Timber or log - which is better for building a house? Log or timber: which is better to choose?

About the benefits wooden houses A lot has already been said. Those who want to build their own Vacation home cozy and beautiful, they choose as building material wood.

However, not everyone understands what is better to use, a log or timber. In addition, there are planed logs, and there are rounded ones; beams are also divided into profiled and glued. Let's try to understand all the diversity together and determine the most best option for suburban wooden house.

Production technologies

Logs belong to the category of wood materials natural humidity. This means that the moisture content that is in the growing trunk remains at the beginning of the process. construction work. When all the liquid leaves the logs naturally, a process of shrinkage occurs, this can last a whole year. Only after all the moisture has left the wood and the frame has completely settled down, can construction continue, in particular, finishing work be carried out.

The so-called planed log is a tree trunk that is processed using hand plane. This should be done by a specialist, since only the best upper layer without touching those underneath. This is the most ancient technology, which takes a lot of time, and the cost of planed logs is the highest of all. But, such building material is practically not affected by temperature changes and microorganisms, thanks to the protective resinous top layer.

Rounded logs are produced somewhat differently. When an ordinary unprocessed trunk reaches timber processing plants, it is put on a conveyor that feeds the wood into the machines. During the processing process, all the upper layers are removed to the required diameter, only the solid core remains, and the length also becomes standard. In addition, for corner unities, samples are made “into the bowl”. This greatly facilitates the installation of log houses and makes the connections tighter. Such timber is cheaper, but it is mandatory need to be treated with an antiseptic, since after the machine there are open pores in which moisture accumulates, which is an excellent environment for the development of fungus.

Profiled timber is also a product of machine processing. The difference between it and a rounded log is that its two parallel surfaces (which will then become the inner and outer walls) are absolutely flat, and the remaining two have matching key grooves. Thanks to this profile, installation of an inter-crown seal is not required, and both interior and exterior finishing can be done without preliminary preparation. Profiled timber also needs to be impregnated with fire-resistant and antibacterial compounds.

Glued laminated timber is composite material, which is glued together from individual boards of various lengths. This technology has a number of undeniable advantages, but it also has quite noticeable disadvantages. The advantages of laminated veneer lumber over solid wood are higher strength and durability, better thermal insulation, low shrinkage, no cracks. The most significant disadvantages include high cost, as well as sensitivity to violation technological process production.

Which is better: a house made of timber or logs?

Based on the above, we can draw some conclusions about the behavior of these wood materials in the structures of houses, bathhouses and other structures. However, such information will not fully reflect the true state of affairs. In addition to production technologies, it is necessary to analyze performance characteristics. Which house to choose from log or timber? The answer to this question is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. Someone may decide that there is not much difference and that the first thing that comes up is what you should buy. This approach is absolutely wrong.

If you do not take into account factors such as high cost and long construction period, then we can recommend planed logs for the construction of any wooden structures.

Its excellent protective properties provide a very long service life of the building with little maintenance. In addition, the walls of such a log house “breathe” creating a comfortable microclimate, which will be immediately appreciated by people susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. From the outside, the house will look very rich and, with appropriate color treatment, will be quite bright, one of the most noticeable among all neighboring buildings. Interior decoration is also quite simple, you just need to open the walls with varnish, after shading it with stain.

Profiled timber is also quite good and has a number of advantages. The first is the wood profile itself.

His lock system so dense that the seals inherent in log houses are simply not needed. Its neat side surfaces suitable for fastening plasterboard boards, ceramic tiles (you just need to fasten the reinforcing mesh), MDF panels.

If we're talking about about the surface outer wall, then a tighter fit thermal insulation material gives greater effect. The log does not have this.

The rounded log can be conditionally placed in third place (only conditionally), since its excellent installation performance fades somewhat when it comes to operation. At first, about three years, you will have to carefully monitor the structure of the house. Such wood material requires care; the impregnations evaporate over time, so the treatment must be carried out again. It is also possible that under the influence sunlight and oxygen, the outside of the log house will darken, especially its South side. Then it will need to be bleached. Carrying out outdoor finishing works, for example, covering with a block house, the purpose of which is to protect the surface of the wall, will negate all the advantages of a log house.

