minimal processing of a raw log on a woodworking machine, where it is given a cross-section (square or rectangular). Product humidity may exceed 20-30%.

One-piece profiled. Wooden blanks are given a more complex profile shape (a tongue-and-groove system that allows rigid connections of structural elements).

Glued. The humidity of the workpieces (lamella boards made of coniferous wood) is reduced to 10-12% in the drying chamber. Then the lamellas are selected according to quality (external ones can be made of larch, internal ones - from pine) and glued together under pressure.

Frame technology

The design is based on a frame, wooden (from kiln-dried lumber), metal or sandwich panels. The frame is filled with insulation (ecowool, polystyrene foam, mineral wool) and covered with plywood, cement-bonded or oriented strand boards.

Board in an industrial drying chamber

About wood quality

The quality of lumber is the quality of construction, so they are chosen carefully. The market offers materials made from both raw and dried wood.

Natural moisture content (NW) lumber is a popular option. It undergoes minimal processing (requires minimal investment) and is therefore cheap. This is its main advantage.

EB timber and boards are often used in modern construction (timber and frame houses, respectively). Natural processes occurring in raw wood lead to unpleasant consequences:

Shrinkage(shrinkage) . Once solid timber walls are assembled, they will lose EB and shrink in size. This feature makes it necessary to take a technological break in construction (at least six months, and often more). Walls made of laminated veneer lumber exhibit minimal shrinkage. Using raw material for framing will lead to an uneven change in the size of the boards (shrinkage is different for all boards, it is more pronounced in thickness and width). Gaps may appear at the joints of boards (and beams). Such defects become a gap in the thermal insulation, disrupt the finishing and, alas, require correction through an additional cash injection.

Bio-attack. Mold and fungi thrive in EB lumber. If damp walls are not left to dry and insulation is started immediately, moisture will linger and create an ideal environment for the development of microorganisms.

Changing geometry. Touches the boards. During the drying process, internal stresses appear in the wood; the board may bend, warp or twist. This doesn't just happen with stack drying (air drying); the racks in the finished frame can be unscrewed until a gap appears.

The amount of cracking depends on the quality of drying of the timber

The cost of high-quality lumber includes antiseptic treatment; often impregnation occurs under pressure, which ensures deep penetration of the mixture into the wood. This method is not applicable to damp wood; manual processing of its surface affects only the surface layer and does not effectively protect against rot. An important issue is proper storage; Glued laminated timber will be irrevocably damaged if it is left on a construction site for the winter.

Design

Regardless of which technology is chosen for building a house - timber or frame, construction will begin with the development of a project, depending on the features of the technology:

Architectural and structural diversity. This parameter means the possibility of erecting a complex structure with non-standard solutions. Here, as the owner of a more flexible technology, the frame option is in the lead. Timber buildings are more standardized; It will take more time and money to develop and create unusual elements.

Style solution for the project. The trump card of houses made of timber - the natural beauty of wood - limits the choice of style and the designer’s imagination; You can achieve variety by combining shades. Thanks to the quality of finishing materials, a frame house is indistinguishable from a brick or wooden one.

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A house made of timber can have an asymmetrical shape

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer house design services. You can communicate directly with representatives by visiting the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition of houses.

Construction: technologies and designs

Construction companies use technologies that have been refined over the years to build frame and timber housing. All work is carried out by specialized specialists under the supervision of a qualified engineer. When wondering which house is better - frame or timber, you should start by becoming familiar with construction technologies.

Features of frame construction

The size and type of structure are limited only by the designer’s imagination and the allocated budget. The frame is mounted on the foundation; After insulation, the structure is sewn up with finishing or slab material. Next comes the installation of the floor, ceiling and roof, and interior decoration. Communications are hidden in a gap inside the walls.

Depending on the complexity of the project, the house is built in 1-2 months; You can move into it immediately after completion of construction. A house built in compliance with the technological process will not present any unpleasant surprises in the future.

Features of the construction of a timber house

Such houses resemble a construction set; the elements are laid in a certain order and fit into the grooves. If the workers have detailed instructions and experience, the work goes smoothly, without delays.

The details of a log house resemble a construction set

The roof is being erected, the floor and ceiling are being installed; no additional wall decoration is needed. Laying communications is a labor-intensive and expensive process. Channels are drilled in the timber walls, and pipes are laid taking into account future shrinkage.

The wall timber needs complete finishing. It is polished (surface and ends), protected with special compounds (only at above-zero temperatures). Subsequently, the external walls are sanded and painted every 5-7 years, and treated with impregnations once a year.

