Today, the technology of building a house from timber is gaining popularity. The main advantage of such material is the ability to perform installation work inexperienced developers. What does this mean? Timber buildings are very easy to erect, so if you wish, you can do it yourself. It is worth noting that the efficiency of the construction process will depend on the complexity of the project and the climate on the site. In our article, we will look at the basic technology for installing a house made of timber.
Material selection criteria
The construction process begins with the selection of materials. The most important thing for this stage is to select quality timber. It is for this reason that we will consider the features of such wood in order to choose the best option for construction. The main qualities should be considered density and strength. Building codes This item puts forward special requirements for the walls of buildings made of timber. So, they should be:
- Durable;
- Long-lasting use;
- Have reliable sound insulation;
- The walls should provide the room with an optimal level of heat;
- Additional processing needs to be done by special means protection from fire, as wood is highly flammable.
- After 5 years, the building may settle, so this needs to be taken into account.
Most often, the construction of timber houses is carried out using coniferous species tree. This material significantly increases the service life of the structure. Coniferous wood is not prone to rotting and will not crack. Houses made of timber, the installation technology of which is very simple, make it possible to achieve a building of low weight and a high level of strength.
Main types of timber
IN modern construction There are two types of timber:
- Profiled;
- Whole.
The first type of material is constructed with a certain profile, for example, tenoned or with a crown groove. Such elements should be connected along the entire length, while grinding the surface. The timber is manufactured exclusively in a factory, so it is transported to the construction site, where all that remains is to assemble all the elements into one system. The profiled view has a number of advantages:
- Such buildings have high level resistance to deformation processes;
- Reasonable price;
- Ease of installation work;
- The accuracy of the shapes and parameters of the products allows you to quickly and efficiently build a house from timber;
- The surface of the walls does not require additional covering;
- The universal design of the timber protects it from rotting;
- You can do without caulking after the building shrinks;
- Optimal level of thermal insulation.
Despite such a large list of advantages, we should also talk about the disadvantages of products made from profiled timber:
- Weather conditions and fire have an impact on the material;
- It is necessary to carry out additional treatment of the material against biological pests and fire;
- The timber has natural moisture, which can sometimes cause cracking;
- The thickness of the material is not suitable for use in winter, so the structure should be additionally insulated;
Target timber type
In this section we will look at the features of the second type of timber - solid. Compared to the profile one, it has the following advantages:
- Low cost of material;
- Quick and easy installation process;
- You can purchase the material without much difficulty, since it is produced by large number construction companies;
- Get material on construction site possible in the shortest possible time, since it is easy to produce and transport;
- When constructing buildings from solid timber, there is no need to have any experience or use special technology.
The main disadvantages include a number of such characteristics:
- Additional costs for finishing work;
- In order to avoid problems with the legislation of the Russian Federation, the timber must comply with GOST;
- The tree may be subject to fungal infections, since the material is not dried.
- Interventional seams are strongly blown, so the level of heat retention is lower.
- After the shrinkage process, cracks usually appear.
Further stages of the construction process
Technologies for constructing a building from timber. Usually they require the following sequence of actions:
- Material selection;
- Drawing up a construction project;
- Creation of floor and ceiling;
- Walling;
- Organization of roof and windows.
Now let's take a closer look at each stage to figure out how to build a building.
We draw up a construction project
So, since we have already selected the material, we need to start drawing up a house project. So, it should be noted right away that the most important thing is to carry out the correct and accurate calculations. You can draw the layout yourself or buy it from a construction company. It is better, of course, to use the services of specialists, since there is a guarantee that all norms and rules will be taken into account.
To ensure the accuracy of the calculated data, you should determine the dimensions of the building, its number of floors, the number of furniture and residents. All these numbers will lead us to the volume of the load, which will tell us what kind of foundation should be made, and will there be a need to create additional support points?
Attention! For private construction, the most commonly used timber thickness is 10 by 10 or 20 by 20 cm. The standard section is characterized by 15 by 15 cm.
Creating the base and floor
This stage of work can be called the most critical, since it consists of building the foundation for the building structure. So, for optimal execution of the process, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- We install the lower trim, consisting of a timber crown, which we lay in advance on the treated foundation;
- In order to build external walls, it is better to use a beam having a section of 15 by 15 cm, and for internal walls - 10 by 5 cm;
- After laying all the elements, the structure should be treated with antiseptics to protect it from fungal infection;
- Then we install the logs on the ribs. In advance, you need to lay a rough-type floor on them and cover them with a waterproofing agent;
- We line the subfloor with boards having a section of 2.5 by 15 cm;
- We complete the work by laying the material for the final floor covering.
Installing walls
The next stage of the technology for constructing objects from timber is the construction of walls. To do this, in order of priority, we lay out the timber in visual rows. They should be fastened together with dowels, which will help to avoid shifts or twisting of the structure. It should be noted that the dowel is made of metal or wood, there is not much difference. The only difference is that the first of them are more expensive.
The installation of dowels must be done using brick technology, that is, through one, covering two or three crowns. To do this, special holes should be made for inserting dowels, up to 4 cm in size. Between parts, a step of up to 2 meters should be maintained. They should be placed not only in the corners, but throughout the entire area of the building.
Attention! It is necessary to start installing partitions only after the walls have already been made.
Creating a roof and windows
The basic technology for constructing a wooden building includes the stage of creating a roof and windows. It is optimal to use various materials to cover the house. The most important thing is to perform additional thermal insulation attic or near floor. It is almost impossible to build a roof on your own, so it is better to seek additional help.