In terms of its characteristics, laminated veneer lumber seems to be one of the leaders, however, there are many pitfalls. The high price of this material is not due to the costs of its production. The reason for the high cost of laminated veneer lumber is most likely that this wood building material appeared relatively recently, which means that its manufacturers are testing the market, starting with the highest possible profit. If the quality is poor adhesive composition It is quite possible that individual boards will delaminate and are most likely discarded.

It is also absolutely unknown how a structure based on laminated timber will behave after a long period of time, 30 years or 50.

That's why this wood is a big question, and build capital out of it residential buildings Not recommended.

MK replacement of timber. Personal experience city ​​women

Timber or log: what to build?

Which house to choose from log or timber? In addition to the fact that each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, the designs of wooden houses can also be considered in this context. Log houses, especially from trunks large diameter are quite heavy and their pressure on the ground is greater than that of lumber. This means you need to make a foundation that can withstand the weight of the building and keep it intact throughout its entire service life. This will entail additional costs and increase the construction period.

There is a construction technology frame houses from timber. The main advantages of this method are speed of installation, low thermal conductivity of the structure, and good appearance. However, that is why they are actually erected wooden buildings, V frame houses absent. This building doesn't breathe. The whole meaning of both the building itself and its construction as a residential building is lost. Often the determining factor when choosing frame technology is low cost. If we are talking about country house, in which it is necessary to carry out only summer months, then such a choice can be justified, but for permanent residence It's better to look at other options.

There is another fundamental difference between a log and timber. Building construction it is warmer on the base of the logs. The level of protection of a building from cold is determined by the thickness of the wall. Since logs are trunks from which a smaller layer of wood has been removed, then, by definition, such a house will be better protected from winter frosts. There are even state regulations that determine the minimum permissible log diameter for each region. Two surfaces of the timber are cut off, which make the log house more thermally conductive. Therefore, a house made of timber, regardless of its manufacturing technology, must be insulated using appropriate materials.

In addition to insulation measures, in timber structures it is necessary to provide for normal ventilation in the space between the wall and the cladding, where the insulation is located. Otherwise, you can expect the appearance of fungus, that is, the wood will begin to rot. A log house is devoid of such nuances, so it receives one more plus to its advantages. In addition, any external finishing material, be it siding, block house, façade panel or any other, will look natural only when it imitates a log wall.

Architecture and design

Most experts in the field of architecture are inclined to think that a log house is preferable, since it is a classic example of a wooden house. It does not need to be specially trimmed to obtain additional benefits. The house made of timber from the outside is a smooth wall, which without additional decoration looks pretty primitive. There is a field of activity for designers here. As a rule, such specialists suggest doing it on window and doorways carved platbands, equip the windows themselves with shutters, you can also make a porch with a canopy. Such, by and large, decorative details will give a more uniform surface attractive appearance and concentrate the viewer’s attention at certain points.

Interior decoration of premises in log cabins and houses made of timber are also somewhat different. By and large, nature lovers in the interior do not need to carry out any complex work by organization interior decoration. Just like outside, it is enough to give the necessary shade and cover protective composition. Such a wall in a log house will look very solid. The rounded drops of the logs will immediately contrast with the usual walls of a city apartment, and will provide a pleasant rest for the eye. If the owner wants to make repairs and bring the surface to standard view, he can always do this with the help various panels or slabs.

Houses made of timber are finished only using standard technology, using ordinary materials such as wallpaper, decorative plaster, ceramic tile etc. Appearance doesn't remind me of the interior wooden house, although, if desired, you can leave the walls in their original form, then the building will be able to breathe (this only applies to profiled timber), but the smooth surface will have to be decorated with many decorative elements. In this case, it is better to seek help from a specialist. An interior designer will be able to get the most out of the environment, in particular by making the right lighting and arranging furniture.