Professional design takes into account inevitable shrinkage. The structure will take its final form in 6–12 months (taking into account production preparation and the shrinkage process).

About the thickness of the walls of a timber house and frame in the video:

Frame and timber houses: comparison parameters

Having seen what the features of the material and installation are, you can compare laminated timber or frame, which better meets the selection criteria. Housing intended for permanent use must be warm, safe and beautiful. Let’s compare the differences between a frame frame and a house made of timber: we’ll look at the pros and cons of each of them in different parameters.

Cost comparison: which is cheaper

Cost is one of the determining factors, since the budget has limited limits, which are not always possible to expand. The total amount consists of the costs of materials, transportation costs, salaries for builders, and payment for equipment:

Construction materials. The initial set for frame housing will cost 20-25% less.

Construction cost. Installation work during the construction of a frame requires more highly qualified workers (and higher salaries). On the other hand, equipment is used to lift the timber to the upper levels. As a result, a slightly smaller amount is spent on the construction of a frame house (10-15%).

Frame house is the result of qualified assembly

In reality, everything turns out to be not so simple. In order for frame and timber cottages to be equal in parameters, it is necessary to use high-quality materials. As a result, a properly constructed frame frame can be equal in price or even turn out to be more expensive than an uninsulated timber house.

The construction of a house made of timber is extended over time, which requires financing in parts. This does not reduce the cost, but it reduces the monthly financial burden on the owner and can be a strong argument in favor of this option. Price, by and large, will not help determine a favorite; you need to choose according to other criteria.

Energy efficiency: which house is warmer

To understand which house is warmer, frame or timber, you need to pay attention to the thermal insulation characteristics. The energy efficiency indicator is high for both frame and timber houses, but the process of heat conservation is different:

Frame house. If the insulation is selected correctly (taking into account the climatic region), the walls are reliable protection in any frost. The home warms up quickly and maintains comfortable conditions for a long time. Fuel is consumed economically.

House made of timber. To achieve acceptable energy efficiency, wall thickness is calculated taking into account the climate zone. The house takes longer to warm up; After turning off the heating, it also retains heat longer, since the timber is able to accumulate heat. In areas with harsh winter conditions (the Far North, Siberia), walls made of laminated veneer lumber require additional insulation.

The technological filling of the frame walls reliably retains heat

Strength and Durability

Durability. Here, a convincing advantage belongs to houses made of timber - their service life reaches 70-80 years, subject to regular treatment of external walls. The operation of the frame lasts 25-30 years, after which the building requires major repairs with the replacement of load-bearing elements.

Strength. Both types of buildings cope equally well with hurricane winds and tremors. The safety factor of modern materials used in frame construction is not inferior (and sometimes superior) to solid wood in strength.

Environmental friendliness

Solid wood timber meets environmental standards as closely as possible. All other materials (both laminated timber and frame building materials) in the production of which glue is used are capable of releasing substances hazardous to health (formaldehyde) into the air.

The mixture for protecting timber walls may contain components harmful to health

Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of houses

Just as there is no yin without yang, so there cannot be merits without faults; Both houses built from timber and frame houses have them. Trying to determine whether a beam or a frame is better for building a house, they compare the features of the buildings:

Pros and cons of timber houses

The use of profiled or laminated timber is in most cases more practical than its raw counterpart, which is prone to deformation. The advantages of a structure assembled from a timber constructor are:

Thermal insulation. Wooden beams produced and laid using technology have good thermal insulation properties. It reliably maintains the microclimate of the house, protecting the interior space from cold in winter and from heat in summer. If the facing and thermal insulation materials are selected correctly, the walls “breathe”, ventilating the rooms.

House cost. Very attractive, given the availability of wood and the ability to refuse finishing.

Durability. A log house built according to the rules does not require repairs for decades. To increase its lifespan, it is treated with compounds that protect against moisture, fungus and pests.

A fireplace in timber housing is not dangerous

Safety. To protect against fire, the timber is impregnated with a fire retardant (a substance that retards combustion). In case of fire, this will help gain time to evacuate people.

Aesthetics. Log houses are always in trend, polished wooden walls attract with their naturalness.

Vapor permeability. Only horizontally glued timber has it, in which the lamella boards and the layers of glue between them are oriented horizontally. Vertical laminated timber is completely airtight.