Installing lathing, beam and rafter elements you should focus on the layout in your project. After the walls are finally installed, logs need to be laid on them, which will serve as the basis for the roof.
Attention! For ceiling joists, it is better to use timber of the same cross-section as for the floor.
Next, we lay the boards according to the rafter type system. This design will delight your family for many years. In this article we looked at the features of the technology for constructing a building made of timber. In principle, it is not difficult to do all the work yourself, the main thing is to have patience and desire.
The decision to build a house from timber is not made immediately or suddenly. It’s just that this technology, with a simpler assembly of walls, allows you to obtain excellent characteristics for housing: for the Moscow region, timber 195 mm thick is sufficient. With such a thickness of the external walls it will be warm, but to save on heating it is better to insulate it (10 mm mineral wool on the outside) and make a reversible façade. Then there will also be savings on heating.
Plasticity in processing is one of the advantages of wood
Which wood to choose
Wood is usually used to build a house coniferous species. There are several reasons. Firstly, the increased content of resins, which are natural preservatives and antiseptics. Thanks to their presence, wood does not deteriorate for a long time. Secondly, affordable price. You can, of course, build a house from beech or oak beams, but the price will be simply exorbitant. Thirdly, the wood is soft and easy to process.
Of all the coniferous species, a house is most often built from pine beams. With good characteristics, it is relatively inexpensive. Houses made of larch and cedar are rarely built: they are too expensive. Spruce is even rarer, but for a different reason: it deteriorates the fastest, and is also difficult to process. So, regarding the type of wood, there is, in fact, no choice. 95% of it is pine. But you need to understand the type of timber.
According to the processing method, timber can be:
- Regular or solid, unplaned timber. Sawed out of solid log, cross-section - quadrangle (square or rectangle).
- Profiled timber. It is also cut from a single log, but is then processed: tenons and grooves are formed with milling cutters - profiles with the help of which one beam is joined to another. The side edges are also processed. They come out of the machine already planed. Section - complex shape. The side edges can be smooth, rounded, figured - with chamfers, the shape of a “lock” - numerous beards and notches.
- Glued timber. Outwardly similar to profiled, but assembled (glued) from several boards.
Let's look at the features of each type of timber regarding the construction of a house.
House made of ordinary timber
If earlier they said that they decided to build a house from timber, then they clearly understood the usual rectangular timber. There was simply no other one or it was too expensive: it was brought from abroad. Ordinary timber is the most affordable, if you take the cost per cubic meter. But, as a result of all the required measures, the cost of construction may be higher than from a profiled one. It's all about the characteristics of the material. They lead to significant additional costs even at the construction stage: when building a house from unplaned timber, inter-crown insulation is necessarily used. Its geometry is not ideal, and if this is not done, the blowing through the gaps between the crowns will be very strong. The second feature is that the surface of the walls is uneven and it is impossible to do without finishing the inside and outside.
In addition to laying the inter-crown layer, the delivered log house is caulked, additionally sealing the seams. You need not just one caulk, but at least two, sometimes more. And all because it is made from wood with natural moisture. In practice this has the following consequences:
Another feature of the house from ordinary timber: The walls turn out uneven. To give them a “decent” look, they are either sheathed finishing materials, or polished. But grinding is a controversial undertaking: the inter-crown seal makes it almost impossible. Even if you manage to sand the timber, where should you put the seams?
So it turns out that the cost of the house may be higher as a result: to the cost of the timber, add inter-crown insulation, material for caulking and the work itself (and it is not cheap), the cost of external and interior decoration. Please also note that they deliver moldings to your site - bars of the ordered length. The bowls are cut on site. This means that the qualifications of carpenters must be high. How warm the corners will be depends on how the cut is made. And in a log house, it is the corners that are the most problematic place.
Features of profiled timber
When examining profiled timber, the first thing that catches your eye is its almost ideal geometry and smooth surfaces. At least that's how it should be. At good quality execution, no finishing is needed: the wall immediately turns out even and smooth, even immediately ready for painting.
The second, also quite obvious feature, is that due to the fact that the edges that join two profiled beams have recesses and protrusions (locks), there cannot be through gaps. Manufacturers of profiled timber say that walls can be laid without interventional insulation: It will be warm anyway. But few people listen to them. They put in at least thin insulation. Some use a thin backing under the laminate, others use a self-expanding tape for installation plastic windows, as well as jute tape and similar materials.
In the photo, by the way, the most common lately developers have a “comb” profile. It can have a “tooth” of different heights and widths, and everyone loves it because, in theory, it is impossible to “blow through” it. However, even here they play it safe by installing insulation.
Several typical timber profiles (the two on the far right in the picture are laminated timber, but the exact same profile is made from solid wood)
In general, there are a lot of profiles. Some of them are in the photo. When choosing a supplier, you need to pay attention not only to the shape of the locks, but also to how they are made. The match in any pair should be maximum.
Having decided to build a house from timber with a profile, you need to decide on its humidity. Profiled timber can be of natural humidity (cheaper), or it can be chamber-dried with a humidity of no more than 14-16%. The features of lumber with natural moisture have already been considered, now let’s talk about chamber drying. The enterprise installs large drying ovens into which finished profiled timber is loaded. There, in conditions of elevated temperatures, it loses excess moisture. At the same time, all the processes that usually accompany drying wood occur in the chamber: it bursts, it twists. Accordingly, part is scrapped, and the rest is sold at a higher price. The reasons seem clear.
