ᐅ Different Wall Systems for Houses, Load-Bearing Capacity, and Strength
Created on: 13 Jul 2025 14:48
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Flo&Steffi
Hello dear forum,
Our names are Florian and Stefanie, both in our mid-40s. We have already built two houses in our lives, both using solid construction methods. Now we are about to build our third house, which we will move into and sell the other two. Our dream (which we couldn’t realize before due to building plan restrictions/planning permission constraints) is to have an alpine chalet-style house, with 1.25m (4 feet) roof overhangs, plastered on the lower part, wood cladding on the upper part, small muntin windows, and so on, situated on a beautiful hillside plot with a view.
We are now looking into the different construction methods for timber frame houses. I have thoroughly researched various manufacturers and their wall assembly methods. However, I couldn’t really find much on their practical performance after construction. Since the suppliers all claim to have the best wall system in the universe, and one can’t necessarily rely 100% on their statements, I’d like to raise a question regarding prefabricated construction.
Some providers, such as Schwabenhaus, still use wall assemblies today that have only 12mm (0.5 inch) gypsum plasterboard on both the outside and inside. As a fairly experienced craftsman, I want to ask: how do you properly fix things to the walls in such houses without having to specifically hit the timber framing behind?
It is clear that gypsum board has some load-bearing capacity, especially with drywall anchors. But when I use those, I always puncture the vapor barrier that lies immediately behind the plasterboard in all such systems from every provider. Isn’t that a huge downside, or am I missing something here?
For example, Bien-Zenker takes a different approach. They use Knauf hardboard on the inside, which I know from my own experience. It’s like concrete for fixing purposes; I would even categorize its load-bearing capacity as better than brick. Schwörerhaus (and others) also install a wood-based panel behind the drywall on the inside, which is also highly load-bearing. The total thickness is usually around 12.5 + 18mm (0.5 + 0.7 inches), so about 30mm (1.2 inches), which allows you to fix things securely with 5-6 x 30mm (2 x 1.2 inch) wood screws. With the precise use of these screws, I can fix wherever I want without ever hitting the vapor barrier. Schwörerhaus even has, unlike all others, a composite board with very high load capacity under the plaster base on the exterior.
How is this handled, for example, by Schwabenhaus? From a purely technical perspective, should this provider be ruled out because of this one issue, or am I mistaken as I said earlier?
Best regards to everyone.
Our names are Florian and Stefanie, both in our mid-40s. We have already built two houses in our lives, both using solid construction methods. Now we are about to build our third house, which we will move into and sell the other two. Our dream (which we couldn’t realize before due to building plan restrictions/planning permission constraints) is to have an alpine chalet-style house, with 1.25m (4 feet) roof overhangs, plastered on the lower part, wood cladding on the upper part, small muntin windows, and so on, situated on a beautiful hillside plot with a view.
We are now looking into the different construction methods for timber frame houses. I have thoroughly researched various manufacturers and their wall assembly methods. However, I couldn’t really find much on their practical performance after construction. Since the suppliers all claim to have the best wall system in the universe, and one can’t necessarily rely 100% on their statements, I’d like to raise a question regarding prefabricated construction.
Some providers, such as Schwabenhaus, still use wall assemblies today that have only 12mm (0.5 inch) gypsum plasterboard on both the outside and inside. As a fairly experienced craftsman, I want to ask: how do you properly fix things to the walls in such houses without having to specifically hit the timber framing behind?
It is clear that gypsum board has some load-bearing capacity, especially with drywall anchors. But when I use those, I always puncture the vapor barrier that lies immediately behind the plasterboard in all such systems from every provider. Isn’t that a huge downside, or am I missing something here?
For example, Bien-Zenker takes a different approach. They use Knauf hardboard on the inside, which I know from my own experience. It’s like concrete for fixing purposes; I would even categorize its load-bearing capacity as better than brick. Schwörerhaus (and others) also install a wood-based panel behind the drywall on the inside, which is also highly load-bearing. The total thickness is usually around 12.5 + 18mm (0.5 + 0.7 inches), so about 30mm (1.2 inches), which allows you to fix things securely with 5-6 x 30mm (2 x 1.2 inch) wood screws. With the precise use of these screws, I can fix wherever I want without ever hitting the vapor barrier. Schwörerhaus even has, unlike all others, a composite board with very high load capacity under the plaster base on the exterior.
