Which house is better: frame or timber? Frame house or timber house – which is better for permanent residence?

Choosing a material for construction is a responsible matter, and each owner has to thoroughly study and compare all existing options. Even if you have already decided to build a house from wood, you still have a choice between several types of materials.

The most heated debate that can be found on many forums is: what will be warmer - a frame house or a timber house. Both options have been used in construction for a long time, each has its own obvious advantages. It is important to evaluate all the parameters, and only after that can you make a decision.

Comparison of frame and timber houses according to basic parameters

Timber buildings have been used in construction much longer than frame buildings: the latter option began to be widely used only a few decades ago, and one can still encounter a prejudiced attitude towards frame buildings. Which is better: a house made of timber or a frame house - comparison according to the main criteria:

Another important parameter, which must also be taken into account - strength and durability. Much depends on the specific batch of products, but in any case, the organization must provide a warranty card for a certain period.

Many people purposefully purchase imported profiled timber from Finland: it costs much more, but its use guarantees real strength and durability of the building.

Thus, each type of material has its undoubted pros and cons. Frame house– a cheap, fast and quite effective solution.

Although a layer of insulation cannot provide as reliable protection as a full-fledged one thick timber With additional insulation, the frame structure is quite capable of withstanding even severe frosts, usual for the Russian winter. It is no coincidence that frame technology appeared in Finland, a country with a fairly cold climate.

Features of construction from each type of material

When deciding which house is cheaper - frame or timber, you need to pay attention not only to wall material, but also for other parameters. A lot depends on the quality of lumber: a good, properly processed timber will provide good protection from rotting and other destructive factors. For the production of frame houses, OSB boards with impregnations are used - such a material can hardly be called as environmentally friendly as natural wood.

Several features need to be taken into account:

1. Even a strip foundation for a frame house will be lighter than for a wooden building. Reducing labor costs speeds up the work, and a frame house can actually be built and ready for finishing in just a few days.
2. When deciding what to choose, a frame house or timber, you need to take into account the possible expansion of the family, and then extensions will have to be built to the building.
3. A frame house or laminated timber is an even more difficult choice. Glued laminated timber does not require finishing or rough finishing, this is the most reliable material for home. But it is also the most expensive, and now it is desirable to reduce the burden on the family budget.

If you cannot come to a consensus, you can take advice from a professional architect who often works with both types of residential buildings.

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The question of what to choose – timber or frame – is asked by many clients. This is understandable: the frame is often attractive due to such qualities as affordability (insulated dry timber will cost much more), a fairly quick construction time to the turnkey stage (the timber, even if it is dry, must be sealed at the seams and insulated from the outside no earlier than one year after construction) good performance heat saving with relatively small thicknesses of enclosing structures. For example, for the northwestern region of Russia the minimum permissible thickness basalt insulation is 200 mm for roof and floors (150 mm + wind protection + wall cladding).

House made of timber frame house: at first glance, exactly the same!

On the other hand, frame technology is still presented to many potential homeowners as some kind of innovation, untested by time. Quite often, people - especially older men - simply have a priori distrust of the frame. A memorable argument from one of our clients sounded something like this: “What kind of house is this, guys? If you shoot a rifle at a wall, the bullet will go right through. Let’s get better timber.”

Another reason why some people a priori do not trust the frame lies in the fact that since the mid-nineties, no one has built frame houses in Russia! And as soon as I didn’t build it! From raw materials, without proper insulating films, the frame itself was assembled not as it should, but as one or another assembler wanted or imagined. In general, just as in Mikhail Weller’s story, Leningrad pizza of Soviet times was a symbiosis of Russian pancake and Jewish matzo, so post-Soviet carcasses were something between country barn and an insulated stable, however, there are many such houses even now - the desire of clients to buy quickly and cheaply has not dried up, which means that the number of people who want to “sell us some kind of game” has not dried up either. Although, the latter applies equally to timber houses too.

