A few decades ago, we did not hear about the frame-panel technology of building houses. And now in Russia, about 30% of IZHS houses are made using the technology of frame construction.
A bit of history ...
The technology of frame construction developed independently in different parts of the world. A few centuries ago, Europeans began to build their homes on the basis of an oak and larch frame. In Japan, this housing option is very common, especially in the suburbs with a high level of seismic activity. The feedback from the owners of frame houses was positive, since the buildings worked well, they are able to withstand severe shocks with minimal damage. In America, frame houses began to be built at the time of the arrival of colonists from Europe. Thanks to the settlers, frame housing construction came to Canada and became widespread there. The reason for this widespread use of different types of frame housing construction is obvious: buildings require minimal cash costs for materials, construction is carried out as soon as possible, construction is easy, therefore, a serious foundation is not required.
Frame construction came to Russia much later, and housing itself is usually called the “Canadian house”. It is the Canadian technology of building houses that is more suitable for the Russian market due to the similarities of the climate in the countries. How do frame houses behave in winter? Owner reviews are mostly positive, living in a frame house in winter is comfortable. Thick walls that reach 40 cm are able to retain heat in the room even when the heating is turned off accidentally, and the structural strength is able to withstand the load of snow in the winter months.
There are several types of frame houses:
- Wireframe. The frame is presented in the form of wood lumber. Outside and inside, such a house is sheathed with windproof panels (OSB, TsSP), the internal space between the panels is filled with insulation. (mineral wool, polystyrene foam, sawdust, etc.) According to reviews of real owners of frame houses, they chose this type of construction for themselves because of the convenience and low cost of this housing.
- Frame-panel. Such houses are assembled from ready-made SIP panels. The joints of the panels are reinforced with a beam. The assembly speed of such houses is incredibly fast.
- Frame-shield. This method of building a house involves the assembly of structures according to pre-prepared templates of walls, floors and roofs. SIP panels are already connected at the manufacturing plant into integral modules. Ready-made walls with all the necessary openings arrive at the construction site. Using a crane, the modules are installed in the right places. Builders can only fix the elements. According to the reviews of the real owners, frame houses made using panel technology were installed in a period of 1-3 days.
- Monolithic frame technology. Used in the construction of industrial high-rise buildings. In some cases, this technology is also used in the construction of residential buildings, but less frequently. Monolithic-frame houses, according to reviews of construction organizations for housing construction, are not entirely suitable option because of their high cost.
Materials for cladding the frame house are constantly being modified, the old ones are replaced by innovative types of cladding of the facade and the interior of the house. For example, a few years ago, fiberboard sheets were used for wall sheathing, and now OSB boards have appeared that are superior to fiberboard in strength and durability. Technological innovations make the construction of frame-panel houses even more simplified, and the build quality is improved due to improved materials.
Frame House Planning
Frame technology will recreate even the most complex home project. Before deciding on the appearance of the house, you need to think about the technical components of the project. An important role will be played by the location of the future building and the climatic features of the area. When choosing the thickness of the walls and insulation it is necessary to take into account the temperature regime of the environment: in more northern latitudes it can reach 20-30 cm. According to the reviews of the owners of frame houses, the thickness of the insulation in the southern latitudes can be 10-15 cm.
At the initial level of design, consider a ventilation system, sewage system and water supply system. If this is not done, then subsequently it will be much more difficult to install these systems. To make the frame house fireproof, the elements of the frame must be treated with a special compound.
If you are designing a house yourself, do not make mistakes in the layout. Responses of owners who already live in frame houses with the wrong design say: if you leave a large distance between the spans, the ceiling will noticeably bend over time. Incorrect calculation of the beam spacing or insufficient section thickness can lead to the destruction of structural elements. The entire mass of the building should be evenly distributed between the supporting elements. Unaccounted loads can lead to disastrous consequences. If you do not take care of steam and moisture removal in time, then the frame elements will begin to rot, and after a few years the housing will become emergency.
During the construction of the frame, it is necessary to use lumber of chamber drying, and not natural humidity. Wood of natural moisture during drying is reduced in size to 17% of the total. If such boards were used as elements for the frame, then there is a likelihood of deformation, cracks and rupture of the fastening joints due to uncontrolled changes in the dimensions of the board during shrinkage.
In vertical openings, use only a rigid insulation, bulk options here will be inappropriate, since over time they shrink. Cold frame houses, according to builders, are obtained precisely because of the occurrence of cold corridors. The same situation will happen with the roll insulation, which will slide down over time, and will not fulfill its purpose.
