Frame technology for building houses. Step-by-step technology for constructing frame houses. What is the technology of building a frame house: step by step and with pictures Technology of building a frame house

Have you ever encountered the topic of “correct” or “wrong” frame house popping up in discussions on forums? Often people are pointed out that the frame is wrong, but they find it difficult to really explain why it is wrong and how it should be. In this article I will try to explain what is usually hidden behind the concept of a “correct” frame, which is the basis of a frame house, just like a human skeleton. In the future, I hope we will consider other aspects.

Surely you know that the foundation is the foundation of the house. This is true, but a frame house has another foundation - no less important than the foundation. This is the frame itself.

Which frame house is “right”?

I'll start with the basics. Why is it so difficult to talk about the right frame house? Because there is no single correct frame house. What a surprise, isn't it? 🙂

You will ask why? Yes, very simple. A frame house is a large constructor with many solutions. And there are many decisions that can be called correct. There are even more decisions – “half-correct” ones, but the “wrong” ones are legion.

Nevertheless, among the variety of solutions, one can single out those that are usually meant when speaking about “correctness.” This is an American and, less commonly, Scandinavian type frame.

Why are they considered examples of “correctness”? Everything is very simple. The vast majority of private homes for permanent residence in America, and a very significant percentage in Scandinavia, are built using frame technology. This technology has been used there for decades and perhaps even a hundred years. During this time, all possible bumps were filled, all possible options were sorted out and some universal scheme was found that says: do this and with a 99.9% probability everything will be fine. Moreover, this scheme is the optimal solution for several characteristics:

Constructive reliability of solutions.
Optimal labor costs during construction.
Optimal cost of materials.
Good thermal characteristics.

Why step on your own rake if you can take advantage of the experience of people who have already stepped on this rake? Why reinvent the wheel if it has already been invented?

Remember. Whenever we talk about the “correct” frame or the “correct” components of a frame house, then, as a rule, this means standard solutions and components used in America and Scandinavia. And the frame itself satisfies all the above criteria.

What frames can be called “semi-regular”? Basically, these are those that differ from typical Scandinavian-American solutions, but, nevertheless, also satisfy at least two criteria - reliable design and good solutions in terms of heating engineering.

Well, I would classify all the rest as “wrong”. Moreover, their “wrongness” is often conditional. It is not at all a fact that the “wrong” frame will necessarily fall apart. This scenario is actually extremely rare, although it does occur. Basically, the “wrongness” lies in some controversial and not the best decisions. As a result, things get complicated where things can be done easier. More material is used where less is possible. The design is made colder or more inconvenient for subsequent work than it could be.

The main disadvantage of “wrong” frames is that they provide absolutely no benefits compared to “correct” or “semi-correct” ones - neither in reliability, nor in cost, nor in labor costs... nothing at all.

Or these advantages are far-fetched and generally doubtful. In extreme cases (and there are some), improper framing can be dangerous and will result in a major home renovation being required within just a few years.

Now let's look at the question in more detail.

Key features of the American frame

The American frame is practically a standard. It is simple, strong, functional and reliable as an iron saw. It is easy to assemble and has a large margin of safety.

Americans are tight-fisted guys, and if they manage to save a couple of thousand dollars on construction, they will definitely do it. At the same time, they will not be able to stoop to outright hackwork, since there is strict control in the construction field, insurance companies in case of problems will refuse to pay, and customers of unfortunate builders will quickly sue and rip off negligent contractors like a stick.

Therefore, the American frame can be called the standard in terms of the ratio: price, reliability, result.

The American frame is simple and reliable

Let's take a closer look at the main points that distinguish the American frame scheme:

Typical components of a frame house

Timber in racks and frames is almost never used, unless this is due to some specific conditions. Therefore, the first thing that distinguishes a “correct” frame house is the use of dry lumber and the absence of timber in the walls. By this criterion alone, you can discard 80% of Russian companies and teams working in the frame market.

Points that distinguish the American frame:

Corners - there are several different schemes for implementing corners, but nowhere will you see timber as corner posts.
Double or triple racks in the area of window and door openings.
The reinforcement above the openings is a board installed on the edge. The so-called “header” (from English header).
Double top frame made of boards, no timber.
The overlap of the lower and upper rows of trim at key points - corners, various fragments of walls, places where internal partitions join external walls.

I didn’t specifically mention Ukosina as a distinctive point. Since in the American style, if there is cladding with OSB3 (OSB) boards on the frame, there is no need for miters. The slab can be considered as an infinite number of jibs.

Let's talk in more detail about the key features of the correct frame in the American version.

Correct corners of a frame house

In fact, on the Internet, even in the American segment, you can find a dozen schemes. But most of them are outdated and rarely used, especially in cold regions. I will highlight three main angle patterns. Although realistically, only the first two are the main ones.

Nodes of corners of a frame house

Option 1 – the so-called “California” angle. The most common option. Why exactly “California” – I have no idea :). From the inside, another board or strip of OSB is nailed to the outer post of one of the walls. As a result, a shelf is formed on the inside of the corner, which subsequently serves as a support for the interior decoration or any internal layers of the wall.
Option 2 – closed corner. Also one of the most popular. The essence is an additional stand in order to make a shelf on the inner corner. Among the advantages: the quality of insulation of the corner is better than in option 1. Among the disadvantages: such a corner can only be insulated from the outside, that is, this must be done before sheathing the frame with anything from the outside (slabs, membrane, etc.)
Option 3 – “Scandinavian” warm corner. A very rare option, not used in America. I have seen it in Scandinavian frames, but not often. Why did I bring him then? Because, in my opinion, this is the warmest corner option. And I'm thinking about starting to use it at our facilities. But you need to think before using it, since it is structurally inferior to the first two and will not fit everywhere.