If you decide to build a house from kiln-dried timber, you can start finishing earlier. The log house should still stand, but it will take 9-12 months. At the same time, new cracks rarely form; existing ones only expand. But it is worth keeping in mind that due to high costs for drying, most often they only reduce the humidity to operational level - 16-18%, while chamber drying is considered to be 8-12%.
In any case, the cracks will need to be sealed. Caulking is needed in very limited quantities: first of all, you will have to look at all the corners and notches, if any (this is what the places where the walls are attached are called). Even a well-made bowl can dry out unevenly, causing a gap to appear. The beam can also turn out, which will also lead to the appearance or expansion of a gap. So periodic revision of the angles is also required during operation. Wood is a living material and will change all the time. Also, after a year of sludge, you will have to repair too large cracks in the timber (without fanaticism, so that the tow does not open the crack).
The log house is assembled from numbered blanks with a molded bowl (numbers in blue at the ends)
The situation may be simpler with the assembly. If you just order lumber, you can cut corners from profiled timber, as from regular timber, on the site. But many enterprises, if they have a project, offer to take on part of the work themselves. Using a special program, they lay out the timber: they make a list of “spare parts” from which the house will be assembled. Then, according to this list, blanks are cut out, with molded bowls. The blanks are numbered and brought ready-made to the site, where the house remains to be assembled like a construction set: folding the beams according to the numbers marked on the plan.
This is convenient, especially if you are going to build a house with your own hands without construction experience. It is clear that the service is not free, but you can save on paying carpenters: you do not need to assemble such a highly qualified designer. Only in this case, whether your house will be warm or not depends on how accurately the bowls are made in production. Sometimes there are companies that make very low-quality cuts. You can see several of these in the photo.
Poorly made bowls - the blowing will be incredible, and caulking will not help much
In general, it has its disadvantages and its advantages, but compared to ordinary timber, profiled timber is more convenient in construction, and in terms of price it may even be cheaper if you count the finishing.
Glued laminated timber
From the name it is clear that it consists of glued parts. First, the lamellas are cut out, treated with antiseptics, dried to a certain moisture content, and then glued together. Due to the complex manufacturing process, the price tag for this material is approximately 2.5-3 times higher than that of conventional material and 80-90% higher than that of profiled material.
What are its advantages? Properly made, it does not crack, it does not shrink: dry material cannot shrink, and glued beads should have a moisture content no higher than 12-15%. Therefore, the finishing process, if the width of the timber is sufficient to compensate for heat loss, can only be reduced to painting or varnishing, since protective impregnation is carried out at the enterprise (should, in any case).
What does laminated veneer lumber and its profiles look like?
Another consequence of the lack of shrinkage is that after just a few weeks, the folded frame can be immediately placed under the roof, and after another few weeks, finishing can begin. This time is necessary for the bowls to shrink, and geometric dimensions laminated veneer lumber should not be changed. That is, there is a significant saving of time - everything, including finishing work, can be done in one season.
But are glued beads really that good? In terms of speed of construction, yes. But it has serious drawbacks. First: it is glued. This crosses out one of the main advantages of wood - environmental friendliness. Secondly, its vapor permeability is low. Many people build wooden houses precisely because of their ability to naturally regulate indoor humidity. Glued laminated timber lacks this due to the presence of layers of glue. Of all the advantages of wood, only attractive appearance, but finished with clapboard of the appropriate profile or block house, it looks exactly the same. Therefore, the use of laminated timber to build a house is a very controversial issue.
Stages of building a house made of timber
A log house has several advantages:
- The walls turn out to be light, which is why the load on the foundation is low, which means that the costs of its construction will be lower.
- Wood is an elastic material and it compensates for small movements of the foundation without compromising the integrity of the building. And this, again, allows you to make shallow foundations on well-draining soils.
The choice of foundation type depends largely on the soil, but most often it is done if there is no need for a basement, you can put a columnar one (for small buildings of temporary residence - dachas, bathhouses, etc.) or without). It is advisable to base the choice on the results of geological research. The process is described in more detail.
While the foundation is “setting,” the wood is prepared. All timber and dowels are treated with antiseptics and fire retardants. Use compounds that do not form a film on the surface of the log. They will not interfere with the drying process. After preparing the timber, the actual construction of the house begins:
- Cut-off waterproofing. To prevent the wood from the foundation from drawing moisture, it is necessary to lay a layer of hydrophobic material. Previously, two layers of roofing material were laid under the first crown. Today there are more modern materials- coating and roll. You can use them, and in combination: coat them, stick them on a roll.
- Laying the trim crown. The timber is selected without signs of blue, with a minimum number of knots. Preferably - from the middle part of the tree - with a maximum density of annual rings. It is additionally treated with impregnations intended for wood in direct contact with the ground. In order to ensure better preservation of the first crown, there is a trick: a wide board impregnated with bitumen mastic with waste is laid on the waterproofing. Another layer of waterproofing is placed on it, and the first crown is placed on top. All these layers are connected to the foundation with studs that are embedded in the foundation.
- Rough floor. The floor logs are attached to the first crown - a beam with a section of 150 * 100 mm. They are laid in increments of at least 70 cm. To make it more convenient to work, subfloor boards are laid out along the joists without nailing them.
- Assembling walls from timber. If a wall kit with ready-made bowls is not ordered, they are “slaughtered.” Cut out according to the template. A template is drawn from a piece of plywood, outlined, and then cut out. A chainsaw is used more often, but a fairly high degree of proficiency with the tool is required: how warm the house will be depends on the accuracy of the cut. The shapes of the timber connection are shown in the picture.
