The next stage of work after building a house made of timber will be finishing its walls from the inside. This is relatively easy to do if you have done everything yourself before. If difficulties arise at any stage, you can find the necessary information at any time or transfer some of the functions for processing walls to professional repairmen.
If you still plan to work on your own, you need to remember about the shrinkage of the walls. Internal repairs in houses made of timber can most often be carried out only after 5-6 years from the moment the structure is completely ready. After all, shrinkage wooden structures occurs constantly, which means that the height of the structure gradually decreases over the years.
The procedure for carrying out work on the interior finishing of houses made of timber
Of course, depending on the selected materials and the repair plan, the work scheme may change, but there are several general rules:
- in many cases it is most convenient to start with laying the floor, where internal communications can easily be hidden; the floor covering can be either temporary or permanent, but must be well insulated;
- Next, the profiled or laminated timber is processed: sealing the walls from cracks, treating with antiseptics, if necessary – puttying, sanding and polishing the wooden parts of the house from the inside;
- at the final stage they are taken as the ceiling, which must also be well insulated.
Experience shows that with minimal knowledge of construction, but working carefully and carefully, you can carry out high-quality wall repairs wooden house from solid or laminated timber.
Types of interior decoration
Interior decoration timber house must fit into the overall style of the building. Ideally, if you use wooden carriage boards inside or process directly profiled or laminated timber decorative materials. In the latter case, when professional styling using logs, you will get an excellent result that will delight you and make a pleasant impression on your guests.
If you want to cover the walls and carry out repairs cheaper, take a closer look at modern and inexpensive building materials: plasterboard, plastic panels or plaster. They look no less advantageous, creating their own unique cozy style that will appeal to many people. It often happens that the walls wooden houses the inside is finished as an apartment, and the latter, on the contrary, are decorated with imitation timber.
Decorative processing of timber
The only requirement before carrying out such repair work is high-quality thermal and waterproofing of a house made of timber. After all, later you won’t be able to change anything and will have to completely change the design style or redo everything in a new way. In any case, do not forget that wooden logs need to be sanded to give them the most attractive look. appearance.
If you decide to sheathe a log house in this way, you can begin repairs almost immediately after the construction of the structure. There is no need to wait for shrinkage, because it has virtually no effect on the final result.
Depending on the method of laying wooden logs (in a paw or in a bowl), you should choose the appropriate option for interior finishing: varnishing or painting. Each of them will save natural structure timber and allow it to “breathe”.
Where to hide communications and how to decorate the ceiling
Please note that when decorating walls using the described method, you will have to hide communications under the floor or in the corners of the rooms. To give open elements an aesthetic appearance, use planking, then paint or varnish them, depending on the main method of arranging the walls of the house.
Also remember that in in this case the ceiling will look better if you decorate it natural wood, for example, a carriage plank.
The main advantage of the described method when processing natural logs is the preservation of the natural, natural internal structure of the room after painting or varnishing. In addition, this is a significant saving of time, effort and money.
The only thing you will have to come to terms with is the need to periodically (every 3-5 years) repeat the repair again, because due to shrinkage and drying out, the wooden walls become slightly curved. But, you must admit that varnishing or painting is a fairly quick process that can be easily completed in a few days.
Using a carriage plank
This material is not only relatively affordable and reliable, but also universal: it is used to decorate both walls and ceilings with floors. Please note that you will need to make a lathing to ensure that the carriage board lays flat. In addition, most of the internal communications can easily be hidden in the resulting space, and insulation can also be placed here.
There are three types of lining on sale:
- “regular” – the most affordable, but also the least quality;
- universal - more expensive, but reliability and durability are an order of magnitude higher than in the first case;
- Block House - maximum quality and best technical specifications; one side of it imitates a wooden frame.
- imitation timber - a finishing material that is used for cladding, including timber houses, to save natural look buildings after wall insulation. In addition, if over time wooden walls have lost their original appearance and require restoration work, then finishing them with imitation timber will return the room to its original appearance in a less expensive and labor-intensive way.
Remember that each of the described types of lining needs to be treated before painting or opening with varnish antiseptics to preserve its best properties for as long as possible.
The advantages of carriage boards include an ideal combination with natural wooden beam, giving the room a more aesthetic appearance, ease of concealment of communications, reliable insulation walls and ease of installation. The “fly in the ointment” is the high susceptibility to fire, the need for additional processing and a significant amount for the purchase of materials for sheathing, antiseptics, etc.
Interior finishing of a log house with plasterboard
If you decide to take a closer look at modern building materials for renovations, drywall is one of the best options. When using it, you can decorate the floor with parquet boards or its imitation, and the ceiling, for example, with hanging plastic panels.
The main advantage of drywall is its versatility, the ability to assemble structures of any shape and size. In addition, it is easy to work with; almost any owner of a log house can handle it, even without construction experience. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive and allows you to hide the communication wiring.
