The construction industry is one of the most susceptible to new technologies. This is due to the high cost of work operations, the complexity of the construction of structures, logistics processes for the delivery of materials and many other nuances. The emergence of new construction concepts facilitates work at some stages, but their result does not always live up to expectations. This happened with frame houses, which could completely displace the traditional timber due to the mass of advantages. However, this did not happen, and the question of which is better - a bar or a frame is still relevant. A comparative analysis will help to answer this question, but to begin with, it is worth considering in more detail both technologies separately.
Overview of frame house construction technology
The main feature of such houses is that their construction is assembled from pre-prepared parts of the frame. There are several approaches to the construction of such buildings, but all of them are divided into two categories: assembly in the factory and construction from scratch at the construction site. In the first case, we can talk about the finished house, which remains only to establish at the place of operation. In practice, it is not easy to implement such a technique, so the construction of the frame base directly at the site of use has become more widespread.
To draw some conclusions about which house is better, made of timber or frame, you can already at this stage. The factory origin of the prefabricated kit eliminates the risk of admitting a defect, therefore, there are great chances to get a design of exactly the quality that was planned. Nevertheless, one should not exclude the possibility of an error in the construction process. At this stage, the assembly of the panels of the frame, thermal insulation, waterproofing, facing works and other activities are carried out.
Overview of the technique of building a house from a bar
The structure of the house is formed by walls lined with timber. Elements are laid horizontally on top of one another. As a basis, a columnar foundation can be used on which a wood coating with waterproofing is arranged. To ensure uniform distribution of loads and increase rigidity, the bars can be connected with auxiliary pegs. To determine which house is better, frame or timber, in terms of sealing, it is worth noting that in the first case, continuous protection against the penetration of cold flows is provided. For a timber house, special sealing is less common, but in the corners this approach is practiced. In particular, polyurethane foam is used to seal joints. From the outside, the material is usually treated with protective impregnations that protect the structure from the effects of precipitation and ultraviolet rays.
Environmental Safety Comparison
By and large, both houses are made of wood. However, the degree of environmental cleanliness of the materials is different. For example, timber houses are made of natural spruce or pine. The wood is dried in special chambers, which allows to obtain high-strength glued beams. Further, if necessary, the material is treated with antiseptics, which, however, do not reduce its harmlessness. Now you can answer the question: "Glued beam or frame - which is better in terms of environmental cleanliness?" Definitely a bar, since the material for the frame house, although it is a derivative of wood raw materials, but at the same time contains a certain percentage of chemical impurities. Mostly these are plywood sheets and particleboard, which, depending on the characteristics, can pose some danger to residents, but, of course, within acceptable limits.
Comparison of thermal conductivity
At the frame house, the walls are formed with almost perfect accuracy, providing good tightness. But at the same time they are thinner than that of a bar. Thus, the accumulative properties and the ability to retain heat in frame buildings is lower. Based on this, the following question can be answered: "Bar or frame - which house is warmer?" Again the timber house wins. Especially if the gaps and joints in its walls were correctly sealed with felt or special sealants.
But there is one point that can offset this advantage. The fact is that the insulating qualities of wooden houses are largely determined by insulating materials. Therefore, the final conclusion about which house is better - made of timber or frame, can only be done by comparing the thermal insulation of specific projects. Usually identical materials are used - mineral wool, polyurethane, foil and other insulators.
Strength and durability of houses
Again, you should turn to construction technologies. Frame structures are a complex of several layers of pressed wood panels. Of course, such a design cannot boast of high reliability. In fairness, it should be noted that the manufacturers of prefabricated sets themselves indicate the operational life of such houses lasting no more than 20 years. But to answer the question as to which house is better, made of timber or frame, the qualities of a competing object should be evaluated. Glued beam, in particular, allows to obtain a very strong structure. A simple assembly technique, the use of solid wood elements and protective impregnations make it possible to obtain a durable and damage-resistant building.
Which house is cheaper?
Sometimes the durability and operational qualities of houses are fading into the background, since financial capabilities do not fully satisfy these needs. In this regard, it will not be out of place to consider the question of which is better - frame house or timber house - from the point of view of economy. The very concept of prefabricated houses involves reducing costs during construction, but in reality this is not entirely true. Frame house requires a large investment in decoration and insulation materials. In addition, when ordering such a project, you should be prepared for a one-time payment for the entire construction. Of course, and timber houses are not cheap. Especially high-quality wood with the correct harvest without defects today is worth its weight in gold. One way or another, frame buildings will have one undeniable advantage - they are built quickly and generally bring less trouble during work processes.
How to choose the best option?
If we compare all the pros and cons of both technologies, then at first glance the obvious leader will be a house made of timber. However, in reality, there are many aspects that fundamentally change the ratio. In addition, frame houses themselves, depending on the variety, can have different characteristics. After all, there is still a variety of panel structures, which also belong to prefabricated. One way or another, if there is a need for arranging your own housing, you must definitely decide which house is better - a panel board or a timber. Good tips in the form of the following recommendations will help you make the right choice:
- If you plan to build in a region with a warm climate, then it makes sense to prefer a frame house. Reducing the cost of thermal insulation and additional wall decoration will also save.
- If the house is calculated for life for several generations in advance, then it is better to choose a strong beam.
- For temporary or non-permanent residence, a frame house, which is also being quickly built, is suitable.
Conclusion
If we consider the question of the most acceptable technology for building a house wider, then, of course, there will be few options. But even based on their submitted information, one can get an idea of what characteristics of private housing modern construction can provide. When determining which house is better, from a timber or frame, it is first of all necessary to proceed from your own requirements. These technologies offer two different concepts. The frame house is focused on the budget sector, offering a quick result, albeit with a rather average performance characteristics. The bar is a solid classic, which is not cheap, but it serves for decades and pleases with its natural look.