Frame Houses: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Technology Nuances, Designs, and Construction Stages

07.09.2022

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Frame houses: advantages, disadvantages and nuances of technology, projects, assembly stages

As the name suggests, a frame house is a structure built using a frame. The frame is made of thick wooden beams or metal. The materials used for the walls are typically SIPs or slabs.

Frame house plans are a series of documents containing comprehensive information about the future building. They consist of two sections: architecture and construction. One section shows the building’s exterior from various angles. The second section contains architectural plans, diagrams, drawings, specifications, estimates, and installation instructions. In addition, the main utilities (electrical, plumbing, ventilation), as well as the building’s structure, are taken into account.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Frame Houses

In terms of reliability and durability, frame houses are no less reliable than buildings made of other materials. Key advantages:

Low cost and short construction times;
Strong connections between building elements. Due to this, the building is less susceptible to damage due to settlement on problematic soils. Construction errors and damage do not cause serious consequences;
Complex finishing processes are not required, and finishing work can be performed year-round;
The lightweight structure eliminates the need for a substantial foundation;
Good wall insulation allows for quick heating of the room and savings on heating;
The wall structure allows for concealment of all utility lines;
Architectural possibilities are limited only by imagination; virtually any configuration can be created.

However, “skeletons” have certain drawbacks. However, for every drawback, even if “forewarned,” there is a successful solution.

Short service life. The GOST standard specifies the service life of frame houses as 75 years. However, with repairs every 25 years and careful maintenance, the structure will last for more than a century;
Low environmental friendliness. Not all materials used in construction are made from natural components. For example, SIP panels are manufactured using synthetic adhesives, and expanded polystyrene is used as an internal insulation. This point is quite controversial; finding a completely eco-friendly home these days is unlikely. Ultimately, everything depends on the quality of the materials used, and therefore on the integrity of the construction company;
Low sound insulation. This should be kept in mind if construction is planned near railway lines, highways or airports. The problem can be solved simply – it is necessary to select a suitable soundproofing material before starting construction;
Susceptibility to rotting. When humidity is high, wood begins to deteriorate and mold and mildew appear. Timely treatment with antiseptics completely solves this problem.
Fire hazard. Any structure made of wood contributes to the spread of fire. Special fire-fighting compounds that are used to treat wooden surfaces come to the rescue.

Types of frame construction

Before you buy frame house project , you need to understand the different types of frame houses. There are four main types, all others are combinations of elements from various modifications of one building. The following building types are used

Frame houses made of frames with floors

Such buildings are also known as “Canadian houses”, and it is believed that when they were developed in Russia, Canadian building codes were taken as a basis.

The main difference is that they consist of several layers. Each layer is a floor fixed to the base of the platform. The foundation of the first floor (ribbon) is usually called the basement floor. The name is conditional, and the building may not have a basement. The strappings are attached directly to the foundation and serve as support for the floor beams, which are connected by eyelets. This creates a shield that looks like a pallet for transporting and storing goods.

Vertical beams are the main supporting structure. At the bottom they are attached to horizontal beams, and at the top they are connected by the same beams, creating a foundation for the second floor.

Frame houses with continuous posts

Such buildings are also called Finnish. It is not known whether they were invented in Finland, but they are widespread in Finland’s neighboring countries.

They differ from other types in that the main load-bearing element is a strong vertical structure running through two floors (hence the name continuity). The ceiling between floors is attached to support boards embedded in the main columns at the second floor level. The boards are more than just supports; they hold the posts together and give strength to the entire structure.

When constructing solid shelving, special attention must be paid to proper installation. If even the slightest horizontal shift of the first floor is allowed, building the second floor becomes extremely difficult or impossible.

Post-and-Beam Houses

This type of building is common in Germany and is also known as half-timbered houses. Externally, they are easily distinguished from other types of houses—all exterior columns, side beams, and inclined wall beams are visible from the outside. They have a longer service life than other types of houses. Some buildings date back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

These structures use only thick-walled beams. They form the vertical posts, as well as the horizontal ceilings and diagonal supports. This is the main difference; other designs use smaller sectional boards for floors and logs.