There are a lot of debates about which house is better made of logs or timber; just go to any forum and see the results of the discussion on this topic. But it is impossible to say definitively that one or another option is better. We can only summarize and draw some conclusions.

The positive aspects of log cabins:

• the house “breathes”;
• solid appearance;
• lower cost of materials and work;
• time-tested technologies.

September 3, 2018

Which house is warmer - timber or timber?

Even before purchasing suburban area Many people are already thinking - what to build a house from? Those who have already decided to build a wooden house are concerned main question: “What’s warmer – a log or timber?”

And it is right! Because in Rus', the most important indicator of the quality of a log house has always been its ability to retain heat inside. With our winter frosts all generations of Russian people survived thanks to the fact that the huts were warm even during the most severe cold, when the temperature could drop to minus 45, and in some regions up to 50 degrees below zero.

And only then they judged whether the house was good based on other parameters: comfort and convenience of living in it, location in the area, beauty, etc.

One of the most important issues about home warmth remains relevant today. For more than 1000 years of Russian history, nothing has changed. Russia remains a country with a cold northern climate.

But now they build houses not only from logs manual cutting, but also from timber - a product of processing solid logs. Therefore, we consider the question reasonable: which house is warmer - from logs or timber?

We answer right away: they are the same, the difference is only in the quality of the log house and, if the house is made of timber, then also in the cross-section of the timber.

The fact is that in the places where the crowns of a log house meet, whether made of logs or timber, the distance is approximately the same: 10-20 cm. Therefore, heat retention inside depends on the size of the place of contact of the log or timber in the rows.

Since the beam has precise cross-section parameters - 150x150 mm, 150x200 mm or 200x200 mm, etc., then with log houses everything is clear based on the thickness of the walls - the wider the beam in the wall, the thicker the walls, therefore, they retain heat more reliably.

But with log houses everything is not so simple. It would seem that thick logs in a log house - each, as a rule, weighing under a ton - look impressive. But in in this case you need to pay attention not to the diameter of the log, but to the joints of the crowns in the log house. There they are not as wide as the log itself. Therefore, conventionally, the thickness of the walls in a log house should be measured not by the diameter of the log, but by the points of contact of the logs in the crowns.

Therefore, if in a log house and a timber frame with a cross-section of 150x150 mm the joint width is 15 cm, then they will retain heat inside the house equally well.

But this is a rather relative statement. One of the main points when building a wooden house is the quality of its felling. If the log house was built poorly, then no amount of wall thickness will help retain heat in it. Through the gaps between the crowns, in the corners and through window and door frames, heat will escape to the street.

There are some unlucky home owners who have been caught by a negligent construction company who built them bad house: the walls seem to be thick, the house has powerful heating equipment, the house is heated and heated, but it is still cold. And then such owners of wooden housing complain, they say, “wooden houses are not suitable for permanent housing!”

They are suitable, and how! It is not for nothing that Rus' has been called “wooden” from time immemorial. For hundreds of years we stood in a not very favorable climate, and... Many generations of our ancestors grew up in them. Therefore, it's not a matter of wooden walls home, but in the ability to build it correctly. In compliance with the experience of our ancestors, which has been accumulated over the centuries-old history of Rus'.

Therefore, in the old days it was considered respected profession carpenters whose skills were passed down from generation to generation, from grandfather to father, and father to son. Working with wood requires not only certain skills, the ability to work with available tools, but also knowledge of many secrets of wooden architecture, experience that has accumulated over centuries, gained from observing how wood behaves in a log house, the ability to notice features and not miss various little things out of sight.

It's just that nowadays good carpenters are not so easy to find. More often, well-known companies employ ordinary craftsmen who have nothing to do with carpentry.

Only in the outback of Russia are there still dynasties of carpenters, for example, who continue the traditions of their ancestors. These are also available in our company. "Chukhloma Estate". Based on their experience and knowledge, we build wooden houses not only from timber, but also. But, as you know, a house made of hand-cut logs is the crown of wooden house construction, highest degree carpenter skill. Not every carpenter can build a good house from a log. And our carpenters master this skill.

