Certainly, this discussion has probably come up once or twice before – but now, in 2015, how does the technology really stand?
I want to exclude soundproofing from this discussion, since we are building in a very quiet residential area, as are most such areas. The special case of building a house near a flight path, on a main road, or similar, I don’t want to discuss here, especially since a double or triple-layered wall also provides some sound insulation (actually quite good).
I have always had concerns about mold, but on the other hand, where would the moisture come from? In the case of a pipe leak and significant moisture damage, sources suggest that solid/concrete houses have worse problems than timber structures. The procedure here is to remove drywall, dispose of insulation in the affected area, allow it to dry for a week (using controlled mechanical ventilation with professional equipment), then install new insulation, close it up, and it’s done.
Normally, without a pipe break, moisture shouldn’t actually penetrate, right? Just like with solid construction, only the first few millimeters of the wall serve as a moisture buffer. It is well known that there is no “breathing wall.”
Regarding summer heat protection, I have experienced that even shaded solid model homes can become quite warm over the weekend. The two types of houses don’t differ much in this respect. I have even read that the heat cannot be released from the masonry at night, whereas in a timber house with low thermal mass, you can ventilate and thus lower the temperature, or use a brine-earth heat exchanger with the controlled mechanical ventilation system to achieve comfortable temperatures.
How does durability compare? Why is it said that timber houses don’t last as long, and what would be a realistic lifespan?
What are the real disadvantages of modern timber frame prefabricated houses from established manufacturers (Bien-Zenker, Weberhaus)? I am not referring to those from Poland or the Hunsrück region.
I want to exclude soundproofing from this discussion, since we are building in a very quiet residential area, as are most such areas. The special case of building a house near a flight path, on a main road, or similar, I don’t want to discuss here, especially since a double or triple-layered wall also provides some sound insulation (actually quite good).
I have always had concerns about mold, but on the other hand, where would the moisture come from? In the case of a pipe leak and significant moisture damage, sources suggest that solid/concrete houses have worse problems than timber structures. The procedure here is to remove drywall, dispose of insulation in the affected area, allow it to dry for a week (using controlled mechanical ventilation with professional equipment), then install new insulation, close it up, and it’s done.
Normally, without a pipe break, moisture shouldn’t actually penetrate, right? Just like with solid construction, only the first few millimeters of the wall serve as a moisture buffer. It is well known that there is no “breathing wall.”
Regarding summer heat protection, I have experienced that even shaded solid model homes can become quite warm over the weekend. The two types of houses don’t differ much in this respect. I have even read that the heat cannot be released from the masonry at night, whereas in a timber house with low thermal mass, you can ventilate and thus lower the temperature, or use a brine-earth heat exchanger with the controlled mechanical ventilation system to achieve comfortable temperatures.
How does durability compare? Why is it said that timber houses don’t last as long, and what would be a realistic lifespan?
What are the real disadvantages of modern timber frame prefabricated houses from established manufacturers (Bien-Zenker, Weberhaus)? I am not referring to those from Poland or the Hunsrück region.
Just like in 1693 (timber framing)
A good idea if well executed. A bad idea if poorly done.
If properly calculated and correctly built, you won’t have mold problems in any house (where would they come from?).
What material was that solid model house made of? Was it really that solid?
Look at the houses from 1693... well maintained and regularly repaired, a house like that lasts forever.
They cost more than a solid wall house, but they go up faster – and they might also be somewhat less prone to defects.
A good idea if well executed. A bad idea if poorly done.
If properly calculated and correctly built, you won’t have mold problems in any house (where would they come from?).
What material was that solid model house made of? Was it really that solid?
Look at the houses from 1693... well maintained and regularly repaired, a house like that lasts forever.
They cost more than a solid wall house, but they go up faster – and they might also be somewhat less prone to defects.
Grym schrieb:
I always had concerns about mold, but on the other hand, where should the moisture come from.Water vapor (e.g., cooking, showering) and people themselves with their emissions.
You have already addressed the commonly mentioned disadvantages yourself. Even sound insulation between floors, for example, can be effectively managed with a nail-laminated timber floor.
I can imagine that in timber frame construction there is a significant gap between cheap and lower-quality options and more expensive, (very) high-quality ones, with few mediocre providers in between. That’s why good timber frame houses often seem expensive, but they actually only compete with very good/expensive masonry houses, which they are usually not compared to.
I can imagine that in timber frame construction there is a significant gap between cheap and lower-quality options and more expensive, (very) high-quality ones, with few mediocre providers in between. That’s why good timber frame houses often seem expensive, but they actually only compete with very good/expensive masonry houses, which they are usually not compared to.
ypg schrieb:
Water vapor (e.g. cooking, showering) and the person themselves with their emissions. Are you deliberately making this difficult? The question is, of course, where the moisture is supposed to come from, especially inside the timber studs? It is clear that there is moisture in the room and that it is regularly ventilated (whether by opening windows, mechanical ventilation without heat recovery, or mechanical ventilation with heat recovery). However, it is well known that moisture in a reasonably well-ventilated house only penetrates the first few millimeters of the wall to a small extent. This layer acts as a moisture buffer until the next ventilation (if not ventilated continuously). Diffusion of moisture outward, even if there is no ventilation and moisture remains in the wall for days or weeks, is practically 99 percent impossible.
In typical cases without ventilation, moisture partly penetrates the interior plaster in solid masonry and the first of 2 to 3 layers of drywall in timber frame construction. When ventilation occurs again, indoor humidity decreases and the small remaining amount of moisture in the wall is released back into the room.
We have been living for 2 months in a 25-year-old timber frame house (prefabricated house). So far, everything is great... during the extreme heat we had 26°C (79°F) inside, and when it gets cooler, the warmth stays for a few days (this might last longer in a solid construction). We only have slight mold growth in a garage (built in masonry) – so you can’t just blame wood in this case.
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