The disadvantages are:

Shrinkage. Time must pass for the wood to dry out and for the house to take on its final dimensions, decreasing by 3-10 cm. According to technology, the active process can take 3-6 months, if the timber is damp - more than a year. If you finish while shrinking, it will be damaged.

About the comparison criteria in the video:

Raw materials for the home. Not everyone can independently determine the quality of lumber. In order not to make a mistake, you should contact companies with extensive experience and quality certificates for their products.

Subtleties of insulation. At the construction stage, the walls are carefully caulked; The procedure may need to be repeated after shrinkage. To avoid getting a thermos house, do not use polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene for thermal insulation. They trap steam and air, preventing the walls from “breathing.” Mineral wool has the best thermal insulation and vapor permeability properties.

Glued wood. It has high strength, which affects the price and sometimes eliminates the advantage of a lightweight foundation. If during production you use not a harmless wood glue, but a toxic (cheaper) option, the walls will emit formaldehyde.

Pros and cons of frame buildings

Capital frame houses have undoubted advantages:

Construction time. Attractively short - the construction cycle is 1-4 months. All elements are of factory quality, assembly takes place without delays or downtime, no additional adjustment of elements is required.

Frame buildings attract with the speed of construction

Reliability. Frame houses are widespread in Europe and America; they are built everywhere in Canada, which has harsh winters.

Saving. Wood is used mainly for the frame, which reduces the cost of construction. The wall consists of a frame, insulation and sheathing; there is no need for finishing work. Frames are also characterized by cost savings during the heating season.

Communications. They are easily hidden in the walls, unlike wooden houses, where you have to leave gaps between the wall and the finish, and many people prefer to lay the wiring openly.

About how much it costs to heat a frame frame in the video:

Disadvantages of frame construction:

Novelty. Many do not want to take risks, noting that modern frame technologies have not been tested by time.

Deception. Unscrupulous enterprises deceive customers by trying to reduce production costs (for example, by reducing the thickness of the profile). The quality of the design is declining, as is the trust in the technology. The manufacture and construction of frames should be trusted to a reliable developer.

Poor quality materials. Chinese-made products can become a source of formaldehyde indoors.

Both frame and timber houses will reliably protect from frost

What to choose

After analyzing the data, we can summarize: both technologies have attractive sides; both a frame house and a house made of timber are equally suitable for living. The question “frame or timber - which is better for building a house” should be rephrased as “Which house is best for you,” and start from your needs, about what your heart lies in.

Prudent owners choose construction technology taking into account future heating costs; The size of the future home and the heating method (availability of gas) are taken into account. It is also important whether the house will maintain a constant temperature in winter, or whether the premises will need to be warmed up quickly on weekends. In this case, the first place will come not from the beauty and durability of the log house, but from the performance characteristics of the frame house.

Whatever the choice, it is better to entrust design and construction to a company with experience, a solid portfolio and recommendations. The desire to save on materials and work will lead to a violation of technology and will ruin any house, frame or timber.

Everyone who thought about building their own house asked the question: what to build it from? Nowadays there is a huge amount of building materials on the market, and new types are appearing every day. In this article we will try to understand two types of materials for building houses: frame and timber.

Comparison of the strength of frame and timber houses

It is safe to say that timber houses are more reliable than frame houses. There is an explanation for this. Frame houses are made of wood using various chemical treatments to protect the structure.

Chemical compounds allow a frame house to last longer, but they are not able to protect against all environmental factors. As a rule, frame houses are treated against mold, moisture and anti-fire preparations.

Sectional diagram of a frame house wall

Log houses are made from solid material, which itself has protective properties against environmental factors. The service life of frame houses is 25 - 30 years, after which the supporting structures will have to be replaced.

Log houses will stand quietly for more than 50 years. Modern technologies make it possible to increase the service life of log houses to 80 years: the use of laminated wood, treatment against cracking.

The maximum service life of a frame house is 30 years.

Many people believe that these two types of houses differ in reliability, but this is true:

Let's summarize: if we compare these two types of houses from the point of view of strength and durability, then houses made of timber material are definitely in the lead here.

Cost comparison

Pricing of frame houses

Every owner is looking for a home option that will not only be warm and reliable, but also cost less than others. Let's look at what goes into pricing frame houses.

