Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and other countries are building more and more timber frame houses. The number would be even greater if timber frame myths weren’t scaring people away. If wood were a bad material for home construction, would developed countries like America, Norway, Sweden, Australia, or Switzerland really rely on this method for 90% of their homes? It is worth noting that some of these countries have harsh climates, with snow, heat, and wind.
In the past, many houses in the world were made of wood. However, the advent of brick construction later, which was popularized by compromising wooden houses, created myths about timber frames. Currently, frame houses are returning to Lithuania and gaining popularity in new countries. But this time they are well designed and improved. The principal reason is that a frame house is the most effective solution for achieving the new and rather stringent energy requirements. So, let’s purify the truth by looking back at the myths.
It is true that wood is flammable. But the most vulnerable places in a brick house – the roof structure and often the ceiling – are also made of wood. And renovating fire-affected areas in a frame house is easier than in a brick house. Renovation can be easily done without you leaving your home. Also, a wooden house is not a “naked” wooded frame, it is covered by appropriate layers to protect the wood. All components to this day are technologically engineered to minimize the risk of fire spreading and the damage it can cause.
Gone are the days when a wooden house was built by guess. Nowadays, houses are strictly designed based on their own weight and the snow and wind loads on the site where they will be constructed. In the photo below, a 2-meter layer of snow is covering one of our timber frame projects in Norway.
To this day, this problem is solved by using modern materials and installing them correctly. To prevent echoes, the ceiling and partition frames must always be filled with wool completely. Poor-quality windows and doors are often to blame for noise transmission, so select them carefully.
We build bespoke houses according to client’s individual drawings, so every house is different. You want an exclusive house – we will build it for you.
In terms of residential houses, we have built more than one 500 sq m house or hotel. Glulam beams and wooden roof trusses allow for large spans. If your house design requires very large spaces, we can incorporate metal columns or frames.
Wooden houses have traditionally been found in villages, but when it comes to residential homes, we offer a wide range of modern weatherboard profiles. A wooden house can look like a luxury modern villa.
Thus, many myths are no longer valid. Technology and materials used in frame houses have advanced so much that timber frame is now one of the optimal solutions for modern living.
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