Brick or foam blocks? And, maybe, a beam or logs? Each future owner of the house decides on the choice of technology for erecting walls, based on financial capacity, construction time, housing requirements and even site conditions( soil, groundwater level).Frame house - one of the most optimal solutions, if housing needs to be built quickly and inexpensively, and it should be warm and comfortable. Such a house can be built in one season, unlike a brick one, and you can do it without attracting large construction equipment and even practically alone, as materials for it weigh a little, and construction can be carried out in stages.
Step 1: Selecting the location and erecting the foundation
It is worthwhile to analyze the features of the site designated for the construction of the frame house, due to the use of a large number of wooden elements in it. It is worth choosing the most dry place on the hill, because the dampness will cause a rapid decay of the wood. You should not also choose a site with old trees, since their root system contributes to the early destruction of the foundation. It is also better to avoid areas with a high groundwater table, since the soil on them is not stable, and the frame of the house can "lead".
For such houses erect shallow buried types of foundation: tape, columnar, of concrete blocks. Providing a guarantee of strength in the ribbon foundation is the armature, in columnar - monolithic grillage, and in the block foundation - reinforced concrete strapping. In general, the rules and technology of laying the foundation does not differ from that for other types of houses.
On the perimeter of the future house, on top of the foundation, lay a wooden beam impregnated with antiseptic, under it lay a roofing material. The construction is strengthened with anchor bolts. Be sure to check the angles with the help of a level so that there is no distortion. The rough floor can be made from an unedged board. First lay lags, between them a heater made of expanded polystyrene or basalt wool, and the top is laid with boards. Overlapping can also be poured from concrete.
Stage 2: Assembling the frame
After the floors are laid, the walls are erected. At the heart of the house, the frame is a rigid construction of vertical racks of square section and tied to them horizontal straps and crossbars. Frame structures are metal and wooden. The frame made of metal is more expensive than wood and for its installation you need welding equipment and skills to work with it. But in this case, you can save on the foundation, since the hollow metal profiles weigh less than the wooden ones.
It is not recommended to use metal fasteners, because wood quickly decays when it comes into contact with metal objects. It will be more reliable to fix the connections with nagels, this will increase the service life.
Beams are installed every 300, 400 or 600 mm, choosing the distance according to the skin material. In the places where it is supposed to install windows, it is necessary to lay additional horizontal beams under them.
Stage 3: Construction and insulation of walls
Thermal insulation materials and materials used for wall cladding are chosen depending on the purpose of the dwelling. From the inside, the walls are lined with planks, OSB or gypsum-fiber boards using self-tapping screws. With the choice of material, it is better to determine before installing the frame, in order to lay the studs in accordance with its width.
If the house is intended for year-round living, for insulation it is necessary to stop on polystyrene foam with a thickness of at least 5 cm or a similar layer of mineral wool. For the summer cottage you can do with a thin insulation. Thermal insulation material is laid between the beams so that no voids remain, and fixed by brackets or special fasteners. On top of the heater, a waterproofing foil is fixed to the racks and the lath is stuffed from thin racks to provide ventilation between the house and the outer skin.
Outside the frame frame house can be vinyl siding, lining, OSB or pseudo-wood. Siding is mounted according to the general rules described here. Wooden cover is better to nail at an angle of 30-45 degrees and do it not very well, becausethe tree may dry up or vice versa swell.
Stage 4: Roof and final works of
Finish the construction by erecting the roof. Optimal option - gable roof, rafter system for which is mounted according to standard technology, as described in this article. The choice of roofing material depends on the desire and taste of the owners. There are many materials for this: roof tiles, soft roofing, and metal corrugated board. However, it is better not to use clay tiles in frame construction because of its great weight.
Built according to all the rules and observing all those technologies, the frame house will serve its owners no less than the stone house, and it will be just as warm and durable.