The calculation will be given for a house with an area of ​​46 m2:

The main advantage of a frame house is its low cost

• Any home starts with a foundation. Nowadays, for a prefabricated house, you can install a strip foundation or a columnar one. A prefabricated house weighs less than a timber house, so a massive foundation is required for it. A columnar foundation consists of supports that are installed at a distance of two meters from each other. The larger and taller the house, the more foundations will be required. Such a foundation has an advantage: you can always get under the house and water will not accumulate there. This type of foundation is well suited for areas where it is difficult to remove water from the site where the house is being built. A strip foundation is a more classic and frequently used option, but it will also be more expensive. If a columnar foundation costs 30-50 thousand rubles, then a strip foundation starts at 50 thousand;
• House frame. This is the main stage of construction. The frame consists of walls made of wood, internal and external decoration. It’s worth saying right away that to build a good frame house you need to use insulation. If the cost of constructing the frame is 100,000 rubles, then the same amount will have to be spent on insulation and interior decoration of the house. There are a great many options for insulation and finishing;
• An important part of building a house is building the roof. For a prefabricated house, a wooden base is erected, which must be insulated and waterproofed. The roof can be covered with metal tiles or soft tiles Tigola or Shinglis. The cost of erecting a roof for a house is approximately 80 - 120 thousand rubles. The cheapest covering option is metal tiles - from 90 thousand rubles;
• The outside of prefabricated houses is sheathed with cement-bonded particle boards, but the house cannot be left in this form. It is cheaper and more practical to cover it with siding. Now there is a wide variety of this material on the market: all colors, shapes and sizes are available. Vinyl (cheaper) siding for our house will cost 40 - 60 thousand rubles. If you want the house to look like a timber house, then you can use a block house to decorate the walls. This covering is made of natural wood and is quite easy to install. The cost of finishing is from 80 thousand rubles. Do not forget that wood is less durable than plastic. This coating will have to be painted and treated against mold;
• Electrical wiring and water supply. We will specifically indicate this point, because work on lighting and supplying water to the house must be carried out before the start of interior decoration. The minimum cost of work is 60 thousand rubles: if there is a well or well on the territory;
• If you plan to heat the house, then the pipes are partially placed inside the walls. It is quite difficult to calculate the cost, since there are different types of heating: stove, boiler for wood, gas, water, fireplace;
• Interior decoration of the house. Finishing begins with the construction of plasterboard walls. Then you can use any available material: wallpaper, tiles, plastic panels, wooden cladding.

  
  Comparative characteristics of frame houses by their cost, depending on size

The most expensive thing in a frame house is the frame itself.

Pricing of timber houses

Pricing of timber houses has the following components:

The degree of complexity of constructing frame and timber houses

Frame houses consist of several layers:

• internal lining;
• frame;
• vapor barriers;
• thermal insulation;
• waterproofing;
• external cladding.

For each layer, it is necessary to select materials that are suitable for this area, will retain heat well, and protect the house from moisture and mold. If you build a house yourself, you will need special knowledge.

Log houses are installed using material and dowels. The process of building houses from timber is much faster than frame houses. Pre-cut parts will allow the building to be erected in two days.

An example of a two-story frame house project

If we talk about which house is better: frame or timber, in terms of the degree of complexity of construction, a timber house will take first place.

Architectural and structural parameters and their differences

Timber structures are excellent for standard-built houses. If you want an unusual roof, a round kitchen and bay windows, then it is better to start construction from frame material.

Houses made of timber are more durable than frame houses

Of course, you can build a complex structure from timber, but you should understand that the price of such a house will be significantly higher than its analogue. The construction of a log house can be done with one assistant, without the involvement of a team: all the parts are signed and they need to be laid in accordance with the construction plan.

If we talk about which house is warmer, then there is no definite answer. The timber structure itself retains heat better than a frame sandwich. The use of high-quality insulating materials, good finishing and the presence of heating in a frame house will guarantee that it will be warm in the dead of winter.

We have already said that the proportion of frame houses is less than that of timber houses. This means that you can move into frame houses almost immediately after construction, since they will have little shrinkage.

Interior decoration can also be done almost immediately, but in a timber-framed room you should wait to decorate the walls, especially if you plan to install tiles or decorative plaster, and the laminate will lie flat if you wait until it shrinks.

An example of a two-story timber house project

Another difference between a prefabricated house and a house made of timber is that a timber house can be erected in several stages: walls, roof, finishing inside. A frame-type house requires a one-time investment of money and completion of construction, since you cannot leave only the frame and vapor barrier for the winter, because you will have to do everything all over again.

If a frame house is planned for year-round use, then each layer of the house must be installed dry, and the building must be mothballed for the winter.

Environmental comparison parameters

In the modern world, almost any material for construction has the prefix “eco”. However, this name does not provide a guarantee of safety. If future residents have problems with allergies, then the house must be built from timber. Such a house will contain a minimum number of components that can trigger allergies.

