Filling the walls of a half-timbered house. Half-timbered houses: what is it, construction technology

If you don’t know what half-timbered architecture is, then you should remember the characteristic german houses, which appeared in the Middle Ages, but are still popular today. This style is characterized by facades with characteristic dark timber paneling and light wall fillings. Because of the beauty and organic nature of this style, half-timbered construction technology still remains popular in Germany and the countries of Northern Europe.

Properties of modern half-timbering

Construction of houses using half-timbered technology can be confidently attributed to frame house construction. In fact, this is one of its varieties. IN in this case The functions of load-bearing structures are performed by a frame made of wooden beams. Glued laminated timber is ideal for the frame, as it can easily withstand various deformations. To connect frame elements in the corners and among themselves, special methods are used that give additional rigidity to the entire structure.

Important: main feature This style is that metal fasteners are not used to connect frame elements. Beams and beams are connected using dowels, wooden dowels and other wood products.

A half-timbered frame house can be built from different wall materials. In the Middle Ages, adobe was used to make walls. Today, brick, OSB, and sometimes glass are used to fill the wall structure between the beams. In principle, any material can be used, since the wall itself does not serve as a load-bearing structure. The entire load falls on the frame. A characteristic feature of the style is that the frame is not hidden in the wall structure, but rather is put on display, being an architectural element. Most often, frame beams are made in contrasting dark color against the backdrop of light, sometimes white walls.

The half-timbered house is very warm. This is achieved through the use of thermal insulation materials in the wall construction. Additional benefit Such buildings have virtually unlimited planning possibilities. Since the wall does not serve as a load-bearing structure, partitions and partitions can be easily removed, moved, changing the layout.

Half-timbered construction technology frame house quite complicated due to the peculiarities of the frame installation. However, if you have certain skills in working with wood, you can easily build such houses yourself. In addition, spatial thinking and knowledge of spatial geometry will not be superfluous.

Advice: it is better to build half-timbered houses from a ready-made house kit. If you want to get a high-quality, strong and durable structure, then it is better to entrust the work of assembling the house to professionals.

Advantages and disadvantages

A frame house in the half-timbered style has the following advantages:

The main advantage of such buildings is their aesthetic appeal and unlike other frame buildings. Such houses should be chosen by those who want their home to stand out from the general development with its originality and unusual beauty.
To build any frame house, including a half-timbered one, powerful foundation structures are not needed. A shallow one will be sufficient strip base or another structure (column or pile-screw) depending on the geological features of the area.
Since laminated veneer lumber or other wood material, past chamber drying, the structure practically does not shrink. For this reason, the installation of windows and doors, as well as finishing the house, can be done immediately after the construction of the frame. Thanks to this, moving into the house will happen much faster than in other wooden buildings.
Although frame structures are exposed, engineering communications, on the contrary, can very easily be hidden inside the structure of the walls or floor.

Half-timbered houses have some disadvantages, which are also worth mentioning:

Open wooden structures the frame must be processed periodically protective compounds so as not to decrease them load bearing capacity. So, you will need fire retardants to protect against burning, antiseptic compounds will help protect the wood from rot and damage by insects, and you will also need solutions to protect from moisture.
When building such a house in a harsh climate, it is necessary to thoroughly insulate the walls. As a result, the thickness of the wall structure increases, which entails the need to use more massive beams for the frame.
Ordinary frame houses will cost less than buildings built using half-timbered technology.

Installation technology

When installing the frame, a special technology for connecting wooden elements is used, which only professionals can design correctly. Yes, they apply the following types connections:

mann;
polumann;
corner mann;
wilderman;
"St. Andrew's cross" and others.

Foundation and frame

Pouring the foundation on the site is carried out independently. In parallel with it, a frame can be manufactured at the factory. It will be much faster if these two operations are performed simultaneously.