There is only one minus - necessity additional processing: putty, wallpaper, etc. But after this you will get an almost perfectly flat surface!
Plastic panels and plaster
The process of laying plastic panels is similar to working with drywall and carriage boards, but the choice of color shades of the material (which no longer requires any processing) is very wide. Also here you will need a sheathing to help easily hide internal communications.
Plaster is probably the simplest way to decorate the walls of a log house. At the same time, they turn out smooth and can be painted in a color that you like and matches the interior.
Which of the described methods interior renovation You have not chosen a house made of profiled or laminated timber; you need to remember the general style and design of the building. Of course, natural wooden decorated logs look presentable, but they are quite expensive. If you want to save money, choose one of the many modern materials, which are easy to find at most hardware stores.
Filimonov Evgeniy
Reading time: 8 minutes
A A
How the interior decoration of a house made of timber is carried out, the sequence of work, the types of materials used, how the necessary materials are installed, tips and recommendations.
Externally, a house made of timber looks graceful, but do not forget about the room inside, so that visiting the house does not overshadow its appearance, the interior decoration of a house made of timber must be done at the highest level, for this purpose every nuance associated with internal work inside the premises will be considered in detail .
Front described necessary work inside the timber, what is the peculiarity of the interior decoration, how to choose the right one necessary materials, what is special about the arrangement of the floor, how to carry out reliable finishing of the walls, how to carry out competent finishing of the ceiling. What methods exist for interior decoration of a house, why is painting inside the house so popular, what sheet materials are used for cladding interior walls What are the rules for decorating the interior of a house made of timber?
The correct sequence of work for interior decoration of a house made of timber, what types of interior decoration exist, what is it like decorative processing timber where to properly hide communications. What are the advantages of using lining, how to properly finish the interior with plasterboard, how to use plaster and plastic panels.
How to competently design the interior of a house, features of using decorative stone as a finishing material. What are the specifics of wooden buildings, what compositions are used, how you can imitate wood and finishing features with a complete change in the surface.
How the internal processing of the walls of a log house occurs, the sequence of work and how the interior decoration of the house is carried out after shrinkage.
The interior decoration of a house made of timber is a continuation construction work for the assembly of structures, which must be completed by this stage. This is a very responsible process, because it is the mission of giving the living space comfort and coziness in accordance with the given design. In our article you will find useful information on this topic and find out where to start the upcoming renovation.
Finishing the floor, walls and ceiling in a log house made of laminated or profiled timber is done by hand in several stages:
- laying communication highways ( electrical cable, pipeline, heating system, sewerage, air conditioning);
- impregnation of wood with antiseptic agents to protect against fire, insects, mold and fungi;
- installation of heat and waterproofing material;
- preparing walls, floors and ceilings for application finishing;
- installation of interior doors;
- finishing of floors, walls and ceilings.
Without certain skills and the necessary knowledge for renovating premises, it is better to seek help from professionals, especially when it comes to communications. If you are confident in your abilities and do not want to overpay, you can safely do the work yourself. It is advisable to decide on the design and think through every detail of the interior before starting. This measure will help you have an idea of the future result and calculate the required amount of material intended for these purposes.
Features of interior decoration
The finishing of a timber house is carried out with the same materials as in houses made of brick or any other building material, but despite this, there are a number of features that need to be taken into account in the process of finishing walls and other objects:
- the inevitability of primary shrinkage of houses made of profiled timber, which is more significant than in other buildings. In this case, it may take a minimum of two and a maximum of six years of waiting before finishing can begin;
- secondary shrinkage, not exceeding 1% of the floor height, is therefore practically not noticeable.
In the first case, the culprit is the shrinkage of the timber and a decrease in its volume, during which the gaps between the logs narrow due to the constant load. When the shrinkage of a house made of profiled timber is completed, you may notice a decrease in floor height by 2–3 cm (in houses made of laminated timber, this figure can be 1–2 cm, check with the manufacturer).
Such deformation negatively affects the finish, as a result of which the plaster becomes covered with cracks and the tiles fall off the walls. To avoid a long wait, it is better to build the frame of a wooden house from laminated veneer lumber, and then the shrinkage will last no more than 12 months. Secondary shrinkage is provoked by temperature changes and wood humidity, but it does not affect decorative facing materials.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Evgeniy
Professional builder. 20 years of experience
Ask a question to an expertChoice stylistic direction and decor depends on the personal preferences of the home owners or on the design development of specialists who approve the project with the home owners, we will introduce you to step by step process finishing and the most popular materials used for these purposes
Selection of materials for interior finishing of a log house
The choice of stylistic direction and decor depends on the personal preferences of the home owners or on the design development of specialists who approve the project with the home owners. We will introduce you to the step-by-step finishing process and the most popular materials used for these purposes.