When assembling the frame, only galvanized nails or chromed self-tapping screws are used, the minimum diameter of which should be 5 mm. The use of black screws is not allowed. Due to their low strength and resistance to corrosion, such fasteners can be subjected to fracture when stress occurs.
The pros and cons noted in the reviews of the owners of frame houses are formed precisely because of compliance or violation of the fundamentals of the assembly process. If everything is done correctly, then your home will be warm and comfortable.
Foundation for frame house
Due to the ease of frame construction, there is no need for a solid foundation. Replacing a difficult-to-build concrete foundation with finely-buried options saves a significant amount of money.
The most common types of foundation are the following options:
- Pile screw. Metal piles are screwed into the soil to the required depth, which are treated with a special anti-corrosion solution. Such a foundation is most practical to use in the construction of a frame house, according to builders and designers, especially on uneven surfaces, as well as on a site with a significant slope. The pile foundation is an excellent option for unstable and subject to swelling soil.
- Pile and grillage. These are connected by their own tape made of metal or reinforced concrete and form a single structure, which is called grillage. The grillage is a kind of support for the walls, which redistributes the uneven load on the piles.
- Shallow blocky. The most primitive type of foundation, which is used on inactive soils. Use it with caution. Be sure to examine the soil for composition and determine the level of groundwater passage.
The main criterion when choosing a foundation for the construction of a frame house, according to experts, is strength and reliability. A poorly executed foundation can lead to disastrous consequences.
The construction of a frame house
After installing the foundation, a frame is erected. As a rule, a beam of 15x15 cm, or 20x20 cm, is used for its assembly.
- Overlap of the first floor. The tie bar is attached to the foundation using anchors through the waterproofing layer, and carries the function of grillage with a columnar foundation. Logs on the first floor are installed on it.
- Walls. The frame is assembled taking into account window and door openings, and then it should be installed on the floor base.
- Roof. Rafters are installed taking into account an individual project.
Outside, the house is sheathed with OSB, which is attached to the frame. It is necessary to remember about vapor barrier and windproof film. The same plate can be sheathed and the walls inside. An alternative option for OSB boards can be moisture-proof plywood, DSP, and fiberboard boards. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages, but OSB boards still remain the most popular material according to reviews on the construction of frame houses. In the intervals between the frame elements, a heater is laid. Most often, foam, foam or mineral wool is used.
The roof is also sheathed with OSB tiles from the outside and from the inside. As a ceiling, a metal tile or sheet steel is used.
According to reviews, frame houses for permanent residence can be built with only two people. For this reason, this type of housing construction is so popular in Russia. After all, the cost of work is about half the price of a finished house.
House of SIP panels
The use of SIP panels in construction is gaining great popularity. The ease of use of panels makes the construction of a frame house, according to professional builders, affordable even for people who do not have experience in this field. The panel itself consists of OSB boards, which are located on two sides, and the central part is foam. The thickness of the plate can vary, it all depends on the desired size of the insulation. The construction of SIP panels is distinguished by its lightness and high heat-saving ability.
The technology of building a house from SIP panels is simple: each panel is attached to the neighboring one through a wooden beam. The joints are processed with mounting foam, and the plates themselves are attached to the frame with self-tapping screws. With the help of SIP panels, not only walls are erected, but also a floor with a roof. The strength of the OSB can withstand severe loads.
When buying a home kit from SIP panels, you get instructions and the panels themselves with the numbers for self-assembly. All that is needed is to follow the sequence diagram of the connections of the elements.
During the factory assembly of the house kit, the technology of manufacturing solid walls is used, installation is carried out using a crane, and the assembly of such a house can be performed in one day.
Reviews of residents of frame-panel houses
Due to little experience in the construction of frame-panel technology for the construction of houses in our country, it is not yet possible to track how such a building will behave in 50-100 years. But there are people who have been living in such houses for several years, and they share their impressions in various forums.
Those property owners who are satisfied with the operational characteristics of their frame-panel housing pay attention to the low cost of house maintenance. Due to the ability to retain heat, it takes less money to organize heating. Negative reviews, as a rule, arise among residents whose housing was built with violations of assembly technology.
Advantages of frame houses
Such a widespread frame-panel technology has received because of the convenience of construction, low cost of materials and high quality housing. The main advantages of frame buildings are:
- Light weight construction. For the construction of light buildings, it is not necessary to build a foundation of significant deepening. The organization of a shallow foundation takes place in a short time, while a significant amount of money is saved.
- Simple assembly technology. In the construction of a frame house, you do not need any special skills that are available to specialists. Assembly is carried out according to the principle of the designer. The erection mechanisms are simple and accessible to anyone. The most important thing is to comply with the technology and not deviate from the project.