Minimum equipment for a frame house in Russia. At home - Renault Logan

Since the quality scale wooden houses in Russia today is quite long, then we need to decide what kind of frame houses and timber houses we will talk about? We answer: exactly the kind that our company “Houses from Pestovo” produces. Conventionally, we like to compare them with a car like the Renault Logan. Not the most expensive or prestigious: but understandable, economical and very reliable. When designing our houses, we try to proceed from existing building regulations, as well as common sense and reasonable savings(but not at the expense of quality!). In other words, if you want to understand what the minimum equipment for frame house in Russia (or houses made of timber) - you can turn to our configuration, and remember: more is possible, but less - if only for off-season country houses.

It should also be taken into account for construction on the territory Murmansk region, the Republic of Karelia, for example - we are changing the equipment, adding cross-insulation of walls and roofs, as required by the standards for a given climate zone.

Pros

A frame house can be erected quite quickly. And up to the turnkey stage. Already at the stage of building a house, communications can be carried out, the house can be painted both inside and outside immediately after construction (weather permitting). At the same time, the heat transfer resistance of a wall with 150 mm thick basalt insulation is acceptable for the northwestern region, for example. Whereas a wall made of solid wood with a thickness of 150 and even 250 mm will always need insulation with the same basalt slab - in order to achieve similar indicators.

A frame house is also good because even after the basalt slab fails (the manufacturer sets the service life of basalt at 50 years), you can dismantle the outer cladding, replace the insulation and continue to use the house. This is exactly what can be observed in a number of Scandinavian countries, where some frame houses have stood for more than 150 years. We remove the outer sheathing, change the insulation and wind protection, sheathe the house again - and. please, you can continue to live in it.

A frame house is not boring. In the fall, the house itself, then painting and communications.

We are celebrating the New Year in our new home.

Cons

The construction of a frame house, despite its apparent simplicity, requires serious qualifications from the developer company. If the load-bearing frame itself is assembled with errors, and the insulation, wind protection and vapor barrier are installed incorrectly, expect problems. Which are not so easy to fix.

Another disadvantage, which only some homeowners consider as such, is that it is impossible to hammer a nail where you want. You have to focus on the racks.

Useful advice: Never agree to build a frame with board trim natural humidity. The boards will dry out, cracks will form - and life in such a house will become an exciting adventure.

Review and assessment of a timber house

Pros

A feeling of solidity. There is a whole category of people who simply enjoy being in a house made of solid wood. The realization that you and your family live in a home whose foundation is natural material- in itself causes pleasant emotions. The walls of such a house really feel like they are more monumental and durable than the walls of a frame house (and it is rather difficult to shoot them with a lead bullet from a simple hunting rifle =).

In a log house, you can hammer nails anywhere.

House made of dry timber - modern version traditional Russian home

Cons

Shrinkage. A house made of timber requires shrinkage in any case. If the house is built from timber with natural moisture, you must wait at least a year before installing windows, insulating floors, ceilings and ceilings. And you need to wait at least two years before insulating and covering the facade of the house.

If the house is built from timber chamber drying, then doors, windows, insulation on floors, ceilings and ceilings can be installed immediately. But the insulation and cladding of the facade will have to wait for a year due to the fact that a small shrinkage is still present in a house made of kiln-dried timber. And there is a danger that beacons made of boards (which are invariably mounted on the facade during its insulation) will interfere with this shrinkage.

After shrinking, small cracks from the inside of the house are sealed with sealant (the main thing, however, is to seal the seams from the outside! Should I seal small cracks from the inside is a matter of aesthetics)

The need to seal the seams of a timber house. For some reason, many developers remain modestly silent about this point. However, neither the jute fabric as a spacer between the rows, nor the profile of the timber are actually reliable protection from wind and cold.