Floor installation
Before laying the flooring, you need to raise the level of the subfloor with a heat and waterproofing layer, which is covered with boards.
This simple and uncomplicated design perfectly retains heat and absorbs outside noise.
The most commonly chosen floor finishes are:
- Planed sheet piling lumber. This is an environmentally friendly board that is not afraid of moisture, and its structure allows the floor to “breathe”. It is durable, long term operation and ease of maintenance. There is a wide selection of colors and textures on sale. Over time, the tongue and groove board can be puttied and sanded, which allows you to update the appearance of the floor covering. This material is not suitable for those who plan to install underfloor heating, since here all the heat will be spent on heating the tongue and groove.
- Laminate or parquet board. In this case, there are no obstacles to installing a “warm floor”. When choosing a coating with high thermal conductivity, look for the corresponding marking on its packaging. Experts advise laying a wood floor from the inside of a wooden house.
After laying the finishing material, skirting boards are installed that will hide the technological opening with insulation between the wall and the floor. Before nailing the baseboard, the exposed insulation must be cut off, if any. To prevent the appearance of a sound bridge, the baseboard must be fixed either to the floor or to the wall. Otherwise, you may encounter extraneous noise, especially if the “floating floor” technology was not used.
Having finished building a house from timber, it is too early to relax. The final stage is finishing work inside the premises to give the house a cozy atmosphere. You can see the options for interior decoration of a house made of timber in the photos provided.
Interior finishing works
Work on finishing the inside of a timber house includes several stages, which include:
- carrying out communications (electricity, pipelines for water, heating and sewerage);
- treating wood with impregnating antiseptics and fire resistance compounds;
- heat and waterproofing of the house;
- preparatory work for finishing walls, ceilings and floors;
- installation of interior doors;
- final work on walls, ceilings and floors.
Without work experience and sufficient knowledge of repairs, it is advisable to hire workers to get the job done well, but you will have to spend more money on it than planned. This is especially true for communications.
An example of interior decoration of a wooden house
Before you begin decorating the interior of the room, you need to create a thoughtful design down to the smallest detail. This will help you clearly see what you need to strive for and calculate the required amount of materials and their cost.
Features of interior finishing work in timber houses
The interior decoration of the house consists of using the same materials that are used in other houses. But wooden houses have two important features, which must be taken into account before starting finishing work:
- The primary shrinkage of houses made of timber is significantly higher than that of others. It may take two to six years after construction is completed before it ends;
- secondary shrinkage. It is not particularly noticeable (less than 1% of the floor height).
Primary shrinkage is affected by the drying of the timber and a slight decrease in its volume. There is a decrease in the gaps between the bars, which is constantly affected by effective load. As a result, after shrinkage is completed, the floor height decreases by 2-3 cm. Significant deformation can negatively affect finishing work (the appearance of cracks of different sizes in the plaster, tiles falling off in places).
Sectional laminated veneer lumber
Glued laminated timber will help resolve the issue over time. In this case, the shrinkage of the house will stop a year after completion of construction.
Secondary shrinkage is affected by fluctuations in temperature and humidity of wood. It should not have a negative impact on facing coatings.
Materials for finishing the interior of a timber house
There are several options for interior finishing of a house made of glued or profiled timber for the first time after construction.
Floor installation
Before laying the floor covering, it is necessary to raise the subfloor with the insulation and waterproofing layer embedded in it and covered with boards. This floor design is quite simple, retains heat well and protects against noise.
Materials for clean flooring are:
- Planed tongue and groove board. She is pure ecological material, which breathes and has excellent resistance to moisture. The board is strong, durable and easy to maintain. Has many processing and tinting options. Renews well by scraping or regular sanding. This type of flooring is not suitable for underfloor heating, because Most of the heat will be spent on heating the sheet pile itself.
- Parquet board or laminate. The material is suitable for underfloor heating systems. When choosing a coating that has good thermal conductivity, you need to pay attention to the one that is marked with the appropriate marking.
In a wooden house it is better to make a wooden floor
Wall decoration
Before finishing the walls in a house made of timber, you need to treat them with an antiseptic.
Treated wood. Wood itself can be a wonderful finishing material. If the surface of the internal walls does not have any imperfections, then they can be left as is, without finishing anything. It is only necessary to saturate the wood with a special composition to obtain the desired shade.
Painting the walls will not only preserve the natural wood structure, but will also provide additional protection for the wood. It is necessary to choose the following for interior walls: paint coatings, which contain the lowest amount of harmful substances.
Plaster. It is necessary to decorate the walls with it only after a year has passed after the construction of the house. It's important here Special attention for waterproofing wood surfaces.
Block house or clapboard. When the external appearance of the walls does not look particularly attractive, but you want to preserve the special pattern that the wooden surface has, such materials are used. This finishing is applicable only after the house has settled. For installation, a frame is created that will slightly reduce the area of the room.
