Frame houses and description of types of structures

The construction of country cottages from convenient and profitable building materials is becoming increasingly popular. Hence, it is frame houses that are in high demand, which 70 years ago appealed to residents of the USA, England, Germany, Japan and many other countries. And absolutely not in vain. After all, the construction of a frame house is distinguished not only by financial benefits, but also by the possibility of its early installation, and, accordingly, the long-awaited housewarming.

Frame houses are a mounting structure of longitudinal support beams and sheathing in the form of panels or shields. A fully assembled house is covered from above (outside) with insulation and finishing.

Frame construction in Europe is quite widespread. In Russia, there is little information on this technology for the construction of cottages. Therefore, in the material below, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the main types of construction of frame houses in order to understand exactly how to carry out the installation technology of each of them.

Types of frame cottages

Frame buildings in modern construction can be divided according to the type of construction into the following types of frame houses:

• Frame-rack construction;
• Frame frame with ceilings;
• Construction with continuous racks;
• Rack-and-beam frame.

Each of the types of foundations has its own characteristics, and therefore requires a certain professionalism during installation.

Frame-rack frame

This type of frame is considered one of the most difficult to mount. Here, the role of pillars is played by longitudinal beams, which rest (deepen) directly into the ground or rest against concrete pillows. That is, the supports in this case also play the role of the foundation. It is on the beams installed in this way that the load from the entire finished cottage falls.

This design has a number of advantages:

• The house can be built on swampy soil with a high level of groundwater;
• If necessary, the building can be raised to the desired designed level;
• In addition, the frame-rack frame allows you to provide reliable ventilation of the subfloor of the house.

In order for the frame using this technology to take proper rigidity, it is necessary to further strengthen it with transverse beams. Then frames are mounted between the supports, into which panels, windows or doors are subsequently inserted.

Important: the panels of such a house can be additionally reinforced with diagonal jumpers.

Frame frame with ceilings

The most commonly used type of frame mounting in Russia. This technology is also called "Canadian house" or "Canadian construction" or simply "platform".

The construction of such houses is based on a slab platform made of SIP panels. In turn, SIP panels are two boards of fiberboard, chipboard, etc. fastened together with a heater laid between them.

The principle of installation of such a house is as follows:

• First, a ready-made house kit is purchased, which is delivered to the construction site.
• Then, on the previously prepared foundation, a floor platform is laid, consisting of a crate and the SIP panels themselves.
• Next, they begin to assemble a frame from a wooden beam. Here, the support-racks are mounted in the strapping of the platform according to the principle of a tongue-and-groove locking connection.
• At the upper point of the support-racks, they are also tied with a beam and the next floor platform of the second floor or already attic is installed (depending on the number of storeys of the cottage). That is, the bearing load of the house here lies both on the foundation itself and on the platforms between the floors.
• The finished frame structure is sheathed with panels, the roof is mounted, windows and doors are inserted. It remains only to finish the cottage from the outside and bring all communications to it.

Important: like any frame house, it can also be built only 1-2 floors. Otherwise, the frame structure may not withstand the weight of the house.

The construction of frame houses using this technology has an important advantage - you can do the work yourself. And this means that savings in the construction budget will be evident.

Frame construction with continuous racks

Such houses are most often known as Finnish cottages. Buildings of this type are found in the countries of northern Europe.

A house using this technology is mounted on vertical racks, the length of which stretches to both floors of the building. The second floor ceiling frame simply cuts into the beams at the level specified by the project. As a result, the floor lags of the second and first levels are not just supports for the floor, but also toughen the frame structure itself.

Important: for this type of frame, it is important to maintain the vertical of the support beams. Even the slightest deviation of the vertical support at the bottom can lead to a strong roll of the rack in its upper part. Needless to say, the linear parameters of the house will suffer in this case, as will the building itself later.

A frame house using this technology is rare in Russia.

Post-beam house

This type of building is known in eastern and northern Europe and is called a half-timbered house. Buildings are distinguished by their strength and durability. In some cases, half-timbered houses have been serving for more than 400 years.

As support posts, a beam of large section 150x150 mm or 200x200 mm is used here. Moreover, the beam is used not only for the longitudinal posts, but also for the transverse beams of the strapping, horizontal crossbars and diagonal braces. As a result, the frame receives a high level of rigidity.

Often, windows and doors in half-timbered houses are not installed in prepared frames, but directly into the wall, avoiding the use of crossbars. Thanks to this design, the house receives maximum rigidity and load-bearing capacity.

It is believed that the post-and-beam frame house suffers in some way from a large number of mortise joints. However, sometimes it is replaced with a coupler with bolts. This speeds up and simplifies the installation of a half-timbered frame house.

Important: building a house using half-timbered technology is the most expensive, but at the same time the most powerful. This means that a half-timbered structure is built not for decades, but even for centuries.

The nuances of frame construction

Despite the variety of frame buildings and the quite successful experience of European neighbors, the Russian potential homeowner is in no hurry to vote for frame technology. There are several reasons for this and we will try to fully explain them in order to dispel all doubts.

• So, it is believed that the frame house has a low level of sound insulation. This is true, but only if the cottage will be used exclusively in its original form. That is, without external and internal decoration. A competent approach to these stages of installation allows the use of soundproofing materials such as plaster and membranes to reduce the level of decibel penetration from the street into the house.
• In addition, SIP panels are for some reason considered a non-environmental building material. However, the manufacturer provides certificates indicating that the finished panels are completely made from high-quality and environmentally friendly raw materials.
• Claims are also made to the point of fire safety at home using frame technology. However, panel cottages are classified as combustible, like wood. Therefore, such cottages can be safely put in line with timber or log houses. Competent processing of panels and frame with flame retardants is enough to protect the house from burning.
• Additionally, the durability of the finished frame house is questioned. However, based on the experience of foreign colleagues and fellow citizens, as well as the simplest mathematical calculations, a frame house can last 60-70 years. Such a period can be considered optimal for a two-generation house, which means a lot for every developer.

Of course, if you want to build a house for centuries, then only a stone is needed here. And as an alternative, inexpensive and high-quality construction, you can use frame technology.

Finishing frame houses

For high-quality installation of a frame cottage, it is not enough to assemble the structure and sheathe it with shields or ready-made SIP panels. It is necessary to complete both the finishing exterior and interior of the house, which means a lot to maintain the optimal microclimate in the house.

So, for exterior cladding, facing bricks, siding, lining, clinker tiles or decorative warm plaster are most often used. The material is selected from the original architectural style of the house and the financial component. Inside, the house is most often sheathed with wooden or plastic clapboard, drywall for wallpaper or painting, as well as for decorative plaster.

As for the insulation of the frame house, in this case, the SIP panels are already insulated. If simply shields are used for sheathing the frame, then mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and basalt slabs can be used as an insulating material. Even straw, wood shavings, sawdust or dry moss are used as a budget insulation.

Do not forget about high-quality wind and vapor barrier at home. Since the frame must be ventilated, it is necessary to leave a special ventilation gap between the skin and the frame. It will avoid the formation of condensate inside the frame from temperature changes inside and outside the building. To do this, use a special membrane and vapor barrier material.

As can be seen from the above material, frame cottages, with proper work, are an excellent option for budget construction of your own home.

By the way, galvanized metal profiles can also be used as raw materials for the frame of the house. But such a construction is most often more expensive, and also less reliable. That is, the attachment points of the profile loosen over time under the influence of the wind, no matter how securely they are fastened. In addition, you will have to insulate the house with high quality so that the profile itself, which in this case is cold bridges, does not cool the finished cottage. And that means there will be cost overruns. That is why the metal frame is used less frequently in construction.