Frame houses are always popular among domestic owners of suburban areas. The technology for erecting such buildings is extremely simple. At the same time, they are very inexpensive, and living in them is quite comfortable. But since the constructions of this variety are assembled from not too durable materials, many private developers have a completely logical question about what is the service life of a frame house. The answer to it depends on several factors. And above all, on how accurately the technologies will be observed during the construction of such a building.
How long can a frame house stand?
One of the main criteria for choosing materials for construction (whether it is a bar, brick, log or concrete) is, of course, the life of the house. Frame technology has in fact been almost two hundred years old. For the first time such houses began to be built in Canada in the XVIII century. Over the entire existence of this construction methodology, of course, both its adherents and opponents appeared in it. The latter argue that even the best frame frame house will not stand even 30 years old. Advocates of this method of building construction cite German half-timbered houses, which have been in operation for more than a century, as an example. Yes, and in the United States today you can buy a good frame cottage, built in the early XX century.
Of course, there are official standards regarding the operating time of such structures. So, according to Gosstroy documentation, the service life of a frame house in Russia is 75 years. After that, it is subject to demolition. However, owners of private homes have been operating their property for much longer.
Frame houses in the USSR
In Soviet times, such buildings were called Finnish houses. They were built mainly by members of horticultural associations. They were not considered particularly convenient at that time. The fact is that they were built on imperfect technologies and using not very high-quality materials. As a result, such structures were blown away by all the winds, and even in the fall, not to mention the winter, it was not very comfortable to be in them. Of course, for a very long time Finnish houses did not stand. The service life of the frame house of this variety was extremely short. Today, such buildings, even in horticultural associations can not be found.
Modern frame houses: varieties
Nowadays, such structures are built, of course, using carefully developed technologies. There are only two types of frame houses : panel and Canadian. The first type of buildings is constructed using timber and modern sheet inexpensive materials. The second type of frame houses is being built from ready-made SIP panels.
Canadian House Life
Both the first and second types of modern structures of this type are durable. But Canadian homes, of course, can stand longer than shield houses. SIP panels are a structure assembled from two thick sheets of OSB and a heater laid between them. Traditionally, polystyrene foam has been used as the latter. But since the material is combustible, sometimes for safety reasons it is replaced with mineral wool. The service life of the frame house (Canadian), according to assurances of manufacturers of SIP panels, can be up to 150 years. But only if a quality foundation is built under it.
How long can a panel construction stand?
The service life of a frame wooden house of this type directly depends on the materials used for its construction. The frame of such a building should be made only of high-quality, well-dried and processed by means of preventing rot, timber (the same, incidentally, applies to Canadian houses). Sheathing of a panel house is best done from OSB or plywood sheets with a thickness of at least 12 mm.
After several decades of operation of the building, the heat insulator can, of course, be replaced if necessary. But it’s worth initially acquiring all the same quality material. Best if it is Ursa cotton. Expanded polystyrene can also be used. But at the same time buying is recommended only the best, specially processed material. Cheap polystyrene foam, as well as polystyrene, like to chew on mice. These animals arrange nests in the thickness of such a heat insulator, significantly worsening the operational characteristics of the building and shortening its service life.
A construction such as a frame-bulk house is considered quite durable. The service life of such buildings is the same as that of any other switchboard. However, a heat insulator in houses of this type (usually expanded clay) has the property of subsiding over time. Therefore, you have to fill it up.
Of course, to protect the walls of such a building from moisture, it is necessary to use hydro- and vapor barrier materials. In addition, during assembly, a ventilation gap is mandatory. It also prevents damage to wood due to high humidity.
Thus, if high-quality materials are used for the panel house, he can stand for a long time. In any case, such a building will last for 70-100 years.
Opinion of residents about frame houses
Modern buildings of this type are distinguished by good operational characteristics, so most of their owners do not regret the money spent on the construction. Since another positive characteristic that distinguishes frame houses is their service life, they deserved really good reviews. The longevity of these buildings, of course, is one of the main reasons for their popularity.
What is a quality beam?
The life of the frame-panel house, just like the Canadian one, depends on how correctly this material is chosen. Most often, in the construction of such buildings use pine lumber. The fact is that coniferous wood is not only durable, but because of the high percentage of resinous substances it is also slightly susceptible to decay. In addition, such a bar is not too expensive.
When choosing lumber of this variety, first of all, you need to take into account the time of harvesting the logs. The highest quality is considered to be a bar made from a winter forest. The fact is that in the cold season, the flow of juice in trees is greatly slowed down. As a result, lumber from such logs is also drier. Permissible humidity parameters for a pine beam intended for the construction of a frame house are 18-20%.
Among other things, when choosing a beam, you need to pay attention to the class of its quality. That is, the number of knots available. Grades 0, 1 and 2 are considered suitable for assembling the frame of the house. A 3rd grade beam can be used to erect only minor, not too durable buildings.
Well, of course, it is advisable to purchase material that has already been processed by all compounds that extend its service life. Thus, many manufacturers prepare lumber today.
What should be the foundation for the SIP building
So, as we have already found out, the service life of this type of frame house directly depends on how good its foundation will be. Under SIP-buildings, most often erected tape or columnar foundations with grillage. The choice depends primarily on the type of soil on the site. Of course, the foundation should be buried below the level of freezing. Buildings from SIP panels are lightweight. Therefore, if the base is not deep enough, during the spring heave such a house will simply push out of the ground. Which, in turn, is fraught with jamming of doors, the appearance of cracks in structures, etc.
On wet areas for buildings made of SIP panels, a pile foundation is usually arranged. If the soil is not too stable and strong, it is worth pouring a solid concrete slab under the structure. Compliance with these recommendations significantly extends the service life of frame-panel houses.
Foundation for panel building
The service life of such buildings, of course, also depends on the reliability of their foundations. The rules for erecting a foundation under a panel house are the same as for structures from SIP panels. That is, on reliable soil, you can fill the grillage base, on clay - tape, on wet - pile, and on moving - slab. The main thing is to use high grade concrete mortar for the foundation. It is better to order a ready-made mixture. But you can make it yourself from sand, gravel and cement in a ratio of 3: 4: 1. To prepare the solution, it is worth using a concrete mixer. In this case, the concrete will turn out to be much better. Of course, the foundation for the frame-panel house should be reinforced using a rod with a thickness of at least 12 mm.
How to extend the life of a finished house
Of course, the durability of a frame building depends not only on the choice of good materials and compliance with construction technologies. Operate such a structure should also be correct. So, for example, in a building of this type, ventilation must be arranged. This will significantly extend the life of the frame house. According to Canadian technology, buildings are built, unfortunately, mainly from materials that are not able to “breathe”. The same applies to conventional panel houses. Therefore, the arrangement of ventilation will not only make the building more durable, but will also improve its operational characteristics. Living in a house with constantly updated air is, of course, more comfortable. Of course, during the operation, it is necessary to monitor the state of all building structures and, if necessary, make repairs.