Wall panels. They are made from wood without adding glue. The material is environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic. have good thermal insulation characteristics, easy installation and absorb sound very well. The panels are covered with vinyl wallpaper or linen fabric on top.
Drywall. For this type of finishing, after applying putty, wallpaper is glued, painted and tiles are laid. For rooms where high humidity, it is necessary to choose drywall that is resistant to moisture. Its leaves have a greenish tint.
The material is environmentally friendly and lightweight. It is installed by fastening it to a metal or wooden frame. This design prevents the timber and drywall from coming into contact, which prevents the load-bearing walls and sheathing from cracking. Behind it you can conduct electrical wiring, plumbing and other communications, which will be conveniently hidden. If necessary, it is convenient to lay down an insulating layer.
You can leave the wooden walls just wooden
Ceiling finishing
Often, when decorating a log house, the beams on the ceiling are not closed inside, but serve as an element of the interior. An unlined ceiling will harmoniously fit into different styles (Provence, country). Until 5-6 years have passed for the house to finish shrinking, a wonderful material is plasterboard or suspended ceiling. It will perfectly cover the ceiling hole without interfering with the shrinkage of the house.
During the shrinkage of the house, a redistribution of forces occurs in the beams on the ceiling. Only after its completion will it be possible to finish the ceiling in the usual ways, such as plaster.
It is necessary to take a responsible approach to the interior decoration of the premises, which consists of a number of activities. Do not forget about the significant shrinkage of the house and the sensitivity of wood to moisture.
Video with an example of finishing the interior of a timber house
It is important to start finishing work correctly, otherwise all violations and deviations from technology will be revealed later. Correcting such errors is often more expensive than doing the whole job over again. We recommend that you watch the video; perhaps you need a similar finishing option.
It is obvious that interest in suburban housing, in general, and wooden houses in particular, has grown. We can say that wooden houses are experiencing a rebirth. If previously people bought houses built many years ago and then remodeled them to suit themselves, now many houses are built from scratch and made of wood. And this fact cannot but rejoice. Where else if not in Russia would you like to see beautiful wooden houses, in which you can immediately recognize the famous traditions of Russian architects, and not the meaningless and ugly pile of bricks with which we were “clogged” in the 90s. Where else if not in Russia is it nice to see modern and - regular and rounded, as well as from timber, which have preserved traditions and are made using new technologies.
Observers are interested in seeing the external beauty of a wooden house, and their owners also want to see the internal beauty of their home. And at the same time, you don’t want to give up the benefits of civilization, and why? Therefore, finishing the inside of a wooden house is a complex and multi-level process, which is intended to become a kind of bridge in time. A bridge between centuries-old folk traditions and modern benefits of civilizations. In this case, neither one nor the other party should be disadvantaged. Is it possible? Practice shows that yes!
Requirements for the interior decoration of a wooden house
Wood is a unique natural material that will never surpass any artificial one, which they try to impart the properties of what Mother Nature created. It’s not for nothing that so many floor and wall coverings are made to look like wood. Wood-look laminate, wood-look MDF panels, wood-look ceramic tiles and many other things made to look like this material. Why is this being done? Is it really not possible to just use this same tree and not do anything at all? Of course you can! People will always build wooden houses, but one must understand that in addition to the obvious advantages, wooden houses also have weaknesses.
The fact is that we are not the only people who love trees. It is also loved by other inhabitants of our planet, who perceive it as food or as a home for themselves. We cannot ignore their needs, so we are forced to take this into account. For this purpose, certain barriers are made in the form of chemicals that will repel unwanted living creatures. And events for biological protection of a wooden house are made precisely at the stage of interior decoration.
Wood is loved by another one of the most beautiful and powerful elements of our world - the element of Fire. And there is no escape from this either. We, as humans, cannot make Fire stop loving the tree. We can only take measures to ensure that there are no conditions for its uncontrolled occurrence in our home. That is, we can also “agree” with Fire if we take certain measures. The first measure is to reduce the likelihood of its development, and the second is that even when it appears, you need to resist to the last, you need to prevent it from burning unhindered. Fire protection measures are also carried out at the stage of interior finishing of a wooden house.
A modern wooden house is very different from its “distant ancestors”, where the only engineering systems were a stove and lamps. The energy supply of housing in our time is very high. This includes electrical wiring, a heating system, a water supply system, a sewerage system, computer networks, a telephone, video surveillance, and television. All these engineering systems require space for their placement, they must be designed and made in such a way as to perform their functions and be safe for the house and the people living in it. And all these activities are also done at the stage of interior finishing of a wooden house.
If formerly a tree was the most common and affordable building material, now it has become elite and building a wooden house is far from a cheap pleasure. For all the undoubted advantages in the form of environmental friendliness, hygiene, and aesthetics, you have to pay a lot of money. And, of course, when decorating the inside of a wooden house, you should use only those materials that will only highlight all its advantages.