What is unique about all three of these options and why is timber a bad option for a corner?

Angle made of timber, the worst option

If you noticed, in all three versions of boards the corner can be insulated. Somewhere more, somewhere less. In the case of timber in a corner, we have two drawbacks: firstly, from the point of view of heating engineering, such a corner will be the coldest. Secondly, if there is a beam in the corner, then there are no “shelves” on the inside to attach the interior trim to it.

Of course, the last issue can be resolved. But remember what I said about the “wrong” frames? Why make it complicated when you can make it simpler? Why make a beam, creating a cold bridge and thinking about how to attach finishing to it later, if you can make a warm corner from boards? Despite the fact that this will not affect the quantity of material or the complexity of the work.

Openings and top trim are the most significant difference between the American frame design and the Scandinavian one, but more on that later. So, when they talk about the correct openings in a frame, they usually talk about the following scheme (window and door openings are made according to the same principle).

Correct openings in a frame house

The first thing (1) that people usually pay attention to when talking about “wrong” openings is the double and even triple racks on the sides of the opening. It is often believed that this is necessary to somehow strengthen the opening for installing a window or door. Actually this is not true. A window or door will be fine on single posts. Why then do we need cohesive boards?

Everything is elementary. Remember when I said that the American frame is as simple and reliable as an iron saw? Pay attention to Figure 2. And you will understand that solid racks are needed solely to support the elements lying on them. So that the edges of these elements do not hang on nails. Simple, reliable and versatile.

In Figure 3 there is one of the simplified versions, when the lower frame of the window cuts into a torn mullion. But at the same time, both window frames still have supports at the edges.

Therefore, we cannot formally say that if the racks are not doubled, then this is “wrong.” They can also be single, as in the Scandinavian frame. Rather, the mistake is when the racks along the edges of the openings are solid, but do not bear the load from the elements resting on them. In this case they are simply meaningless.

In this case, the horizontal elements hang on fasteners, so there is no point in doubling or tripling the racks on the sides

Now let's talk about an element that is already more critical and the absence of which can be considered as an “irregularity” of the opening. This is the “header” above the opening (header).

Window header

This is a really important element. As a rule, some kind of load will come from above onto the window or doorway - the floor joists of the second floor, the rafter system. And the wall itself is weakened by deflection in the area of the opening. Therefore, local reinforcements are made in the openings. In American it is headers. In fact, this is a board installed on edge above the opening. Here it is important that the edges of the header either rest on the posts (if the classic American scheme with solid opening posts is used), or are cut into the outer posts if they are single. Moreover, the cross-section of the header directly depends on the loads and dimensions of the opening. The larger the opening and the stronger the load on it, the more powerful the header. It can also be double, triple, extended in height, etc. – I repeat, it depends on the load. But, as a rule, for openings up to 1.5 m in width, a header made from a 45x195 board is quite sufficient.

Is the absence of a header a sign that the framework is “wrong”? Yes and no. If we act according to the American principle of “simple and reliable,” then the header should be present at every opening. Do this and be sure of the result.

But in fact, you need to dance from the load falling on the opening from above. For example, a narrow window in a one-story house and the rafters in this section of the wall are located along the edges of the opening - the load from above on the opening is minimal and you can do without a header.

Therefore, the header issue should be treated as follows. If there is one, great. If it is not there, then the builders (contractor) must clearly explain why, in their opinion, it is not needed here, and this will depend, first of all, on the load falling on the opening area from above.

Double top harness

Double top frame made of boards, also a distinctive feature of the American frame

Double top harness

The double strapping again provides reinforcement along the top of the wall for deflection from the load from above - the load from the ceiling, rafters, etc. In addition, pay attention to the overlaps of the second row of strapping.

Overlap in the corner - we tie two perpendicular walls together.
Overlap in the center - we tie together 2 sections of one wall.
Overlap along the partition - we tie the partition together with the outer wall.

Thus, the double piping also fulfills the second task - ensuring the integrity of the entire wall structure.

In the domestic version you can often find the top frame made of timber. And this, again, is not the best solution. Firstly, the beam is thicker than a double frame. Yes, it may be better for deflection, but it is not a fact that it is necessary, but the cold bridge at the top of the wall will be more significant. Well, it’s more difficult to implement this overlap to ensure the integrity of the entire structure. Therefore, we return again to the question: why make it difficult if you can make it simpler and more reliable?

Correct jib in a frame house

Another cornerstone. Surely you have come across the phrase “jibs made incorrectly.” Let's talk about this. Firstly, what is a jib? This is a diagonal element in the wall, which provides spatial rigidity for shear in the lateral plane. Because thanks to the jib, a system of triangular structures appears, and the triangle is the most stable geometric figure.

So, when they talk about the correct jib, they usually talk about this option:

Correct jib

Why is this particular jib called “correct” and what should you pay attention to?

This jib is installed with an angle of 45 to 60 degrees - this is the most stable triangle. Of course, the angle may be different, but this range is best.
The jib cuts into the upper and lower trim, and does not just rest against the rack - this is quite an important point, in this way we tie the structure together.
The jib cuts into every post in its path.
For each node - adjacent to the harness or rack, there must be at least two fastening points. Since one point will give a “hinge” with a certain degree of freedom.
The jib cuts into the edge - this way it works better in the structure and interferes less with the insulation.

And here is an example of the most “wrong” jib. But nevertheless, it occurs all the time.

This is just a board stuck into the first opening of the frame. What is so “wrong” about it, since formally it is also a triangle?