Construction of such houses takes longer because the structural components are attached using left-in joints. However, there are also designs for small frame houses in which the beams are bolted together. Post-and-frame structures

Unlike the buildings mentioned above, the vertical posts of these structures support not only the walls and ceilings. They also act as piles. They can be driven into the ground or installed on concrete piers. This allows the structure to be raised above ground level. This feature is useful when building in marshy areas or flood zones. Another advantage is good ventilation of the lower part of the house. The boards remain dry and prevent the formation of mold and mildew.

In this type of house, the load from the roof and side slabs is evenly distributed among the vertical posts. Doors, windows, or insulation panels are installed in the spaces between them. If additional reinforcement is needed, diagonal supports are installed.

What is included in the basic project package

A standard building is considered to be a 6×8 m house. Various suppliers offer both standard designs and custom designs, tailored to the client’s wishes. However, despite all the differences in architecture and design, a basic compositional concept remains. These include:

Floors – joists, floor joists, vapor barrier film, floorboards (rough and finished);

Walls – load-bearing beams, wall panels, insulation, finishing materials, decorative elements;
Interfloor joists – floor joists for the second floor, vapor barrier film, floorboards (rough and finished);
Windows and doors with trims and reveals;
Roof – rafters, sheathing, roofing material (usually metal tiles), insulation, wind and moisture protection film, finishing materials.
Please note! Foundations are usually not included in the basic design of a frame house. This is because the required foundation type can only be selected after examining the construction site. In some cases, a geological survey may be required. This is especially true for problematic soils (high humidity, thick humus layer, clay).

Properly conducted geological surveys are the key to a high-quality foundation at the lowest price at SMRTE. ru.

If you plan to build a house with more than one story, it’s best to entrust this work to professionals. The wrong choice can lead to serious disappointments down the road.

Stages of frame house construction

The construction technology is similar to that of a traditional wooden house, but there are some differences. The sequence is as follows:

Construction of the foundation and its waterproofing;

House framing (installation of the flashing);
Frame preparation and installation;
Floor laying;
Wall installation;
Insulation and exterior finishing.
The most important stage is laying the foundation and installing the supporting structure. Of course, why is the foundation so important? Particular attention is paid to the precision and installation of the frame assembly, as it serves as the foundation for the entire structure. A tilt or deviation from the level complicates the installation of other elements.
Can changes be made to existing designs?
Customers are often dissatisfied with a standard design and want to make specific changes. All project development organizations can do this. The only question is whether they will do it for free.
A change in the future owner of a house seems insignificant and can be accomplished with the click of a button. Then the program does the rest. In practice, it may turn out that a new design must be created to implement the plan.

For example, by agreement with the designer, you can reinstall insulation material free of charge or change the purpose of the object. Add a deck or porch from another project and remove a door or window – in most cases, but not always. If the size of the house needs to be changed, it is unlikely to be done. To do this, it is necessary to calculate the dimensions of all load-bearing structures, floors, foundations and facades. Indeed, such cases are very rare. In the catalog of frame house projects, everyone can choose a standard project or small modifications for independent adaptation.

How to choose a suitable house project for permanent residence

Construction for permanent residence implies the possibility of operation at any time of the year, both in the summer heat and in the winter cold. This should be paid special attention to when designing future homes. If you don’t need to live in a building in low temperatures, you can save on insulation. A small layer of this material is enough so that the summer heat does not interfere with a comfortable stay in the house. If permanent occupancy is expected, it is necessary to ensure such a thickness that heat is retained even at the lowest temperatures. In the central zone of Russia, an insulation thickness of at least 150 mm is recommended; a thickness of 200 mm is considered optimal.

Conclusion

Properly created (in compliance with all technological requirements) frame buildings cannot be called the cheapest. Before building a house using frame technology, you can look at the project and the price of the material in the supplier’s catalog and assess your financial capabilities. However, their undeniable advantage is the variety of options and construction technologies. This allows everyone to choose the most suitable option for themselves.

Frame Houses: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Technology Nuances, Designs, and Construction Stages

Advantages and Disadvantages of Frame Houses