We have already talked about laying inter-crown insulation: when using regular timber it is required, for profiled timber it is advisable in bowls, the rest is optional. The crowns are connected to each other by dowels - long round bars carved from a single piece of wood, dowels - rectangular shape or studs - metal rods. In any case, a hole is drilled under the connection into which the connecting element is driven.
- The order of work depends on the type of roof chosen. When installing a simple device, install it under rafter legs, if the order is different. It is rolled out and secured onto the assembled rafter system. windproof membrane. In this form, the house is left to dry out for a long period of time.
- Door and window openings. To speed up drying and shrinkage, you can cut out window and door openings, install a frame or fixing strips. Door and window blocks are not installed until the main shrinkage is complete.
After a year or two you can start finishing works. All the time while the log house is settling, it is necessary to monitor the processes occurring in the wood. It is necessary to immediately inspect the corners and, if necessary, caulk them. Then monitor the condition of them, as well as the beam connections. If the dowels are driven in with great force, during drying the timber may hang on them, causing cracks to form. You can solve the problem by hammering: take a huge wooden hammer and knock on the walls, causing faster shrinkage. The same technique is used if the house is settling too slowly.
The video shows the main stages of how to build a house from timber. Despite the lyrical digressions, there is a lot of valuable information.
How to build a house from timber: photo report
They built such a house.
We ordered a wall kit for the project, and a strip foundation was poured under it.
They brought blanks with sawed-off bowls. They were carefully unloaded, while inspecting them for any defects. One beam turned out to be problematic - it was in the middle of the bundle and suffocated - it became covered with fungus. It was postponed for a separate “treatment”. The rest were covered with impregnation (Valti Pohusta) and stacked.
To avoid problems with fungus, a spacer is laid under each - boards lying across.
Rolls of insulation and dowels were also purchased. The Nagels were sent to bathe in the impregnation. IN old bath poured the impregnation and left them for half a day, then took them out and dried them.
The first crown - a half-beam - was laid on top of the waterproofing laid on the foundation. It has no grooves at the bottom.
It was pulled to the foundation with anchors to studs poured into concrete.
The first crown was laid. The one that was previously fixed on the foundation is often called “zero”.
Let's measure the diagonals. In order for the cups to stack without problems and to avoid distortion, they must be equal. The permissible distortion is a couple of millimeters.
Having aligned the diagonals, we drill holes for the dowels. To prevent holes larger/smaller than the required length, a wood stop was placed on the drill.
The walls are gradually growing. We fasten them in a checkerboard pattern with dowels.
In general, the timber is more or less normal, but there are problems with incorrectly sawed cups. When we lay the timber, we get a huge gap. The only way to combat this is to manually adjust the cups so that everything lies evenly.
It takes a long time to eliminate these inconsistencies, but gradually all the walls are laid out.
Walls made of profiled timber were removed
Let's start assembling rafter system. First, as is customary, the two outer trusses are installed, then everything else, according to the project.
The finished sheathing was sheathed with roofing felt. So let's leave the house to dry.
Inside we lay out the subfloor boards, nailing every fifth one. They will dry along with the house.
Video on the topic
Mistakes that are made when building houses from profiled timber are described and discussed in detail in this video. Very helpful. Look.
Natural wood is distinguished by its environmental purity and incredible nobility, so it is valued at all times, despite the fact that the construction market has been occupied innovative materials. Construction of timber houses for year-round or seasonal residence turned out to be of high quality new level thanks to the huge number of advantages of the material, as well as improved methods of its processing and installation.
Such a home has an attractive appearance, which is important, especially for people who value aesthetics in everything. What kind of material is this and what is needed to build a house from timber, this instruction will tell you.
Choosing a wood type
Before you get acquainted with the structure itself and find out the features of its installation, we suggest considering the characteristics of the wood species used for these purposes. Currently, manufacturers prefer coniferous wood:
- pine;
- fir;
- larch.
Very rarely, but still, deciduous trees, for example, birch, are also found in this segment. It may mistakenly seem that coniferous materials are identical, but they have significant differences, and we cannot help but mention them:
- Spruce and fir are considered the most affordable;
- spruce allows you to achieve a uniform color color, since such material is characterized by ideal uniformity;
- Fir has very beautiful fibers, but, unfortunately, it is less durable. 2 years after the log house is ready, you will encounter the fact that some fibers will begin to darken;
- country houses made of larch are the most practical, because such material is absolutely not afraid of a humid environment, is durable, and this is precisely what its advantages are;
- birch timber is popular because of its affordable price, but the quality here is also not high, which is not suitable for the construction of country houses, so experts categorically do not recommend considering such wood, as well as fir, as a raw material, since here the disadvantages clearly outweigh the advantages.
![](https://i0.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/95.jpg)
Before you begin assembling the log house, you need to pay attention to the moisture content of the timber. Without checking its level, which should be within 23%, the material cannot be used. If you neglect this rule, after some time you may encounter severe cracking of the structure. Therefore, at the acceptance stage, we recommend purchasing or renting a moisture meter, with which you can easily measure the moisture content of the received timber.
![](https://i0.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/plotnost_drevesiny.jpg)
Now the workpieces are dried or in a natural way, or using drying chambers. In the first case, we are faced with a long process, so modern manufacturers prefer chamber drying. This process happens quickly, but here the cost of paying for energy increases, the material becomes more expensive and this affects the final cost for the buyer.