After pouring the base and delivering lumber for the frame to the construction site, work is carried out in the following order:

Horizontal waterproofing is required on the foundation.
After this is done top harness. To do this, a support beam is installed. It must be firmly attached to the base. Anchor bolts are used for fixation.
Logs are attached to the strapping beam. Rolling boards are laid on the cranial bars fixed to the joists. At this stage it is worth insulating the floor. To do this, waterproofing is laid on the floor structure, and thermal insulation material is placed on top of it in the gaps between the joists.
The floor is covered with a layer of vapor barrier on top, and a rough covering is laid.

Next, the vertical beams are installed. For joining inclined, vertical, horizontal and spacer beams, a tenon connection option called “warm” is used. Wooden dowels are used for rigid fixation. The most common options for warm connections:

dovetail;
secret thorn.

Further installation of structures is carried out in accordance with the project, observing the sequence of stages. Simultaneously with the construction of the supporting frame, partitions are made, which are also mounted using frame-frame technology.

Fillers for walls

After the process of constructing the frame is completed, you can begin to fill the gaps between the frame elements of the walls. It’s easier to say that the sieve of the walls is being filled.

Stone, brick, elements from cellular concrete(aerated concrete, foam blocks, etc.). In modern houses, in most cases, sheet wood and board materials are used, namely OSB, moisture-resistant plywood, cement bonded particle boards, lining, gypsum fiber sheets, etc. When choosing a material for walls, it is worth considering that the products must meet the following requirements:

high moisture resistance;
excellent strength;
low specific gravity;
environmental cleanliness;
low thermal conductivity.

Important: if you use heavy materials (stone, brick) as wall filler, then this should be taken into account at the design stage, because under such a house you need to lay powerful buried foundations. Foundation calculations must be made taking into account the material of the walls.

When filling out the frame, it is worth remembering that with outside walls, the frame beams must be visible, that is, the filling material should not completely cover the entire outer surface walls Can be used on the inside of the house different variants, here everything depends on the style of the interior.

If you want to build an extraordinary house, then you can use double-glazed windows as wall filler. In the end you will get the maximum natural light premises and a panoramic view of the landscape around the house. However, the abundance of glazing does not help retain heat in the house. Even if you install energy-saving double-glazed windows, in areas with harsh winters this will not help retain heat.

As finishing walls you can use any materials:

facing tiles imitating brickwork;
plaster with decorative compounds;
clapboard covering.

Roof of a half-timbered house

Most often, in a half-timbered house, the usual gable roof. It harmonizes perfectly with the overall architectural style of the house. Characteristic feature such buildings is the absence attic floor and attic. In addition, half-timbered houses are characterized by wide roof overhangs. They protect the walls of the house well from precipitation, and the rooms from the abundance of sunlight in summer.

In the role roofing may act:

euroslate;
soft roll roofing;
metal tiles;
corrugated sheeting

Important: due to significant specific gravity It is not recommended to use natural tiles as roofing.

Home interior

Many people who have never been inside a half-timbered house believe that the inside looks the same as the outside. Sometimes the interior of a house is actually decorated in the same style as the exterior. In this case, white tones predominate in the decoration of the room; the style is characterized by a lot of free space and some asceticism.

But besides this, you can use other styles in decorating the premises of such a house. For example, the high-tech style with its abundance of metallic shine and minimalism is ideal for a half-timbered house. Any metal parts, especially forged items, look quite organic in the interior.

Advice: it is worth considering that beams in the interior can be used not only as decorative element, but also as a basis for hanging shelves, hanging cabinets, lighting installation and other interesting solutions.

Half-timbered houses are firmly associated in the mind with something fabulous and European. Surprisingly, the creation of these buildings, in principle, does not require significant effort, and putting them on suburban area- a completely doable thing. To do this, you certainly need to know construction technologies and use high-quality materials. When you look at houses in the half-timbered style, you want to touch them with your hands and, if not live in them, then live in them for a while in order to appreciate this building as it deserves.