Firstly, the angle of inclination is very small.
Secondly, the jib board works worst in this plane.
Thirdly, it is difficult to fix such a jib to the wall.
Fourthly, pay attention to the fact that cavities that are extremely inconvenient for insulation are formed at the junctions with the frame. Even if the jib is carefully trimmed and there is no gap at the end, there is no escape from the sharp corner, and properly insulating such a corner is not an easy task, so most likely it will be done somehow.

Another example, also common. This is a jib cut into the posts, but not cut into the harness.

The jib is not embedded in the harness

This option is already much better than the previous one, but, nevertheless, such a jib will work worse than one embedded in the harness, and the work will take 5 minutes more. And if, moreover, it is fixed to each rack with only one nail, then its effect will also be minimized.

We won’t even consider the options for all sorts of small defective “corners and braces” that do not reach from the top harness to the bottom.

Formally, even the most crooked jib makes at least some contribution. But once again: why do it your own way if a good solution already exists?

This is where we finish with the American frame and move on to the Scandinavian one.

Correct Scandinavian frame

Unlike America, where frames are practically standardized and there are very few differences, there are more variations in Scandinavia. Here you can find both the classic American frame and hybrid versions. The Scandinavian frame, in essence, is the development and modernization of the American one. However, basically, when they talk about a Scandinavian frame, we are talking about such a design.

Typical Scandinavian house kit

Scandinavian frame

Corners, jibs - everything here is like the Americans. What should you pay attention to?

Single strapping along the top of the wall.
Power crossbar embedded in the racks along the entire wall.
Single posts on window and door openings.

In fact, the main difference is this very “Scandinavian” crossbar - it replaces both the American headers and the double harness, being a powerful power element.

What, in my opinion, is the advantage of the Scandinavian frame over the American one? The fact is that it places a much greater emphasis on minimizing all kinds of cold bridges, which are almost all solid boards (double strapping, racks of openings). After all, between each solid board, a gap could potentially form over time, which you may never know about. Well, it’s one thing when the cold bridge is the width of one board, and another question is when there are already two or three of them.

Of course, you shouldn’t focus on cold bridges. There’s still no escape from them, and in fact, their importance is often exaggerated. But, nevertheless, they exist and, if it is possible to minimize them relatively painlessly, why not do it?

Scandinavians in general, unlike Americans, are very concerned about energy saving. The colder, northern climate and expensive energy resources also have an impact. But in terms of climate, Scandinavia is much closer to us (I’m talking primarily about the North-West region) than most American states.

The disadvantage of the Scandinavian frame is that it is slightly more complex, at least in the fact that in all racks you need to make cuts for the crossbar. And the fact is that, unlike the American one, it does require some kind of mental effort. For example: large openings may require double racks to support horizontal elements, and additional crossbars and headers. And somewhere, for example, on the gable walls of one-story buildings, where there is no load from the joists or roof, perhaps a transom is not even needed.

In general, the Scandinavian frame has certain advantages, but requires a little more effort and intelligence than the American one. If the American frame can be assembled with the brains completely turned off, then in the Scandinavian one it is better to turn them on, at least in the minimum mode.

“Semi-regular” frames

Let me remind you that by “semi-correct” I mean precisely those that have every right to exist, but differ from the typical Scandinavian-American solutions. Therefore, calling them “semi-correct” must be done with caution.

Let me give you a few examples.

An example of how you can “overdo it”

The first example is from our own practice. This house was built by us, but according to a design provided by the customer. We even wanted to redo the project completely, but we were limited by deadlines, since we had to go to the site; In addition, the customer paid a significant amount for the project and formally there are no violations in the design, but he has come to terms with the stated shortcomings of the current solution.

Why then did I classify this frame as “semi-regular”? Please note that there are Scandinavian crossbars, American headers, and double trims not only at the top, but also at the bottom of the walls. In short, there is an American scheme, and a Scandinavian one, and another 30% of the Russian reserve is thrown on top, just in case. Well, the prefabricated stand of 6 (!!!) boards under the glued ridge beam speaks for itself. After all, in this place the only insulation is isoplate on the outside and cross-insulation on the inside. And if there was a purely American scheme, then there would simply be no insulation in this section of the wall, bare wood from the outside in.

I call this frame “semi-correct” because from the point of view of structural reliability there are no complaints about it. There is a multiple margin of safety “in case of nuclear war.” But there are an abundance of cold bridges, a huge waste of material for the frame, and high labor costs, which also affects the price.

This house could have been made with a smaller but sufficient margin of safety, but at the same time reducing the amount of lumber by 30 percent and significantly reducing the number of cold bridges, making the house warmer.

Another example is a frame using the “double volume” frame system, promoted by a Moscow company.

The main difference is that it is actually a double outer wall, with racks spaced apart relative to each other. So the frame fully satisfies the strength criteria and is very good from the point of view of thermal engineering, due to the minimization of cold bridges, but loses in manufacturability. The problem of eliminating cold bridges, which is primarily solved by such a frame, can be solved by simpler, more reliable and correct methods such as “cross-insulation”.

And, curiously, usually “semi-correct” frames somehow contain Scandinavian-American solutions. And the differences are rather in an attempt to improve the good. But it often happens that “the best is the enemy of the good.”

Such frames can be safely called “semi-correct” precisely because there are no gross violations here. There are differences from typical American-Scandinavian solutions in attempts to improve something or come up with some kind of “trick”. Whether to pay for them or not is the customer’s choice.

“Wrong” frame houses

Now let's talk about the “wrong” frames. The most typical, I would even say collective, case is presented in the photo below.

The quintessence of “directional” frame house construction

What can you immediately notice in this photo?

