People use wood for buildings from the ancient times. They built churches, log cabins, garages, hospitals, schools and other similar buildings. Those days people have no doubts about the longevity of this material. Now people more often build houses from concrete or bricks, because they do not trust the wood. But why? Let`s review all the best wood features but most of resistance to fire.
Timber is very ecological material right from the nature. Timber is not processed like other building materials and do not loose its structural features. It is very important for people with allergies. Friendly for health and nature wood clears the air and gives more freshness in home. This benefit gives a feeling if you were somewhere in a forest.
Wood is strong. For some people this proposition causes laughter. It may be difficult to understand how it can be compared with metal, concrete or bricks. Timber frames can keep very high weight on themselves. Heavy roofing is not a problem for wood constructions, although it moves logs right in their places and there is no possibility to collapse this kind of building.
Thermal properties. It is known, that wood is very warm material by itself. Good thermal conductivity lets regulate the amount of heat in cold and warm seasons. In winter timber keeps all warmth and there is always a normal temperature without extra heating in the house. In summer everything is different. There would not be so hot inside because wood "breath out" all the warmth and cools premises. This feature also lets to avoid moisture excess.
Good acoustic features. Wood blocks all the noise from outside and you will not hear flying plane, driving cars or other unpleasant sounds. Musical instruments are also made of wood because of this benefit. But when we talk about the inside of wooden house some additional sound insulation is needed.
Electrical conductivity. Wood is widely used in electrical engineering not only as structural, backing but also as insulation material because it has a very small electrical conductivity. Lower electrical conductivity is in completely dry wood. The wetter wood is, the higher conductivity will be. This feature also varies in different types of wood, but electrical conductivity differences are slight.
Adaptable. Timber houses do not have to be made only of this one material. It has a possibility to fit with stone, concrete, metal, glass, bricks and alike. In the house building process people do not avoid mixing their house exterior and interior with some of mentioned materials. This will give an interesting and exclusive appearance to your house.
Longevity. This feature is known from the ancient times. You can look back in history of Christianity and I am sure that you will find a lot of wooden churches that are standing till now. Today`s timber is more long lasting than in those times. Impregnate, paints and varnishes expanded opportunities for wood. Now timber frame buildings can stand for more than 150 years.
Aesthetics. This feature is also important. Even unprocessed wood looks good. Every type of tree has its own colour which is used in the interior, gives beauty, cleanliness and freshness to all surroundings. Just polished wood also spreads a wonderful smell like in a real forest.
Working properties. Wood is easily processed material. There is a possibility to give every wishing appearance for your log cabin. Timber constructions can be changed, rebuilt or recollected. One of the best feature is that after processing all wood can be used - even the sawdust (which you can burn during the heating season) or use it as fertilizer in gardening works.
Resistance to fire. This feature is one of the most important. People avoid to build log cabins because of the rumor, that wooden buildings are not fire-proof. This is the main thing of which people do not know many things. Firstly log cabin, made of massive logs is less damaged by fire. There will char only surface. It is the main protection against wooden constructions collapse. While logs are slowly burning, you have a bit time to extinguish flames. But if it happens that fire damages all timber frame house or log cabin, you have to know that it will be much easier and cheaper to remove burned constructions and build a new one. It is true, that unprepared wood has lower resistance. There are a lot of various impregnates for timber to gain all fire-proof features. Fire retardant are various types and can be suitable for both manual ( brush, spray, immersing) and industrially (pressure treatment in an autoclave) use. These materials are mostly liquid. Soaked in the timber they strengthen the resilience of wood. Before impregnation fire retardant manufactures recommend to follow all steps closely. Firstly wood log cabins have to be properly ready: surface must be clean and cleared of dust, dirt, loose, particles of timber and alike, You also need to make sure that the humidity of timber would be between 14-24 per cent of the mass. When everything is prepared the substrate must be treated 2-3 times (between covering have to be 40-60 minutes intervals). After this let the impregnated substrate dry in natural conditions. Do not cover other impregnate while this fire-retardant is not fully dry.