This is primarily due to the fact that solid wood is prone to, albeit minimal, “festivities.” When “walking”, cracks inevitably form, which need to be sealed with joint sealant. Otherwise, even external insulation and façade cladding will not help - the house will be uncomfortable on cold, windy days. In addition, energy costs will increase.

The need to insulate the facade (if the house is for permanent residence). So, if you are planning to build a house from timber for permanent residence, in order to achieve the necessary standards for heat conservation, the house will need to be insulated along the facade. By NW region 50 mm of basalt insulation on the outside, windproof film and external cladding are sufficient. For example, imitation timber.

Insulation of the façade of a timber house is carried out no earlier than a year after the completion of construction. And after sealing the seams of the log house.

All these manipulations with timber house are not bad in themselves. However, there is always one disadvantage for the customer - these are additional costs.

The conclusion from our short excursion suggests itself: you can choose both a house made of timber and a frame house. The only question is an increase in the cost of the object (in the case of choosing a house made of timber) and an increase in construction time in comparison with a frame house. In general, both options are relatively affordable, warm and simply pleasant if built correctly.

Unlike concrete, wood has a high level of environmental friendliness. Any developer faces a choice - what is best to use for construction wooden house frame or is it timber?

To get a complete answer to the question posed, it is best to analyze both materials for the following characteristics:

1. Strength and durability.
2. The difference in the price of the material and the calculation of its cost.
3. Speed ​​of construction and ease of operation.
4. Environmental friendliness.
5. Structural and architectural abilities.
6. Pros and cons.

Let's take a closer look at each of the points to understand which one. wood materials will receive priority.

Comparison of strength and durability

Considering the strength of materials, you can safely give preference to frame buildings. The fact is that the period of operation of the frame, even if different chemicals and antiseptics, is about 25 maximum 30 years. After a certain period of time, such a design requires mandatory replacement of the supporting racks, which wear out from negative influence natural factors.

A building made of timber can last about 50 years, without various deformations and changes in operational characteristics. In houses like this, one small detail needs to be taken into account. Before they began to produce, many used profiled material, which was not processed at all in the factory.

After the introduction of laminated timber into society, the service life of timber houses has increased significantly and is over 80 years.

Many developers believe that the timber construction option is much more reliable and durable. It is worth noting their differences:

• A frame house is presented in the form of several layers of finishing, the gaps of which are filled with insulation. This type is completely non-functional and does not have a sufficient level of strength. The walls of such a house are easily destroyed and opened.
• A house made of timber walls is presented in the form of wood, which naturally has sufficient strength. A 150 mm thick beam is a very reliable barrier.

From the point of view of strength and durability, the timber version is much better.

Price difference

Most important point for any developer - pricing policy, namely the total cost of housing. This criterion is very important and is what guides the future owner of the building.

For some reason, the majority of the population believes that it is much lower in cost than one built from beams, but this is not at all true. If you look carefully, the price for both options is approximately at the same level.

You can verify this by studying each of them in more detail:

• Firstly, timber is not as expensive as advertising suggests different companies, since there is more than enough material and production is developed at a good level.
• Secondly, the timber does not require various additional work And exterior finishing, thanks to its beautiful and aesthetic appearance. While frame buildings require both internal and external finishing.
• Thirdly, frame structures require immediate payment for both material and facing work due to short terms construction. The costs of a house made of timber can be easily distributed over two seasons, since its construction period is somewhat longer.

Advice! If we consider both materials in completely identical projects, then the timber option can be much more cost effective.

Calculation of the cost of a timber house

The cost of this house consists only of the price of wood. This material itself is more expensive than the frame, but its cost is much lower with a full set of insulating materials. However, this case applies only to solid beams. If we are talking about high-tech projects using, then construction will incur costs slightly higher than the expected level.

Advice! The construction can become more expensive only if additional exterior finishing is done on the laminated timber.