Translated from German, “fachwerk” means “ work panel" This construction technology appeared back in the Middle Ages, when wealthy residents, for whom ancient Roman building construction techniques were completely inaccessible, were forced to rework them to suit their capabilities. The Romans, as you know, made many military campaigns, during which they built frame houses in the conquered territories. For this we used wooden log houses, which were filled with cement and gravel and thus received a frame. Later it was filled with brick and stone. A characteristic feature of these buildings was the display of vertical frame posts, struts and horizontal beams on the surface. After the base and walls of the house were whitewashed with lime, the wooden components of the house stood out more and more against their background, creating a unique identity of the home.

In the period from the 14th to the 16th centuries, German, English and other European half-timbered houses were improved, and the technologies for their creation were perfected. As a result, each part of Europe developed its own decorative patterns and motifs for these buildings. They were often very complex.

Modern half-timbered houses (video)

Construction of the foundation and installation of the frame

The construction of a half-timbered house begins with preparing the site. It is very important to test the soil for strength. Half-timbered houses can be built on the basis of any foundation designed to create a wooden house, but in terms of their weight they are quite light and have minimal impact on the soil. Accordingly, if the soil is prone to heaving and there is a lot of water inside it, then the building will be extremely unstable. To do this, the choice of foundation should be approached with all responsibility. In some cases, you can be content with columnar, slab or pile foundation, but sometimes you will need to create a tape version.

Half-timbered houses, since they have a wooden frame, largely depend on high-quality waterproofing. To do this, a layer is laid on the surface of the foundation waterproofing material and only then the strapping crown is mounted. Its cross-section must be at least 50x200 mm. All beams must be treated with antiseptics before installation to protect the wood from pests. Besides, everything wooden elements coated with fireproof liquid. The binding crown subsequently becomes the basis of the frame, because all its lower parts are attached to it.

Invisible wooden wall elements, which will be hidden under the cladding, create edged boards(45x145 mm). They are also treated with materials to prevent fire and protect against pests.

The rigidity and strength of the frame of a half-timbered house is achieved by creating hidden tenons and dovetails at the joints of its elements. Outwardly, they may look somewhat dubious, but houses built using this technology have been standing in Europe for more than 300 years, which is the best proof of the strength of such fastenings.

After installing the frame, the house requires the creation hipped roof, which is carried out using the standard for this method rafter system. Metal tiles are most often chosen for roofing. IN general outline A half-timbered house is created like any frame house, with the only difference being that the walls are covered.

Dovetail connection

This is an old method of fastening wooden beams between themselves. However, it is still considered the most complex and time-consuming to create. It is best used at a distance between joints of 3 to 4 m. This is enough for half-timbered houses to receive good rigidity. As a rule, even in the most critical places load-bearing structure the use of a “dovetail” is completely justified and does not lead to premature repairs.

Distinctive features of the style

Half-timbered houses are always wooden structures. Their basis is vertical racks, horizontal beams and braces (the so-called beams that fix the walls of houses diagonally). The pitch between the racks is traditionally kept at a distance of 3 to 4 m. Fastenings between beams and beams can be visible and invisible. In the first case, a dovetail is used, and in the second, a hidden tenon. To do this, a groove is created on one beam, and a tenon on the adjacent one.

Half-timbered houses (video)

Wall cladding

In the old days, clay and reeds were actively used for insulation and wall covering, but now the need for this has completely disappeared. Most often used for home insulation basalt wool, and for wall cladding, cement particle boards (CPB) are used, which connect the load-bearing parts of the structure. In addition, you will need a special windproof and vapor barrier material.

The inside of the house is sheathed with the usual plasterboard slabs or glass-magnesium sheets (SML). Last type cladding is quite unfamiliar in the post-Soviet expanses, but at the same time it allows you to qualitatively replace plasterboard, asbestos-cement boards, gypsum-fiber sheets and other similar materials. Its advantages are that it does not burn at all, does not absorb moisture, and withstands shocks well. That is, to break through glass magnesium sheet very difficult.

Exterior wall finishing

The exterior of the house is finished using ordinary putty and white paint. All floor beams must be left untreated. The half-timbered style also requires that all roof overhangs not be hemmed, and that the braces, posts and beams remain visible. The only thing that can be done is to treat them with a special tinted wood impregnation to highlight them against the background of a white wall.