- Quick assembly. A frame-panel house can be assembled in 2-3 months if two people are involved. In the case of the work of the construction team, the terms are reduced by several times.
- Low cost. The materials used in the construction of the frame-panel house are available. The cost of a house made of SIP panels will be several times less than the cost of a brick house.
- Heat retention. Frame houses built in full compliance with the technology are very warm.
- Year-round construction. Construction can be carried out in any conditions and at any temperature. The only caveat is rainy weather. If the frame is wet, you can not proceed to the lining stage. It is necessary to wait until the wood dries.
The disadvantages of frame houses
Not everything is so smooth and perfect when operating frame houses. As with everything except the positive, there are also negative points.
- Durability of construction. Compared to timber or brick houses that can stand for centuries, frame houses are distinguished by their shorter life. The average life is 30-50 years.
- Less solid construction. For living conditions in stable areas, this figure will not be critical, but in places characterized by hurricanes or earthquakes, such a house will become an analogue of the "house of cards".
- Soundproofing. According to reviews, the minus of the frame house is a high level of audibility. This is not very convenient. If you want a quiet house, then consider using a material with a high level of sound absorption as a heater. Such material is, for example, mineral wool.
- Fire safety. This is a serious minus of frame houses, according to owners. Frame construction can quickly erupt and burn out in a matter of minutes, so during construction it is worth giving preference to materials that do not support combustion.
- Ventilation. The operation of the ventilation system can be both a plus and a minus in reviews of frame houses. Some residents complain that a greenhouse effect is created from SIP panels in the house, others say that in such a house it is warm in winter and cool and not stuffy in summer. It's all about the proper organization of the ventilation system.
DIY frame house construction
If you decide to build a frame-panel house with your own hands, then for starters you need to stock up on great theoretical experience in the field of construction. When the production technology becomes clear, we can move on to the plan for future construction.
Determine how much housing will be based on the needs of your family. Do not swipe at the huge apartments. Think about the cost of heating in winter time. To create a home design, you can use a special program. In it, you can not only reflect the appearance of the future building, but also construct a detailed layout of all the elements of the frame. Then it will be easy to calculate the amount of material needed. The most popular home design programs are:
Google sketchup
Revit
AutoCad
SweetHome.
According to the feedback of the owners of frame houses already living in self-made buildings, the use of design programs at the stage of creating the construction plan greatly simplifies the process of building structure formation.
When the project is ready, and the amount of necessary materials is calculated, we proceed to the selection of suppliers from whom these materials will be purchased. The quality of raw materials plays one of the most important roles in frame construction. Here is a list of materials that you can’t save on:
- Foundation. Be sure to invite a specialist to conduct a geological survey of the soil before deciding on the type of foundation.
- The quality of the materials. Edged board should be the 1st category, chamber drying. OSB boards or SIP panels, check for chips and loose elements.
- The quality of the fasteners. Negative reviews of residents about frame houses in terms of their reliability appear among owners whose housing was built with violations of construction technology. To connect the elements of the frame we use only galvanized nails and chromed screws. Only these fasteners can provide strength and durability for fixing the frame elements. .
- . , . It's a delusion. , 50 , .
, :
- Project. The pros and cons of frame houses, according to residents, vary depending on how well the construction plan is drawn up. Ready-made individual house project can cost you in the amount of 30 000-90 000 rubles. Self-designing will not only save money, but also give you more information about your project. You will know and understand the structure of the structure, the principle of the systems, if you make a plan yourself.
- Windows and doors. You need to buy these items directly from the manufacturer, preferably before starting a project. You may come across inexpensive options that have been refused by the manufacturer. To order windows for your sizes is always much more expensive.
- Construction tools. Buy only the most necessary: a circular saw, a hammer, a tape measure, a level, a screwdriver, a drill, a square. You can ask friends about the availability of the necessary tools, perhaps they will let you use them. Some tools can be rented.
- Facade decoration. Instead of siding, you can use the lining, this will significantly reduce costs. An inexpensive way to improve the facade is painting with preliminary putty.
If you decide to start construction, but there is no way to buy all the materials at once, then it is better to wait and save some money. It is better not to leave a bare frame for the winter. If you managed to sheathe the frame with OSB plates, and there was not enough finance for the facade decoration, then close the walls with a waterproof film. It will help the building survive the winter and spring with less damage.
Finally
Gather theoretical knowledge in the field of construction and learn technology. If in doubt, seek help from experts on the forums, they are always ready to advise beginners. But if you do not believe in your strength, then it is better to entrust the construction of the house to professionals.