Currently, with constant global crises, people continue to build their own housing, saving on material. Buying very cheap sleepers, people begin building a house. It is at such a moment that the question arises: "Is a house made of sleepers harmful or not?" Photos, advantages and disadvantages of such a house - further.
Harmful to the human body
Sleepers are treated with chemicals that protect against bark beetles and increase durability, even at the manufacturing stage. All chemicals that are used for processing are very toxic. And if the sleepers were already in use, then while moving along them from the wagons of a freight train, various chemicals can scatter or spill onto them. When interacting with the sun, most substances begin to produce their chemical reactions. Is a sleepers house bad for health? The emitted smell from sleepers is very harmful to human health. In general, it is the smell that creates creosote. It is not tolerated on very old sleepers. But doctors believe that it is useful for people in its own way. It is with creosote that tuberculosis is treated.
But the question remains: is the house made of sleepers harmful, or is there nothing particularly dangerous in it? The answer is: a house is not harmful if the sleepers have already lain for several years in the ground. The service life of products usually reaches from 6 to 30 years, depending on environmental conditions. During this time, they lose their properties of impregnation, but the price is already lower. It is best to take sleepers that have been in use for more than 15 years. It is in such sleepers that there is more than the option that they have already lost their smell and processing properties. After construction, the building must be tightly sheathed on the walls that are inside. A favorable option in the casing will be a plastic film. From the side of the street, it’s better not to touch the walls for several years, during this time the whole smell disappears. The opinion of people about whether a house made of sleepers is harmful or not is very different: someone writes that it is dangerous, and someone that is not.
The most harmful house is the one that is built from new sleepers. This woody material has only survived the treatment and is very toxic. For a long time, you will have to wait to start construction or to move into the completed house.
The advantages of sleeper houses
The house, built of sleepers, not only has its drawbacks. It has its advantages:
- Such a house is well heated in winter. The building keeps warm for a long time in the winter, and during the summer period perfectly keeps cool indoors.
- Sleepers are made from a good conifer. Due to this type of wood, the material is not destroyed during processing. Such a house serves for many years, not at all afraid of different vagaries of the weather.
How to build a house from sleepers with your own hands? Materials
To build a house from sleepers, you will need not only sleepers, but also other materials. About 200 sleepers spans 10 square meters. During the construction of a sleeper house you will need rebar, sand, cement, gravel and much more.
Foundation for the future home
First you need to determine the place, clear it on the foundation. Since the house will be exactly wooden, then the foundation is best done exactly tape. It is necessary to determine the width of the future structure. If the height of the walls is more than 200 millimeters, then it is necessary to make the width of the walls larger. A distance of 1.2-1.8 meters is ideal for deepening. After this, it is necessary to make the formwork from boards and battens. After the gulf of the foundation, time should be given so that it hardens and thickens within 14 days.
Installation of waterproofing and insulation
Waterproofing is applied over the foundation, only then sleepers should be laid. Concrete must be treated with resin and put roofing material. Later, the laying of the first layer of sleepers. To build the first layer, it is best to choose large sleepers and heavy ones by weight. Connect the shafts to each other by a threaded connection. Then, on the first layer of sleepers, a heater is laid and 2 rows are laid on the flat side of the sleepers. Fastenings are performed in a nagging manner. It is best to select the sleepers of the same size. Checking the evenness at all stages of laying sleepers, waterproofing and insulation is carried out by the level.
Hiding bumps
All irregularities are covered with a facade. The facade is the exterior walls, their decoration is done to your taste and interior. The corners are fastened with metal brackets, which are approximately 60 centimeters long, and from 2 to 5 millimeters wide. Doorways in such structures are made of boards and filled with foam.
Interior decoration
It should be not only beautiful, but at the same time, and protect from evaporation and weather conditions. Finishing inside is done initially from a plastic film, the thickness of which is 150-250 millimeters. All seams are sealed with tape, overlay shingles are applied over the film. Then a layer of drywall or something else is laid. For the floor, it is best to cover the wood with a layer of thermal insulation. Various materials can be used to seal the ceiling, but drywall is best used for good service. External walls are best lined with clapboard or brick. It all depends on the idea of the appearance of the house and the budget.
Positive and negative reviews about the house of sleepers
Reviews of people vary, because each person has their own opinion. A large number of people say that they like this house. It is suitable for living in both summer and winter. It is distinguished by its lower cost. The smell of creosote, which is used to process sleepers, disappears over time. Many process sleepers again, in order to extend the wear resistance and durability of the house.
Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages. People related the following points to them:
- Sleepers that are treated with new chemicals have an odor that does not disappear.
- The material may cause an allergic reaction and a rash throughout the body.
- High fire hazard. Impregnation is very flammable. As practice shows, such structures burn out completely in 15-20 minutes. And putting them out is extremely difficult.
- In European countries, the construction of such houses is prohibited.
Dangerous moments
Is a house made of sleepers harmful or not? As we have already found out, the most destructive effect on the human body is exerted by creosote contained in fresh sleepers. Health will deteriorate if you live in such a house permanently. Is a house made of sleepers harmful or not? Among the problems worth noting:
- Persistent headaches.
- The development of liver disease.
- The formation of cancer cells.
- The appearance of chronic skin diseases.
- The appearance of diseases associated with the respiratory and nervous system.
Some mask this smell by sheathing the walls inside with drywall. But this does not mean that the concentration of harmful creosote will be less. This phenomenon is misleading. Therefore, it is worth abandoning the construction of a house from sleepers that have been saturated with harmful substances recently.
Is a house built from sleepers harmful or not? It is worth saying that when it gets on the skin, creosote causes burns. Yes, perhaps there is no need to touch the sleepers. But creosote fumes can also cause burns when inhaled. Especially their concentration increases at high temperatures, that is, in the summer. That is why in 2003, creosote was banned for civil construction in the countries of the European Union.
Where to use sleepers relevant?
Most experts are inclined to the following opinion. Use sleepers as a building material can only be used for the construction of utility and utility rooms. These are hozbloks, sheds and so on. That is, for the construction of those premises where a person will not be for long. The nuance is also that some sleepers can be very wet. And the room will be constantly damp even after years.
Conclusion
So, we found out what a house of sleepers is. As you can see, building a house from this material is a very controversial issue. Definitely not worth building a structure of fresh sleepers. But you should also be careful with those materials that were already in use. Completely harmful impregnation disappears for a very long time. There is always a risk of health problems. If you build such a structure, then only making sure that the material is completely safe.