Therefore, for a wooden house to be warm, it must be well built - without and at the corners. And the thickness of the walls is a second matter.

For example, in northern regions middle zone In Russia, the usual thickness of logs for building a house is 22-26 cm. And in the places where the rows meet, their width is no more than 10-15 cm. If the frame of the house is cut down correctly, the logs fit tightly to each other, and are also insulated, then the house will be warm even in the most severe frosts.

For example, a photo of the crowns from the end on an old wooden house made of hand-cut logs, which was cut down at the beginning of the 20th century. This house remains residential to this day. According to the reviews of the owners living in it, the house is warm, despite the fact that the logs in it have a diameter of 18-20 (at the top) to 22-26 cm (at the butt). The house has an area of ​​approx. 100 sq. m two wood stoves: Russian stove and “Dutch”. In the summer, these two stoves are heated alternately twice a month: to dry the house from the inside on rainy and cool days, when it becomes uncomfortable and damp in the premises, and to burn paper or other “environmentally friendly” accumulated garbage. In the off-season they drown one or the other almost every day. In winter, once a day, both stoves. And when the frosts drop below 30 degrees, and at night over 40, then once a day they thoroughly drown the Russian along with the flooding, and the “Dutch” - once in the morning and once in the evening, before going to bed. In this heating mode, the house is kept comfortable temperature 22-24 degrees.

And with timber house easier. It's going easier, like the children's designer, increased in scale thanks to standard, machine-made building materials. What cross-section of timber you choose for your house, the thickness of the walls will be - the main thing is

Materials for building a wooden house

The environmental trend is gaining momentum! Many Russians want to live in environmentally friendly houses. Therefore, the popularity of building houses from wood today is obvious, and many, as a rule, who decide to build a house from timber, ask a not at all idle question: timber or logs - which is better for building a house?

Let's try to understand this issue in this article.

Buildings made of wood, and more specifically, solid logs, have a long history. Since ancient times, log houses have been built on the territory of Mother Russia, and some of them can still be seen today.

The craftsmen of that time used only an ax. Such craftsmen (cutters) still exist today. But this process is very long, labor-intensive and, naturally, expensive.

Log for building a house

Log house

• Advantages of log houses:
• a log processed by hand will crack less;
• the presence of a protective outer layer rich in tree resins;

reliability of a house made from logs.

• Disadvantages of log houses:
• shrinkage can occur up to two years and reach 12%;

high cost of construction and long duration of work.

Rounded log

House made of rounded logs Rounded timber (log) prepared using modern factory technologies. The barrel then has the same caliber, aesthetic appearance , but loses its protective layer, which allows buildings made of solid logs to stand and please the eye much longer. Modern ones come to the rescue protective equipment

Advantages of houses made of rounded logs:

• the appearance of such houses is almost flawless, allowing you to see the unique texture of the wood;
• assembling such a house takes significantly less time than assembling a log house and, as a fact, construction costs less.

Disadvantages of houses made of rounded logs:

• a common disadvantage, as in a log house, is long term shrinkage;
• low protection of logs from weather factors;
• a significant number of cracks.

Timber for building a house

Review wood construction brought us to conversation about timber houses. Construction from timber is convenient and rational. No need for adjustment wooden elements, more possibilities for interior decoration, which gives scope for individual design solutions. IN modern construction use such types of timber: regular, profiled and glued.

1. Regular timber

And from a simple beam you can build an interesting house

Purchase ordinary timber does not cause difficulties, since many companies sell it. This is an environmentally friendly type of building material that has not been subjected to additional processing. The appearance of unplaned ordinary timber is not as presentable as, for example, laminated timber and therefore requires external finishing work.

Advantages:

• Ease of construction;
• Not high price(the production process is quite simple);
• Availability of building materials on the market and short delivery times.

