Bar-shaped houses for shrinkage: profitable and reliable

Log cabin - perhaps the most reliable and cozy structure, which many people dream of. This type of construction was very common in our country from time immemorial

In this article we will explain to you what the shrinkage of a log house and what is the "sale of a log house for shrinkage." We hope that this information will be useful for you.

Why precisely timber

This material has a number of qualities that make it very attractive in the eyes of customers. These include accessibility, durability and environmental friendliness.

Do not be surprised at the word “customer”, because the very concept of selling a house “under shrinkage” implies that construction will not be done by hand. The price, of course, will increase slightly, but where it is sadder to repair the house after the untimely start of finishing work.

What is the sale of "under shrinkage"

Among the services offered by construction companies, one can often find two formulations: “turnkey” and “under shrinkage”. What is their fundamental difference?

With the "key" everything is more or less clear. You contact the company, choose a project, pay it off and after a specified time you get a house suitable for occupancy (see also the article The house from a profiled bar for shrinkage is a natural process, the usual result).

Speaking of the house “by shrinkage”, the following is meant:

1. you choose the project and pay;
2. the frame is built and idle for 3 to 12 months (depending on the type of timber) without finishing;
3. after the expiration of the shrinkage, finishing works begin, either by your own or by hired forces, as you agree;
4. and only after that the house is serviceable.

Now let's see what types of timber there are and how, depending on them, the process of interest occurs.

Types of timber and their sedimentation during drying

Shrinkage of glued laminated timber is recognized as minimal among all types of material. It does not exceed 1%. The material itself has a moisture content of not more than 10%.

However, the principle of construction itself involves spending more time and effort. In addition, the quality of the construction of such a house is maximally connected with the quality of the material. In other words, just as a brick can be broken or burned out, so can a timber be glued with low-quality glue.

Tip! If you choose this type of material, do not take the material from your hands. Contact better a large company, asking for the preliminary views of their customers.

Shrinkage of a bar of natural humidity is recognized as the highest. It makes up to 8%, and its humidity is from 25 to 80%. Imagine the fatal consequences of a delayed finish or uneven construction.

In addition, speaking of this type of timber, it is impossible not to mention that cracks and blue spots after drying can not be avoided. Of course, all this is fixable competent sealants, putty, etc.

In other words, by choosing this type, you will save on the material itself, but the subsequent painstaking decoration will stand in a pretty penny. So it is better to still give preference to pre-dried "fellow".

A house for 150x150 lumber shrinkage, for example, will be the most predictable and controlled of all the options listed. The quality of the material is virtually the same for all suppliers, and minor errors during construction will not spoil the entire project.

The humidity of the material itself is from 16 to 22%, and the shrinkage is 3-4% of the original dimensions. By the way, the size of 150x150 is very convenient to use and gives space for the construction of complex structures. Take a look at the photo, because you won’t say that such a construction can be called “simple”.

A common method of "struggle" with shrinkage

In addition, there is such a device as a shrinkage compensator for timber, which is most often used in the construction of a log of timber of natural moisture. There are several types of them:

This device, in essence, resembles a jack. It consists of an anchor, a nut, as well as support and counter plates. To the log house it is attached with ordinary self-tapping screws (see also the article “Log house from the timber for shrinkage: how to avoid problems).

Installation instructions are extremely simple:

• in each of the supporting pillars drilled a hole equal to the size of the compensator;
• installation is made either from above or below, there is no need to install 2 jacks;
• fixing the compensator itself;
• after the completion of the construction, the nut on the compensator is twisted to prevent sagging of the bars, which rest on the pole;

Tip! The first month of control and tighten, if necessary, the nuts daily. After this time, there is no need to control the process as often.

Let's sum up

So, now you know what the phrase “log house under shrinkage” means, and how this process depends on the type of material. We hope that you will take into account our remarks and will not make annoying mistakes when building your house (find out here how the finishing of the bar is done by imitation of the bar).

To learn more about installing compensators, take a few minutes of video in this article.