Finishing the façade of a half-timbered structure will require careful selection of plastic windows, which must have Brown color under the tree. Today, there are many color designs for half-timbered houses with different dimensions and plans. Designers offer their clients various options The colors of the bars range from light brown to black. Accordingly, it is quite possible to create a half-timbered house with your own hands using one of them.

Half-timbered houses are a construction method residential buildings and mini-hotels, which was invented by Europeans back in the 15th century. Today, the popularity of this construction method has begun to return again. Initially, when such houses first began to appear, they became new trend in architectural construction. Place between beam structures filled with clay and mixture various plants. Modern half-timbered houses look much more elegant. The designs of such houses are very practical, but at the same time light. These houses, as a rule, are built without an attic. But there are also options for building an attic.

Features of half-timbered houses

Half-timbered houses appeared in Scandinavia

Today, architects use one favorite technique - removing the walls of half-timbered houses. This is possible due to the fact that there is practically no load on them. Windows of any length can be installed in place of the walls. This allows you to create a feeling of unity with the external environment. Mostly such houses are built outside the city.

One-story half-timbered houses are structures made of timber. The main feature of such houses is that wooden beams do not hide under the casing. On the contrary, they become the main visible difference between such structures.

The main features of such houses are as follows:

Stages of construction of a half-timbered house

Stages of building a house in a similar style:

Before starting construction, it is necessary to develop a project and make a drawing. There are both classic and exclusive house designs. The speed of creating a project will depend on how complex it is. If you want to speed up the process, you can take finished project and modernize it according to your wishes. At the same time, great attention should be paid to laying the necessary communications;
Installation of the foundation. It is desirable that it be monolithic.
Creating a house kit. The production creates a complete set of parts for a house in the half-timbered style. The frame of such a house consists of laminated veneer lumber. For its production, natural wood is used, which is environmentally friendly. The thickness of the timber is chosen depending on the climate conditions in which the house will be located;
Assembling a house in half-timbered style. Once the kit with parts has been received, you can begin assembly. It is important to determine whether the first row of binding is horizontal. After all, if there is even the slightest slope, the integrity of the structure may be compromised. The beams are attached to each other using a notch. They are fixed using a pin. If you have a drawing, it will not be difficult for you to assemble such a house from timber. The assembly technology here is the same as when working with a constructor. As a rule, you will need 2 weeks for construction;
Roofing installation work. At this stage, the roof and attic are insulated, and the roof is installed. The rafters are made of timber, which allows for greater strength. First, insulate the area between the rafters. After this, waterproofing is done and the sheathing is attached;
Glazing of a house in half-timbered style. Distinctive feature The half-timbered style has high glazing. Display windows are not only very aesthetically pleasing, but also reliable. The length of the windows can be any. The glazed space can fill more than half of the entire wall area. There is no need to worry that you will need to spend a lot of money on heating. Half-timbered houses require the installation of special heat-saving double-glazed windows. In such a house you will feel comfortable even in severe frost;
Installation of walls outside. The technology used here is OSB boards. You can decorate the walls outside using any material. It all depends on the customer's preferences;
Installation engineering communications. As already mentioned, this point should be decided before construction begins. After all, the installation of communications involves many nuances;
Finishing inside. This The final stage works Half-timbered houses have a special design, thanks to which they can be used inside a large number of various partitions. So, interior spaces in such a house can be quite spacious.

An example of the first floor plan of a half-timbered house

The frame of a half-timbered house always consists only of laminated veneer lumber.

Construction time

Half-timbered houses look very beautiful

The duration of the work will depend on certain characteristics of the project. These include the size of the building, originality and others. In general, construction is carried out in a very short time. For example, prefabricated houses in this style with an area of 300 square meters can be put into operation in 10 months.

It literally takes a couple of weeks to assemble the house. Approximately 2 months will be needed for design. There is still the same amount of time to finish the house inside and outside. It will take a couple of months to lay communications. Three months - additional filling.

If you need to install a bathhouse or swimming pool, the construction can be extended over more long term. By standard project You can build a house in seven months. Anything less will not work. After all, timber requires drying. And the foundation will have to be established.

An example of the layout of the second floor of a half-timbered house

Construction Features

Features of building houses in similar projects are as follows:

In Russia, half-timbered houses are also becoming increasingly popular

Due to the fact that such frame houses are light in weight, the foundation can be made monolithic strip;
There are strict requirements for the selection of timber. It must be made from coniferous species. The boards should be cleared of bark and trimmed on all sides. There should be chamfers along each edge. There should be no mold or other damage on the tree;
The technology of half-timbered houses also has its disadvantages. These are fragile floors between floors. So, it is better to build frame houses of no more than three floors. It is better to avoid the attic. As a rule, such log house projects involve one floor;
The façade of a house made of wood requires maintenance. It should be painted approximately once every three years;
The half-timbered house is very modern. Due to the fact that it allows you to use various options finishing;
Prefabricated houses made using this technology are very environmentally friendly and fireproof.

All of the above indicators that prefabricated houses have are quite high, but only under certain conditions. For example, the environmental friendliness of a house will depend on how environmentally friendly all its components are.

The ceilings in half-timbered houses are fragile. At severe fire or an earthquake they will collapse.

If toxic paint is used to paint the timber, then the environmental friendliness will be debatable. The same applies to fire safety. All elements must be non-flammable. They can be treated with fire-resistant compounds.

It is quite difficult to draw up a project for a half-timbered house

Thermal insulation characteristics will be high only if thermal insulation materials chosen correctly.
Production frame houses This technology has both certain advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of half-timbered houses

Among the advantages are the following:

Half-timbered houses look harmonious especially against the backdrop of nature

Lightweight design. Thanks to this, the construction of a solid foundation is not required. Accordingly, the overall construction time is reduced;
Huge possibilities for glazing. Prefabricated houses built using half-timbered technology are quite durable. So, it is possible to implement continuous glazing without the use of frame structures;
Large room areas. Any window length. All this is possible thanks to the use of laminated veneer lumber, which is capable of covering huge spans;
Short construction time. Modern half-timbered house does not require the use of powerful equipment. It can be assembled very quickly by a team of six people;
Unique and modern design;
Use environmentally pure material- timber;
Prefabricated houses built using this technology will not be subject to shrinkage.

Among the disadvantages are the following

High cost of materials;
Frame materials require constant maintenance;
High risk of fire;
The likelihood of mold and mildew;
Small wall thickness.

Thanks to special lighting technology, such a house will have a record amount of light. So, like this modern house could be a real dream. The construction of a half-timbered house is quite complex, so it will not be easy to build it yourself.

You must have certain skills frame construction. The technology for building such houses was widely used in Germany and Europe. People who have never seen the inside of such a modern house believe that it looks the same from the inside as it does from the outside. In some cases they turn out to be right.

Wall of a half-timbered house in section

The inside of such a house is decorated in a half-timbered or Scandinavian style, which involves the use of white tones and a large amount of free space.

High-tech style is also acceptable. It is characterized by a large amount of metal and minimalism. If the construction of such a house does not involve the use of metal parts, then they can be successfully used in the interior.

Half-timbered houses have one significant drawback, which is the high risk of fire.

Some owners of such houses prefer to decorate their home in classic style. The beams of the house can be actively used as an interior element. The roof of such houses is traditionally made gable without an attic. Although, if the presence of an attic is important to you, then this option can also be considered.

Video

You can watch a video where experts will talk about the features of half-timbered houses.

Half-timbering, that is, a frame house filled with clay or brick, appeared in the 11th century, but the heyday of this technology occurred in the Renaissance, that is, the 15th century. Despite such a venerable age, this technology makes it possible to build very durable and relatively inexpensive houses, characterized by an unusual appearance. In this article we will tell you how to build a half-timbered house and avoid the most common mistakes.

Two types of half-timbered houses

Today you can find two types of houses in this style:

built using half-timbered technology;
decorated with half-timbered wood.

In the first case, the house not only looks the part, but is also built using a frame method, then filled with some kind of filler. The basis of such a house is a frame made of softwood timber. It is he who has all the advantages that made houses in this style reliable and popular throughout medieval Europe. There are still houses in this style, whose age reaches 500 years. In the second case, the house can be built from anything, then decoratively decorated in a half-timbered style. Such a house cannot have those positive qualities, which are inherent in original houses, so the only advantage of such finishing is unusual and stylish appearance.

Materials for a half-timbered house

The best material for the supporting frame is laminated larch timber. It is highly durable and resistant to fungus and mold. Instead, you can use laminated pine timber, which has less good characteristics. As a filler, you can use traditional adobe, that is, a mixture of clay and straw, but we recommend making an analogue of SIP panels from two sheets of wood concrete and some kind of insulation. Instead of wood concrete, you can use a thin board, plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). You can use other materials that meet four basic qualities:

high strength;
ease of processing;
low cost;
low thermal conductivity.

When building the walls of such a house, you can also use recycled products, for example, organic cellulose insulation. It is made from waste paper, so the cost is low, and the level of thermal conductivity is only slightly higher than that of mineral wool. Another very successful filler material is granules or crumbs of polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. These materials are also very inexpensive and have a very low thermal conductivity coefficient. In addition, they do not have to be cut, because this material is poured into the cavity. To better understand the design of such a wall, we recommend reading about houses made of double timber.

Foundation

The choice of foundation depends on the materials from which the walls will be made. For walls made of lightweight materials, piles are best suited screw foundation which we talked about in this article. If the walls are heavy, for example, filled with adobe, then a more powerful foundation will be required. In addition, a house built using half-timbered technology is very sensitive to frost heaving of the soil, so the foundation must be lowered below the freezing depth. Otherwise, frost heaving will first tear the foundation and then destroy the integrity of the walls, covering them with cracks and crevices. Walls made of heavy materials - brick, adobe and others - tolerate frost heaving the worst.

Frame and walls

Frame base - vertical pillars, installed at a distance of 50–70 cm from each other. At the level of ceilings and windows, vertical beams are tied with horizontal ones, to which the floors are then attached. It is necessary to connect vertical and horizontal beams in half a tree or in a tenon, fixing wooden dowel. If possible, use a dovetail connection and also secure with a dowel. Braces or inclined beams not only increase the rigidity of the structure, but also give it that unique charm of the houses of old Europe.

The braces must be distributed so that they create beautiful drawing, so they can be inserted either into small cells or fit into several cells formed by vertical and horizontal bars. The methods for attaching the braces to the beam are the same as for the junction of vertical and horizontal beams. Fixation with a dowel will make the entire structure more durable and reliable. Use as a frame reinforcer metal corners, which are attached to vertical and horizontal corners. If you find corners the desired shape, then strengthen the braces with them. While creating the frame, prepare places for installing windows and doors.

IN original houses, built using half-timbered technology, vertical pillars were dug directly into the ground or placed on large stones. However, it is more practical to do the same as when constructing a regular frame house, that is, attach the frame (bottom) beam to the foundation or grillage, and then attach the vertical beams to it. This method of fastening is especially preferable in regions with:

high groundwater levels;
frequent and heavy precipitation;
very low winter temperatures;
strong winds;
unstable ground.

Before assembling the frame, treat the entire beam with hydrophobic impregnations and an antiseptic, and also consider a method for attaching the filler. A lattice made of branches or thin slats is well suited for adobe and wood concrete mass. To insert such a lattice, you need to make a groove in each beam along the diameter or width of the branches or slats, then simultaneously assemble the frame and insert the slats into the groove. You can also use steel mesh with cells of small size (up to 5x5 cm).

The walls of a half-timbered house must meet three basic requirements:

be slightly thinner than timber;
have sufficient strength;
have low thermal conductivity.

Adobe and arbolite walls are the most correct in terms of style, but they hold heat worse than a sandwich made of insulation and two facing slabs. Therefore, you will have to decide for yourself what is more important to you – reliability or reduced heating costs. Walls made of wood concrete and adobe will need to be caulked after drying, because cracks will appear between them and the timber. In the summer, when the timber dries out as much as possible, these cracks will increase. The same caulking methods apply to houses in the half-timbered style as for conventional log houses. To reduce the amount of shrinkage of the frame, and hence the size of the cracks, it is necessary to use well-dried laminated veneer lumber, treated with reliable hydrophobic preparations. In addition, it is necessary to repeat the treatment of all frame beams with such preparations every 2–3 years.

Windows, doors and ventilation

Modern plastic windows fit harmoniously into the exterior of a half-timbered house. However, they cannot be fixed in the same way as in concrete or brick houses. To install windows and doors, you need to make a frame, which we talked about in the article (Window in wooden house). If you install windows and doors without frames, then under the influence of seasonal shrinkage and swelling of the frame beams, the windows and doors will either jam or appear between them and the frame more slit, which are very difficult to fight. In addition, it is necessary to consider the ventilation system, because a half-timbered house, unlike a wooden one, cannot independently remove excess moisture outside and discharge it into the atmosphere. Therefore, lack of good ventilation leads to mold and rot.

Floors, ceilings and roof

External and internal finishing

The outside of the half-timbered house is carefully caulked, then the walls are painted light colors, and the frame bars are dark. This creates a unique flavor of ancient half-timbered houses. When painting timber, it is advisable to use vapor-permeable paints; this will reduce the likelihood of rot or mold appearing in the wood. To paint walls, you can use any paint, because neither adobe or crossbow, nor moisture-resistant plywood or OSB are afraid of any paints. The inside of such a house can be finished in any way, for example, covered with plasterboard or clapboard. You can also plaster the entire interior surface of the house or maintain the original appearance of the walls.

Conclusion

Half-timbered houses still retain their popularity and medieval ambiance. They are simpler and cheaper to manufacture than a full-fledged house made of timber and are comparable in price to inexpensive frame houses. However, you are unlikely to be able to sell such a house quickly and expensively, because most people prefer traditional brick, concrete or wooden houses, but if you are building it for yourself and your family, then it will serve you for hundreds of years.

Probably, many travel lovers paid attention to charming fairy-tale houses in Western Europe. They themselves are a striking attraction. Today, such houses are starting to be built in Russia, America, and Australia. And yet the most familiar place for them is Germany. Of course, many of our readers have already guessed that we will talk about half-timbered houses. What it is? Let's figure it out.

Studying half-timbered

This is special building construction a certain type. In other words, it is a rigid frame made of timber, which is formed by a system of horizontal, diagonal, vertical elements - posts, beams, braces. The gaps are filled with insulating material. At first, clay, stone, and adobe were used. Today, half-timbered houses are built using modern insulation materials, sandwich panels. The choice of such materials these days is huge, so it depends on the preferences of the customer and his financial capabilities. Now you understand what half-timbered timber is. Let's figure out where and how it is used.

The facade of a half-timbered house in the old days was different - it was left in its original form, then they began to cover the building with bricks and plaster. The wealthiest owners covered it with wooden panels.

Today, the façade of a half-timbered house can be decorated in more varied ways. Often the walls are sheathed and then finished in accordance with the wishes of the owners - sheathed with brick or natural stone, clapboard or a wide variety of panels. There is only one constant feature: a half-timbered structure is a structure in which the frame is visible from the outside. When the house is plastered and painted, the frame remains intact. The whole point of this style is that posts, beams, crossbars and braces divide the walls of the building in an original way, thereby giving it a special appeal.

As a rule, a house made in the half-timbered style has a gable roof, less often. Today, many designers claim that half-timbered architectural style. But initially the meaning of this term is translated from German as follows: Fach - section, Werk - structure. Consequently, a half-timbered structure is a structure made up of sections. That's sorted out.

Half-timbered buildings: what kind of design is this?