Total use of natural moisture material. Moreover, it is a massive material, which dries out the most and changes its geometry during the drying process.
The beams in the corners and on the straps and even on the racks are cold bridges and an inconvenience in further work.
Lack of headers and opening reinforcements.
Do not understand how the jib is made, poorly fulfilling its role and interfering with insulation.
Assembly on corners with black self-tapping screws, the purpose of which is to fasten gypsum boards during finishing (and not for use in load-bearing structures).

The photo above shows almost the quintessence of what is commonly called an “irregular” frame or “RSK”. The abbreviation RSK appeared in 2008 at FH, at the suggestion of one builder who presented a similar product to the world, called Russian Power Frame. Over time, as people began to figure out what was what, this abbreviation began to be deciphered as Russian Strashen Karkashen. Like the apotheosis of meaninglessness with a claim to a unique solution.

What is most curious is that, if desired, it can also be classified as “semi-correct”: after all, if the screws do not rot (black phosphated screws are by no means an example of corrosion resistance) and do not burst during the inevitable shrinkage of the timber, this frame is unlikely to fall apart. That is, such a design has the right to life.

What is the main disadvantage of “wrong” frames? If people know what they are doing, they will quite quickly come to the Canadian-Scandinavian pattern. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information now. And if they don’t come, then this says one thing: they, by and large, don’t care about the result. The classic answer when trying to ask them why this is so is “we have always built it this way, no one has complained.” That is, the entire construction is based solely on intuition and ingenuity. Without trying to ask how it’s generally customary to do this.

What prevented you from making a board instead of timber? Reinforce the openings? Make normal jibs? Collect on nails? That is, do it right? After all, such a frame does not provide any advantages! One large set of not the best solutions with claims to super strength, etc. Moreover, the labor input is the same as the “correct” one, the cost is the same, and the material consumption is perhaps even greater.

Summarize

As a result: the American-Scandinavian frame scheme is usually called “correct”, due to the fact that it has already been tested many times on thousands of houses, proving its viability and the optimal ratio of “labor-input-reliability-quality”.

“Semi-regular” and “irregular” include all other types of frames. In this case, the frame may be quite reliable, but “suboptimal” in terms of the above.

As a rule, if potential contractors cannot justify the use of certain design solutions other than the “correct” American-Scandinavian ones, this indicates that they have no idea about these very “correct” solutions and are building a house solely on a whim, replacing knowledge with intuition and ingenuity. And this is a very risky path that may come back to haunt the home owner in the future.

That's why. Do you want guaranteed correct, optimal solutions? Pay attention to the classic American or Scandinavian frame house construction scheme.

about the author

Hello. My name is Alexey, you may have met me as Porcupine or Gribnick on the Internet. I am the founder of the Finnish House, a project that has grown from a personal blog into a construction company whose goal is to build a high-quality and comfortable home for you and your children.

Turnkey frame houses are offered by many construction organizations, but what is a prefabricated structure? The future owner of a low-rise building would like to know in more detail the pros and cons of a frame house. We will try to determine the effectiveness of the construction step by step and identify shortcomings. Let's understand the thermal insulation materials used and construction technology.

In recent years, a residential building called “ frame house", is becoming more and more popular. Installation organizations have in their arsenal standard designs of frame houses, and also offer individual construction. Currently, there is no perfect construction technology that would be superior to others and would not itself have obvious disadvantages.

However, according to statistics, frame houses are most often built. In the domestic (and not only) construction market, obvious advantages have ensured that frame houses are in demand, even despite some minor drawbacks.

Quickly built houses are attractive because they can be built on a ready-made basis in record time. Just two people, having a frame house project in their arsenal, are able to independently build a frame house in about a month. Taking into account the fact that it will be built by inexperienced builders.

DIY frame house without lifting mechanisms

And all thanks to step-by-step assembly - repetition of simple steps. Only one thing is important - to know how to correctly assemble each of the nodes. If you have instructions and understand the principle of construction, anyone can assemble a house from a frame.

Construction frame house It also attracts with its low cost. The specific amount depends on the size of the house and the building materials used (type of wood and finishing). One way or another, this option is rightfully considered one of the affordable and budget-friendly ones.

What are frame houses?

Frame houses are a special type of structure in which all load-bearing parts are closely interconnected. This type of construction of low-rise buildings has gained great popularity in America, Germany and Eastern countries.

It is noteworthy that in German cities, frame buildings began to be built nine centuries ago. To date, some details have undergone many changes, but the basic principle of operation remains the same as centuries ago.

At the very beginning, the main structure is built from timber, which is gradually filled with thermal insulation materials and sheathed with protective elements.

Technology and construction of frame houses

The basic principle of the technology for constructing frame buildings is a stable frame and fillers with low price and thermal conductivity. Basically, such a structure is made of wood or metal.

Accordingly, beams, boards or zinc-coated steel are used for this. And to sheathe the walls, they usually take oriented or

Thermal insulation components used:

Wood fiber wool;
Polyurethane foam;
Cellulose ecowool.

Typical, multi-layer insulation scheme for frame houses

The most common option among builders of private houses in the Russian Federation is basalt. It has many advantages, including:

Long service life;
Non-flammability;
Excellent sound insulation;
Moisture repellent.

He honestly deserved the “Silver Medal”. It is used for the production of sandwich panels and for the construction of frame-panel houses using Western technology. Eco-friendly cellulose wool rounds out the top three.

There are only three methods for constructing low-rise buildings:

. The plant produces shields of the same type, consisting of a pair of sheets of oriented strand boards and a layer of expanded polystyrene between these shields. The panels are cut out at the site of the proposed construction. Houses made of sip panels often become an alternative, displacing frame-panel houses.