Taking into account all of the above, we can present a set of requirements for the interior decoration of a wooden house:
- Firstly, the interior decoration of a wooden house should include measures for biosecurity and fire protection of the house. This is done with the help of special compounds, which, in addition to the protective function, can also perform a decorative function.
- Secondly, the peculiarity of wooden houses is that it is impossible to make walls or make concrete screeds in them, as in stone houses. It turns out that all engineering communications have to be hidden behind the interior decoration.
- Thirdly, at the stage of finishing a wooden house, they also caulk the walls and additional insulation, if required.
- And finally, when finishing a wooden house inside, most natural materials should be used for completely understandable reasons. Very often it is justified not to cover the walls or ceiling with anything at all, but to leave them open, having previously treated them with protective and decorative compounds.
The peculiarity of wooden houses is that they shrink, and this process can last for several years. This cannot be ignored during interior decoration, so it is done in stages. Let's call these stages:
- Bioprotective and fire treatment protective compounds.
- Caulking (caulking) of walls.
- Pad engineering communications.
- Interior wall decoration.
- Ceiling arrangement.
- Floor covering.
- Staining and painting.
Treating a wooden house with antiseptics and fire retardants
As mentioned earlier, wood needs protection, both from unfavorable factors environment, both from various representatives of the world of plants, fungi and animals. Of the natural influences, the tree least of all likes the influence ultraviolet rays, present in the solar spectrum and destroying lignin, a compound that is the main one in the structure of woody wood cells. It is this that determines the ability of wood to withstand static and dynamic loads. When it is destroyed, we can observe how the surface of the logs or timber becomes dry, rough and loses its natural color.
The worst thing for wood is fungal infection, and it can be wood-staining or wood-destroying. If the first only creates stains on the surface, but does not affect physical and chemical properties, then the second leads to destruction of the structure. This process is known to us as putrefaction. And if someone claims that it is possible only with high humidity, then you will be wrong, since already at a level of 18-20% destructive fungi can develop quite successfully. Primary humidification and lack of air exchange will only promote their growth, since further moisture will be obtained from rotting products.
Some fungi are capable of infecting a tree only during its life, while others, more dangerous for us, develop already in cut down trees. Therefore, in good industries, wood is protected immediately in order to ensure protection during storage, transportation and construction. But such protection is short-lived and lasts from 2 to 6 months, which, in principle, is enough for construction. But only then should you use a longer-acting composition. What to pay attention to when choosing.
- Firstly, you should take into account the validity period of the composition; the longer it is, the better, but also more expensive.
- Secondly, each composition has its own purpose: for external or internal processing, special compounds for baths, for terraces and railings, for processing the ends of logs, etc.
- Thirdly, it is necessary to take into account the composition of the antiseptic. Preferably materials on water based.
- Fourthly, it is imperative to take into account the effect of the composition on the human and animal body. Some products are strictly not recommended for indoor use.
- Fifthly, some protective compounds are recommended to be used together with protective coatings: wear-resistant varnishes or paints.
- Sixthly, you need to take into account the area to be treated and the number of layers required.
- And, finally, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the experience of using a specific composition, and not read it on the manufacturer’s website or on a thematic forum, but personally verify the effectiveness using the example of a specific treated structure. This way you can be sure of the optimal price-quality ratio.
Let us give a brief overview of some of the most common antiseptics in Russia, produced by the Senezh Preparations company, which are known under the Senezh brand. These drugs have proven themselves well in Russian conditions.
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | "Senezh Aquadecor" | Designed for long-term protection against precipitation, UV radiation, wood-boring insects and various fungi. It has a toning effect and is made on an acrylate base. |
 | "Senezh Ecobio" | Designed for indoor use. Protects against insects and all types of fungi. The protection period is up to 25 years. Water-based composition. |
 | "Senezh Ultra" | A universal water-based protective composition that can be used both inside and outside. Validity period – up to 30-35 years. Gives the treated wood a pistachio tint. |
 | "Senezh Bio" | Universal preservative water-based, hard-to-rinse antiseptic for severe operating conditions. Validity period is 30-35 years. Gives the tree a greenish tint. |
 | "Senezh Ognebio Prof" | Designed for comprehensive protection indoors and outdoors under a canopy from insects, fungi, as well as from fire and the spread of fire. Water-based composition. |
 | "Senezh Tor" | Designed to protect the ends of large logs from uneven drying, cracking and biological damage. Can be used to protect the ends inside structures. Composition on a water-borne polymer base. |
The table shows only some protective drugs from the Senezh Preparations range, which, in principle, show areas of application. In addition to this manufacturer, there are other well-known world brands Tikkurila, Belinka, Pinotex and others. For each home, depending on the operating conditions, specialists select those that will complete their task. Water-based compositions can be used as primers before finishing varnish or paint, which increases their protective properties and service life.