How is this handled, for example, by Schwabenhaus? From a purely technical perspective, should this provider be ruled out because of this one issue, or am I mistaken as I said earlier?
Best regards to everyone.
Honestly, I had already written a few points about your thread but then gradually read more and more intense (in my opinion, excessive) reactions from you and decided to delete them again. Participating here should be enjoyable for everyone, and there is a lot to gain from the discussions. No one, including myself, likes to be treated this way.
What is the problem, or who forbids opinions and thoughts to be expressed that might not be exactly what you asked for down to the last detail?
At least, I’m not interested in such bickering, and even though I’m a few days older and certainly have no fewer building projects behind me than you do, I appreciate the knowledge shared here and the time participants give freely.
I get the impression that you already think you know everything (better) and therefore don’t want to hear different opinions. Well then...
If I had another build, I would ask here again and be grateful for any help or advice alongside my questions.
I seriously doubt your assessment that, as a repeat builder, you could better evaluate all the things mentioned—I certainly wouldn’t approach it that way myself.
What is the problem, or who forbids opinions and thoughts to be expressed that might not be exactly what you asked for down to the last detail?
At least, I’m not interested in such bickering, and even though I’m a few days older and certainly have no fewer building projects behind me than you do, I appreciate the knowledge shared here and the time participants give freely.
I get the impression that you already think you know everything (better) and therefore don’t want to hear different opinions. Well then...
If I had another build, I would ask here again and be grateful for any help or advice alongside my questions.
I seriously doubt your assessment that, as a repeat builder, you could better evaluate all the things mentioned—I certainly wouldn’t approach it that way myself.
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Flo&Steffi14 Jul 2025 16:03Phew... well, I guess that’s how it is. I’ll concede and probably leave this forum. I was met with sarcasm here, but maybe this isn’t the right place for me. I didn’t even realize my age was already known here. But I suppose it’s one of those forum things where people read age into what’s written. I’m in the wrong place and, since I can’t handle it and don’t behave well, I should stay away from this kind of community. This is not sarcasm, but serious self-reflection.
Thanks anyway and goodbye.
Thanks anyway and goodbye.
Flo&Steffi schrieb:
that my age is already known here ....where else would I have read that from you?
Flo&Steffi schrieb:
I was sarcastically "attacked" here ...at least I didn’t read it that way, and I am neutral here, without any family or close connections to anyone.
Flo&Steffi schrieb:
I am in the wrong place here and should keep away from this kind of thing since I can’t handle it and behave inappropriately. This is not sarcasm, but genuine self-reflection. Only you can truly know that, but generally speaking, I think it’s a pity.
Flo&Steffi schrieb:
Hello dear forum members.
Our names are Florian and Stefanie, both in their mid-40s.Well, you revealed your age yourself...
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Flo&Steffi14 Jul 2025 16:37That's right.
As I said, this is probably not for me. Apparently, I have written more here than I intended, and that's fine now. Everything is okay, I will stay away again; the profile will be deleted after the email I just sent.
Regards
As I said, this is probably not for me. Apparently, I have written more here than I intended, and that's fine now. Everything is okay, I will stay away again; the profile will be deleted after the email I just sent.
Regards
Papierturm14 Jul 2025 17:02Hm. It’s a pity how this has developed here.
The underlying question itself is quite interesting.
The original question was actually answered right away: In comparison, Schwabenhaus seems to have the least wall structure suitable for mounting fixtures. (I haven’t read the construction specifications and am therefore only restating the initial post.)
The rest were offers of help based on reading between the lines, which was my intention and my interpretation of the other comments.
All the best for the project!
The underlying question itself is quite interesting.
The original question was actually answered right away: In comparison, Schwabenhaus seems to have the least wall structure suitable for mounting fixtures. (I haven’t read the construction specifications and am therefore only restating the initial post.)
The rest were offers of help based on reading between the lines, which was my intention and my interpretation of the other comments.
All the best for the project!