When it comes to pricing for laminated veneer lumber or frame, there are a number of important factors in favor of the first option:

1. When building a house from timber, all funds are spent on purchasing laminated timber, not counting the cost of laying the foundation. Regardless of its high price, which is fully compensated by the absence of costs for covering the walls of a home.
2. Laminated wood, developed according to the latest technologies, and a specialist is strongly not recommended to finish it, especially since the timber has natural beauty and style. Therefore, the developer will save significantly on the purchase finishing materials, which will significantly reduce the final cost of housing.
3. The glued beams are designed in accordance with the “tire-groove” system, in which all the constituent elements of the structure are tightly connected to each other. Houses made from this material do not require the installation of heat and waterproofing layers.

If we compare the costs of sheathing material, thermal insulation, finishing and the work of craftsmen for frame housing, then timber buildings can be much cheaper as a result.

Calculation of the cost of a frame house

The cost of housing made of frame wood consists of the following materials:

• Wood.
• Hydro- and thermal insulation.
• Facade works.
• Finishing materials.

Frame houses will be cheaper in price if they are made using old technologies; at that time there was no large range of materials. Modern material has a low competitive price, but for long-term work such technology will be too expensive in heating and maintaining the building.

When building houses from this material, additional heat-insulating, waterproof, noise-absorbing and wind barrier materials are now used. They form the structure of wall structures from several layers. Due to the set of these materials, costs increase several times.

The final cost of buildings depends on the material that will be used for the construction of vertical posts, horizontal piping, etc. In this situation, it can be used as ordinary timber, and metal profiles.

Advice! If any metal is used to create a housing frame, its cost will instantly increase by approximately 20–30%.

The presence of various nuances in the technology of erecting frame structures requires special knowledge, which increases costs due to the cost of specialists.

Advice! The price for 1 m2 of frame-panel construction depends on the choice of insulating material and cladding. For example, if you use SIP panels, the house will be built faster and its cost will be lower, and quite the opposite when you use OSB boards.

Difference in construction complexity

From the point of view construction work materials should be analyzed in accordance with the following points:

1. Construction speed.
2. Ease of operation.
3. The time required for construction from the very beginning until its commissioning.

In terms of speed, a frame house is several times faster than a timber house. The construction of the building occurs very quickly, and due to the use of dried wood, after commissioning you can immediately move in.

A log house takes a little longer to build due to the following points:

• Housing requires a reliable foundation, which takes about 5–7 days.
• The laying of elements is carried out individually, if you do not use a home construction kit.
• Installation requires more concentration, precision and time.

Advice! You can move into a house made of timber immediately after putting it into operation, but finishing can only be done after a few months, since it takes time for the building to shrink.

There are two options for building a house from beams:

1. Made from profiled material with special grooves, which is very easy to place.
2. From unplaned beams, which are low in price, but more labor-intensive installation and finishing. Plus they require additional thermal insulation.

Advice! A house made from unplaned material should last about a year while it settles, and from profiled material - about 6 months.

Environmental Comparison

When giving preference to a particular type of housing, a person’s safety parameters are important. Cause great distress modern materials for finishing frame-panel buildings. They do not at all meet the required indicators and environmental standards, so the timber is superior to the frame in this indicator.

A structure made of timber perfectly retains heat indoors. Therefore, heating costs timber house will be lower than frame construction With high level heat transfer.

Comparison of structural and architectural capabilities

When the construction of a house is planned according to a complex project with different geometric elements or irregular configurations, then frame option leads because technology similar option construction involves the creation of unusual, complex and interesting structures.

Structures made from timber are somewhat simpler, but they are not at all inferior in terms of beauty and their natural air forms. With the help of modern technologies it is possible to create more complex elements it will just take a little longer. For laying timber, there are specially designed fasteners that allow you to apply your imagination to this material to the maximum.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of a frame house

Pros:

1. Construction speed.
2. Low cost of materials.
3. No shrinkage.
4. Resistance to natural factors.
5. One-time payment for construction.
6. No expensive foundation.