The compositions are applied to dry wood, cleaned of dirt and dust. Application methods are standard: brush, roller or spray. Autoclave processing is carried out only in industrial conditions. Typically, any composition is applied in at least two layers. The consumption of a particular preparation depends on its specific brand and the condition of the wood. In any case, you must use the instructions for use included with each product.
One of the best ways application of protective compounds is spraying Video: How to choose an antiseptic for wood - fire protection, bioprotection, bleaching agents and impregnations
Caulking the walls of a wooden house
Despite all their advantages, wooden houses have a significant drawback - they shrink over a fairly long period of time and also experience seasonal fluctuations in geometric dimensions. This can lead to cracking of solid wood, and also leads to the fact that the seams between logs or beams also change in size and there is no way to do without compaction.
Natural materials for caulking
Since time immemorial, architects naturally knew about this problem and took measures to seal the seams, which was called caulking or caulking. For these activities, three main materials were used:
- Caulk with moss. This method is the oldest and most time-tested. The material used was cuckoo flax, a moss that grows in abundance in forests and also in marshy meadows. Most people probably know the tufts of this moss in the form of soft, bright green cushions. Another type of moss that has been used and is still used is sphagnum, which grows in abundance in swamps; obtaining it in the required quantity is not difficult.
- Sealing seams with tow. This material, based on coarse linen, is still used today, especially at the stage of building a log house. Excellent insulating properties, centuries-old traditions and low price determine the widespread use of tow.
- Hemp caulking is done with special ropes made from jute or hemp fiber. These natural materials are now widely used to give the seams an aesthetic appearance, which only emphasizes the natural naturalness of the house.
Primary caulking is always done during the construction of the log house or immediately after. The secondary one is done after the final one after its shrinkage, that is, after 18-24 months. Although these works seem simple, they require special care, since caulking is done first from the outside, and then from the inside, and you need to move one crown after another from bottom to top and nothing else. In no case should you seal the seams on a single wall, since the log house can greatly change its geometry - it can become skewed.
For these works, a very simple tool has been used, proven over the centuries. This is a set of special caulking blades and wooden hammer- mallet. Caulks are often made of wood so as not to damage logs or beams during insulation. The dried natural insulation is twisted into strands and carefully hammered into the inter-crown gaps. You can watch the caulking technology in the video.
Natural materials for caulking, of course, have advantages precisely in the form of their naturalness. But it would be stupid in the 21st century not to consider other options for sealing crown joints, especially since science and production technology have come a long way since our distant ancestors had no choice but moss or hemp. The weak points of natural insulation are:
- Any natural insulation in inter-crown gaps is still a foreign material that reacts differently to the effects of temperature and humidity than wood. As a result, gaps will inevitably appear and repairs will need to be made periodically.
- Natural fibers are not only attractive to humans, so rodents and birds will want to steal some of the valuable fiber for their nests whenever possible. For insects, this is generally an ideal habitat.
Filming from the crime scene. Theft of oakum by birds on an especially large scale - If the humidity in the joints reaches critical values, then it is natural materials that will contribute to the development of fungal infections of the tree. Poorly executed caulking, on the contrary, contributes to the rotting of the log house precisely at the joints.
Video: Caulking a bathhouse log
Synthetic materials for caulking a wooden house
Acrylic ones are rightfully considered to be the first among synthetic sealants for wooden houses. And this happens for obvious reasons:
interventional sealant
- Acrylic compositions have thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion very close to wood, which allows them to respond equally to temperature changes.
- Acrylic primers have very good adhesion to wood, they penetrate deep into the wood, forming an almost monolithic structure, they also have good elasticity and a long service life.
- Acrylic-based compositions have excellent bactericidal and antiseptic properties. There will be no living creatures in seams treated with acrylic sealants.
- Acrylic primers are available in a wide range of colors, which allows you to realize any design idea. In addition, they can easily be painted after drying.
- Acrylic-based sealants intended for interior use are absolutely harmless to humans and animals.
- Acrylic sealants are very easy to apply. The main condition is a temperature above +5°C and relative dryness indoors or outdoors.
The high price of acrylic sealants is more than offset by their undoubted operational advantages.
Polyurethane-based sealants have also found use in caulking joints with synthetic compounds. Although they have good adhesion to wood, their thermal conductivity and thermal expansion are different from wood. That is why it is better to use acrylic sealants.