. OSB is cut into panels of the required size while still in production. Already at the construction site, they are sewn onto the frame and insulation is carried out.

German. Frame-panel houses are made up of factory-prepared panels. They are delivered to the construction site with glazed window frames and ready-made door panels.

The first couple of options can be completely done without unnecessary equipment - several people can handle them. As for assembling the building from huge panels, you will have to use a crane for the work.

Panel house on a screw foundation

Insulation of a frame house

As for the internal arrangement of the walls, frame houses can be panel or frame. The first type is a kind of construction kit, made from parts assembled in production, which just need to be assembled into a single whole. Frame frame houses involve the installation of a skeleton made of metal or wooden profiles, as well as cladding and thermal insulation.

Frame houses are subject to mandatory insulation

Using the latest technology allows you to fully control the quality of materials and the entire assembly process. Each of the stages. In contrast, the construction of panel houses takes much less time. The only thing you should carefully monitor is the quality of the purchased shields.

The walls of typical private houses consist of many layers, including:

OSB or DSP boards on both sides;
A special lattice that forms;

The frame with internal insulation can be single or paired. In areas with a mild climate or for a dacha that is not intended for permanent residence, the first option is quite suitable.

The thickness of such walls is up to ten centimeters. In areas with cold winters, it will be better to have thick walls - fifteen centimeters or thicker.

SIPs are filled with expanded polystyrene, and the ends are filled with beams. Their presence will allow you to get by with a less powerful foundation during the construction process. Partial load is taken by SIP panels.

The main advantages and disadvantages of frame low-rise buildings

Currently, frame buildings are extremely popular, and all thanks to the short construction period, reliable design and relatively low costs for building materials. Nevertheless, frame houses include pros and cons, which are described in the reviews of the owners.

frame house on stilts - photos of staged construction

If you have a strong desire and the necessary skills, you can even build such a house yourself. Of course, all these undeniable advantages inspire many enthusiasts to lean towards this particular option for a private home.

But we must not forget that frame buildings, for all their quality, also have some disadvantages that should not be ignored. Let us consider the advantages and disadvantages of this building in more detail.

Frame houses advantages:

1. An excellent prospect to hide and lay electrical and plumbing communications directly in the walls;

2. High pace of construction;

3. Low level of thermal conductivity - frame houses are very warm and are inferior, perhaps, to a log house;

4. Finishing can begin immediately after roofing work;

5. Low weight of the structure, n the point does not shrink;

6. Cheap construction work. Panel cladding of the frame will cost several times less than brick walls.

7. Lack of seasonality. Frame houses can be built all year round.

8. Improved wall insulation. The cavity between the wood studs provides ample space for insulation.

9. Speed and cost-effectiveness of construction. Wooden frame walls are built much faster and, in the case of complex buildings and window configurations, they will cost much less. Among other things, it is much easier to lay utilities through the wall.

The basic advantage of this design is the overall lightness of the entire house. This, in turn, allows, in most cases, to carry out construction work without the presence of special equipment.

a frame house is indistinguishable from ordinary buildings and is suitable for year-round living

Frame houses do not require a massive foundation; there is no need to lay it as deep as under a brick house. In this ratio, only aerated concrete blocks compete with frame houses covered with insulated wooden panels.

Frame houses cons

Now about the disadvantages of frame houses. Although there are relatively few of them, they are still worth mentioning:

The project proposal must come from organizations with extensive experience. Otherwise, you may not even think about the durability and strength of the frame, which is the “skeleton” of your home;

If the house does not have forced ventilation, be prepared for the room to be quite stuffy;

Expanded polystyrene, like polyurethane foam, are not environmentally friendly materials;

Lumber is flammable and this is also worth taking into account;

Frame buildings are much less resistant to storms and strong winds compared to concrete. Timber frames, like concrete buildings, must be tested to meet the same sustainability building code standards. And yet, buildings made of wood are lighter.

You will often have to deal with attacks from termites and ants, because their wood content is much higher. Prevention in the form of special traps, baits and antiseptics will help protect your building from pests.

A frame house is not as resistant to water penetration. The outer layer of a wooden frame building is covered with a moisture-resistant shield that carefully hides all openings. But if water penetrates a wooden wall, it will cause much more damage to it than a wall made of concrete or brickwork.

Video review - the pros and cons of a frame house:

If we talk about the fire safety of wood, this can only apply to untreated frames. If the wood is impregnated with a special substance, it will be too tough for fire.

In most cases, all the disadvantages of frame buildings are attributed mainly to gross mistakes by the builders. Or due to inexperience in the details of construction technology. Among such disadvantages there are even far-fetched ones.

The main problem that residents of frame houses face every now and then is stuffy rooms. The walls of such a house, indeed, almost do not allow air to pass through. On the one hand, this means significant savings on heating costs. On the other hand, there is a need to install forced ventilation.

The main threat to frame construction is called:

Wood rot;
Termites;
Hurricanes.

In the last few decades, fires have also been added to them. Including cases where the fire occurred in the forest, near residential buildings.

Modern technology in the construction of frame buildings

The technique of constructing frame buildings allows you to build a house in the shortest possible time, with a relatively small budget. If you build the same house from concrete, beams or brickwork, the same building will end up being much more expensive. But you can live in such a private house for up to a hundred years!

frame panel houses construction technology

On the other hand, a lot can depend on the details, including the quality of the material and the climatic conditions in the area of construction.