After this - wood gets all the best features like concrete or brick houses. Fire resistance becomes many times higher and it ensures greater security for all your log cabin. Thanks to new technologies opinion about timber framing and other wooden buildings has changed into the good side only.
Timber is very ecological material right from the nature. Timber is not processed like other building materials and do not loose its structural features. It is very important for people with allergies. Friendly for health and nature wood clears the air and gives more freshness in home. This benefit gives a feeling if you were somewhere in a forest.
Wood is strong. For some people this proposition causes laughter. It may be difficult to understand how it can be compared with metal, concrete or bricks. Timber frames can keep very high weight on themselves. Heavy roofing is not a problem for wood constructions, although it moves logs right in their places and there is no possibility to collapse this kind of building.
Thermal properties. It is known, that wood is very warm material by itself. Good thermal conductivity lets regulate the amount of heat in cold and warm seasons. In winter timber keeps all warmth and there is always a normal temperature without extra heating in the house. In summer everything is different. There would not be so hot inside because wood "breath out" all the warmth and cools premises. This feature also lets to avoid moisture excess.
Good acoustic features. Wood blocks all the noise from outside and you will not hear flying plane, driving cars or other unpleasant sounds. Musical instruments are also made of wood because of this benefit. But when we talk about the inside of wooden house some additional sound insulation is needed.
Electrical conductivity. Wood is widely used in electrical engineering not only as structural, backing but also as insulation material because it has a very small electrical conductivity. Lower electrical conductivity is in completely dry wood. The wetter wood is, the higher conductivity will be. This feature also varies in different types of wood, but electrical conductivity differences are slight.
Adaptable. Timber houses do not have to be made only of this one material. It has a possibility to fit with stone, concrete, metal, glass, bricks and alike. In the house building process people do not avoid mixing their house exterior and interior with some of mentioned materials. This will give an interesting and exclusive appearance to your house.
Longevity. This feature is known from the ancient times. You can look back in history of Christianity and I am sure that you will find a lot of wooden churches that are standing till now. Today`s timber is more long lasting than in those times. Impregnate, paints and varnishes expanded opportunities for wood. Now timber frame buildings can stand for more than 150 years.
Aesthetics. This feature is also important. Even unprocessed wood looks good. Every type of tree has its own colour which is used in the interior, gives beauty, cleanliness and freshness to all surroundings. Just polished wood also spreads a wonderful smell like in a real forest.
Working properties. Wood is easily processed material. There is a possibility to give every wishing appearance for your log cabin. Timber constructions can be changed, rebuilt or recollected. One of the best feature is that after processing all wood can be used - even the sawdust (which you can burn during the heating season) or use it as fertilizer in gardening works.
Resistance to fire. This feature is one of the most important. People avoid to build log cabins because of the rumor, that wooden buildings are not fire-proof. This is the main thing of which people do not know many things. Firstly log cabin, made of massive logs is less damaged by fire. There will char only surface. It is the main protection against wooden constructions collapse. While logs are slowly burning, you have a bit time to extinguish flames. But if it happens that fire damages all timber frame house or log cabin, you have to know that it will be much easier and cheaper to remove burned constructions and build a new one. It is true, that unprepared wood has lower resistance. There are a lot of various impregnates for timber to gain all fire-proof features. Fire retardant are various types and can be suitable for both manual ( brush, spray, immersing) and industrially (pressure treatment in an autoclave) use. These materials are mostly liquid. Soaked in the timber they strengthen the resilience of wood. Before impregnation fire retardant manufactures recommend to follow all steps closely. Firstly wood log cabins have to be properly ready: surface must be clean and cleared of dust, dirt, loose, particles of timber and alike, You also need to make sure that the humidity of timber would be between 14-24 per cent of the mass. When everything is prepared the substrate must be treated 2-3 times (between covering have to be 40-60 minutes intervals). After this let the impregnated substrate dry in natural conditions. Do not cover other impregnate while this fire-retardant is not fully dry.
After this - wood gets all the best features like concrete or brick houses. Fire resistance becomes many times higher and it ensures greater security for all your log cabin. Thanks to new technologies opinion about timber framing and other wooden buildings has changed into the good side only.
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