Description and characteristics
A beam is a log with hewn edges, mostly square in cross-section, it can have various sizes sections. This configuration is full of advantages, and above all, it is consistent thickness along the entire length, which simplifies the finishing process suburban buildings. You can also save on insulation here. Wood acquires special properties after it is treated with special impregnations that protect against moisture, combustion, and putrefactive processes.
Connecting elements
The beams can be connected in various ways:
- tongue and groove;
- half;
- end-to-end;
- on dowels, etc.
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/soedinenie-brusa-5.jpg)
The simplest connection can be called “butt”, and it is precisely this system that is used to equip the products from which economy-class country log houses are built. You can assemble it yourself easily and quickly, but you need to remember about the “cold” lock, which needs to be additionally insulated to prevent drafts and cold air masses from entering the living spaces.
![](https://i1.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/htmlconvd-MfKzT2_html_74d781f0.jpg)
Profiled timber
It has a special comb joint geometry, which makes the connection very tight and airtight. Now it is very common for year-round residence They build structures from precisely this material, because it has undeniable advantages over ordinary timber.
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/preimushhestva-doma-iz-brusa-4.jpg)
Profiled timber is made from solid logs, which are planed on all sides, have an ideal level of humidity, and are of the same thickness along the entire length.
Pros and cons of profiled material
The advantages of this technology include:
- simple installation diagram;
- strictly verified dimensions of lumber, specified by professional equipment;
- connections in the form of landing cups and grooves prevent cracking of wood during year-round use
Glued construction
Product manufacturing of this type consists in using lamellas glued together. To ensure that the finished product of modern industry is durable and lasts a long time, the drying process is carefully monitored. The technological instructions for gluing individual segments involve placing the best types of wood in the outer part of the laminated timber.
The beams are fastened together using tenons and grooves, which is very practical and easy to implement. The technology for constructing such houses is accessible even to inexperienced developers, thanks to which anyone can do most of the work with their own hands. The finished structure is lightweight, the log house is resistant to rotting, its elements do not crack and are not afraid of aggressive environmental conditions.
Construction technology
Nowadays, the most popular are single-story log cabins, but you can choose any project for yourself, including several levels; it all depends on the wishes and capabilities of the developers. Let's consider step by step diagram construction of a suburban timber house.
Foundation
First of all, you need to choose the type of foundation. It must be strong enough to reliably support the weight of the house and roof. You can choose - this is the most common and universal option.
![](https://i1.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1s.jpg)
But if the soil on the site is loose, give preference, and the laying scheme looks like this:
- the site is marked out, highlighting the boundaries of the future home;
- a trench is dug with a depth below the freezing point of the soil (at least 60 cm);
- the trench is supplied with a sand and gravel cushion, with each layer being compacted to squeeze air out of the loose rocks;
- concrete solution is poured.
Construction of house structures
The first crown is laid on top. Its function can be performed by ordinary roofing material laid on a foundation screed. Make sure that the roofing material is 35–40 cm wider than the finished base.
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/dom-iz-kleenogo-brusa.jpg)
It is very important that all wooden elements are pre-treated antiseptics, because even if you mount country houses made of heavy-duty wood, it may eventually lose its properties under the influence of external factors, which will lead to rotting of the material and, as a result, to deformation of the structure.
Features of connecting crowns
The strength of timber walls is ensured thanks to a special fastening method. The log house is assembled using the tongue and groove method. The starting board must be firmly fixed to the foundation, and it is laid both on insulation and on a frame (lathing) made from slats. The crowns are connected to each other with wooden or metal dowels.
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/skreplenie-brusev-pri-pomoshhi-nagelej.jpg)
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/d3CO82luvB.jpg)
All subsequent crowns are mounted on a seal that prevents condensation and mold infection. Thanks to the inter-crown seal, the log house acquires additional strength and tightness.
Corner connections
Beam extension
![](https://i2.wp.com/domzastroika.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Soedinenie-brusa-v-korennoj-ship.jpg)
Inexperience may seem like a disadvantage timber log house consist in the discrepancy between the length of their walls and the length of the log, but this is absolutely not a problem if you ensure high-quality joining of the seams. Everything you need in in this case, this is to slightly shift each subsequent joint, which will avoid the formation of a long continuous seam. This method is vaguely reminiscent of ligating brickwork and is quite simple to implement.
Roof and floors
Flooring is also laid according to the standard.
Flooring can be laid in several ways, but the most the best option are “floating” floors, because they do not create noise and, on the contrary, thanks to their special design, they absorb extraneous sounds. We recommend that you read the article about.
Having compared the pros and cons of technology and the construction process itself, we can confidently say that the advantages here outweigh by a huge margin. If you do not have a ready-made dacha, but have a plot of land and a strong desire to have your own home, we advise you to opt for a log house.
Technology for building a house from wooden beam quite simple. Therefore, such cottages are being built everywhere and are among the most common in the field of country housing in Russia. For this reason, it is worth considering in more detail the main features of the technology for constructing log houses.
What is the appeal of building a house from timber?
The tree has a dense structure. This material is durable and has excellent sound insulation properties. Wooden walls can support comfortable temperature inside the house. Of course, wood, like any material, has its disadvantages. It catches fire easily, becomes deformed during shrinkage, and is susceptible to infection by insects and fungi. Let's consider all the features of this building material in more detail.
Advantages of houses made of timber:
- wood is a highly environmentally friendly material that goes well with the concept of a healthy life;
- at correct processing And high quality initial raw materials, houses made of timber have good stability to precipitation and temperature changes;
- this material has a relatively affordable price when compared with other building materials;
- fast construction times (on average, a team of three people builds a house of medium size and low number of floors in a couple of weeks);
- the ability to build a house yourself (not a complicated technology).