Flaws:

• The appearance of cracks (after shrinkage, additional cladding on the outside may be required)
• The appearance of gaps due to the deformation of ordinary timber, which sometimes entails some distortion of the walls of the building

The likelihood of “blue staining” (which can be avoided by promptly treating the wood with an antiseptic)

2. Profiled timber

House made of profiled timber

Beams with a profile (profiled) are extremely popular. As they say, it’s a pleasure to work with him, because it is the presence of a profile that allows you to assemble it like a construction set, without modifying the openings. His smooth surfaces They have a neat appearance, which makes it possible to do without additional cladding. Houses made from profiled timber have an attractive appearance.

Advantages:

• Presentable appearance.
• Rigidity of the structure and tight connection, which does not allow moisture to get between. timber and prevents rotting.
• No need for additional finishing after shrinkage.
• Economical construction (little waste after assembly).
• Good wear resistance and thermal insulation.

Disadvantages of profiled timber:

• Shrinkage time is required, but less than that of a simple beam.
• The inevitable appearance of cracks during the drying process.
• High price (compared to non-profiled timber)

3. Glued laminated timber

House made of laminated timber

If we focus on the advantages, then special attention laminated timber deserves. Eco-friendly (except for glue), beautiful, reliable and durable houses made from laminated veneer lumber (i.e. glued together from lamellas) practically do not shrink, which makes their popularity undeniable. There is no deformation and fewer cracks, which means that you can move into such a house as soon as construction is completed. The seismic resistance of buildings made from laminated timber is quite high (as well as from any timber).

Advantages:

• Minimal shrinkage.
• No deformation of buildings made of laminated timber (i.e. glued together from lamellas).
• Ability to implement complex projects.
• No difficulties in assembly and additional finishing work.
• High thermal insulation characteristics.

Flaws:

• High cost (approximately 2-3 times higher than construction from conventional timber)
• Despite the use of environmental glue, this type of timber still loses in the fight for “naturalness” compared to others.

It is not so easy to distinguish between timber and logs. It all depends on your preferences and finances. After all, the issue of price is often the key argument in choosing a material for construction. Someone is ready to wait a couple of years for “shrinkage” to enter the original Russian log house. And some are captivated by the speed and aristocracy of buildings made of laminated veneer lumber.

Choice wood material depends on the object itself that you plan to build: whether this construction will be country house, baths or just country house. For example, for the construction of a summer house, the period of residence in which is limited from spring to mid-autumn, inexpensive simple timber is perfect.

Conducting comparative characteristics Before you buy lumber for construction, pay attention not to “more expensive - cheaper”, but to the quality of wood harvesting, be it timber or logs.

Traditional wooden house construction is being revived in Russia. Wooden houses are increasingly appearing in the suburbs, cottage villages, in suburban areas.

The uniqueness of natural building material lies in its beauty, comfort, and convenience.

Basic materials – wooden log(in all varieties), regular, profiled, laminated veneer lumber. Which of these materials is better – logs or timber?

The choice of material for constructing a wooden house must be approached very responsibly, well understanding all the advantages and disadvantages of various timber products.

This choice also depends on financial capabilities, qualifications of builders, area of ​​the house, and the chosen project.

Log houses

Main advantages of logs natural drying are obvious:

• significant size (speed up the construction process);
• environmental friendliness of natural material;
• low thermal conductivity;
• durability (houses are known to be three hundred years old);
• aesthetics (used in Russian traditional architecture).

Of these features, the most important is the structure of a naturally dried log, which determines the wood’s ability to breathe and, due to the elasticity of the annual rings, to withstand stress and temperature changes.

The disadvantages of the material include the high demands of the technology when choosing suitable trees, time of felling (winter logs are considered the best), drying conditions.

You need to really trust the specialists who choose the log for you: it is impossible for an amateur to visually determine its quality.

Poorly dried, low-quality logs after construction can behave unpredictably: warp, dry out, and bend. Because of this, a wooden house can become deformed, even to the point of destruction.

The significant weight of the log compared to other timber is also important - for large-scale buildings it requires a reinforced foundation and additional costs.

Finding qualified specialists can also cause difficulties - there are very few of them; it takes several years to learn how to cut a house yourself.

Ways to cut a log house log house there are several dozen. The number of specialists who know all the ancient Russian methods of cutting corners (the main difficulty lies in them) can be listed on one hand.

The most famous are cutting corners “into a bowl”, “into a paw”. The visible difference between houses built “into a bowl” is the protruding ends of the logs in the corners. They lead to increased wood consumption, but provide good protection from the cold in the corners, the most vulnerable places of the house. Corner connections assembled by laying logs in semi-cylindrical grooves.

A common type of such log house has become the “Norwegian bowl” cut. Its difference from traditional log house– in processing logs on both sides.

Flat surfaces fall on the inner, outside walls. For the connection, a “Norwegian lock” is used - a wedge-shaped groove.

The “Canadian bowl” in the round log is a regular trapezoid.

Thin grooves are cut along the entire length of the log, and the same tenon is cut on the opposite side, which create a tight connection when laying the logs.

Logging in the “paw” is less common due to its difficulty, requiring more qualifications. The end of a log, processed into five edges, is called a paw.

For such a log house, logs of the same thickness are required; cutting is more labor-intensive.

The advantage of this method is that it saves wood. Cutting "in the paw" is used for small log houses. The disadvantage of this method is cold corners that require insulation internal lining corners with boards.

A rounded log differs from a regular log in its factory processing. Often a calibrated (selected by diameter) log is mistakenly called rounded.

Factory processing comes down to milling the log along its entire length, similar to processing at lathe. Rounded logs are equal in size, which increases the speed of construction and gives the house an aesthetic appearance.

Log houses made of rounded logs are more susceptible to shrinkage. There is no confidence in the factory drying of the log, so after assembling the house it is recommended to preserve it for several months.

All log houses need caulking between the logs - heat escapes into the cracks between the logs and moisture accumulates in them. Building codes limit the use of rounded logs for interfloor ceilings by lenght.

Houses made of timber

Log houses made from ordinary sawn timber, when processed at the factory, acquire standardized dimensions and correct geometry.

Inexpensive material is economically beneficial, the house is quickly assembled. The assembly kit is equipped with marked parts for all designs, which makes installation easier.

The disadvantage of all timber structures is drying and shrinkage of the material. Ordinary timber is also produced unplaned, which increases the volume of finishing work.

Sawn timber requires additional antibacterial and fire protection treatment. Log houses made of sawn timber must be caulked.

The profiled timber in the horizontal plane and corners is equipped with tenons, grooves, corner locks, and other connections made in the factory with high precision. This greatly increases the speed of installation, minimizes gaps, and increases thermal insulation.

The wood is impregnated with antiseptics at the factory, but additional processing will not be superfluous. Smooth surface wood can be used without additional finishing work.

The disadvantages of the material are increased cost and the ability to crack.

The design of laminated veneer lumber is similar to profiled timber. The most expensive material is distinguished by the method of factory production: it is glued together from bars under temperature and pressure.

Glued laminated timber is resistant to shrinkage, does not deform, and does not rot. Finishing The process of making a log house comes down to grinding all surfaces.

The lack of material, except high price, environmental friendliness is considered reduced due to the use of glue.

During the production of any timber, the natural structure and density of the wood are reduced. When sawing, the inner, looser layers are exposed. Dense outer wood is removed during processing. The home's ability to naturally ventilate is deteriorating.

Many experts consider timber structures to be less durable and colder compared to log houses.

Video about choosing the right log

The eco-friendly boom is gaining momentum! Humanity wants to wear natural clothes, eat natural food and live in eco-friendly homes.

The popularity of wooden construction today is obvious, and many who, as a rule, decide to build a wooden house, ask the question “what is better: timber or logs?” Let's try to figure this issue out together.

Buildings made of wood, and more specifically, solid logs, have a long history. Since ancient times, log houses have been built on the territory of Mother Russia, and some of them can still be seen today.

Buildings made of wood, and more specifically, solid logs, have a long history. Since ancient times, log houses have been built on the territory of Mother Russia, and some of them can still be seen today.

Log

Advantages of log houses:

• a log processed by hand will crack less;
• Advantages of log houses:
• reliability of a log house.

Disadvantages of log houses:

• high cost of construction and long duration of work;
• shrinkage can occur up to two years and reach 12%.

The rounded log is prepared using modern factory technologies. The trunk then has the same caliber and aesthetic appearance, but loses its protective layer, which allows buildings made from solid logs to stand and please the eye much longer. Modern wood preservatives come to the rescue, allowing the rounded log to compensate for this shortcoming.

Advantages of houses made of rounded logs:

• assembling such a house takes significantly less time than assembling a log house and, as a fact, construction costs less;
• the appearance of such houses is impeccable, allowing you to see the unique texture of the wood.

Disadvantages of houses made of rounded logs:

• a common disadvantage, as in a log house, is the long shrinkage period;
• low protection of logs from weather factors;
• a significant number of cracks.

timber

A review of wooden construction led us to talk about houses made of timber. Construction from timber is convenient and rational. There is no need to adjust the wooden elements, more possibilities for interior decoration, which gives scope for individual design solutions. In modern construction, the following types of timber are used: regular, profiled and glued.

Regular timber

Buying regular timber is not difficult, as many companies sell it. This is an environmentally friendly type of building material that has not been subjected to additional processing. The appearance of unplaned ordinary timber is not as presentable as, for example, glued timber and therefore requires external finishing work.

Pros:

• Low price (the production process is quite simple)
• Ease of construction
• Availability on construction market and short delivery times

Minuses:

• The appearance of cracks (after shrinkage, additional cladding on the outside may be required)
• The appearance of gaps due to the deformation of ordinary timber, which entails distortion of the walls of the building
• The likelihood of “blue staining”, which can be avoided by promptly treating the wood with an antiseptic

Profiled timber

Profiled timber is very popular. As they say, it’s a pleasure to work with him, because it is the presence of the profile that allows you to assemble it like a construction set, without modifying the openings. Its smooth surfaces have a neat appearance, which makes it possible to do without additional cladding. Houses made from profiled timber have an attractive appearance.

Pros:

• Presentable appearance
• Rigidity of the structure and tight connection, which does not allow moisture to get between the beams and eliminates rotting
• No need for additional finishing after shrinkage
• Good wear resistance and thermal insulation
• Economical construction (little waste after assembly)

Minuses:

• Shrinkage time is required, but less than that of a simple beam
• The inevitable appearance of cracks during the drying process

Glued beam

If we focus on the advantages, then laminated veneer lumber deserves special attention. Eco-friendly, beautiful, reliable and durable houses made of laminated veneer lumber practically do not shrink, which makes their popularity undeniable. There is no deformation or cracks, which means that you can move into such a house as soon as construction is completed. The seismic resistance of buildings made of laminated veneer lumber is quite high.

Pros:

• Minimum shrinkage
• No deformation of laminated timber buildings
• No difficulties in assembly and additional finishing work
• High thermal insulation characteristics
• Ability to implement complex projects

Minuses:

• High cost (approximately two to three times higher than construction from conventional timber)
• Despite the use of environmental glue, this type of timber still loses in the fight for “naturalness” compared to others

It's not that easy to tell the difference between timber and logs.. It all depends on your preferences and finances. After all, the issue of price is often the main argument in choosing a material for construction. Someone is ready to wait a couple of years for “shrinkage” to enter the original Russian log house. And some are captivated by the speed and aristocracy of buildings made of laminated veneer lumber.

The choice of wood material depends on the object itself, which you have planned to build: this construction will be country cottage, bathhouse or just a country house. For example, for the construction of a summer house, the period of residence in which is limited from spring to mid-autumn, inexpensive ordinary timber is perfect.

When making comparative characteristics before buying materials for construction, pay attention not to “more expensive - cheaper”, but to the quality of the wood harvested, be it timber or logs.