According to some sources, this technology has been around for more than five hundred years; according to others, it has already celebrated its 1000th anniversary. But despite this, construction methods have not undergone much change. Just like several centuries ago, the building is built on hard wooden frame. True, if you used it before ordinary timber, then today glued laminated timber is used as the most durable. It has no cracks or knots, and therefore looks much more aesthetically pleasing. This is important for such a structure, since the frame is also a decoration of the house.

The construction of half-timbered houses these days is no more difficult than fast construction buildings made of light metal structures. Many people thinking about construction own home, interested in half-timbered frames. What kind of design is this, how much more profitable is it than modern buildings built from new materials according to modern technologies? Let's try to answer these questions.

Style Features

A house built in the half-timbered style, the photo of which you see in this article, does not accept the use of metal - screeds, which can ruin the interior. The elements are still connected with wood - tenons, notches, dowels. It must be said that such connections were used in houses that were already 400-500 years old. Agree, this is a good advertisement for this technology.

The frame of the half-timbered structure is lightweight, which allows you to build houses on a shallow, inexpensive foundation. in the half-timbered style opens up great possibilities for glazing. You can create entire walls of glass. Blind wall openings are usually insulated with glass wool or lightweight aerated concrete. They are sheathed inside gypsum fiber sheet, which significantly improves sound insulation, and in addition serves additional protection by cold.

Where to start construction

Of course, from design. A quality home design is half the success. This means that when proper quality construction work the house will serve the owner for decades. It is better to order an individual project, which will suit the customer even in the smallest details.

Duration of construction

Today you can buy ready-made frames, manufactured at the factory, allowing the erection of half-timbered structures. There is no doubt that this will significantly speed up the process. It takes from two to six weeks to produce it at the enterprise. At this time, the foundation is being prepared at the construction site. The frame is installed, filled with insulation, the roof is erected, the exterior and interior walls. This takes another two to three months. It is necessary to create a heating system. It can also be different - oven, steam, water, etc. Laying communications will also take some time. At the same time, we can say that a half-timbered structure is built quite quickly, like any other frame structure.

Half-timbered buildings in Russia

This technology is applicable only for the construction of houses for permanent residence only in warm climates. This was believed until recently. However, technologies are constantly updated, and today architects building half-timbered buildings in Russia use “warm floor” technology, use high-quality double-glazed windows, fill the frame with sandwich insulation, and additionally line the outer walls with brick. As a result of such operations, reliable, comfortable, and withstand very low temperatures the good old half-timbered frames are becoming. There is no doubt that this is a house suitable for permanent residence.

Half-timbered interior

This issue should be approached creatively. Existing system You can’t hide the beams anywhere, and is it really necessary? They carry the spirit of antiquity. They just need to be played in an original way. For this you can use any style - from minimalism to German country.

Beams can be artificially aged if desired, and more can be used in the interior natural wood, lay a “antique” board or tile on the floor. In this case, use high-quality solid furniture. Buy coarse textiles and homemade rugs. It is better to hide modern equipment behind cabinet fronts.

If minimalism is closer to you, consider glazing large areas in advance. The rooms will become spacious, flooded with light. Paint the frame and beams White color, and lay bleached parquet on the floor. The walls must certainly be soft, light colors. Install a laconic and compact fireplace, a minimal amount of furniture, and it will turn from a fairy tale into a strict and light home for a modern person.

It should be noted that there is no specific style in which half-timbered buildings are decorated. What kind of style it will be is up to the homeowner to decide. From time immemorial, such houses were united only by the presence of a hearth and a frame.

Interior in half-timbered style

This is a very conventional name. In fact, such a house can be decorated in different ways. Make an accent on the frame by painting it in a contrasting color. Floors can be anything - (tiles are used for this). Just like outside the house, on internal partitions the frame should be visible. The walls in a half-timbered house should be light. Most suitable for this textured plaster. Beams can be used to organize lighting; in addition, they can be used as shelves or brackets for storing various utensils. It is permissible to use forging in the interior of a half-timbered structure. It could be a horseshoe or even a cart wheel.

Today you learned a little about cute half-timbered houses, found out what their design is, how long it takes to build and how they can be decorated. We hope that you find this information useful and that you will put it into practice someday.