Rating of various house construction technologies

To summarize, we can say that log houses have a number of advantages: attractive appearance, do not require finishing, are durable and reliable. Frame-type houses are lightweight, you can build any type of premises, the house can be finished with siding, wood, tiles and other materials, you can save on the foundation.

Houses made of timber are at least 2 times more durable than frame houses.

If you plan to build a house of classical construction with four corners and a regular roof, then using timber in this case is advisable. Frame houses are suitable for the construction of any architectural ideas; it is easy to attach more buildings to them.

For a summer cottage, a frame house is the best solution. For year-round use, it is better to use timber. The construction of a building “for centuries” requires the use of timber.

Video

You can watch a video where experts will talk about the difference in the cost of frame and timber houses.

A frame house is a structure made of boards or timber that forms the frame of walls, ceilings and roof. On both sides, the frame posts are sheathed with slabs on a wood or chip base, and insulation is laid inside. Thus, thanks to the frame, the house is strong enough to withstand natural disasters, but economical, since little wood is used to construct the posts, floor beams and roof.

The low price is also due to the fact that for such light buildings there is no need to make a strong and heavy foundation; a columnar or strip shallow foundation is sufficient. Modern insulation materials - mineral wool, ecowool, expanded polystyrene - make it possible to make a building protected from the cold even during severe frosts. The fact that frame houses have been successfully built for several centuries in the Scandinavian countries and Canada indicates good thermal insulation of the house.

Frame houses are very easy to build; with a good design, care and accuracy, even a person with no experience in construction can build a good house.

The disadvantages of frame houses, especially compared to timber houses, include their fragility. If desired, external walls, covered with OSB on the outside and plasterboard on the inside, can be broken or even broken through with a fist, and in order to hang heavy shelves, a cornice with bulky curtains or a horizontal bar on the wall, it is necessary to further strengthen it.

Only those buildings in the construction of which specially prepared materials were used can be called good frame houses: the wood must be well-dried using artificial methods and protected from moisture until the time of construction, it should also be treated with compounds that prevent rotting; the insulation must be of high quality and dry; It is imperative to use a vapor barrier on the inside of the house and a hydro-wind barrier on the outside. It is very important not to confuse the sequence of creating the so-called wall pie, otherwise moisture will penetrate into the insulation, which will lose its properties.

Advantages and disadvantages of timber houses

Log houses are much more impressive and stronger than frame houses; they are built entirely from profiled timber. It is very difficult to break a wall made of strong wood, which is why such buildings seem reliable. But due to the strength and heavy weight of such a house, it is necessary to make a more powerful foundation, which is more expensive.

The timber itself is cheaper than dried wood, but more wood is required. And in the northern regions it is necessary to additionally insulate such a house. But you can save on exterior and interior decoration - a log house looks attractive even without decoration. But not everyone is ready to live in a house with internal walls made of timber, so in most cases they are closed anyway.

Since such a house shrinks, you need to wait a year before finishing work.

Log houses are usually more durable than frame houses; they can last for several decades. But it is more difficult to build such a building; you need experience in construction and significant assistance in labor force.

Frame house

Walking through the rows of building materials in search of the best, you need to know the properties of lumber and houses built with their use. Today we will look at frame projects and houses made of timber. Which house is better - timber or frame? Which is cheaper, more practical, more durable.

A beam is a piece of wood. Environmentally friendly, does not contain harmful or hazardous substances. An exception may be laminated veneer lumber. An adhesive base is used in its production. Otherwise, the timber parts are natural and retain the wood texture. Frame materials are panels of a certain size made of plywood, chipboard, boards, compressed shavings, and other panels.

In their production, connecting adhesive compositions are used, which do not always have a positive effect on human health. Materials for frame structures cannot be considered environmentally friendly. Timber and frame houses are equally in demand among customers. What is this connected with? Let's figure it out.

Frame option: construction features

The frame house project is very simple. A lightweight foundation is required; it is enough to build a columnar base. The structure consists of supporting elements (pillars, beams, floors, joists) to which the panels are attached. The sizes are not limited, it all depends on the purpose of the structure. There are not only one-story structures, but also two-tier ones. They can be a continuation of a monumental structure made of brick, blocks, wood, in the form of an attic or second floor. The technology for constructing a frame house is simple:

• a timber skeleton (frame) of a certain shape and size is assembled;
• floors are being built;
• shields are sewn on the outside, inside the structure;
• insulation is laid in the opening between the boards (additional insulation of the boards and insulation will not hurt);
• the facade of the structure is improved (boards or simple boards do not always have an attractive appearance);
• a finished roof, floor, and ceiling are being erected;
• You can start interior decoration.