It is worth remembering that the main danger for a frame house is water. No matter how hard you try to protect the wood from water, you won’t be able to do it 100%.

photo of frame houses using Canadian technology from sip panels

Advanced frame houses are always the optimal engineering design. They fully comply with the intended task of reducing the amount of lumber used and generate the least amount of waste during construction.

wooden frame house

Modern construction methods that use frame homes improve energy efficiency by replacing lumber with insulating material while maintaining the structural integrity of the home.

Insulation of a frame house, performed using technology, improves the value of thermal conductivity by reducing the thermal bridge through the framing and maximizing the insulated wall area.

If you want to build a house as quickly as possible and relatively inexpensively, then you should prefer frame technologies. Frame frames have their own advantages, thanks to which these buildings are very popular. However, one should not neglect the disadvantages that any structure has. The technology of frame construction is quite simple, so you can easily build a house yourself. In order to choose the right technology to build your frame house, you need to study the features of each of them.

Advantages and disadvantages

First of all, it’s worth listing the pros and cons of frame buildings. The technology for constructing a frame house makes it possible to obtain structures that have the following advantages:

Frame buildings are quite warm, despite the small thickness of the walls. The thing is that most of the wall structure is occupied by thermal insulation material, and special methods of connecting components and parts make it possible to avoid the formation of cold bridges.
House operating costs are low. Due to the high airtightness of the house and the good thermal insulation qualities of the walls, little money is spent on heating such a building, because the heat in the room is retained for a long time. Moreover, the walls of the frame structure are quite strong and durable, so they do not require special care during the operation of the house.
The technology of frame house construction is so simple that you can easily build a house yourself. In this case, you will not need heavy construction equipment.
The technology for constructing a frame house itself is relatively inexpensive, so by purchasing standard projects, you can save significantly on construction. You will receive additional savings on the construction of the foundation, which can be made lightweight due to the low specific weight of the wall material.
A frame house can have any configuration and architectural style. You can build a one- or two-story house, a building with an attic, garage, balcony, terrace or veranda. In any case, this house will cost less than a building of a similar layout made of brick or concrete. By using different facade finishes, you will get buildings that are completely different in style.
You will spend 2-3 months building a house yourself using frame technology. If the construction of the building is entrusted to a team of qualified workers, then construction will take even less time (several weeks). Since the structure does not shrink, you can finish the house and move into it immediately after construction.
Frame construction can be carried out at any time of the year (even in winter), since there are no “wet” processes during the construction of the frame. The only thing worth doing before the cold weather is building the foundation.
In a frame house it is much easier to carry out hidden installation of utilities.
Frame buildings can be used as seasonal homes. The thing is that the wall structure can easily withstand the winter period without heating. The walls will not move, they will not warp, they will not become damp.

Very often you can come across the opinions of experts that frame houses, the construction technologies of which we will describe in our article, have many disadvantages. However, whether this is actually so, judge for yourself:

You can often hear the opinion that the main disadvantage of a frame structure is the impossibility of redevelopment after construction. However, this statement is true only for frame-panel houses. A frame house built using frame technology can be redesigned, since lightweight partitions are not load-bearing structures.
The opinion that a frame building can be built no higher than one floor is a misconception. Indeed, it is not recommended to make panel houses two-story, but you can afford an attic floor. If you need a two-story house, then choose frame-frame construction technology.
The myth that a frame house has a short service life (no more than 75 years) can be easily debunked. At the end of this period, the house needs repairs. However, the whole point is that even a house made of any other material needs repair and replacement of some parts, for example, roofing. Since the frame of such a house is reliably protected from any weather influences, the structure can last up to 100 years.
Previously, it was believed that the frame was not very warm, but frame technology has been improving over the years, new thermal insulation materials, effective wind barriers and vapor barrier membranes are appearing, so now there is no need to doubt the thermal insulation qualities of such a house.
The only thing that is true is that the noise protection of a frame house is slightly lower than that of buildings made of brick or stone.

Types of technologies

We list the most common technologies for constructing frame houses:

DOK technologies;
frame buildings using Canadian technology (houses made of SIP panels and construction using the “Platform” system);
houses using German technology (factory kits for panel structures);
half-timbered technology;
frame-frame buildings.

If you decide to build a frame house, the construction technology may be slightly different, so you should consider in detail the features of each frame construction.

DOK technology

DOK technology is the construction of a house with a double volumetric frame (DOF). The design and construction of such houses is justified in regions with harsh climates. The main distinctive features of structures erected using this technology are the following:

Additional warmth and comfort in the premises of the house is achieved due to the fact that there are completely no cold bridges in the wall design. Thanks to this, the service life of the house increases significantly.
The design of the walls provides additional measures to protect them from the accumulation of condensate and a decrease in thermal insulation qualities during operation. In particular, a special ventilation gap is used for this.
In house construction using this technology, only high-quality materials are used.
Frame houses using DOK technology are built only using kiln-dried lumber.
During construction, European quality standards are adhered to.

Thanks to this, special energy efficiency of enclosing structures is achieved, as well as their strength. The main condition is the displacement of the frame posts relative to each other. After laying the basalt insulation, the wooden frame posts are covered with thermal insulation material, thereby eliminating the formation of cold bridges.

Canadian technologies - Platform system

Such a frame house can be assembled on a construction site, or components for it can be manufactured in a factory. Since the walls of the house are assembled from panels, the buildings belong to the category of frame-panel houses.

Important: panels are a structure made of OSB, plywood and other sheet wood materials with thermal insulation filler inside.

They are installed on a mounted platform of logs and oriented strand boards. The shields are installed with a groove on a special ridge of the platform. From above, all panel elements are connected by an upper trim. Also, the shields are additionally fastened together. The joints are carefully insulated with polyurethane foam.

As you can see, the peculiarity of the installation of panels is that each of them is also a load-bearing element, so redevelopment of such a house is impossible. After installing the walls of the house, the roof is erected, utilities are laid, and the walls are finished.

Canadian technologies - SIP panels

the two outer layers are sheet wood material (OSB or moisture-resistant plywood). The most commonly used oriented strand board is 1.2 cm thick;
The layer of thermal insulation material can be of different thicknesses, which depends on the climatic conditions of the construction region. Typically, polystyrene foam is used for these purposes.

There is a groove at the ends of the SIP panel to facilitate fixation to the beam, which will serve as the frame. The same beam is installed not only in a vertical position, but also as an upper and lower horizontal wall trim.

Important: SIP panels are used not only to form wall structures, but also as the floor of the first floor, as well as ceiling slabs.

German technology

The construction of houses using German technology differs from the above methods in that panel panels that are manufactured in a factory are used to build a house. Moreover, windows and doors have already been installed in them, communications have been laid, insulation has been laid, and the primary finishing of the walls has been completed. The ceilings are also assembled at the factory.

Due to the significant weight of one panel, lifting equipment will be required for its transportation and installation. All this contributes to the rise in cost of building a house. However, the principle of connecting panels in wall construction is the same as that of the technologies described above.

Among the disadvantages of this technology are the following:

the quality of assembly and insulation of panels in the factory cannot be controlled;
for installation and delivery you will need construction lifting equipment;
the strength and reliability of the house is lower than that of buildings erected using frame-frame technology.

Half-timbered houses

Such buildings are erected using frame-frame technology. To make the frame of this house, laminated veneer lumber with a cross-section of at least 15x15 cm is used. Then the space between the frame posts is filled with the selected material. It can be stone, brick, sheet material with insulation inside, glass, concrete, adobe, etc. Thus, the house is assembled on the construction site. In addition to the vertical and horizontal posts of the frame, diagonal braces and transverse bars are necessarily used.

The main distinguishing feature of a half-timbered house is that the frame is not hidden in the wall structure, but is exposed. Moreover, it is usually painted in a contrasting color and stands out against the background of lighter walls. Such houses are characterized by large areas of glazing.

Frame technology

This method of building a house is ideal for self-construction due to the simplicity and accessibility of the technology. To build a house, you do not need construction equipment; all work is carried out on the construction site manually. The layout and design of a frame house can be very different.

The essence of the technology is that the frame of the house is first built from timber at the construction site. Then the outside is covered with wood sheet material. After assembling and installing the roof, the walls of the house are insulated from the inside and covered with OSB or plywood. The design of such walls necessarily uses a wind barrier, a hydro- and vapor barrier membrane.

Frame houses are quite popular designs with high positive and thermal characteristics. a frame house allows you to build a full-fledged home in stages in one season. The construction process is not very difficult and all the work can be done on your own. In this article we will analyze in detail frame houses and their structure.

Stages of work and necessary tools

The technology for constructing frame structures consists of assembling a frame. The material used is boards, timber, metal, which is subsequently covered with layers of film, membrane or insulation. This multi-layer wall construction allows you to obtain high thermal insulation qualities with thin walls of the house. The wall consists of the following building materials:

mineral wool;
Styrofoam;
waterproofing material (film, membrane);
vapor barrier;
OSB sheets;
external, internal finishing.

Insulation of frame buildings consists of two parts:

the inside is lined with mineral wool;
outside with polystyrene foam.

Mineral wool can lose its quality over time due to moisture penetration. Therefore, foam plastic is laid to improve sound insulation properties and provide reliable protection from strong gusts of wind and retain heat in the house.

Waterproofing serves as additional insulation against moisture that may form due to precipitation. Lay it overlapping and secure with a special tape.

A vapor barrier is laid inside the building, this allows the walls to breathe. When condensation forms inside the walls, it will escape unhindered, due to which the insulation will last much longer. Using a high-quality membrane and a properly designed ventilation system will avoid the formation of fungus and mold.

OSB sheets are mounted on top of the entire structure, this allows other materials to be attached to it.

For information! In the construction of non-standard and complex projects, a metal building frame is used. This design is quite light and allows you to create a structure of any shape.

For a frame house and its construction, you will need tools such as:

circular and miter saw;
finishing hammer and for assembling the frame;
hacksaw;
sledgehammer;
screwdriver and nailers;
square, tape measure, level;
electric plane;
sander;
stepladders and ladders.

Thanks to simple processes, home arrangement and construction are considered the simplest and fastest.

Construction technology

Foundation

The most common type of foundation is strip, it is a monolithic concrete base

The construction of houses is divided into several important stages. The technology for building a frame house with your own hands begins with the construction of the foundation. The foundation can be:

tape;
pile;
columnar.

The most common type is strip; it is a monolithic concrete base. To install it, markings are made using a cord and pegs, marks for future walls are placed and a trench is dug. Formwork is installed in the trench, waterproofed with film and filled with cement mixture.

To build a columnar base, the pillars are fixed in certain places: in corners and ceilings. The pillars can be prefabricated or cast in cement. Filling pillars are made as with the tape type. They dig holes and install formwork in them, after which they waterproof it. In order for the foundation to be strong, it is necessary to drown the reinforcement a little.

A pile foundation is similar to a columnar foundation; the main role is played by piles. They are driven into the ground in the same way as pillars. Most often, the pile type of foundation is used on heaving soils.

Walling

The construction of walls is the next stage of work. The construction of the frame for the house is made of timber. Before assembling it, the strapping is performed: upper or lower. The lower trim involves waterproofing the foundation, laying boards and fixing them with anchor bolts. starts with the corner posts. They are firmly fixed with metal corners and struts. Vertical posts are placed between the corner posts at a distance of 1 meter.

After the walls are erected, the ceiling beams are installed. This can be done in several ways:

cutting method;
using perforated brackets;
steel corners.

It is also possible to combine steel angles with cutting. The beams should rest on the frame beam, and they are fastened with self-tapping screws.

Roof installation

The next step is installing the roof. The type of roof is determined at the design stage of the house; as a rule, it can be a gable or shed roof. The construction of the roof of frame houses begins with a rafter system, which performs a load-bearing function. It consists of the following elements:

rafter legs;
racks;
runs;
puffs;
struts;
lathing;
Mauerlat.

The process of insulating the roof is carried out in the same way as the walls. We lay foam plastic or mineral wool on the outside, lay waterproofing on top and cover everything with lathing. We also lay polystyrene foam or cotton wool inside, and cover it with OSB boards on top. Roofing material is laid taking into account the slope of the roof.

Flooring

Next, the floor is laid. To do this, remove the layer of soil and in its place lay a layer of gravel, which will serve as drainage. Next, we lay a layer of sand, carefully compact everything and make a rough version of the screed using cement.

Important! The sand should be 5 cm lower than the foundation level, this will avoid the formation of a cold bridge and freezing of the soil in the corners.

After the screed is ready, the floor is installed. To do this, a layer of waterproofing is laid, and insulation is laid on top. Liquid or electric floor pipes can be installed on the insulation. Fill everything with screed on top.

Interior decoration

A finished frame house after construction requires external and external finishing, installation of plumbing fixtures, connection of heat supply and drainage systems. Exterior finishing is carried out in the following ways:

wet cladding using mineral wool or acrylic plaster;
finishing with brick, PVC panels or siding;
finishing with facade tiles, which are attached with glue;
blockhouse cladding.

For information! Frame houses and their construction allow for cladding with any material. Remember that stone and brick add weight to the walls. If the foundation is not designed to support the heavy weight of the structure, it may crack. House design and construction must take into account such nuances.

Interior decoration is carried out solely according to the wishes of the owner of the house. The materials you can use are: wallpaper, plaster and tiles. The flooring is made of laminate boards, wood and tiles.

The technology of a frame house and its structure allows you to do all the work yourself and get a full-fledged house in 3 months. By following all processes correctly and consistently, frame construction will not cause any difficulties.

Advantages and disadvantages

First of all, it’s worth listing the pros and cons of frame buildings. The technology for constructing a frame house makes it possible to obtain structures that have the following advantages:

Frame buildings are quite warm, despite the small thickness of the walls. The thing is that most of the wall structure is occupied by thermal insulation material, and special methods of connecting components and parts make it possible to avoid the formation of cold bridges.
House operating costs are low. Due to the high airtightness of the house and the good thermal insulation qualities of the walls, little money is spent on heating such a building, because the heat in the room is retained for a long time. Moreover, the walls of the frame structure are quite strong and durable, so they do not require special care during the operation of the house.
The technology of frame house construction is so simple that you can easily build a house yourself. In this case, you will not need heavy construction equipment.
The technology itself for constructing a frame house is relatively inexpensive, so by purchasing standard projects, you can significantly save on construction. You will receive additional savings on the construction of the foundation, which can be made lightweight due to the low specific weight of the wall material.
A frame house can have any configuration and architectural style. You can build a one- or two-story house, a building with an attic, garage, balcony, terrace or veranda. In any case, this house will cost less than a building of a similar layout made of brick or concrete. By using different facade finishes, you will get buildings that are completely different in style.
You will spend 2-3 months building a house yourself using frame technology. If the construction of the building is entrusted to a team of qualified workers, then construction will take even less time (several weeks). Since the structure does not shrink, you can finish the house and move into it immediately after construction.
can be carried out at any time of the year (even in winter), since there are no “wet” processes during the construction of the box. The only thing worth doing before the cold weather is building the foundation.
In a frame house it is much easier to carry out hidden installation of utilities.
Frame buildings can be used as seasonal homes. The thing is that the wall structure can easily withstand the winter period without heating. The walls will not move, they will not warp, they will not become damp.

You can often hear the opinion that the main disadvantage of a frame structure is the impossibility of redevelopment after construction. However, this statement is true only for frame-panel houses. A frame house built using frame technology can be redesigned, since lightweight partitions are not load-bearing structures.
The opinion that a frame building can be built no higher than one floor is a misconception. Indeed, it is not recommended to make panel houses two-story, but you can afford an attic floor. If you need a two-story house, then choose frame-frame construction technology.
The myth that a frame house has a short service life (no more than 75 years) can be easily debunked. At the end of this period, the house needs repairs. However, the whole point is that even a house made of any other material needs repair and replacement of some parts, for example, roofing. Since the frame of such a house is reliably protected from any weather influences, the structure can last up to 100 years.
Previously, it was believed that the frame was not very warm, but frame technology has been improving over the years, new thermal insulation materials, effective wind barriers and vapor barrier membranes are appearing, so now there is no need to doubt the thermal insulation qualities of such a house.
The only thing that is true is that the noise protection of a frame house is slightly lower than that of buildings made of brick or stone.

Types of technologies

We list the most common technologies for constructing frame houses:

DOK technologies;
frame buildings using Canadian technology (houses made of SIP panels and construction using the “Platform” system);
houses using German technology (factory kits for panel structures);
half-timbered technology;
frame-frame buildings.

If you decide to build a frame house, the construction technology may be slightly different, so you should consider in detail the features of each frame construction.