On our portal, the process of selecting an interventional sealant and its correct application is described in sufficient detail in the corresponding section. We will just give a few examples of sealants on acrylic base, and also provide readers with the opportunity to calculate their approximate number depending on the width and depth of the seam.
| Image | Name | Brief description of the sealant |
|---|---|---|
 | Acrylic sealant Energy Seal, packaging – cartridges 325, 840 ml, bucket 19 l. Country of origin - USA. | Designed for sealing narrow and normal seams, as well as cracks up to 2.5 cm wide. Can be used both indoors and outdoors. Available in 12 colors. |
 | Acrylic sealant Perma-Chink, packaging – cartridges 325, 840 ml, bucket 19 l. Country of origin - USA. | Designed for sealing wide joints - from 2.5 to 15 cm. for indoor and outdoor use. Available in 8 colors. |
 | Acrylic sealant Therma Chink, packaging 600 ml, 7 kg, 15 kg. Country of origin: Russia. | For sealing the seams of wooden houses both outside and inside the house. Available in 5 colors. |
 | Acrylic sealant Eurotex, packaging 600 ml, 3 kg, 6 kg, 25 kg. Country of origin: Russia. | For sealing the seams of wooden houses both outside and inside the house. Available in 4 colors. |
The table intentionally shows two impeccable quality sealants made in the USA and two sealants Russian production also very good quality. For comparison, we present the order of prices for imported goods and import-substituted ones and make sure that the domestic manufacturer should still be trusted. For example, a bucket of 19 liters of Energy Seal sealant will cost 33,000 rubles as of the summer of 2016, and 15 kilograms of Russian Therma Chink will cost 7,500 rubles. If converted to kilograms, then 1 kg of imported sealant will cost 1089 rubles, and 1 kg of Russian sealant will cost 500 rubles. Therefore, the choice is yours, our dear readers.
For an approximate calculation of the quantity, we present a calculator with which you can calculate the approximate amount of sealant. It is very difficult to accurately calculate the quantity, since the seam between logs or beams rarely has strict geometry, and the consumption is very dependent on the qualifications of the craftsman.
Calculator: Calculation of the amount of acrylic interventional sealant
Houses made of timber have gained considerable popularity today, and the reason for this is their many advantages. Indeed, such buildings are assembled in a matter of days, look beautiful and neat, are noticeably cheaper than their brick counterparts, and besides, wooden buildings retain heat well in winter and remain cool in summer. A building made of wood, both outside and inside, can be lined with various materials. In this article we will talk about ways to decorate a house made of timber.
Exterior decoration of a wooden building
Instead of painting or varnishing, you can use various finishing materials to cover the outside of the building. This will be especially relevant if you plan to stay in the house not only during the warm season, but also in winter. At the beginning wooden building it will need to be insulated and then lined with the selected material. Below we will look at several options for finishing a house made of profiled timber.
Cladding with stone, brick and porcelain stoneware
A house decorated with natural or artificial stone looks very beautiful and noble. This material, in addition to excellent decorative qualities, also has high strength, water resistance, and resistance to temperature changes. A building lined with stone will serve you long years and will be reliably protected from adverse effects environment.
Decoration with stone can be either complete or partial. This material harmonizes perfectly with natural wood; moreover, the range of decorative stones on sale is so wide that it will allow you to realize many design ideas.
An artificial material that imitates stone is porcelain stoneware. A façade lined in this way looks neat and aesthetically pleasing and is not afraid of mechanical damage, exposure to low and high temperatures, humidity and precipitation. Porcelain stoneware does not require special care, because it practically does not get dirty, and if necessary, it is very easy to clean.
The classic way of finishing buildings can be called brick cladding. Properly executed brickwork in combination with well-chosen material always looks relevant and matches any style and design. Among other things, the brick itself is reliable and durable material, it has vapor permeability and the ability to retain heat. So, by finishing the building with brick, you provide it with additional thermal insulation. To make the masonry look neat, it makes sense to seek the help of professionals and not skimp on the quality of the finishing material.
To decorate the facade of a house decorative plaster, you need to have certain skills and knowledge or involve craftsmen in the process who will perform the work to the highest standard. The finished relief surface can also be painted, emphasizing the features of the wall texture.
Finishing a house with siding
Decorating a building with siding is an inexpensive and easy-to-implement way to give your home a neat and tidy look. By finishing a wooden house made of timber with siding, you will protect the building from adverse weather conditions, extend the life of the building, and also be able to realize your creative ideas, because there are a great many varieties of such material on the construction market. We'll look into what siding is like next:
Finishing with panels with imitation timber
It would seem, why do you need to decorate a log house with a material that imitates timber? In fact, many old buildings lose their original beauty over time. The wood darkens, becomes stained, becomes dirty and damaged. Assembling a new house from timber costs much more than sheathing it old building wooden panels.
This imitation is also useful if you decide to insulate the building, but want to preserve its original natural style. Such panels allow you to exactly replicate the shape of rounded logs or laminated veneer lumber. The imitation turns out to be so real that it is almost impossible to distinguish it with the naked eye.
Before cladding a building, its walls are first treated with antiseptics and fire retardants, which helps protect the house from fire, moisture, mold, fungi, microorganisms and insects.