Under good conditions, a frame house can be built in a week. This speed of installation, the possibility of living not in a year, but upon completion of construction, lures people who need to move in as quickly as possible.

Timber version: construction features

A timber structure cannot be built in a short period. A detailed study of the project is required:

1. Laying the foundation - although the timber is not heavy, you cannot place the log house on the ground. The foundation may not be deep, but it requires time to fill and dry.
2. Waterproofing the lower crowns - if there is excess moisture, the lower crowns of the log house will quickly rot, pulling the house with it.
3. Assembly of the log house - installation, its timing depends on the type of timber. The finished factory kit is assembled according to the instructions without any problems. When constructing a log house yourself, you will need to adjust the links if it is not profiled or glued material. It will take longer.
4. The timber structure shrinks. The wall loses up to 10 cm in height. This feature of a log house should be taken into account when designing so that no surprises arise. You can move into a house in 6–12 months, depending on the type of timber.
5. The roof, floor, and ceiling are made rough. Finish construction is possible when building from laminated veneer lumber or profiled kiln-drying.
6. Door and window openings are required to be framed to prevent distortions under the pressure of the upper rows of the frame.

Having examined the features of installation and design of frame and timber structures, let us move on to a comparative analysis of structures intended for permanent residence. In a house to live, a person needs:

• warm;
• comfort;
• safety;
• favorable climate;
• beauty.

This is all provided by building materials. Which is better - a wooden beam or a panel frame?

Which house is warmer

It has been proven that the frame and timber have the same thermal conductivity. The tight fit of the parts does not let heat out and cold in. But the structures have a difference: the timber not only does not allow heat to pass through, it retains it in the room for a long time. It is enough to set the optimal temperature, the timber structure will maintain it.

You can benefit from this by saving on utilities. Having fired a wood-burning stove, you don’t have to worry about the temperature dropping until the next heating. Homes with a heating system are comfortable in any weather. A frame house cannot boast of this ability. The shields cannot retain the accumulated heat; the room cools down quickly enough. With any weather changes in the house, you will have to increase the boiler temperature or keep the heater on constantly.

Having compared the facts, we conclude that a house made of timber is warmer than its opponent. There is one caveat for timber with a cross section of less than 150 mm. In harsh winters, it is difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature without additional thermal insulation. It is worth taking care of insulating the walls during the construction stage or choosing timber of a larger cross-section.

Reliability and strength of the house

When choosing a material, a person wants the house to last a long time and to be able to protect it from any dangers, even weather ones. How will structures behave in gusty winds that sweep away small objects in their path? The robust design can withstand the elements. A house made of timber can easily cope with the task. The roof and windows may be damaged, but the box will remain in place. Minor damage repairs will be required.

The service life of a wooden house made of timber is estimated at 5–6 dozen. The frame house is again inferior to the timber house. Shield buildings are damaged not only by the elements, but also by a strong blow from a fist or foot. If you take something heavy, it will be easy to break down the walls. The service life of the frame is short - about 25 years. Next, a major overhaul will be required with the replacement of load-bearing elements, or the construction of a new frame house. This does not guarantee a person’s comfort or safety.

Ecological properties of the frame and timber. Where is it easier to breathe?

We briefly mentioned the environmental characteristics of materials at the beginning of the article. It is worth mentioning the environmental friendliness of a house made of timber or a frame structure. The wall material is part of the entire structure, which is complemented by important details. The timber is a self-sufficient building unit. Does not require additional cladding.

The surface follows the pattern of wood. Only because of the production method, the wooden blank is deprived of natural protection from pests and climatic conditions. To extend the life of the house, parts are treated with antiseptics, drugs against rot, pests, fire, and water. Processing reduces the naturalness of the timber and its environmental qualities. The compositions tend to erode. The smell disappears during use. The timber retains the ability to breathe, allow air and moisture to pass through.

In winter, a log house warms, and in summer it accumulates coolness. Living in such a house is comfortable and pleasant even without air conditioning.

A frame house is lined with panels glued or pressed using glue, formaldehyde, etc. It will not be possible to erode the impregnation. As the temperature rises, the secretion intensifies. Plywood frames are considered more environmentally friendly as they contain more wood.

