How significant are the disadvantages of a profiled bar

The construction of country houses made of wood is increasingly in demand both throughout the world and in the territory of the post-Soviet space. Such buildings are relevant, regardless of the climate zone and region, as they are resistant to environmental factors and energy efficient. But are there any disadvantages of houses from a bar?

Disadvantages with many advantages

In order to consider the pros and cons of these sawn timber, one should take into account the fact that profiled timber is a general term that summarizes the various categories of lengthy wooden products.

Solid wood, glued and even double (composite) modifications are presented on the market, which, despite the presence of a similar tongue-and-groove lock, have their own characteristic features. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a timber house?

Cons of solid wood building materials

Profiled timber of natural moisture - whatever one may say, this is just a tree, and therefore the disadvantages of houses from a profiled timber are obvious.

• The statistics of the operation of construction objects shows that despite the industrial processing, the timber, as well as the rounded log, eventually becomes covered with cracks. In addition, the milling of tongue-and-groove elements leaves wood pores open. As a result, harmful microorganisms will get into the fibers, which can cause rotting.

• Completion of the house from a bar of natural moisture implies the need for long shrinkage. Of course, it will not have to wait as long as when a brick or stone house shrinks, but all the same - no less than six months.

• Solid wood in the process of shrinkage can crack and warp. The only solution to this problem is to abandon self-construction. Only highly qualified specialists are able to take into account all the technological requirements for working with wood.

Cons of glued laminated timber

Do you think to finish the house from a bar using glued materials? Believe me, even such a high-tech material has several disadvantages. The disadvantages inherent in this category of sawn timber are features characteristic of all wood.

Glued laminated timber is cracked, jarred, can go stained and rot. But all this on a smaller scale than is typical of solid wood products. It should also be noted that the carrying capacity of glued laminated timber from pine and larch is not as high as many manufacturers and suppliers say.

Therefore, the instruction does not recommend using this building material for the construction of residential buildings above two floors.

Cons of double bar

• Despite the fact that in Western Europe the technology has been in operation for more than 20 years, it has not yet received proper distribution in the post-Soviet space. Therefore, it is still not entirely known how long such a material will serve in domestic climatic conditions.

• Due to the fact that the insulation is introduced into the space between the two beams, there is a probability that it will settle over time and the thermal conductivity of the walls will decrease.
• Taking into account the fact that the beams, located outside and inside the house, are operated in different temperature conditions, it can be assumed that with time the wall material is deformed and cracks are formed in it.
• Difficulties associated with the repair work, is another drawback. Cracks and other mechanical defects are very difficult to fix with your own hands.
• No credible reviews online. This disadvantage is explained by the novelty of technology, and, therefore, it is difficult to form an objective opinion on the expediency of using such a bar.
• It cannot be said that the price of this building material is significantly lower than the cost of traditional and more common lumber. For example, the cost of a typical building with the use of a double beam is similar to the prices for houses from a rounded log.

Are there any advantages?

Building objects erected using profiled sawn timber have become increasingly popular over the past ten years. Considering that the popularity of such building materials remains stable, it can be assumed that the owners of such houses are satisfied with their housing. And as it turns out, there are reasons for this.

What are the advantages of using timber as the main building material?

The merits of solid wood

• Environmentally friendly and safe solution for everyday comfortable living. Softwood lumber is an array of wood without any glue, allergens and other substances that are harmful to everyday well-being.

• Aesthetically appealing smooth surface inside and outside. This advantage allows you to build houses that look equally good, both in the summer cottage and in the elite cottage community.
• Low degree of thermal conductivity. Profiled solid wood with a section of 150x150 is one of the most effective solutions for building an energy efficient home. But this is possible under the condition of a professional approach to the execution of installation works and subject to technological requirements.

Between adjacent bars the gap is no more than 3 mm. This distance is just enough to lay the seal and prevent the appearance of drafts and the formation of heat loss.

Important: profiled lumber with a cross-section of 190x190 mm in terms of thermal insulation is equivalent to a rounded log with a cross-section diameter of 320 mm.

• Energy efficiency. If you comply with the technological requirements during installation, you can build a house that will save on heating without compromising the indoor climate.

Such results are provided with both a compactor and a complex construction of a tongue-and-groove lock. Such a connection, being a complex maze, prevents the appearance of cold bridges in the walls.

• Efficiency of construction. Solid wood profiled bars are characterized by low cost. The fact is that the process of their manufacture is simple and does not involve significant labor costs. The upper and lower parts and sidewalls are cut from the logs, after which the workpiece is ground and machined on milling equipment. As a result, such a timber is twice cheaper than a glued analog.
• Low level of shrinkage, compared to brick and stone buildings. This advantage is possible if the lumber is dry and the degree of moisture content does not exceed 18%. If the wood meets this requirement, then the shrinkage for the structure of pine will be 3.5% and for cedar 4.5%.
• There is no need for caulking gaps at the end of shrinkage. The presence of a tongue-and-groove profile and a layer of a sealant can compensate for heat losses and prevent the appearance of drafts.
• The presence of a lock and tight accession of the surface of the bars exclude the penetration of moisture into the wall. As a result, wood will not rot and will last for a long time without losing its original technical characteristics.
• Fewer cracks in case of proper installation. Of course, wood cracks from time to time, from frequent temperature drops, from the negative impact of environmental factors, etc. Specialists, building walls of profiled timber, stack it in such a way that the stress from shrinkage is removed from each beam, both in the horizontal and in the vertical plane.
• Biological stability and fire safety under the condition of industrial treatment with antiseptic and flame retardant compounds.

Tip: in order to extend the life of a wooden house, it is advisable to cover all surfaces with several layers of lacquer for external use.

Advantages of glued laminated timber

• Geometric stability. This advantage distinguishes glued lumber from all-wood counterpart. Due to careful gluing of individual lamellae, dried wood retains its original shape without being deformed during shrinkage.
• Minimum level of shrinkage. Glued profiled timber is light, and therefore the weight of the walls is an order of magnitude less than the weight of similar structures made of all-wood analogs. As a result, it takes very little time to shrink the house.

Moreover, if the usual log building sits at more than ten centimeters, the shrinkage of laminated timber does not exceed 2-3 cm. As a result, you will be able to move into the house immediately after construction. In addition, you can be sure that the wood will not crack.

• High quality and durable. If in solid wood you cannot be sure that wood is equally strong, then in glued lumber everything is completely different. Each lamella after sawing is subjected to quality control.

Important: due to the gluing of the lamellas into a single whole, the finished timber is less susceptible to rotting than other building materials to us wood-based.

Advantages of a double bar

• The ability to use a variety of heaters, selected in accordance with the characteristics of the region.

• Low thermal conductivity. Due to the unique design, the profiled bar of this type demonstrates optimal performance of heat and noise insulation.

Conclusion

Can't decide what to build a house from? Of course, profiled timber is not a perfect building material in all respects. But, besides the obvious drawbacks, it shows many different advantages. Timber country houses are a non-random choice.

Buyers order such buildings for several reasons:

• for the comfort of living and excellent everyday well-being;
• to save material and temporary funds invested in construction;
• in order to live in a house that is much more attractive than the surrounding cottages, built with the use of ordinary building materials.

Of course, the reasons for the construction of housing from environmentally friendly materials can be listed endlessly. As for the previously listed deficiencies, they are all there, but they are easy to eliminate with a professional approach to the construction work.

Additional information about the features of the profiled beam in the video in this article.