Disadvantages of timber houses:
- Wood burns very well. Therefore, walls made of this material are treated with a special compound;
- Wood is also susceptible to rotting, so during construction, houses are covered with siding or blockhouse. With properly prepared raw materials, the house will last for hundreds of years.
Types of timber
When houses are built from wood, the first step, as a rule, is to decide on the choice of material. It is important that the walls of the house are strong and can withstand long term operation.
Most suitable wood for construction is coniferous. It meets all sanitary and hygienic requirements. Structures made of coniferous wood practically do not rot, do not crack, and are characterized by high strength and low weight. Therefore among great variety wood materials preference for construction modern cottages They give it to coniferous timber.
The timber itself comes in three types:
- Profiled;
- Whole;
- Glued.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
1. Cottages made of profiled timber
Profiled timber may have tenons and grooves, which are placed along its entire length at the preparation stage. The surface of the timber is thoroughly polished. Houses made of this material are resistant to deformation. The construction process itself is simple and does not take much time.
The finished walls of timber houses turn out to be very warm. They do not require additional finishing. The profile of the timber is made in such a way that moisture will not enter the inter-crown seam. Therefore, the wood will not rot.
A house made of profiled timber does not need caulking. But in any case, the timber should be processed special compounds that will protect him from negative impact environment and make it fire resistant.
It is best to build a house from profiled timber that has been kiln dried. Then the walls finished building will not become covered with cracks.
2. Cottages made of solid timber
As for solid timber, it costs less than profiled timber. However, it doesn't look very attractive. The low cost is explained high humidity material. Due to this, preparing the logs takes very little time.
To build a residential building from solid timber, you do not need special equipment. However the walls finished house need additional finishing. In this case, solid timber must be selected with special care. Otherwise, the walls of the house may turn out uneven.
Moreover, wood can be affected by fungus due to its natural moisture content. After all, solid timber is not subjected to special drying. Therefore, it must be treated with antiseptics for protection.
Interventional seams between solid beams are heavily blown. It follows that heating costs country house will be higher. It is worth adding that during the shrinkage process, solid timber may crack. Therefore, the walls of the cottage will have to be sheathed on both sides.
3. Cottages made of laminated veneer lumber
Perhaps this guy building material the most practical and successful when building a country cottage made of wood. In the West it is released in industrial scale, since houses made from it are very popular. And this is due primarily to the fact that it combines excellent aesthetic and price characteristics.
This technology was first used in Finland. The large pine trees that grow in abundance in this country were cut into planks and then carefully dried, maintaining a certain percentage of moisture.
Such raw materials are called “lamellas”, and laminated veneer lumber is then made from it. In this case, only high-quality wood that is free from defects is used. At the same time, each board is treated with a special antiseptic. From five lamellas and glue, the output is a beam 250 mm thick.
The advantages of this material include:
- low thermal conductivity;
- high environmental performance;
- light weight material;
- high strength;
- beautiful appearance.
The use of this interesting technology made it possible to significantly reduce the construction time of a house, as well as to produce beams of various shapes (not only standard size). This significantly expands the possibilities in terms of architecture and design for those who are planning to build a dacha or cottage.
The composition of the adhesive used in this technology contains components that contribute to the moisture resistance and increased strength of the resulting timber. At the same time, manufacturers pay special attention to its safety. Because it is used to glue the lamellas and it is very important that it does not emit poisons and toxic substances that can harm human health. When the timber is ready, it is packaged to avoid deformation and sent to the customer.
The walls of houses made of wood of this type have a number of significant advantages:
- practically do not shrink;
- are not subject to deformation;
- have more durable characteristics than ordinary wood;
- beautiful appearance and unusual architectural solutions.
How are houses made of timber built? Construction stages
1. Project preparation
After selecting the material, it is necessary to draw up a project for the future house, taking into account all the nuances. Special attention you need to pay attention to calculations, since this determines how much material will have to be purchased. It is better to entrust the preparation of the project to experienced specialists who will take into account all the important factors.
2. Laying the foundation
When the project is ready, you can lay the foundation for a log house. The choice of foundation depends on the characteristics of the soil, the mass of the future cottage and its features.
Reason for wooden house can be built from concrete or wood. Often builders prefer concrete foundation. However, some build it from wood. As for the type of foundation, a strip or shallow foundation is suitable for a wooden cottage.
3. Construction of walls
After laying the foundation, you can begin building the walls. They are erected in rows, that is, timber is laid on timber. The beams themselves must have grooves that are needed to fasten the logs together. Grooves in mandatory insulate.
For greater strength, the beams are also connected to each other with spikes. All seams between the beams must be caulked to prevent drafts from penetrating into the house. When the walls are ready, they should be treated with antiseptics.
4. Roof installation and flooring
You cannot save money on roof installation. Its shape can be varied - both single-slope and double-slope. It is important to choose the right material for the roof and provide high-quality insulation.
To install the rafters you will need boards different sizes. So, for racks and braces you will need boards 10 centimeters wide and 4 centimeters thick. To install the rafters, you will need boards 15 centimeters wide and more than 4 centimeters thick. You can choose different roofing coverings. The main thing is that the selected material has a long service life.
As for laying floors in timber cottages, here first batten. After this, intermediate boards are laid. Insulation is placed between them.
5. About finishing
The last stage is finishing the interior, window and door openings. At the same stage, the subfloor is laid and the ceiling is installed. Both the floor and the ceiling are additionally insulated with special materials. After this, both surfaces are finished finishing coat. During the finishing process, all communications are installed.
If we talk about the external decoration of the walls of the house, then it is done at the request of the owner. It is worth noting that external finishing may not be necessary if the timber was chosen to be of high quality.
Features of the construction of cottages from laminated veneer lumber
As soon as the laminated timber structure is installed, they begin to finish it. These are the rules of technology. Usually it takes about 1-2 months to build a house and finish it. But there are exceptions, projects that require more long work, for example, a large area of the house.
In cottages made of laminated veneer lumber, you don’t have to use insulation at all, since there are no gaps or distances between the elements. The strength of the products is high, there is no cracking or danger of the beam splitting from stress, as when using conventional material.
The so-called thermal wall is often used, which allows you to make a wall from 50 mm to 200 mm thick. On so-called runners, the insulating material is attached to the wall. As insulating material mineral wool is used.
Usually, the beams are connected using insulation tape, from this corner connections the house is always warm. Thanks to the ability to use the smallest wood components, the design is reliable and warm. After the structure is installed in it, you can easily connect all communications and make hidden wiring.
How to choose a project?
Many architectural studios are ready to offer very beautiful and functional designs of houses made of laminated veneer lumber. If you have never built yourself, then it makes sense to trust such a company to prepare a thoughtful design and size of the house.
The project can be made like a Russian hut, a merchant's house, or made in the spirit of a European chalet. Many people are attracted to cottages made of laminated veneer lumber on 2 or 3 floors, which have large terraces and balconies. Large houses look very beautiful in such houses. panoramic windows. And if there is still one on the site beautiful garden and there is a forest nearby, then this house layout should be used to admire the views from the window.
Glued laminated timber is an expensive material and the budget for construction from it should sometimes be several times higher than for houses made from ordinary timber. The high price is compensated by increased resistance to moisture, greater strength, the walls retain heat well, so you don’t have to be afraid and choose this material for the country house in which you plan to live all year round. It won't be cold in there. But again, it is necessary to follow all construction technology correctly.
Professional builders love to work with laminated veneer lumber, as it has proven itself excellent in the construction of capital country houses, and during the construction of small dachas.
For construction country cottages Various wall materials are used, each of which has its own characteristics. Many private developers who want to have environmentally friendly and comfortable housing that does not require large construction costs choose timber. Build today timber house You can use modern advanced materials and technologies, resulting in a beautiful, reliable and durable cottage. What types of houses are made from profiled timber, photos and descriptions of the construction process are in our article.
If you are thinking about how to build a house in the forest, then timber is the best option.
What is timber
This is a building material that is made from wood by hewing. It has a square or rectangular cross-section. The minimum cross-sectional size is 10 by 10 cm, the maximum is 40 by 40. This is a fairly durable and “warm” natural material that allows you to build houses on light, inexpensive foundations. Timber made of resinous wood saturates the cottage premises with phytoncides (useful bactericidal substances). In addition, it belongs to vapor-permeable materials. Thanks to this, a microclimate favorable for humans is formed inside the house.
The correct geometry of the timber facilitates the process of assembling a log house and allows you to build walls without cracks and gaps. During manufacturing, the timber is treated with special compounds that protect it from moisture, insects and rodents, while making the wood fire-resistant. After completing all stages of manufacturing, the material is dried using special equipment, as a result of which it shrinks by about 10%. There is also timber with natural moisture, which dries (settles) under normal conditions for several months.
Professional developers use the following types of timber to build a house:
-
insulated.
profiled;
Profiled
This wood material With rectangular cross-section, which has recesses designed for the most tight joining of individual bars with each other. The front side of such a beam can be round or flat. The inner side is usually flat. Profiled material eliminates the possibility of cracks in the wall. Thanks to the notches, the construction of the log house is very quick and easy.
Glued
Glued laminated timber is made from individual lamellas, which are pre-dried and then glued together with non-toxic glue. Thanks to different directions The fibers in the lamellas make the laminated material very durable. It hardly shrinks. Such material can be longer, which increases its versatility in use.
Insulated
This version of the timber is distinguished by the presence of a hole between the front and back sides. This hole is filled with cellulose. The result is a material with improved thermal insulation characteristics.
On our website you can get acquainted with the most popular projects from construction companies represented at the Low-Rise Country exhibition of houses.
Wood type
Timber for building houses is made from species that are less susceptible to rotting and rodents than others. Mostly it is larch, spruce or pine. The tree with the most attractive characteristics is larch. It is durable, fireproof, and does not rot even in sea water. The resin secreted by larch acts as a natural antiseptic that protects it from insects. The only disadvantage of this type of wood is its high cost.
More economical options spruce and pine are considered. Spruce is looser in structure and has many knots. However, when the right approach high quality is made from it construction timber. Pine is more practical in all respects. In terms of its characteristics, it is second only to larch.
Which material to choose
Currently, profiled and laminated timber are especially actively used. The choice between these two options is based on their differences. Thus, laminated wood is produced in a wider range of standard sizes. Due to the fact that the lamellas can be “joined” in length, laminated veneer lumber can reach 18 linear meters, while profiled material has a length of up to 6 meters.
The thicker the wall elements, the better the walls made of it retain heat. However, solid profiled material with a cross-section of more than 200 cm is rarely used, since thick beams are difficult to dry. Glued has fewer restrictions here too. If desired, you can purchase laminated veneer lumber with a cross-section of 275 mm.
In terms of environmental friendliness, profiled material, which is made without the use of glue, is considered more attractive. But in this matter, it should be remembered that responsible manufacturers use adhesives only from the class of safe compounds. In addition, profiled timber also does not remain completely environmentally friendly, since it must be coated with protective substances.
The level of vapor permeability of profiled timber is higher. At the same time, glued material gives minimal shrinkage, has higher strength and is a more fire-resistant type of construction wood. In addition, a house made of laminated veneer lumber can be prepared for moving in immediately after assembly, and a building made of profiled material should last about six months until the shrinkage process is completed. In general, the performance of laminated wood is more acceptable, but profiled wood costs about 30% less, so it is no less in demand.
Recently, insulated (or double) timber has been increasingly used. Houses made from it are warmer and stronger than from glued ones, since it is a structure made of wood, insulation and cross joints. Insulated timber weighs less than glued timber and is cheaper. However, before building wooden house When using timber of this type, you need to think carefully about its disadvantages. The main one is the rapid destruction of insulation, which cannot be replaced.
double timber
Video description
Laminated timber and thermo-timber, differences and cost of a turnkey house made of thermo-timber - see the following video:
Construction stages
The technology for building a house from timber is not particularly different from building a cottage from other building materials. But there are still some nuances.
Project
The engineering basis of a timber house should be a high-quality professional project created by specialists who know how to properly build a house from timber. In architectural development, all characteristics of the material are taken into account, and solutions are used that enhance the advantages of wood buildings.
The timber is ideal for the construction of small and medium-sized houses. But if you wish, you can build a large wooden mansion with complex architecture. In any case, the length of the walls is calculated taking into account the standard length of the timber (6 meters). In order for the designed log house to be built quickly, while leaving a minimum of waste, the length of the walls, a multiple of 2 or 3 meters, is included in the design.
Purchase of materials
Materials are purchased in accordance with the architect's calculations. It is very important to purchase all necessary timber single purchase. This is especially true for profiled wood, where the percentage of moisture content can vary significantly between batches.
Site preparation
Any construction begins with site preparation. At this stage, old buildings are dismantled, trees and shrubs that may interfere with construction are removed, and the ground is leveled.
Foundation
Timber cottages are built on strip foundations. Such a foundation is built in several steps. First, they dig a trench around the perimeter of the future building. Sand and crushed stone are poured onto the bottom. All this is compacted well. Next is installed wooden formwork and concrete is poured.
Subfloor
The construction of a timber building itself begins with laying lower crowns and arrangement of the subfloor. At this stage, it is very important to know how to build a house from timber so that it turns out warm and dry. The first step is to ensure effective waterproofing of the foundation. After this, the first crown is laid from carefully processed beams. Next, the floor is installed.
For the subfloor, logs are first laid - usually with a cross-section of 150 by 100. To increase the reliability of the structure, a support made of wider beams is also laid. Floor boards are laid across the joists. Waterproofing, insulation and vapor barrier are placed on top. After this, the subfloor is laid with 40 mm thick boards.
Box assembly
The walls of the log house are laid out by layering crowns. All crowns are pulled together using dowels. Internal and external wall structures are erected simultaneously. For fastening internal partitions on inside of the front walls, cuts are made through the row, into which the ends of the partition beams are recessed.
Roof
The roof consists of a rafter system, lathing for fastening roofing and the coating itself. First, the upper crown is tightened by laying solid beams with a section of 100 by 150. Then they are made of boards and rafter legs are installed. After this, the pediments are laid out.
To lay the covering, a sheathing is constructed. After this, the roof is insulated and the covering is laid.
Windows and doors
Door and window openings are framed by racks. It is very important to provide a competent system of grooves and technological gaps around the openings so that double-glazed windows and doors do not interfere with the natural shrinkage process. Otherwise, the wooden elements may become deformed and crack.
Video description
Installation of plastic windows in a timber house
Insulation
In the construction of log houses, a practice is often used in which the walls are erected from a material with a small thickness, and then an insulation system is installed. You can insulate a house from the outside or from the inside. To make wood last longer, it is better not to cover it with insulation from the outside, but to internal insulation. In this case wooden wall it is insulated with hydro and vapor barrier, then insulation is installed, and another layer of vapor and waterproofing is installed on top. The insulating pie is covered with plasterboard, after which you can decorate the walls with any facing material.
Communications
All communications are connected to the house, according to a previously prepared project. Particular attention is paid to safety precautions when laying the electrical network and arranging the heating system.
Video description
Communications in a timber house
Finishing
Timber walls do not require facial finishing. The exception is houses with insulation. Usually, after the construction of the insulating pie, the walls are decorated with panels under natural wood so that the facades of the house and its internal walls form a single harmonious composition.
The floor in the house is covered with any floor covering. Usually the floors in log cottages are quite warm. However, if desired, you can install a “warm floor” system.
The ceiling can be left open or decorated with tension fabric. Other ceiling finishes are undesirable due to shrinkage.
Video description
Let's talk about materials, about the whole cycle production process, pros and cons of technology:
On our website you can get acquainted with the most popular projects of houses made of laminated veneer lumber from construction companies presented at the exhibition of Low-Rise Country houses.
Conclusion
Every year in the Moscow region they are increasingly building houses from timber. Such houses are built quite quickly. But if you yourself don’t know how to properly build a house from timber, then professional builders can carry out all the stages in a couple of months. The main thing is to take into account the characteristics of the materials and provide everything to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.