But plywood is still incapable of maintaining an optimal indoor climate. Such walls breathe poorly. In winter, they do not retain heat well, and in summer, when the sun is active, it is impossible to be in a room without a fan. The air is heavy, it's hard to breathe. It is necessary to organize the ventilation or air conditioning system well. Again, a house made of timber shows the best properties.

Fire danger

Fire safety of the house guarantees residents the preservation of life and home. Wooden structures cannot boast of this. But there are materials that are less susceptible to fire. Which is more resistant to fire, frame or timber? Both buildings are based on a wooden structure: for a frame house there are racks, beams, joists, rafters, floor, ceiling; the timber one also has walls. We know that any wood easily ignites and burns.

Modern technologies have made it possible to reduce such risks by developing compositions for wood processing. It seems that the issue has been resolved. But the danger of fire still remains. The timber burns differently depending on its cross-section. If you choose laminated veneer lumber, the risks are reduced. A frame house is safer in terms of fire resistance.

For example, try to light a piece of plywood and timber? Which will burn faster? Of course, timber. But often people die not from fire, but from the toxicity of smoke. The frame structure contains more materials (external cladding made of plastic panels, siding, insulation in the openings between panel walls) that are susceptible to smoldering and the spread of toxic smoke.

A house made of timber without additional interior and exterior decoration smolders less. An exception is a house made of simple timber with natural humidity, which requires decorative finishing and insulation. It is difficult to say that any of the materials is less fire hazardous. Both for the frame type and for the timber type - this is a minus. It all depends on the person. By treating property and everything around you with care, you can eliminate the risk of fire. Be vigilant, then the fire resistance of the material will not torment you in your choice.

Price criterion for choosing timber or frame

Let's evaluate opportunities to save money on construction. There is an opinion that frame construction is cheaper than a timber house. Is this opinion justified? When calculating the financial side of the project, it is necessary to take into account not only the material used for the walls, but also the additional costs of finishing them for the purpose of insulation, improving the facade and interior of the house. When choosing timber, the customer will not have to spend money on additional materials.

The timber retains heat well if a house for permanent residence is built from a wide part with a cross-section of 150 mm or more, or from glued blanks. Walls made of ennobled or profiled links do not require finishing. The beauty of the wood grain is pleasing to the eye. Can be painted in the desired color or varnished. No other finishing is required. This saves a lot of money on your budget.

Frame building materials are inexpensive, but add the cost of finishing parts and the work of craftsmen. The price will increase significantly. Insulation and insulation of structures are additional figures in the final receipt. It turns out that the cost of frame and timber houses is almost the same. With the timber version, you can save on self-assembly of all building components.

Architectural possibilities in building a house

Let’s look at another indicator that influences the consumer’s choice if they want to build a wooden house. Architectural possibilities of materials. What does it mean? Opportunity to build a non-standard housing project. Many timber buildings are limited in size and the ability to process blanks.

Based on this, the rooms and building are planned. For example, it is difficult to build an object in the form of a trapezoid, the intersection of broken lines, etc. from a solid log. Buildings may differ in size and number of openings. During frame construction, the building can be given any shape.

The building material, despite the standard size, can be cut into any shape and attached to the prepared skeleton. Specialists in the construction of timber walls are introducing new schemes in the construction and connection of parts. But such a project is considered individual and can increase costs.

What should you ultimately prefer for construction: frame or timber?

When figuring out which house is better made of timber or frame, let’s summarize the comparative analysis in the table, noting the pros and cons:

The table shows that the timber version is ahead of the frame structure in terms of positive characteristics. Let’s just make a small addition: when choosing timber, don’t skimp. Give preference to parts with a cross-section larger than 150 mm so as not to spend money on insulation. Decide for yourself what is best and preferable to you, but think through every detail in your future home. We suggest watching the video to be sure of the correctness of the decision:

For many decades, debates have not subsided about which house is better - frame or timber. In this article, specialists from the Russian Construction company will try to determine the criteria by which a house can be assessed, and after that they will compare houses made of timber and frame buildings. This will help you evaluate the pros and cons of each option and make the right choice.

Criteria for evaluation

To evaluate each home, we suggest using the following characteristics:

• price;
• complexity of construction;
• heat loss;
• resistance to external influences;
• microclimate in the house;
• the difficulty of repairing load-bearing walls.

Construction cost - what is cheaper - frame or timber?

Construction of a frame house is 25–35% cheaper than constructing a building from timber. This is due to the fact that the main material for a frame house is well-dried edged board, which costs 2–3 times less than timber. In addition, the cost of glued or profiled timber is slightly higher than sawn or double timber. Read about what a double beam is in the article. This difference in cost arises due to the fact that the production of edged boards and edged beams is carried out using the same technology, but the timber costs 3–5 times more. Double timber is produced using a more complex technology, but the material costs are comparable to those used to build a frame house. are produced from lumber waste, but using a more complex technology that involves a large number of operations, which ultimately increases the final cost of laminated veneer lumber.

When building a frame house, you have to buy insulation and sheathing. In most cases, mineral wool, granulated polystyrene or polystyrene foam are used as insulation. Such materials are cheaper than timber; in addition, in order to save money, they use timber of a small cross-section, which then has to be insulated. This allows you to reduce the difference in price slightly, but it is never less than 20%. According to this parameter, a frame house is better than a house made of timber.

Difficulty of construction

A house made of timber is much easier to build due to the fact that it has fewer elements. Unlike a house made of timber, the construction of a frame building requires a huge number of elements - vertical load-bearing frame boards, horizontal and diagonal lintels, as well as metal corners that act as connecting elements. After the frame is erected, it will have to be filled with insulation and covered with sheathing, which further increases the complexity of the work. According to this parameter, a house made of timber is better than a frame structure.

Heat loss

It is difficult to compare heat loss with frame ones, because this parameter depends on many factors. If we compare houses with the same wall thickness, the heat loss of a frame building will be 50–90% lower. This is due to the fact that the thermal conductivity of wood is much higher than that of insulation materials, therefore, with the same wall thickness, it is warmer in a frame house. According to this parameter, a frame house is better than a structure made of timber, because at the same or even lower construction costs, it is noticeably warmer in winter.

Resistance to external influences

External influences include wind, flood, earthquake, fire. It is difficult to compare frame and timber houses based on this parameter, because it depends on the measures taken to increase the strength and rigidity of the structure. In timber houses, shrinkage compensators and wooden wedges connecting adjacent crowns are used as such a measure. In frame houses, to increase rigidity and strength, the number of diagonal jumpers is increased, which, together with the vertical (load-bearing) and horizontal boards, form a triangle. Fire resistance also depends not on the type of house, but on the correct processing of the lumber. Resistance to wind depends on the foundation and the attachment of the bottom board to it. A properly built frame and timber house can withstand wind gusts of up to 50 meters per second without damage. It is unknown how the houses will behave in stronger winds. After all, winds of such strength are extremely rare.

Microclimate in the house

According to this parameter, a house made of timber is much better. After all, wood absorbs excess moisture in rooms and removes it outside much more effectively than a combination of wood, insulation and sheathing. For this reason, in frame houses it is necessary to install natural and forced ventilation systems, which will not only fill the rooms with oxygen, but also remove excess moisture. Because of this, the cost of creating ventilation in frame houses is several times higher. To create a normal microclimate in a house made of timber, just open the window. If a house made of timber is insulated from the outside, then it is necessary to create the same ventilation system in it as in a frame structure, because the vapor permeability of the wood-insulation-cladding combination is much less than that of timber. According to this parameter, houses made of timber are better, but with a caveat - this applies to houses made of timber of sufficient thickness, which do not need additional insulation.

Difficulty in repairing load-bearing walls

The load-bearing walls of any wooden house have to be periodically repaired. In frame houses, this involves removing the sheathing, removing the insulation and replacing the damaged load-bearing, horizontal or diagonal board. Then the insulation is installed in place and the wall is covered with sheathing. Such work does not require special equipment, but only a highly qualified carpenter can carry it out. In a house made of timber, a different technology is used - the crowns above the damaged timber are lifted using a special jack, the faulty timber is removed and the same one, only whole, is laid in its place. Difficulties arise if, during the construction of a house, the crowns were connected with wooden wedges or shrinkage compensators. Therefore, a frame house is better in this parameter, because it is much easier to repair.

Conclusion

We showed the main characteristics of wooden houses. According to some of these characteristics, houses made of timber are better, according to others, frame buildings are better. Therefore, it cannot be said that a frame house is better or worse than a house made of timber, it is simply different. These are houses of different classes. A frame house is inexpensive, practical, and easier to repair, but organizing the right microclimate requires additional effort. A log house is more expensive, more prestigious; if built correctly, it independently, without additional effort or financial investment, creates a good microclimate in the rooms. Therefore, in some conditions, a house made of timber will be better than a frame structure, and in others, vice versa.