Modern technologies provide unlimited opportunities for the construction of warm and durable houses from any material. Cottages of blocks, bricks, concrete and even straw today will not surprise anyone. The true premium class still remains the tree of larch, birch, pine and spruce. And today we’ll talk about the advantages, disadvantages and subtleties of building wooden houses.
Wood: varieties of material
In modern wooden construction, more than 5 different technologies are actively used. Some of them are time-tested, others have appeared on the market quite recently. Felling, rounded and planed logs, glued and profiled timber - each of the technologies has its own strengths and weaknesses.
So, the traditional log house and planed log have become a local exotic today due to the complexity and high manufacturing costs. Their place was taken by more technological materials for construction. For example, a rounded log and shaped beam, where every detail of the future home has an ideal shape and thickness for construction. Sawn rounded parts of the log give a perfect pairing of parts, allowing you to achieve high speed construction of the building, good thermal insulation and tightness of the house.
However, glued timber became the undisputed leader among wooden building materials - a material created from sawn boards, which, after drying, are glued so that the wooden fibers of adjacent boards are directed in different directions. This technology solved the main problem of wooden housing construction - shrinkage of the structure. Glued beam cottages can be built at any time of the year due to their strength, low thermal conductivity and waterproofing of the material.
Pipes and communications
The comfort of the building depends not only on the material of the walls, but also on how well the plumbing pipes and electrical wiring are laid. The location of the engineering filling of the house is allowed in an open or closed way. Depending on the skill of the builders, a network of polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene pipes and electrical wires can become part of the interior or can be expertly hidden in the channels of the walls. An open method is recommended because it facilitates access to systems for maintenance, but spoils the authentic look of the house.
It doesn’t matter which way of laying the networks you choose, all materials from special boxes for electricians to socket boxes should be made of refractory or non-combustible material.
For the installation of a water supply system, pipes made of copper, steel, polypropylene, polyethylene or metal polymer are used. Connections are recommended using low-temperature brazing or hot welding in compliance with safety measures. For heating systems, metal-plastic, cross-linked polyethylene or metal is ideal. These are the most reliable options that can withstand pressure and high temperatures.
Finishing a wooden house from the inside
The number 1 task in planning the interior decoration of a wooden house is the choice of fireproof materials, including with the help of protective impregnations and solutions. Wall treatment is carried out at the installation stage and allows to prevent the appearance of cracks, cracks, mold and protect the house from possible fire. All modern materials for wood are produced on an acrylic basis - they are safe for health and do not spoil the natural aroma of wood. For those who want to emphasize the natural pattern of wood, special decorative stains and impregnations are suitable.
Shrinkage of a wooden house
Do not confuse the "shrinkage" of the house with the "draft". “Draft” refers to the effects of soil vibrations under the influence of foundation vibrations. This process lasts throughout the entire period of operation of the house. The reason for the "shrinkage" of a house made of wood, which lasts an average of 2.5 years, is the natural process of drying out a natural massif. This is a natural and inevitable process. Modern technologies in the processing of materials and construction can minimize the possible damage from shrinkage of the house and the costs of its further maintenance. The choice of high-quality raw materials and competent assembly greatly facilitate the drying process of wood and, as a result, increase the comfort of home.
Deformation of windows and doors is one of the most unpleasant consequences of shrinkage. A competent okosyachka will help to avoid negative consequences - laying wooden bars in a groove in the places of installation of the structure. The right choice of material for the bars and the shrink box allows you to install windows and doors even in a fresh log house without consequences for the structure in the future.