Cons:

1. Service life – 25–30 years.
2. High costs for finishing materials.
3. Installation requires specialists who know all the nuances of the technology.

Advantages of a timber house

Pros:

1. Reliable and durable walls.
2. Service life over 80 years.
3. Easy to install, no additional workers required.
4. Material costs can be divided into two seasons, thanks to the possibility of phased construction.
5. Does not require facade finishing.
6. Has excellent thermal insulation.

Cons:

1. It is necessary to wait for shrinkage.
2. Requires a lot of time to build.

Conclusion

Building a house is a very important undertaking that should be approached with the utmost seriousness and care. Each developer independently determines which material should be given greater preference. According to all the information presented, construction from timber is preferred.

Advice! When choosing material for construction, take into account the climatic conditions of the area where the house will be located. In addition, pay attention to GOST standards, which perfectly describe the construction standards for different buildings.

Everyone who thought about building their own house asked the question: what to build it from? Currently on the market huge amount building materials, new types appear 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 building.

Chemical compounds allow a frame house to last longer, but they are not able to protect against all factors environment. 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 allow you to increase the service life of timber houses up 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. Strip foundation is a more classic and frequently used option, but it will also be more expensive. If columnar foundation will cost 30-50 thousand rubles, then the tape one starts its price 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 being built wooden base which needs to 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. Most cheap option coverings - 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 cover is made from 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 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 construction plasterboard walls. Then you can use any available material: wallpaper, tiles, plastic panels, wooden cladding.

  
  Comparative characteristics frame houses at their cost, depending on the 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, according to the degree of complexity of construction 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 building 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 specific gravity There are fewer frame houses than timber houses. This means that you can move into frame houses almost immediately after construction, since they will have little shrinkage.

Finishing interior spaces 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 for it to shrink.

Sample Project two-story house from timber

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. House frame type 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 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 include minimum quantity components that can cause allergies.

Rating various technologies building a house

To summarize, we can say that timber houses have a number of advantages: attractive appearance, do not require finishing and 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 the right roof, then the use of 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 - 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.

Frame house

Walking through the aisles of building materials in search of the best, you need to know the properties of lumber and houses built using them. Today we'll 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- these are panels of a certain size made of plywood, chipboard, boards, compressed shavings, and other panels.

In their manufacture, connecting materials are used adhesive compositions, 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 façade 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.

At 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 of lower crowns - in case of excess moisture lower crowns The logs will quickly rot, pulling the house down with them.
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. At self-construction the log will require adjustment of 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. A door frame is required, window openings to prevent distortions under 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 building materials. Which is better - wooden beam or 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. Just install optimal temperature, the timber structure will preserve 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. In houses with heating system comfortable in any weather. A frame house cannot boast of this ability. The shields cannot retain the accumulated heat; the room cools down quite quickly. 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 severe winters, without additional thermal insulation, it is difficult to maintain comfortable temperature. 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? 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. Will be required minor repairs damage.

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. Panel buildings are damaged not only by the elements, but also with a strong blow 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 you will need major renovation with replacement of load-bearing elements, or 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?

About environmental characteristics We briefly mentioned 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 important details. The timber is a self-sufficient building unit. Does not require additional cladding.

The surface follows the pattern of wood. Just because of the production method wooden blank deprived of natural protection against pests, 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 best properties shows a house made of timber.

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 wooden structure: for a frame house - these 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. In frame construction more materials (outer skin from plastic panels, siding, insulation in openings between panel walls), subject to smoldering and the spread of toxic smoke.

A house made of timber without additional interior and exterior decoration smolders less. The exception is the house from simple timber natural humidity, requiring decorative finishing, 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 desired color or varnish. 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-installation all construction units.

Architectural possibilities in building a house

Let’s look at another indicator that influences the consumer’s choice if they want to build 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 construct 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. At 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?

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

The table shows that the timber version is superior in terms of positive characteristics frame structure. 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: