Hello,
It would be really great if everyone here could just post one or a few pictures showing the current state of their house.
I'll start right away.
For renovations, it’s best to provide a comparison of before and after the remodeling.
Before March 2014:
After May 2015:
It would be really great if everyone here could just post one or a few pictures showing the current state of their house.
I'll start right away.
For renovations, it’s best to provide a comparison of before and after the remodeling.
Before March 2014:
After May 2015:
Overall, I believe a wooden house offers slightly less sound insulation. However, this was not a deciding factor for us, and we plan to compensate somewhat by using clay plaster. From the beginning, we were certain we wanted a wooden house because we found the living atmosphere in wooden houses more pleasant. A basement was initially planned as a "standard" concrete basement with appropriate insulation.
The insulation values regarding thermal insulation are excellent, especially as done by the local carpenter (he is quite environmentally conscious and always tries to maximize eco-friendliness and sustainability in the heating system); our exterior walls are 40cm (16 inches) thick.
The two-year delay had nothing to do with the wooden house itself but was caused by a difficult local council *eye roll*, which repeatedly rejected the building project even after the higher building authority had long given the green light. In the end, they could not prevent it but significantly delayed the process. We received approval from the district administration (LRA) after several struggles and compromises in late summer last year. All objection deadlines expired by March this year, and we had to wait for this to make sure the municipality would not pursue legal action before the administrative court. We had sufficient experience with them during that time and did not want to risk a last-minute objection.
The insulation values regarding thermal insulation are excellent, especially as done by the local carpenter (he is quite environmentally conscious and always tries to maximize eco-friendliness and sustainability in the heating system); our exterior walls are 40cm (16 inches) thick.
The two-year delay had nothing to do with the wooden house itself but was caused by a difficult local council *eye roll*, which repeatedly rejected the building project even after the higher building authority had long given the green light. In the end, they could not prevent it but significantly delayed the process. We received approval from the district administration (LRA) after several struggles and compromises in late summer last year. All objection deadlines expired by March this year, and we had to wait for this to make sure the municipality would not pursue legal action before the administrative court. We had sufficient experience with them during that time and did not want to risk a last-minute objection.
@Climbee So your house will still be plastered on the outside, right?
A great idea to build a wooden house, but I would have concerns about the underfloor heating and the typical creaking and cracking in the timber framework. Also, the risk of insect infestation and the fact that wood is very sensitive to moisture.
A great idea to build a wooden house, but I would have concerns about the underfloor heating and the typical creaking and cracking in the timber framework. Also, the risk of insect infestation and the fact that wood is very sensitive to moisture.
Climbee
Is it a timber frame or solid wood construction?
Are you building near Augsburg? I lived there ages ago.
What energy standard are you building to, and what type of heating system will you use?
@ Niri
We have a solid wood house.
Underfloor heating is possible.
We don’t have any creaking—the wood is properly seasoned, and our panels are cross-laminated timber, not full logs. Apparently, timber frame structures tend to creak and settle more.
Moisture: our house is built on a concrete slab, so it does not have any issues with dampness from below. I find the idea of a wooden basement interesting. Wood takes a long time to absorb moisture fully. It’s no problem to erect a wooden house in rainy weather.
Water damage, such as from broken pipes, can occur even in solid houses.
We don’t have termites here, and woodworm prefers weaker targets—so I’m not worried about that.
Wood is not a poor building material and, when properly used, can be very durable. Just look at the old half-timbered houses.
The exterior is usually plastered.
Is it a timber frame or solid wood construction?
Are you building near Augsburg? I lived there ages ago.
What energy standard are you building to, and what type of heating system will you use?
@ Niri
We have a solid wood house.
Underfloor heating is possible.
We don’t have any creaking—the wood is properly seasoned, and our panels are cross-laminated timber, not full logs. Apparently, timber frame structures tend to creak and settle more.
Moisture: our house is built on a concrete slab, so it does not have any issues with dampness from below. I find the idea of a wooden basement interesting. Wood takes a long time to absorb moisture fully. It’s no problem to erect a wooden house in rainy weather.
Water damage, such as from broken pipes, can occur even in solid houses.
We don’t have termites here, and woodworm prefers weaker targets—so I’m not worried about that.
Wood is not a poor building material and, when properly used, can be very durable. Just look at the old half-timbered houses.
The exterior is usually plastered.
We have also installed L-shaped retaining walls on the neighbor’s side to secure the terrain toward the east (this is the side visible in the avatar). Instead of a balcony on that side, as it currently looks, there will be a terrace. We will need additional retaining walls for the land as well (at the front, on the south side of the house, the basement will be stepped down, and on the left and right sides, we will have retaining walls), which will be made of concrete. The house itself and the basement will be made entirely of wood.
Specifically, a wooden frame structure, as it offers better insulation values.
It will likely be a KfW 40 standard house, but without a storage tank.
We will use larch battens for the façade. Since we are building an extension onto my mother’s house, which is white, the new part should stand out slightly but still harmonize. We thought adding another white house next to it would look dull. Additionally, a natural, untreated wood façade is very low-maintenance if you accept the natural greying over time. We actually find it quite attractive.
We are not building near Augsburg but a bit further south, near Landsberg.
I have absolutely no concerns about the wooden house. In Scandinavia, wooden houses have been built for centuries and are still standing today. I was admittedly a bit skeptical about the wooden basement, but mainly regarding whether our groundwater level is low enough. That is the only issue: if groundwater reaches under a wooden basement house. In that case, the problem is not waterproofing but the risk of the house floating.
Specifically, a wooden frame structure, as it offers better insulation values.
It will likely be a KfW 40 standard house, but without a storage tank.
We will use larch battens for the façade. Since we are building an extension onto my mother’s house, which is white, the new part should stand out slightly but still harmonize. We thought adding another white house next to it would look dull. Additionally, a natural, untreated wood façade is very low-maintenance if you accept the natural greying over time. We actually find it quite attractive.
We are not building near Augsburg but a bit further south, near Landsberg.
I have absolutely no concerns about the wooden house. In Scandinavia, wooden houses have been built for centuries and are still standing today. I was admittedly a bit skeptical about the wooden basement, but mainly regarding whether our groundwater level is low enough. That is the only issue: if groundwater reaches under a wooden basement house. In that case, the problem is not waterproofing but the risk of the house floating.
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