TIMBERFRAME BUILDINGS
WHAT DOES A WOODEN HOUSE MEAN?
ADVANTAGES OF A WOODEN HOUSE
Wood, when exploited responsibly, is a renewable resource continuously available in nature. It offers many advantages compared to more conventional building materials:
Flexibility in design, production, transportation and execution;
Much lower weight than metal, concrete, and masonry, which significantly reduces the cost of the foundation;
Increased earthquake resistance due to elasticity and low weight;
Significantly reduces the construction time of a house, through prefabrication technology;
Natural material with a negative carbon footprint, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere;
Contributes to the quality of the indoor environment and overall to the long-term health of the occupants;
Good thermal resistance that contributes to the energy efficiency of the building;
Lifespan of hundreds of years, if used correctly in a construction, 15 year warranty;
DISADVANTAGES OF A WOODEN HOUSE
Wooden houses have some disadvantages.
First, a wooden house, compared to traditional constructions, needs more attention at the design stage. There are some very important details that must be taken into consideration: moisture control from inside to outside, passages and penetrations of installations through walls, partitions and openings, and criteria necessary to achieve the nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) targets.
Second, a wooden house requires a more substantial budget in advance as it cannot be paid in staggered stages since the production and construction times are short.
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Last, there is a negative general perception about wood as a building material: it is an organic material that can rot, burn and be attacked by cavities. With the right attention to detail, these impediments can be resolved. The wood must be dried before installation and treated with antifungal, antiseptic, fireproof, and moisture protection. We have a dedicated blog article about fire resistance.
THE STAGES OF BUILDING A WOODEN HOUSE
1. DESIGN
Each wooden house is made according to the technical design. Our design office focuses on energy efficiency and comfort.
2. PRODUCTION
Made according to the project's specifications using timber frame prefabrication technology.
3. TRANSPORT
The panels are loaded on trucks, with the structure of the house optimized for inexpensive transport, and shipped to construction sites all over Europe.
4. ASSEMBLY
Simple, safe and efficient, with the help of a crane and specialized personnel.
STANDARD WOODEN HOUSES
Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) is an energy performance standard imposed by the European Union to reduce energy consumption in the building sector, as this sector consumes about 40% more energy than other sectors. Therefore, it is necessary to build more efficiently so that energy consumption is low and covered by renewable energy sources.
A wooden house has some advantages to this respect. Wood as a material is a good thermal insulator; 3.5 times better than hollow brick and 10 times better than concrete. A wooden house has 35cm exterior walls (with a minimum of 25cm insulation), at a heat transfer coefficient compliant with the nZEB standard. This also means that a wooden house has more useful space. To reach the same heat transfer coefficient in a traditional house, the exterior walls reach almost 55cm. This mainly is the result of the configuration of a prefabricated wooden wall, which, within the same wall thickness, is filled with the structure, thermal insulation, and finishes. Read this blog article for more information about the nZEB standard.
THE COST OF A WOODEN HOUSE
The million-dollar question: how much does a wooden house cost? There is no clear cut answer, because there are many variables at play: total surface area, number of floors, partitioning and openings, types of materials and thermal insulation, type of finishes and installations and, overall level of energy performance. An energy efficient house, meeting the nZEB standard, has a higher initial investment cost, but this is amortized over time from energy savings. If you have any questions about the cost, do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your project.
WOODEN HOUSE EQUIPMENT LEVELS
The timber frame structures, prefabricated either from insulated panels or volumetric modules, comply with all national and European standards of safety, energy efficiency, and comfort.
2. INSULATED WOOD STRUCTURE KIT
WOOD STRUCTURE KIT to which is added:
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thermal insulation: basalt mineral wool, cellulose, or wood fibers;
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membranes: vapor barrier on the inside and anti-condensation foil on the outside (in case of a ventilated facade);
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thermal system of basalt mineral wool or wood fiber boards;
TYPES OF WOODEN HOUSES
Depending on the requirements of the beneficiary or the general designer, we can prefabricate the following types of houses:
PREFABRICATED WOODEN HOUSES
WOODEN HOUSES IN OUR PORTFOLIO