Finishing in half-timbered style
The decoration of the building in the half-timbered style looks very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. Many houses are decorated this way. European countries, in Russia, a similar medieval style looks quite original and distinctive. OSB panels or cement bonded particle boards. Finishing in the half-timbered style includes the following elements:
- a frame made of parts located in a vertical and horizontal plane;
- braces made of wooden beams;
- brick, stone or other finishing material that fills the gaps;
- elements for visually dividing the surface into geometric figures, they use crossbars, racks, braces, etc.
Interior decoration of a timber house
As is the case with external finishing, the choice of materials for interior decoration of rooms is quite wide. When performing interior decoration, more attention is paid not so much to the reliability and strength of the material, but to its decorative properties, ability to fit into a certain style, compatibility with furniture and other interior elements. When creating a design, you can use not one, but several different materials, the main thing is that they are in harmony with each other.
Decorative stone finishing
When finishing a house made of laminated veneer lumber, you can use decorative rock. Since the surface of the walls in a structure made from such timber is quite smooth, installing the stone will not cause any difficulties. Such finishing material has many positive qualities, among which are the following:
- excellent decorative qualities, often artificial stone is almost impossible to distinguish from natural stone;
- high strength characteristics, resistance to moisture, fire, mechanical stress;
- environmental friendliness, safety for human health;
- decorative stone goes perfectly with natural wood, so the combination of these two materials is a win-win option;
- ease of care, because even if dirty, the stone can be cleaned with a damp cloth and detergent;
- such material does not dissolve when exposed to aggressive chemicals;
- The stone is not subject to rotting, molding, and is not afraid of attacks by insects and various microorganisms.
Painting the walls
The interior surfaces of the walls of a wooden house can be painted in any suitable shade that will match the interior. The paint performs both decorative and protective functions, preventing the development of fungi and mold in wood. Before painting the surface, it must be leveled with putty, covering cracks, depressions, depressions from knots, etc. Then the wall needs to be coated with a layer of primer, which will ensure better adhesion of the paint to the surface.
As a working material, you need to choose a composition that is as harmless as possible, which, when dried, does not evaporate harmful substances and does not have a pronounced unpleasant smell. By the way, when dried, paint can form a glossy or matte surface, so you need to choose a material that will look good in the overall stylistic design of the room.
If a house made of timber is completely new, and the wood has an attractive natural look, you can emphasize its natural texture and pattern using stain and clear varnish.
Finishing with plastic siding and wooden lining
If you appreciate natural beauty natural wood, but the walls in the house are already quite old and have lost their original appearance; they can be decorated using wooden lining. In this case, it is important to understand that such a finish will not be final, since the wood is unstable in the face of moisture and is susceptible to insect attacks and the development of fungi. After covering the surface with wooden clapboard, it will need to be additionally treated with various protective impregnations and opened with paints and varnishes.
Having spent a certain amount of time and effort on lining the walls with wooden lining, you will end up with a beautiful, environmentally friendly and natural coating that will return your timber home to its former beauty. By the way, wood looks great in combination with stone trim, so you can use these two materials simultaneously, creating original design premises.
A good finishing material is plastic siding. It does not absorb moisture, and in case of contamination it is easy to clean, which makes it possible to use this material in the kitchen and bathroom. Light weight and ease of installation can also be attributed to the advantages of such cladding. To decorate a room with plastic panels, you do not need to involve specialists, with similar work You can do it yourself, saving a lot of money. Among other things, plastic costs significantly less than its analogues.
Wall cladding with plasterboard
Drywall is one of the most popular finishing materials. Without unnecessary expense and effort, using sheets of plasterboard, you can quickly and efficiently level the walls to ideal condition; you can build from such material various designs like arches, walls, partitions, etc. Many designers use drywall to realize their creative ideas. One of the few disadvantages of this material is its ability to hide part of the living space, so it is not always risky to use it in rooms with a small area.
The drywall itself does not have any decorative value, so it will have to be additionally painted, wallpapered, or some other facing material used.
- Before finishing wood, you need to take into account whether it has been previously treated with protective compounds that form a glossy surface. If you cover such logs with another layer of glossy varnish or paint, the shine will be doubly noticeable.
- Before applying paint, varnish or any similar material, it is advisable to first paint a small section of the wall to get an idea of what the final result will look like.
- The entire surface of the walls in the room must be treated in the same way so that the entire area looks the same. It is also better to use the same brush or roller when working.
- It is advisable to apply paint to the surface in at least two layers.
- Even if you want to keep natural look wood, the beams will still need to be treated with protective impregnations.
- All finishing work can be carried out only after the building has completely settled. When insulating walls, you need to use vapor-permeable materials so that the wood can “breathe.”
- Exterior finishing work can only be carried out if the outside temperature is not lower than -15°C. Walls can only be painted at temperatures not lower than +5°C.
- Since wood is a fire-hazardous material, it must be coated with fire retardants that reduce flammability.
Decoration of timber houses, photo:
